Iron Stars - bavid

The marketplace slowly returns to normal as the panicked crowds see the militia heading off in the direction of gunfire, and the fact that it ceases seems to help convince everyone the area is safe again, too. "What do you think that was all about?" one of the patrons of your junk stand asks, as he rises from the cover he took behind it (edited)

"Cacree rah shrekt cleeeee Rahk toof" Bavi'd annunciates into his com. An electronic voice come's from it saying in a melodic tone.

Likely some idiot with a temper pulled a gun on someone for not doing what he asked and started a mini fire fight, thats just a theory though.

Bavi'd spoke into the com again. "Reet coo losh tee me hin cooooo reet." Again the melodic voice states, Anyways, how can i help you again? (edited)

“Got anything I could use as a compad? Broke mine the other night. Or can you fix mine for me?”

"Reekt too to cahkch " Sure let me see it real quick.

he hands it over, the screen cracked. Either a nail or some kind of stone has cracked the screen, the spiderwebbing cracks spreading through the front display

"Gacht ku lounkt pshhhhhocooo" I can fix this sure, no problem

12:50 PM

"Cag tuk deecolpoocrooo" Bavi'd doesnt bother to speak to the com and turns around rummaging for parts then gets to work repairing it. (edited)

It looks like you have just enough in your spare parts bin to get it working again, with a little bit of luck. (no fix needed here, routine enough)

Bavi'd finishes the repairs and hands it back. Bavi'd holds his hand out waiting.

"Thank you, just like new" he smiles, and hands over 30 credits for the service. He walks away, and you realize you're now out of spare parts. You'll need to find some to continue doing business. A few weeks ago some native scavengers came into town, and they mentioned a handful of vehicle wrecks to the south, abandoned ancient equipment too old to be use to anyone but the animals nesting in it. You might be able to claim some components from there

Bavi'd put's up the ancient 'Gone for lunch' sign. He heads off towards the south with his scavenging gear ready to grab anything decent he can find. Bavi'd crosses his fingers in hopes to find a solid motor or two.

The wrecks are a decent hike south of the city, and on foot, you can expect to be gone overnight. Your tools clink on your side as you begin making your way to the south gate.

Walking home bavi'd watches for any scrap he can use.

anything remotely useful inside the city has long since been picked over or repurposed into something else

Well, can't fault me for hoping. Bavi'd goes home and contemplates his almost death.

7:10 PM

That was terrifying, then I had to act alright because Eli was there. Looking weak was not in Bavi'd's nature and mental weakness annoyed him.

7:12 PM

He gets Unnerved and decides to excersize till his body can handle anything.

You exercise for a good portion of the evening , before long the sun sets and people begin heading home from work or other duties around the city

7:55 PM

There is still a bit of a lockdown in effect and those not part of the militia or doing other essential duties are remanded indoors

Bavi'd lays down for bed. After a few terror thoughts about the explosion he sleeps. (edited)

(so are we doing our own thing, or are you and eli going back out)

12:53 PM

(it was left sort of up in the air)

(Eli was going to join your mass combat mission so I guess my own thing for a few, which is fine. I can help with plumbing/ or any mechanical stuff.)

(sure thing) The windmills have begin bringing power to some small areas of the city, current rotating every couple hours to ensure all sections get at least some power. Metal has once again begun to flow into the city from the repaired mine to the north. The city itself is perched on an ancient, stone carved sanitation system, but there are blockages or uneexplored caverns in several areas preventing the flow of water

Bavi'd wakes up and goes to check for Eli around town. Upon finding out he went On an expidition of some sort for the day, maybe more, Bavi'd desides to see if he can help around town. He considered potentially helping with the power but after the explosion he decided for a few days to avoid things that can go BOOM! So Bavi'd decided to help with the water. After asking around and finding out about the water blockages and lack of a water pump Bavi'd decides to attempt to make a pump to run water, and spickets from well to well. Bavi'd wouldn't need much, but he would need somewhere to work. Bavi'd asks around about a workshop with advanced tools in it.

There is only one workshop that even has power around the clock right now, close to city heart. The smiths there recharge power cells and use their handfuls of industrial tools to keep Myrmidon weapons and armor working properly

Bavi'd walks towards the location of the informed workshop looking for someone who may be in charge.

There is a forgemaster, hard at work on repairing a blade. He quenches it in water. Others in less ostentatious uniforms and work coveralls stoke fires, run milling machines, and press ammunition into brass casings

Sir! Is there any way I could rent out a station here or use it at night? I'd like to build a water system similair to what people were used to before. Pure water, running water, and even better connected all through town. To do that I need a workshop though.

3:41 PM

Bavi'd says all this while approaching the man raising his hands around a bit to get his attention.

"A big civil project like that is far beyond what our workshop here can attempt. I think at least. I'd need to know some particulars"

Well, it's simple for now. First a structured drum to hold hundreds of gallons of water, steel bands will easily make this strong enough to hold the water. Ten under it we will attach a boiler that constantly boils the water into vapor. being it's enclosed it won't go any where. then we put a small tube out of the top for vapor to escape leading into a Nitrogen cooled copper cylinder with a small pilot light underneath to thaw it slowly. the thawed water would trickle back into the tank and start over again. The repeated freezing and bioling will purify the water almost perfectly clean, Then a simple downhill pipe line and a reverse pipe back uphill to the wells, each with a pipe and Pump set up in them forcing the water up into the purifier again.

"this is a major public works project you're describing. It's not something a private citizen could just launch into. You'd need to talk to the vice-regent about this"

Any idea where he/she would be?

"Same place she always is, the temple at the heart of the city"

Bavi'd nods in thanks and heads towards the temple.

The temple is a heavily fortified ruin in the middle of the city, busy with Myrmidon guards, and a triple presence of city militia due to reported unrest elsewhere over the last few days. Two with long spears guard the stairway leading insided

Hello, I am here in hopes to assist with getting running water started in Elysium. May I speak to the vice-regent?

“Vice regent cole is finishing a meeting. Enter and wait in the great hall”

very well, thank you. Bavi'd enters and stands in the great hall, waiting politely. (edited)

Inside you see dozens of more junior officers and cadets working on maps, compiling reports, briefing the militia and in one corner of the room you see a squad of myrmidon grunts eating. A large stairwell leads upstairs and has four guards with long spears by it (edited)

Bavi'd still stands waiting. Half listening to his surroundings, though not close enough to be eavesdropping on anyone.

