Prey: Brian, L’Qatu and companions attempt Gae Bulg (18/09/2403)

Brian and L’Qatu just didn’t seem to understand that a mere intention to acquire the artefact would not suffice. It seemed to escape them that they needed an actual plan for finding the artefact. Instead they seemed content to just wander around the ruins in the hopes of simply coming upon it. Like Zeer, Kerad had now come to accept that his Mercenary companions were not going to be of any help in this department. Kerad was also not particularly enthusiastic about either option of going over the rubble or clearing it and hoped Brian and L’Qatu would have come up with a third option. However the two Mercs chose to go over the rubble and the Delgrangers simply went along.

The four explorers would simply leap to the top of the rubble, utilising their Energy stats to land softly and quietly. As they looked around it was clear that they would have to be doing this regularly if they wanted to avoid going in circles. They carefully walked across the rubble before leaping off to the ground below and would repeat this process a couple more times as they moved further into the ruins.

As they stood on the current mound of rubble, Zeer and Kerad realised that this particular area seemed unusually quiet sensory wise when compared to the previous areas they passed through.  This made Zeer in particular uneasy since he was sure they were walking into some kind of ambush. Kerad drew the same conclusion as he realised that a number of creatures seemed to form some sort of periphery around them as if they were waiting for something to happen. It also appeared that some of the creatures only seemed interested in the area because other creatures were. It was as if food had been found and they were looking for the opportunity to take it.

Brian would receive the psychic impression from the Delgrangers about their predicament. The Errant would ask if they could slip past the waiting creatures but Kerad was now sure that a number of the creatures were well aware of their presence. Kerad then advised that they make a break for it because an attack was no longer a mere possibility but a certainty.

Just then the rubble on which Brian stood swung down from under him. The Errant dropped down and the rubble swung back up sealing him inside. Brian’s scent and ethereal signature vanished at this point causing his companions even greater concern. They attempted to move the rubble but quickly realised that the individual pieces of rubble had been bound together to form one whole mass. At this point two Reapers, a Lurk and a number of other creatures dashed towards their location. This coupled with Brian’s predicament forced L’Qatu and the Delgrangers to abandon their stealth and fully power up.

Both Zeer and L’Qatu activated their blade morphs and focused their attention on the apparent trap door. This proved futile and with no time to waste all three of them activated their Omega Drives, with Kerad utilising his high precision to focus his flame breath and add it to the attempt to breach the hole. Their combined efforts were working but they would not get the job done before the horde of creatures was upon them. The swift footed Kerad dodged a slash from a Reaper while the slower but tougher Zeer guarded the slash from the second Reaper. The Lurk simply engulfed the mass of moving parts that was L’Qatu. Zeer and Kerad would find themselves struggling against multiple creatures now which fought each other as well as the Delgrangers whose health was quickly falling.

Not ones to normally abandon companions, Zeer and Kerad were certain that their deaths were approaching. So with heavy hearts they would use what was left of their Omega Drives to Omega Flash away. Just before doing so they tried to tell L’Qatu to do the same but the Lurk’s bizarre spatial and temporal distortions prevented them from doing so. However, even if they could reach him it would not have mattered for the Deviant realised that his Omega Drive was running out a lot quicker than it should have and before he could even think to Omega Flash, his Omega Drive was all used up. The horde of battling creatures soon turned their attention to the Lurk which now found itself having to fight them off as well. It was not long before the commotion drew a frighteningly large serpent to the area which swallowed the Lurk, L’Qatu and a number of creatures before quickly moving off to digest its meal.

Outcome: Brian and L’Qatu’s unconscious User forms appeared near to the heavily damaged Delgrangers who carried their bodies even further away from the creature fest and are now hiding out aided by the stealth of the Combat Suits. Zeer and Kerad will no longer be proceeding with this Quest attempt unless their companions come up with a strategy for locating the artefact. Wandering around aimlessly will no longer be entertained.

  Brian: 190 Exp (reverted)

  Zeer: 360 Exp (-2200HP)

  Kerad: 350 Exp (-1700HP)

  L’Qatu: 250 Exp (reverted)