Tolkeen Civil Defense League Communicator

Lately I’ve been tivoing alot of Teen Titans. In case you havnt noticed they are a big inspiration to the Tolkeen Civil Defense League. (that and efu’s Civil Defense League!)
All official members of the league are issued a real communicator, they just about the only thing that keeps them together sometimes, as many members are located in distant coalition controled lands.

Upon receiving the communicator the lucky recpient is considered formaly a member of the group. It is estimated that over 200 have been issued so far however many are lost. This does not worry Rez or the security minded much however, because they simply will not work for anyone other than their original recipient, and any messages sent by a person say under the stress of torture or with militious intent are sort of flagged with the emotion of the sender. This gives the other members a sort of psychic heads up if the messages normaly sent by a calm headed one start having suspicion or fear or other emotions mixed up in them. Note this feature also only works if the character has at least some psionic abilities.

They are manufactured by the technowizard named Rez, and provide the following things:

- access to the league’s computer network. The badge works as a key and is required to access the leagues message boards and file storage. Simply plug it into your personal computer, and you can pull up various information (just ask!).

- time sensitive keys for coded communications to other members in range via one of the following:

short range radio (10mile range)

long range directional radio (100+mile range depending on external antenna and amplifier used)

Ley line transmissions can also be sent encoded so other walkers on the line can not read them without the communicator. Training in this type of communication is requried by the user. At the minimum the user must have some psionics or be a spell caster in order to use this feature.
It is rumored that many members along with the founders of both the league and art brutal are notorious computer hackers who have gained access to many restricted files from the Coalition, the Tolkeen ruling party, and the black market.

Often members will post stolen information on the forums for use by other members in outright attacks, practical jokes or other plots against the Coalition.

Here is a sample posting

From: liberator_of_beef

sh.pmqnt ov coaltion beef on route through cordinates 114.343 some 200clicks outta loanstar, 0500hours Sepmbr23. anyone up fer some rastlin? Hey gecho!

(players in my game feel free to make a “post” in one of the comments to ask other members of the league stuff. Maybe I will start to intro npcs this way!)

Making a post on the league’s underground forums requires terminal access to Tokeens computer network, or a leyline can also be used. The T complex the league secretly operates in downtown Tolkeen is a strange looking building, which actualy serves as a giant antenna array as well as a concentrator of leyline energy for use in decoding messages sent. Note there is a chance or garbling or distortion of the messages posted and received when using leylines instead of normal netowork communications. However it is completely anonymous which many members like.

Using a leyline to commicate long distances may not work, its mostly used in the outerlying region of the Tolkeen area and directly ajoining leylines.

Here’s what the badge looks like! It weighs a suprisingly heavy 2lbs, and has a nice heavy golden finish to it.

25MDC in its durable outer casing (100SDC/PV6 for our converted rules).

The internal works are a mystery and there is a very stern NO OPENING writen on the back in American, Spanish, Gobbley and Elven, along with a pictoral NO TOUCH sign.

However Rez tends to talk about them absentmindly almost as if they were alive muttering something about them lasting about 24hrs before needing a “breather” which can be one of the following:

-conventional power can be used to recharge in 5x slower thanreal time (5hr plugin for 1hr use.

-leyline/personal ppe/energy can be used, the device will recharge in one hour on a leyline or if funneled 25ppe/50isp.

note- MAGE, Kash, and Ronan each have one of these.� Feel free to post a comment of what momentous task you did to impress a member so much that you were asked to join. 

Campaign Followup

The first official campaign session has ended.

In its wake the PCs have left a CS base in ruins, flame poors from most buildings and the dead are feasted upon by the foul demons summoned by a now absent shifter william.

Ariving at the leyline where Drago’s curse lifting tree grows some 30 miles to the east, they see its height at 6ft as well as the placement of a strange indian TP tent about 500 feet away down the leyline. outside stands two indians one of which is frightened into going inside by your aproach, the other stands mutly outside looking at you fearfuly, he knows nothing, only to guard whoever may be inside the tp, tufts of smoke from its top comfirm someone is.

At this point the PCs are resting near the tree, and finaly manage to get a count of the rescued prisoners and the captured CS scientists.

One (the oldest) has commited suicide it seems, he simply drops dead and the other 2 scientists have no explanation.

2 CS Scientists male and female

8 other prisoners survied the ordeal (asume at least 4 were slain in the firefight between the PCs and their guards in the
caverns beneath the base).

[1]

Male, middle aged human in rags. Immediately begs for intoxicants. Seems to be a lowlife bum.

[2]

One man with crew cut in worker rags, seems very fit. Looks around glaring and doesn’t say much.

[3]

Skinny tanned man covered in pain implants, 30% of which seem to have no off switch and tend to fire at random. he stares at you with haunted eyes marked with more than a bit of insanity.

[4]

Mutant Chiuaua who does not seem to speak english (spanish only)

[5]

Normal looking man in nearly new accountants suit. Claims to be accoutant arrested by mistake.