You see a messenger brush past you and head upstairs, disappearing for a few long moments. The honor guard straightens up and he returns, Vice Regent Cole in her state regalia instead of her battle armor heading down the stairs with the same messenger

Unsure of what to do, and a bit nervous in such a nice building with pretty people, Bavi'd stands straight also. Bavi'd looks for the moment to catch her to talk.

The vice regent dismissed the messenger and looks to you. “You have something to say?”

Yes, Ma'am Bavi'd stands straight as if he was at attention.

I would like to build a water system which will dramatically improve water usage and cleanliness in the area. though it won't be the best system available it will be functioning clean water.

(edited)

“What sorts of resources would this system entail. In simplest forms” she says. You sense you have her full attention now and she is beginning to make some notes

Scrap, a good bit of it, and access to your workshop to build the pumps and such. A couple motors and maybe a laborer or two and I should be able to make it.

"You'll have to source the scrap yourself, but I can give you workshop access to fabricate what you need. You shoudn't have an issue pulling a couple people from duties clearing rubble"

Understood, I'm sure i could procure some scrap. Thank you your highness, erm excellency, uh Ma'am.

"Get it done, and I'll ensure you're placed on some projects more worth your talents

Yes, ma'am right away!

8:28 PM

Thank you! Bavi'd runs off excitedly, unintentionally being rude to go find a couple laborers from the rubble.

(What kind of people are you looking for)

(Strong men with some intelligence would be preferred. but laborers of any sort will do if they can listen lol.)

(though i suppose any guys i see working hard would be the ones i'd approach.)

With no real way aside from very general observation to get anfeel for their level of intelligence you manage to attract two workers who are relieved to get off of rubble duty for a time

(You were there already and they told you without the regents permission they can’t let you work there)

Alright, to the workshop. All goes well and we should have city wide clean water through a large portion of Elysium! Bavid says excitedly as they walk towards the best workshop in Elysium. (to bavi'ds knowledge)

The forgemaster is no less grumpy when you return, pushing his assistants to even greater levels of physical exertion , trying to take advantage of the limited power available for today

Hello, I have been given access by the reagent to start my work on the water system with these two gentlemen so we can have clean water through the city.

“I see” he says looking at the orders “Well I can’t exactly stop you but my staff and myself have our own projects to work on. All I can do is give you the space to work”

That would be more than enough! thank you! Bavi'd and his workers walk over and spend the day building pumps for the wells.

You spend the day making pumps, though you have no idea where water might be to hook them up

(I dnt know where the wells are?)

(Theres only a couple and they’re not deep enough for the scale of the project you’re doing which is why I was saying be specific earlier

Bavi'd inquires about the towns water source to the mechanics who work in the workshop.

They only know about the wells , but the city itself is near two large rivers

After thanking them for the information Bavid turns to the men he has helping him. Do either of you know how to defend yourself? if we have to work by the river it could be dangerous.

They are both able to use a weapon, not with skill, but with enough common sense to not be a danger to themselves or anything they're not meaning to shoot

Then he looks at the men, and asks them to meet him tommorrow near the work shop to get started on the Pipe line running from the river

7:39 PM

Bavi'd thanks them for the hard work, and heads towards his scrap yard to sleep for the night.

The night passes uneventfully, and quietly, as everyone prepares for a hard day of mapping and exploration tomorrow

Bavi'd wakes up and heads back towards the workshop after a rigorous training regiment to tone his body.

Your two workers are standing around outside, waiting for instructions for the day, unsure what to have been working on by themselves before your arrival. They're being ignored by the actual forgestaff, about the best you could hope for

Alright boys. Lets go find us a river! Bavi'd exclaims as he walks back out towards the gates of town. (Assuming that if the river was in town he would've seen it.?)

(there isnt one in town, but maps of the planet are available)

(Can my datapad access this map or is it physical?)

(It’s electronic and there’s a copy on roll20 in the 1w sector folder, under Heras)

(OH! Nice ty)

(This is where I would like to place it, its marked with a "water tap" emoji)

(So my new plan, since I didn't realize how few wells we had, is to use these pumps to run water just inside the city and make the reservoir/Distillery just inside the walls. Then with a few more pumps I could easily run pipes [From metal if we have a small forge, From stone if not] around the city and through the middle making a cross like fugure. Add some taps and we have water on hand!)

(alright, so first things first, you're going to explore, and find a good place to get a pumping station set up?)

(Yeah) Bavi'd takes the two workers out of the city of ruins and starts looking around for a safe and deep portion of river close to the city.

On foot the journey to the river is expected to take about a day and a half , through a floodplain where some hostile alien native life was spotted. The creatures there like to dig and ambush from below ground- several different pioneer teams have found them now

Knowing that the outside of the city can be dangerous, Bavi'd tries to reach Eli on his datapad.

(Alright. Tag him and type it out, rather than us try to coordinate between two threads)

( @Rodger Landon (Corn) )

"Hello?"

(Yeah an actual message there would have been helpful) (edited)

Eli? Hey sorry to bother you. Is there any chance you could help me outside of the city with the water lines? we can look for another stash if you're interested.

7:49 PM

(lol prolly, srry)

"Sure, maybe we could get another vehicle, do you think we will have to camp outside like last time?"

Likely, yes. From what I hear it's a bit away. A day or two.

"Do you have any supplies? I bought some for me. Rations, and a tent that won't collapse on me, I hope."

No, I can build most things offered at the shops here. Though rations would be smart I can meet you at the shop if that's ok.

"Alright I'll meet you there, or we could just share mine I bought 15 days worth."

Well I would but I have a couple workers with me. so that's 16 rations minimum for the trip. then another 16 for the days building once there.

"Well, I'll just meet you at the shop, and we can decide what to do from there."

(I could join you guys if you want another engineer)

(Sure, a second mechanic couldn't hurt!)

