A Christmas Carol

[Swift]

As the Lost gather together and begin conversation, something odd begins happening. In the background, directly behind Molly, the other three Lost notice a man in a fresh-pressed suit and wearing a gold name tag that declares him an important employee of the local bank. strides purposefully across the food court toward an ATM machine set up to continually provide shoppers with more cash. There he produces a ring of keys and goes through them for a moment before deciding on one.

He uses the key to open the ATM machine and pulls out several large stacks of $20 bills, each approximately four inches thick. Then, without closing the machine he suddenly begins flinging the stacks through the air, into the food court and out over a nearby balcony looking over the lower level of the mall. Money suddenly fills the air in large flutters of dull green. The man begins shouting insanely at the top of his lungs, a manic grin on his face and his bloodshot eyes wide. "Merry Christmas to all! And goodwill to men! You see spirits! You see! I have changed! I have changed! God bless us! Everyone!"

It takes only moments for the crowded food court to erupt in screams and squeals of delight. Nearly as one the entire crowd surges forward, greed in their eyes, scrambling for the money. From below shouts of surprise and joy can be heard as money undoubtedly begins raining down on the frantic shoppers below. Off to one side Erik, Green, and Shin Wei notice a couple mall security guards heading toward the commotion, one of them has already pulled out his radio and is quietly but frantically speaking in to it.

A few people eating their meals look totally confused and shocked, looking around and trying to figure out what in the name of St. Nick just happened.

Those that succeeded on perception notice what's about to happen right before the man throws the money into the air and may react as they will, but almost certainly won't be able to stop him. They also notice the incoming security guards. Molly, like a few others in the food court, doesn't catch on until the chaos has erupted and might have to take a moment to figure out what has happened.

[Malcolm Green]

Green sensed something was up. There was a sudden tension, a sudden sharpening of focus like the air had quickly cooled, freezing everything and making things crisper and more... present. The mountain, however, was still lumbering through the food court; it was like walking through treacle - no matter how quickly he moved, he was unable to reach anywhere significant.

The money explodes into the air like big green confetti. The food court becomes a roiling sea of greed and confusion. Annoyed, Green gives up the pretence (everyone else is) and just ploughs through to reach the group of Lost.

"Hey all!" he says quickly, shoving the greeting out as quickly as he can. "Don't know whats goin' on, but it ain't good. How about we all find somewhere... quieter... for a chat and stuff?" His head bobs in the direction of the security and then stops as he feels the crisp, still air of his mantle buffeted and moved by chilled air wafting off the Lost with the flaming skull.

[Swift]

It only takes a few moments for the somewhat chaotic crowd to turn into a full blown riot. There are screams of rage and fury as people dive for the flying bills, heedless of their fellow human beings. One person slams an elbow into another's eye in an attempt to grab yet another bill, even though he already has several clenched in another fist. That elbowed person staggers backward in pain and runs into a third, who trips and goes down. A fourth stumbles over the fallen and, forgetting the money, lashes out in rage at a fifth, slamming fist into stomach.

Elsewhere people are pulling at each others' limbs, hair, and clothing trying to get the advantage and it isn't long before a general melee ensues. Off to one side, the mall cops are trying desperately to wade in toward the center. One still has his radio out and is shouting into it, and the other has managed to pull out his pepper spray and is spraying into the crowd randomly in a vain attempt to control the situation. It is clear that neither is very prepared for a sudden riot.

The swell of people only grow as more and more mall patrons realize that there is free cash in the offering. Faster than any of them would thing, the four Lost find themselves surrounded by the press of people, and in real danger of bodily harm if they don't find a way out, and soon.

We will run this like a combat scene. While it is impossible to defeat the riot, a certain number of successes will be required on combat rolls to escape. You may work together to escape per the teamwork rules. However, have a care as to how exactly you chose to make your way out. Just because the riot cannot be defeated does not mean people cannot be hurt.

  Mall Riot Initiative - 11

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-12-08 20:03:14		The mall riot rolls 1 die for initiative		6

[Malcolm Green]

  12 Initiative for Green

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2012-12-08 20:52:23		Someone rolls 1 die for initiative		9

ST: Green is going to look for the quickest way out of there, using his height to his advantage