[6]

Slave cyborg with multiple pain implements, and control system offering remote access to wrist computers built into one of the dead power armors. Activating him shows he refuses to speak, however he reguards drago for a very long time and hides his face whenver the cybernight looks at him. After a few hours he forces his mishapen mechanical body into a meditative pose and seems lost in though.

[7]

A pale skinned man with no body hair who seems to be a psistalker. HE says nothing and only licks his lips at anyone coming near.

[8]

An aging man who seems broken, he walks with a limp.

He will ask to use any computer or radio claiming he must send an urgent message.[9]

Slightly attractive human female with broken arm, this is the mechanic nearly squished beneath the fallen enforcer robot.
OK HERES THE DEAL PEOPLE

all players in my campaign please make comments into this post explaining which npc their PC wants to talk to. just say what you want to say to the NPC in your post and I will respond accordingly.� I plan on using this site as a place to get the in between rolleplaying out of the way before our next big session.� Whos free the middle of september? 
-gm

1. mrtizoc Says: 
   August 13th, 2006 at 4:25 pm e
   Drago’s massive green claws slowly unwrap from the radiant magic tree of healing. About ten feet away, prisoners are seemingly bound to the ground whispering to each other.
   With two swifts swings of his long elegant neck, Drago looks left then right. Wondering about the span of the ley line Drago morphs into the form of an eagle to soar high over the camp. The forest is vast and dense with 50ft and 60ft trees. Most near the magic tree are gorgeous thick pines. Only about 500 feet from the camp there stands an isolated tee-pee with two native indians standing out front. A couple miles from the tree Drago morphs from an eagle to a mountain lion and walks over to the indian tent.
   Upon seeing the lion one indian magically runs straight into the tent. The other is left to communicate with Drago through telepthay and a spell of Tongues. It appears as though the tent is warded with magic that prevents unwelcomed entry. The remaining indian appears to posses physical strength even greater than the dragon’s super natural strength. The indian is also exceptionaly tight with insight to the one communing with spirits inside the tent. They do not seem evil, but Drago is weary of these strong entities only a stones throw from the camp and his “life-support” tree.
   Drago returns to the camp to the camp to share his knowledge and thoughts with his peers. “…also, if no one has a better idea to fortify this camp I’d like to dig up all the 25 or 30ft trees in the immediate area to insert them around the perimeter for a 15-20 foot wall of trees and brush. To enter and exit I can dig an 8ft tunnelsunder the wall. The remaining large pines can provide us with some natural shelter from above. Of course, we could leave it a solid wall without any entrances since we could all fly over it right now.”
   Drago waits for feedback.
2. MAGE AND ELF MYSTIC Says: 
   August 16th, 2006 at 3:43 pm e
   WILL BE COMING VIA CHITOWN RIFT (AKA 90/94) TO GAME SEPT 8, 9, 10TH!!! IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THE GM CANNOT MAKE IT i AM WILLING TO RUN SOMETHING (RIFTS) FOR ANY PLAYERS AVAILABLE.
3. MAGE Says: 
   August 16th, 2006 at 4:51 pm e
   [after quitely pacing back and forth infront of the captured CS scientists for a full hour, pausing briefly only to gauge the terror on their faces MAGE begins to speak,seemingly to himself (not to looking @ the scientists)]
   “What a pitiful shame. One of your compatriots is indeed a lucky man, for his death came both far too soon and far too swiftly… For the leftovers, however,[looks @ the scientists] I can almost garantee a protracted affair… [smiles and looks away and continues]
   “As a child, most have learned of “The Golden Rule”; It is quite simple really, ‘Treat others as you would like to be treated’. Now from your position this may give you cause to relax as you personally have done nothing to incite my wrath, yet it the actions condoned by your kinsmen and leaders which shall guide me in your treatment. For THEY have shown ME how to care for prisoners of war… and I SHALL SHOW NO MERCY, HEAR NO COMPLAINTS, AND BE RELENTLESS IN MY PURSUIT OF ANSWERS!!! It would be a far better situation for the both of you if I were Prosek, your illustrios leader, and you were mere D-bees, mages or any of the other myriad of beings your government condones the wholesale slaughter of. If that were the case, WHICH IT IS NOT, I could at least afford you a quick execution.”
   [pauses breifly]
   “You can do nothing to better your situation. Cooperation is your only salvation, for my comrade (Cyberknight) will not allow me to unleash the all the horrors your people have upon me. Yet I give you my personal garantee, anything but full cooperation WILL seal your fate!”
   [at this point MAGE walks back to the rest of the group] and says coldly: “The CS scientists are ready to be questioned.”
4. zim Says: 
   August 17th, 2006 at 11:06 pm e
   As MAGE shouts at the scientists some of the freed prisoners jeer at them and laugh, enjoying seeing the tables turned.
   Specificaly, their reactions to his sermon are as follows:
   [1] “Yeeeee haw listen to him!” seems to aprove of the talk, goes up to each person asking “hey got any juice?”.
   [2]continues glaring
   [3]tries to pay attention, screams in agony from time to time, oddly punctuating the talk at just the right moments.
   [4]”Necesito encontrar algún gatito. ¿Dónde puedo conseguir un poco de gatito y cerveza? Ha sido tan largo. ¿Puede usted ayudarme a satisfacer?”
   [5]Looks very nervous. Seems stuck in between the rambling Chiuaua and the glaring man with crew cut.
   [6]*ohhhhhhmmmmm* -notices nothing
   [7]stares with haunted hungry eyes. is heard to say “I’m hungry…so very hungry”
   [8]asks if anyone has a pen and paper. Starts looking at the tree and indians and other prisoners and goes around asking their names. “can I get your name? I figure since we’re all stuck out here we might as well get to know each other eh?”.
   PC: “Uhh Im Bob”
   man “Well you just call me Dupont, at yer service *scribles name* say do you got something ah could carve with? my nerves are shot…and carving is so dang relaxin!”
5. zim Says: 
   August 17th, 2006 at 11:10 pm e
   a few miles to the south you notice a storm front coming. ocasionaly blue flashes of light are seen from that direction on the line and a disturbance is felt by those sentive to such things. Drago you know you cannot calm this storm. The prisoners all look nervous and some start watching drago build the wall aprehensively, asking if he could maybe make a lean too or something for them.
6. Kash Says: 
   September 8th, 2006 at 11:40 pm e
   After surveying the area Kash starts off down the ley line. About a half kilometer away he stops looking at the approaching storm. He ponders… ‘15 minutes, maybe?’ then sits facing the storm. Closing him his eyes he opens himself to the supernatural. The power of the storm is invigorating, an euphoric feeling rushing through him as he opens his eyes. Glowing an empty green-grey he stares into infinity… Suddenly as if struck by lightning he erupts into to a furious argument. The emotions of both flashing across his face but no words can be heard.