8:18 PM

(Ask about the guys who brought in the vehicle that should point you towards us)

(She just rebuilt another vehicle)

8:19 PM

(Might have been the same one)

(The one outside the gate was from us)

(Oh, so you guys would probably see it rebuilt as a half-track when you get back to the workshop)

(Oh! nice, i wanted to fix it but guards said just leave it lol)

(Yeah, she took it apart and built it up from scratch)

(Can we use it!?!?!?!?)

(Ask the militia)

(Hmmm I got this I think.) While walking to the shop Bavi'd has an idea, and sends out a spam message to anyone near enough to get a message.

Looking for a Mechanically inclined individual, to assist with the math and construction of a new water system to provide fresh clean water to all of elysium at a more accessible rate. There will be a chance to make large sums of credits as well.

(edited)

8:35 PM

( @opscomm )

That sounds like fun! I just got done building a new vehicle, maybe the militia will let us borrow it for a 'test drive'. I'll meet you outside!

Bavi'd reply's personally to "Carmen"

Thank you for your interest. This will likely be a long journey, we ask that you supply your own rations, Though I could easily build us a tent on the way if you need accommodation.

(edited)

Bavi'd buys 100 rations at the shop, in case someone forgets or needs extra, spending 500 credits.

(If Bavi'd gets blown up this time he's gaining schitzophrenia XD)

(Is everyone ready then?)

2

(I'm ready.)

(I'm ready)

5:41 PM

(Just need to see if the militia will let us use the truck)

(If not, there is another.)

(We doing this is bavid's thread or do we want a mission thread?)

(either way.)

^

(Lets stay here, and again, no ones asked or RP'd anything, so this hasn't moved)

(lol, I wasn't sure if just arriving at a place he wasn't in his thread would be weird.)

As Bavid buys his rations, he would see a woman wearing jeans, a leather jacket, and a stained t-shirt, covered by-and-large with oil and grease, walk up to him and his large pile of rations carring a few of her own "That's a lot of rations you have, where are you going with them?" (edited)

Eli shows up to the market a little late, but bearing up surprisingly well considering his pack is filled to the point of bulging a little and a tent is strapped to it where a sleeping bag would normally be.

Going to hopefully build a water tower, but don't get too excited. it'll be a long project.

"Oh! I'm Carmen, I messaged you about going!" She says, sticking her hand out until she notices how greasy it is. "Well, I guess you can tell I could use some water for a shower sometime." She says with a laugh.

I understand that. Bavi'd chortles loudly. Any chance you got the truck?

"We can always get another junker, Im Eli by the way, and don't worry Bavi'd I brought the medkit this time."

"I haven't been to see the officer yet. I did some test runs around town, but I'm sure they would be fine with another, longer, endurance test. But even if we get a junker I can fix it up to be something worth using, building cars from junk is my specialty."

"Nice to meet you Eli. So what do you guys do, I know I've seen you around the workshop." She says to Bavid.

"Well, he's a junk trader, I guess I'm in salvage too, but I'm an adept in training."

"Oh, maybe that was you guys who brought in the apc I used then! Cool!"

We definately did bring one in together. Bavi'd laughed. So? Should we head to the office?

"Yeah, let's go. I can't wait to build more stuff. Hopefully we will find something I can use to power the workshop 24/7."

Well worse comes to worse, we can make an electro magnet if we can get a heavy burst of electricity. Then making a generator would be easy!

"We could find a broken one and use that until we find something better. At least I'd probably learn how to fix stuff having to stay that close to the generator."

Sounds good Bavi'd smiles under his mask. Bavi'd starts off towards the office.

Carmen follows him

Eli follows after them both, looking a little impatient, but trying to stay quiet.

(What office. I’m not sure what you’re trying to do)

(I'm assuming the militia's Officer tent/office. Carmen said a couple times we should go ask about using the truck we brought in, so I assumed thats where we should go.)

(Alright then

7:03 AM

The militia office is tiny and has all four walls. Inside, three soldiers are busy trying to look busy. Little power and no computers has them floundering for work

Thinking carmen has more influince here, Bavi'd moves so that she can speak.

Carmen walks up the one who is in charge of vehicle operations (I assume she would know his name)

10:05 AM

"Heyyyy, finished that truck for you guys, need to ask to borrow it though."

“Alright. Reason for use?” He says, not looking up but beginning to fill out a form

"We need it to set up a water line into town, trying to get some level of running water here. I also am going to be on the lookout for more salvage we can use to get something to power the workshop more reliably."

“How long do you expect the vehicle to be in use?” He says, moving to the next question

A week, maybe.

"Yes, it would help getting us out there faster even if we do bring another wreck back. And you know having one that doesn't revert to immovable if I go to far seems like a good idea with a project this important."

Though we will likely try to bring back one or two more if able.

"I rebuilt this vehicles by hand, it could use an extended field test. If it works well I could try to built more along similar lines in the future, this will give us the opportunity."

“The week was a good enough answer” he says , sounding irritated. “It’s yours for the duration. Supplies not included”

"Thank you sir."

Carmen gives him a big smile "Thanks!" She then walks out

Thank you.

4:22 PM

Bavi'd follows her out.

Eli follows Bavi'd and Carmen.

Carmen leads them to the half-track with a skip in her step. When thet arrive at it, she turns around, showing it off with her hands and patting the hood "So, what do you think?"

4:26 PM

(Imagine an m4 halftrack from ww2, with a machine gun turret on top and made out of scrap)

"That looks good, even better than when I restored it with magic."

(?)

(Yeah, cept a bit more armor)

Looks much better than it did when you used magic Bavi'd laughs

"Hey, I was going to let you race them, but forget it."

She smiles "I want to get a racing circuit going someday, but for now we are stuck with just this. I added some extra armor and some tools, so we should be just fine."

Not to say anything bad about your magic, sir, just stating she did well. He backpedaled

4:31 PM

Bavi'd tosses his supplies into the truck.

"Before we head out to the river, do you think we could stop by that wreck field? It shouldn't take much time with a vehicle." Eli also puts his heavy pack into the truck.

"Sure, I'll go ahead and drive us over there. We will need equipment to build stuff anyway."

4:34 PM

She hops in the driver's seat and starts the engine. Anyone standing behind will get a faceful of diesel smoke from the exhaust.

Bavid jumps in the rear passenger seat.