Learning Magic

Depending on how a spell is learned, a character first coming into contact with a new magical spell will have to make a roll to successfully learn the spell permanently.

Until doing so, there is a chance of failiure when casting the spell.

The following rules are based on the ole rifts gamescreen with some additions by me.

Simple Spells
1-4 Misred ppe spent
5-9 misred no ppe spent
10-20 success! +4 on next roll
Once successfuly cast, make a roll to learn the spell permanently:

15% + 10% per success + half the characters Lore:Magic skill

Average Spells
1-6 Misred ppe spent
7-12 misred no ppe spent
13-20 success +3 on next roll

Know perm 10%10% per success + third of lore:magic

Moderate Spells
1-7 misred ppe spent
8-13 misred no ppe spent
14-20 success +2 on next roll

10% + 8 per success + quarter of lore:magic

Difficult spells
1-8 misread ppe spent
9-15 misred no ppe spent
16-20 success +1 on next roll

10 +5 for each success + tenth of lore:magic

Rumors exist of magical tombs, artifacts and godly essences capable of enhancing the speed at which the user can permanently learn spells.

Rumored artifacts and sources of knowledge include:

The Mobius
“The Philosophical Theory of Magic” by Erin Tarn (basic concepts and theory +2% to learn lvl1 spells)
“Places of Power” by Victor Lazlo
(location of major leylines)
“The Book of Nord” by Olaf Helzinki
(sea serpent summoning magic)
“The Romanomican” by Char NoGuul
(Ancient roman rites used to beg Mars for power in battle, said to ease the learning of certain combat magics)

Magical scrolls must first be identified with a Lore Magic roll.

A character then tries to study the magics in the scroll while reading it. He then has a 10%+2% per level chance to learn the spell well enough to start casting it on the above tables. Each try uses the scroll up in the process. If the character can read the native language on the scroll it is possible to “transcribe” the scroll to another while he reads it (copying). This requires properly prepared scrolls or at least a notebook.
provides intbonus x2 for notebook or x3 for magic scroll

Buying magical Knowledge is possible, but costly.
First, the character will have to find a mage willing to part with some arcane knowledge. Depending on the area this could be quite difficult. Simply walking around and looking for subtle signs of the arcane may net a magic shop if a Lore:Magic roll is made. Streewise also works though with a -10% penalty.

Characters can then ask for a specific spell. Depending on conditions the teaching mage will charge a certain rate to tutor the character well enough to start rolling to learn the spell permanently.

Length of tutoring:

Depending on the teach and conditions, tutoring takes 1d6hrsXspell level for Simple spells
2d6hrsXspell level for Average Spells
1d6daysXspell level for Moderate Spells
1d6WeeksXSpell level for Difficult spells

RollLore:Magic roll -1% per level of the spell being learned to learn it well enough to cast haphazardly while rolling on the earlier table. Failiure means the character must repeat 2d10% of the lesson inorder to try again.

Cost:
Lore:Magic roll to determine the characters ability to acurately price magic knowledge. Success means using the following table, failiure usualy means the character is willing to overpay a % based on the margin of failure in the roll.

Level 1 5000c
Level 2 10000c
Level 3 20000c
Level 4 30000c
Level 5 40000c
Level 6 70000c
Level 7 90000c
Level 8 120000c
Level 9 180000c
Level 10 500000-1milc
+10% premium for offensive and 20% for metamorph and summoning spells.

Most magic shops do not offer teaching services, and the few places that do usualy can only teach spells levels 1-4.