Eli, coughs not quick enough to jump in. "I guess magic does run cleaner. You know where the wrecks are right Bavi'd? can you tell her, I have to finish coughing up my other lung."

Bavi'd chuckles sympathetically. Yeah. Head out that way then through the gate. Bavi'd points towards the exit they used last time.

Carmen looks back at Eli with a small chuckle "Sorry, I didn't think before starting it up." *She waits for him to get in before heading out to the wreck field.

Eli climbs into the back. "No, my fault, I saw you get in the driver's seat. Anyway I'm too excited to die of smoke inhalation."

She laughs

The wreck field is somewhat diminished when you return to it, the scavengers having done as much as they could do when it looked like you were also interested. There are still half a dozen light vehicle hulks here but almost all of them are missing their doors or glass

"Crap, we should have come back sooner after mentioning it. Well at least there are some things still here. You guys are the gear heads, which one should I restore?"

(Soooo kill all scrappers who compete with us? lol) Bavi'd inspects the vehicles looking at which would be the easiest to repair.

(Can I help with that?)

(if Eli is using his magic then its really just a matter of picking one. They're all groundcar chassis

sweet, ok they are all trash, just a chasis, which one you want?` (edited)

"Oh, whichever, that one I guess I wouldn't be embarrassed to be seen in." Eli points at a slightly less rusted chassis, grabs his gear jumps out the back of the truck, trundles over to the car and kicks it in the grill applying his repairing magic. Though he only gives it a swift kick Eli's magic spreads throughout the vehicle repairing or fabricating components, until it looks like something that might actually start by the time he gets in. (Salvage gear, I'm level 4 so it gets back 8 hitpoints or the vehicle's max whichever is less.) Eli puts his gear down then hops in shotgun. "Did one of you want to drive, or should I pilot this one?"

(its 8 in this case)

1

Carmen looks at the truck, speechless, not understanding what just happenend.

7:24 PM

"I...wha.....how....?" She stammers

(just ground car stats right?) Eli motions to the car around him with waggly finger movements. "Magic."

(yeah)

1

She blinks a bit at him "That, is the coolest thing I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!"

"Right, and this one doesn't even have any guns on it."

"THAT'S SO AWESOME!!! Can you just do that whenever you want? Can you just make parts for whatever? Can you make, like, engines for cars built from scrap or wheels or suspension, or just anything you want?" She continues bombarding Eli with questions until someone physically stops her

"Well, I've only tried it twice in a day, I had to go help Bavi'd. Which reminds me be careful in the woods they're booby trapped. I've been working on it, but haven't really tested the limits, I can do some other stuff too though. Not while having the car fixed up. Hmm I guess I didn't think about that. Now that we have another vehicle and one with no weapons, maybe I should go back and get mine?"

Bavi'd chuckles

She nods a few times going, "Uh-huh, uh-huh." She now pacing back and forth, coming up with new ideas, not even looking at either of them.

Bavi'd chucles a little more audibly. I don't think it's a permanent repair ma'am.

"Well, technically it could be, but I couldn't get too far from the car, the last one stopped being repaired when I got about 30 feet away."

She stops pacing, her excitement draining out of her. "Oh. Well, it's still cool. Maybe sometime later you'll be able to permanently fix things." She say, giving Eli a bit of a smile. "For now, let's see if any of the other vehicles have parts we can scavenge, along with a few metal plates. Might not be a bad idea to get the beginnings of an outpost setup where we want the water intake to be." (edited)

"That makes sense we don't want anyone sabotaging it."

She starts looking for parts and intact metal scrap.

Eli stays alert looking around from the car. "Sorry, I feel like an idiot. I didn't think about this either. I won't be able to help you look around for things unless I drive between the wrecks. You guys are better than me at that stuff anyway. At least I'm finding out the limits now instead of our car breaking down, or me not being able to summon my gun in a fire fight. So did you get to work on that Haephestian carrier? I brought that back too, even had to kill a ghoul."

"You mean the APC I salvaged stuff from?" She calls out as she walks away towards another truck.

"You salvaged that one too? This one was from the front. I had to go in by myself. Talked my way out of getting rocketed." (edited)

She shudders, calling back to him "I'll let you get shot at then, I'm no use in a shootout, guns terrify me."

"I know what you mean, but the more distance you put between yourself and your opponent the safer you are. That said hitting stuff is alright too, I'm better at it than shooting. Even had a bat signed by the Lord Regent, though it was recently stolen. Sorry, I hope I'm not distracting you, everyone tells me I talk to much and ask too many questions."

I feel the same about explosions.

(I dunno if we need to roll to find stuff) (edited)

I have an idea! Bavi'd takes out his tools and starts tearing apart a vehicle pulling sheets of metal off of it and tearing it down to the bones with his tool kit. He saws through the axel cutting it in half. Using a hammer he pinches a side in to fit the size of a handle, similair to a baseball bat. Using the upholstry to the truck and wrapping the sharp edges and uses the rubber from a scrap tire to wrap the end, making a non lethal, though painful and likely concussive, baseball bat. (If that's ok)

She smiles at him but politely refuses "I'm okay in a close fight, I've got these." She says holding up her fists

(Oh, it was for eli since he lost his bat lol)

(Oh, that wasnt super clear from there)

8:45 PM

(Mb)

(Eli, nobody did anything with the carrier you brought back yet. We're going to get into that another time)

8:46 PM

(and there's no extra salvage, just the frames, thats why i said the scavengers were here)

(That's fine, it happened pretty recently. I just thought it would make sense for him to talk about tying to impress Carmen.)

(Okay)

8:47 PM

(So no metal plates or anything like that left? The frames can still be broken down anyway)

(nothing that isnt welded into the car)

(Okay, can we cut those off with metatools or the tool rack from the first truck?)

8:48 PM

(The one she rebuilt)

(there are no extra parts available here)

(Okay)

8:50 PM

She walks back to the trucks with a sigh "There isn't anything here. It's all rusted and potmarked. It would take us forever to take these frames apart and they will barely hold up anything."

"Well, at least we know anything normally usable is gone, and the scavengers probably won't be back here. These chassis aren't useful enough to bother trying to sell at camp, but they might come in handy as hidden vehicles? So should we head out to the river?"

"Yeah." She say with a sigh. "Maybe we will find some parts on the way."

"So should I follow you, or did we want to try and race? That might be irresponsible while on a mission though, maybe after?"

She gives him a conflicted look "I would love to race, but I don't want to risk breaking this truck."

"You're right, I'll just follow you guys then." Eli hops over to the driver's seat, and starts the car with a few too many revs of the engine. (edited)

Carmen hops back in and sets off for the river, keeping her eyes peeled for any other wreckage or parts that might be useful.

You ok driving Eli?

"I'm ok, I've driven before. This can't be harder than that carrier, or the grav bike."Eli follows behind trying not to embarrass himself behind the wheel.

Carmen sets off, a bit faster than most thanks to her lead foot.

Concerned Bavi'd nods then goes to the passanger seat, hoping he doesnt die.

Eli speeds up to match, not wanting to fall too far behind.

(We can get opposed pilot/ dex if you’re trying to make a winner here. Idk)

1

(8)

(10)

7:25 AM

Carmen sees Eli charging back up behind her in the mirror and smirkingly says over the radio, "Well, I guess we are racing after all."

"Just trying to keep it interesting, not much of a race if I can't get past you. You'll have to teach me to drive sometime." (edited)

Bavi'd is having a minor panick attack and says nothing.

(Carmen wins the contest)

9:19 AM

The rush of the river is heard even over the engines of the vehicles and even louder than that is the sky opening up over the garden, hundreds of kilometers away. Golden light from an orbital bombardment is for a moment brighter than the sun. Whatever those guns are pointing at is very, very dead

What was that!? Bavi'd asks, having never been to a town hall meeting or such.

"I don't know looks like something on the front? I hope they're ok. Do you think we should check in or head back?"

"I can try to check in, might be a good idea. I hope my friends are okay, they are Myrmidons." (edited)

9:49 AM

Carmen gets on her dataslab and tries to contact the base to see what is going on

There is no information available (stick to this mission please)

1

(Okay)

2:04 PM

"Nothing coming in, let's worry about that when we get back, I want to build stuff."

"Yeah, lets get some water and power, or at least water. Well you won the race I'm following you."

Alright then let's move out (edited)

Carmen nods, getting out of the vehicle to have a look around the riverbank for a good spot to build, as well as any equipment which may already be there.

Bavi'd looks for a place to lay his pumps and start building a purifier.

(How fast is the river flowing? Is it slow enough for them to walk into it?)

(no, its a fast current)

8:07 PM

The river flows quickly, white water foaming against boulders close to the shore and deeper out into the river itself. A handful of dark fish swim close to the surface, using the current to propel them downstream. Scraggly trees hang over the water, branching out to soak in the spray from their perches on the shore

8:07 PM

the area is heavily wooded, the soil a loamy mix of sand and rich black earth

What about using trees as a temporary dam?

"Hmm do you have anything to chop one down? or a rope. Maybe I could pull or push one down with the car?"

(How big is the river?)

I have an axe in my tool kit, all we need is a rocky place to pull them to and hope they stick.

"Ok, you two are the handy ones just tell me what I should do."

Sit there and look pretty soldier boy.

(about 50m wide at its narrowest point. This is like a missisisipi river type of scale)

(oh... no damn

8:33 PM

dam

8:33 PM

damned) (edited)

She looks at them, then looks at the river, then looks back at them "There is no way we are getting a dam in here with trees."

We could wire ourselves to the truck!

She laughs a bit "I mean, it would be fun, until the wire breaks and you are sent down the river."

"I mean how deep do you have to put those pumps? I could do it, we don't have any rope, but we could use the tent I brought for materials, just have to sleep in the truck or the car I guess?"

"Nothing like living in a truck down by the river for a day or two right guys?"

"I was just going to put the tent in there anyway, I don't want those night things to carry me off."

"The truck closes up completely, will be a bit tight with three people sleeping together in the back though."

(The fastest river "On earth of course" is 30MPH so suggesting this runs at those speeds you would have to have serious strength. Though if we had wire with a 75 pound or more tension, or a 30 pound tension, braided, we could tie to a truck or tree.... though it would hurt... a lot. however, we could also force a land mass with large boulders, causing a low pressure area behind it to build. The pumps would have to be inches above the bottom, for low tide.)

"As far as you reaching in, there is no way anything we have would be able to save you, we need some kind of crane, or a different spot. Maybe there is a tributary river upstream."

"I mean we could drive the car into the river or carve hand holds into the log? use that to get back out maybe? The important thing is getting the pump in right?"

We can check for a tributary, though water logging our transportation would be unfortunate.

8:52 PM

Water can make the motor of a vehicle sieze.

(this would be equivalent as far as the speed of the current)

(Thank you thank you)

(nothing too wild or out of the ordinary here, I wanted a terran-ish world)

(So fastest earthly rapid, or average? fastest is 30 mph in new york. avg is 4-8.)

(this would clock not quite fastest but probably 20ish)

(Alright ty) (edited)

"Also, I want to do more exploring, find some more bits to build with, and maybe take a bath. Oil and sweat is an itchy combo."

Sounds good, lets spend today mapping the river then bathing (Which I cannot do in this river i'd die) and setting up camp

"Wouldn't you just get pulled in trying to fill a bucket though? Oh either of you know how to work a survey scanner, that might help with mapping? I bought one, but haven't' used it yet."

I have one too, though i'm still learning it... Though... What if we made out own land formation? we could dig a ravine then build our machine in the ravine. When we finish building we dig it out enough to let some water through and let the water do it's job!

Bavi'd draws with a stick in the sand.

9:04 PM

"That's a great idea, we can divert the water into a canal then have that feed the pumps! We can use some wood to line the canal with so it will be easier to keep sediment out of it. Once we get the basic setup done we can head back and get some more equipment, and just use Eli's powers for transport."

9:05 PM

She grabs a shovel from the tool rack and starts digging.

Bavi'd does the same obviously excited.

(I think the angle would need to be a bit steeper on the diversion, just to slow things down, but otherwise a good idea)

(Lmao... my artistry skill is little to none)

Eli grabs a shovel, and goes to help as well, letting the car fade back to a wrecked empty chassis.

(Hope it doesnt rain heavy)

"One thing, don't open the canal up to the river until we have most of it done, otherwise we will have to start all over."

Definately, leave three feet of solid ground!

Carmen spends the rest of the day digging until it gets to late afternoon, at which point she goes out to get some firewood. When she comes back she sets up a poorly contained campfire and starts trying to light it using two sticks, which fails repeatedly.

9:11 PM

(Figured we could cut to camptime, unless you guys want to do something else)

(Just make spike traps to thin the night beasts)

(no I'm good with that, would probably dig until it's time to help set up camp too. Set up the tent in the truck to use the tent as bedding? You know they can fly right?)

(The truck has a metal roof and latches up tight)

(No i've never seen them lol)

Carmen evetually gets tired of trying the "Correct way" of lighting a fire, and pulls out her laser pistol, she stands back, shakily holding the weapon, and fires it at the firepit, missing horribly, and dropping the pistol when she yelps at the laser blast. (edited)

Eli sticks his head out of the back of the truck. "Are you alright, I heard a laser shot?"

Bavi'd chuckles, takes some rocks throwing them aside, looking for flint.

9:19 PM

After finding something similair, he attempts to strike a spark.

9:19 PM

(Unsure if it's assumed it sparks or is flint not a rock here?)

Carmen looks down at the gun and the fire in frustration, wrapping her arms around herself in a ptotective manner. "Stupid fire, stupid guns, stupid Max making me carry one of these things. 'Oh Carmen, you need one of keep you safe, you need to get over being scared of them, guns are so useful Carmen.'" She says in a mocking voice.

"So you're not hurt then, and who's max?" (edited)

She turns to him sheepishly "My friend. He's in the Myrmidons along with a bunch of my other friends from home. He has been promising to show me tmhow to handle one for years now, but he'a been too busy. I haven't seen any of them much since we got here. I hope they are okay."

9:26 PM

"I hate guns, guns suck, they don't even hit things you aim them at."

Eli chuckles. "Yeah getting used to the sound is part of it, at least these don't have recoil though. I could show you if you wan't, though I'm better at punching things honestly, but using some of everything was important as a partisan fighting the remnant, being versatile, or at least that's what they told us."

"I know you are supposed to be versatile or whatever, adapt and overcome, improvise and all that, but, I just hate guns so much, they are so sucky. They are loud and obnxious and they really hurt you in ways you can't fix yourself and they take up all this space in your bag and you can't dodge them or predict them, its just bang and dead and even if you are behind a rock the rock just chips around you until there is nothing left and you have to run away and hope they are out of ammo or didn't see you and I just hate them." (edited)

9:35 PM

She sits down on the back bumper of the half-track with a pouty face, kicking the dirt, and occasionally her laser pistol. (edited)

Eli comes out of the truck holding his hands up. "Ok, no guns, weight's why I stopped carrying mine around. Yeah, though if you don't like to or can't use it, you might not want to carry it guns don't choose sides, and they can be turned against you."

(Wait you’re kicking your gun?)

(Just lightly tapping it really)

9:42 PM

(On the grip)

(Alrighty then)

(Shes doing that thing people do when they swing their leg and it occasionally touches the ground, and in this case her pistol was in the way a tiny bit)

9:47 PM

She sighs. "I know, I just am so used to having it, and everytime I don't have it thats when one of my friends shows up and knows I don't have it and they get disappointed in me."

9:52 PM

She suddenly turns on a dime from pouting to a small smile. "But, enough of that, I'm getting dinner." She goes and starts looking through the boxes of rations, listing off bland, unappetizing, and sometimes downright revolting contents. "We have bread and boar gelatin, berries and eggplant, cheese and beans, and, eww, grubs and veggie puree. All my least favorites, great. Why can't they make us some real food."

9:53 PM

(Tried to make things that sounded both gross, and fit in universe.)

9:54 PM

(Neko is going to kill me now)

"I guess berries and eggplant? We could hunt something, but have you seen the trollboars, and they're the least dangerous thing." Eli takes the pistol keeping it pointed to the ground and removes the battery before handing it back to Carmen."There, still good for smacking someone and won't go off accidently. Sorry, seen too many dumb accidents not to be a little worried." (edited)

She tosses him a box of rations, taking a cheese and beans after going enney meanie miney moe. She takes the pistol and stuffs it in her bag. "Yeah, I'm a hazard to myself and others with that, I know. I like to build things anyway, not kill people. And if we come across anything dangerous, thats what the big gun is for, or just driving away."

"Don't Worry, Bavi'd and I are the same way. I'd rather patch someone up than shoot them apart. Even shooting at the enemy scout who'd just stolen my bike and tried to kick me to the dirt didn't feel too good."

Bavi'd nods

"You've killed people?" She says looking startled "There'a no way, how old are you? You don't look as old as any of my friends at all."

"Whoa whoa, not killed, shot at, and I only hit him once. He was still driving, I hope he isn't dead." Eli hangs his head. "He tried to kill me and was going back to give intel about the war, and I'm 17, how old are your friends?"

"Oh, they are in their 20s, oldest one is 24. I'm 19. And still, you are too serious for a 17 year old."

"Well, I did live through the rebellion, and insurgence on Cruesa, those were bloody times even for someone as low on the totem pole as I was. Public executions are something I'll never get used to." (edited)

10:15 PM

"Sorry, that was way too serious wasn't it? I could do a silly dance if that'd help? Or should I just go jump in the river now?"

She laughs. "A silly dance, I have to see this."

"Oh, you sure you don't want me to just jump in the river?"

"No, don't be stupid, I want you to humiliate yourself not commit suicide."

"I could live, Ok I said I would dance so I'll dance, just don't tell Bavi'd he likes to play up my humiliations."

She turns to where Babid is and shouts "HEY BAVID COME SEE ELI'S SILLY DANCE!"

10:35 PM

(Assuming he walked away for some reason)

Eli's dance is more moving around than dancing really. Silly twerking and jerky robot movements, over exaggerated disco dancing, voguing, some spins he tries for a moonwalk but doesn't quite pull it off, but at least is closer to busting a move than busting his ass.

10:40 PM

(6) "Well hopefully it wasn't that bad, or at least cheered you up a little?"

(He did not but he will pretend to be super excited for no reason XD) (edited)

(What was the six for?)

(Looks like an RP dance check

)

2

(Yes, that's what it was for I'd rolled perform/dex for the silly dance.) (edited)

Carmen claps, laughing and smiling "It was terrible, but yes it helped. Thank you."

"You're welcome, so did we want to set up watches or just lock ourselves in the truck? I'd like to get a good sleep, one of the costs of magic." (you said it would be tight with 3, and we have 2 laborers right? or did we leave them?) (edited)

(We have 2 laborers)

1

(I mean, I was just guessing, but I'm sure it could work)

9:57 AM

(The watches can just be sitting in the turret)

There's enough of us that we can let a watcher sleep a few hours during the day.

"Yeah. I'll go ahead and sleep up front so we can make a quick getaway if needed."

Sounds good

"I only mention it since if I don't get a full 8 the magic doesn't come back. I'll make up for it in the day, Thanks for understanding."

"Well, let'd get to sleep, big day tomorrow!" She says, climbing into the front seat, putting a few ration boxes between the two seats, and falls asleep within a minute, snoring loudly like a frieght train.

Bavi'd crashes out hard after telling a worker to take fist watch then switch off with the other laborer.

Eli wraps himself up in the tent and falls asleep in the back of the truck.

(I guess we just settle in for the night then)

2

Bavi'd wakes up to the sunrise. As per usual, he begins to exercise profusely.

(we would be good with 3 laborers? I never said that, you guys are going kind of fast)

6:51 PM

(i also dont really understand what youre actually trying to do)

(We are digging a small canal off the main river to collect water from, starting from the inside out, and laying wood inside to line the trench.)

6:53 PM

(And Bavid got the laborers earlier before we left, remember he found two guys standing around at the workshop with nothing else to do)

(he had them and then we launched into this instead)

6:54 PM

(and they were never mentioned again)

(I didn't even remember they existed until last night to be fair)

6:55 PM

(Im fine either way)

(I think we only used them to stand watch so far, and we locked ourselves in the truck then, the main reason I wanted to know if they were still with us I was afraid we wouldn't have enough safe sleeping space. Sorry if we were going too fast Neko, it was mostly innocuous stuff or debating a plan, but still.) (edited)

(Relationship building and idle chatter lol)

(Yup)

(Because none of us have real lives or friends XDXDXD)

(I mean, I just moved halfway across the country to a house with no internet, so all my life is what i can do on my phone) (edited)

(Lol I wish I had that excuse, voices just annoy me so I don't socialize much.)

(I wish I had Bavid's excuse even lol.) (edited)

(take this to occ if we're gonna do that) You settle in for the night, the other laborers saying little, but keeping to themselves (notice/wis for everyone)

1

(11)

(OOC for character relations? I'm confused, and 12) (edited)

(OOC for random bullshit about real life stuff)

3

(6)

(Srry Eli, you will be missed XD)

Carmen and Bavid's night watch pass uneventfully. In the small hours of the morning, when Eli begins standing guard in the normal place in camp, something cracks a large stick out in the woods, and worbles like some sort of droning insect

Eli focuses on his laser rifle and it appears in his hands. He raises it and looks towards the area of the woods he heard the stick crack. ((this is my rifle), I did change the partially used battery out for one of the new ones I bought before putting it away, I mentioned that since I know power is an issue for us, and it was a while ago in my own thread.) (edited)

You hear another stick cracking, and a whooping call deep in the woods, answered by another, and then another, further away. The closest noise sounds 50m away, but the night is absolute, and you cannot see far past camp

Eli goes into the truck to try and wake Bavi'd and Carmen as quietly as possible.

Carmen groans in her sleep, not quite waking up with the first shake "Go away uncle, ish too early fur train-ing..."

Bavi'd wakes up instantly What's up?

Carmen goes back to snoring

Eli holds his finger to his mouth and whispers. "There was some kind of bug calls and sounds coming from the woods, about 50 meters out. Probably at least two of them I thought I'd wake you up quietly, maybe whatever it is won't come this way, but I'll be ready with my laser rifle you can get on the big gun and Carmen can drive us, away if it comes close and his hostile. Assuming we can wake her up." (edited)

She snorts a bit, rolls over in her sleepand falls off the makeshift bench, hitting the gear level and waking up

10:05 PM

"Ow... that thing really hurts to fall on." She says rubbing her back. She sees them both awake and looks puzzled. "What aAAAArree you guys doing up?" She asks with a yawn mid-sentence. (edited)

Bavi'd reaches back and swats the laborers shushing them as they wake up.

"Are you, ok? Try not to move too much and stay quiet. Did you hit your head? Something or someone was out there in the woods. I think it was some giant bugs at least two. I wanted you guys up and ready to bug, out, but don't turn on the car yet, they might just pass if we're quiet is my hope. Though we might need to investigate if it's something that would attack the pumps."

10:14 PM

(we might want to wait for Neko to catch up though, he'll have to control the bugs anyway?)

The sound of Carmen hitting the deck caused a screech in the woods, answered brief two others. The sound of sticks breaking and brush bring disturbed gets louder as whatever is out there now begins going from stalking you to preying on you. (Initiative)

(3)

(4 sorry I'm on the phone so rolled it twice I went with the first one.)

(3)

The beasts emerge from the forest 30m away, their stunted black wings making them glide over the ground. Their fangs and claws glint in the moonlight with their sulphuric yellow eyes

2:05 PM

(Eli , Carmen, bavid

Eli drops his laser rifle, summons his plasma projector drops that too. "Here if those things are as big as they sound you might need these." He then then goes to man the big gun turret and turn it towards the bugs. ((This is my rifle cast this turn as on turn action), also preparing to cast next turn. I think it starts at the top of turns then casts on my turn, but I'm away from book, also I wasnt sure about doing this turn since rolling inituative and you saying it was my turn were close together. I plan on casting consecrated arms I think the name is.) (edited)

Carmen hears the noise and starts panicking a small bit "Shitshitshitshit, why didn't I listen when he told me to learn how to wake up quietly."She mutters to herself, getting into the driver's seat and starting the engine.

Bavi'd readies his laser pistol.

4:47 PM

Still crunched in the truck

The beasts close to within 15m , and you see the laborers have only just begun to come to their senses.

5:54 PM

(Eli up)

"Carmen they're getting too close, I'm going to start shooting will you be ok to drive?" (edited)

5:59 PM

(Hold action for answer to shoot at them, would that work?)

(Alright)

1

"Yes, just shoot. Everyone hold on!" She slams her foot on the gas and starts tearing out of there.

(Pilot/dex Carmen)

(8)

(Your opportunity Eli. It’s -4 to shoot thanks to the vehicles speed

( what type of weapon is the turret?)

(HMG)

1

(1/12 sorry about that just got to my computer)

The gun rattles and clicks, but the sub-bar ammunittion and the bouncing of the vehicle as it begins to move, throws off Eli's aim. (Bavid)

(I'll hold my turn, nothing i can do right now.)

(Your pistol has been in range this whole time)

(also the laser rifle and plasma projector are still in the back if you wanted to use something else.)

(I could try to shoot)

(Go for it)

((9) to shoot)

8:51 PM

(If it's with dex srry)

(for future reference you can just click the weapons and it will add that up and the damage too.)

(You rolled the shoot skill, not the weapon roll)

(oh (edited)

8:55 PM

18 dmg)

(18/2)

8:56 PM

(18 is the attack part 2 was the damage)

(Oh... srry)

(no worries, you got the right button this time and you'll know for next time.)

3

One of the creatures is lightly wounded and there is a horrific shriek as they fall upon the two laborers, left behind as the truck peeled away. They fall beneath a surging tide of fangs and claws, the sounds of struggle and wet feasting filling the air

10:39 AM

(Eli)

(So I would be casting this turn right? I should probably post the spell.)

(You lose the spell slot even if you don’t)

10:47 AM

(Iirc)

(Sorry Neko, try again.)

If the caster manages to make it to their turn in the 
initiative order without getting hit, they may use their Main Action to cast the spell. At this point, they choose the target for the spell and determine any other details of its effect. If they’ve changed their mind about casting the spell or if the situation has changed so as to make it inapplicable, they can voluntarily halt the casting. Such a voluntary stop on their turn still wastes the caster’s Main Action, but the spell slot is not discharged or lost.

(edited)

( I got modded!)

2

(Dang its ok neko the situation was weird since I used a held action and said I was going to cast before I had to? Internet hugs.) (I still wanted to cast if I could though since the last shot was horrible.)

(You're supposed to declare the spell you are casting at the top of the round and then use your Main Action to cast it when it gets around to your turn if you haven't been damaged before you're up.)

11:01 AM

(Instant Action or On-Turn Action spells don't follow this rule, but they will be specified per spell)

( I'm first though, so how does that work?)

(You declare the spell and then since you're first - you cast it too. Having high initiative is important for spellcasters)

1

(The weapons of the caster’s fire team are charged with metadimensional energy, granting them a +1 bonus to hit and damage rolls and causing them to count as magical weapons for the purpose of overcoming the defenses of creatures immune to mundane steel. Every weapon used by the caster and up to six allies within 30 meters is so blessed, though targets can move out of this range afterwards without losing the benefit. This spell does not affect weapons which are already enchanted. The spell lasts as long as the caster maintains Light Focus, and then one round per character level afterwards.)

11:43 AM

(so that would give Bavid, Carmen and I a +1 going forward to damage and attack until I drop light focus right?) (edited)

(That's what it says.)

1

(Alright so sum up what you’re doing for me)

(All of us or just Eli?)

(Casting the spell Consecrated arms for 1 level1 spell slot: so Carmen, Bavi'd and I get a +1 to attack and damage until I drop light focus. This stops me from casting another focus spell until this one is dropped. I can still cast spells that don't require focus though. This is my main action but as I'm manning the turret I think that's it. ) (edited)

(just eli and alright, so +1 hit and damage temporarily on Carmen and Bavid, Carmen is next)

Carmen keeps driving, doing the best she can to not freak out, heading back to the city.

(We're going to need another pilot/dex for the dense woods)

8:09 PM

(Also, is Carmen just going to continue to drive away? that's certainly something you can do assuming the check passes, but the mission will be over)

(She's somewhat in panic mode for the moment, so shes going to keep driving away from these creatures. If nobody stops her she probably will head back to the city)

8:17 PM

(Depends on what happens)

(Bavid then, since we'll allow them some reaction time to say the least)

8:17 PM

(chek still though)

(11)

(nothing bad happens, Bavid up)

8:19 PM

(in character you guys havent agreed to any course of action, all they know is your now suddenly driving away from two men left for dead, very fast)

(and the bugs that ate them. Oh, I wasn't sure if it was clear, but the spell included Eli also.)

We can't leave the site guys, they will ruin it!

(Ill save ic for my turn)

1

(anything else Bavid? You've not moved out of shooting range yet, but are rapidly doing so)

(for his pistol or the weapons in general?)

(pistol)

8:30 PM

(just like dnd, rounds are short intervals of time, even in a vehicle you;re not moving THAT fast)

1

(Trying, my websites being dumb 1 sec)

9(18/2)0 srry had to restart internet.) Bavi'd shoots at the beasts trying to hit the same one. (If it's possible to tell at night.) (edited)

(yeah you'd know what youw ere shooting at a few seconds ago) The second shot likewise strikes the beast, wounding it enough to at least get it to back off, but the other two continue their feast

9:12 PM

(back to eli)

Eli takes another shot at the closest but with the Hmg. (so -3 with the +1?)

(yes)

1

(6/14)

The shots go high, the turret bouncing wildly as the truck flies over uneven ground

6:39 AM

(Carmen)

Carmen looks in her mirrors and sees they are further behind, along with the corpses of the laborers, and starts slowing down "There, I'll go slower, just kill these assholes! Why weren't those laborers in the truck?! I told everyone to sleep in here for this exact reason!" (edited)

12:51 PM

(Shes going to start matching their speed, keeping the truck as far as she can while still letting Bavid shoot)

(I'm up? don't wanna go forward till neko ok's that and tells me if there's a change in the disadvantage)

(They’re not coming after you, they’re eating the workers)

5:15 PM

(Carmen has slowed down , bavid is up, what you do with the car slowing down is up to you)

(i'll fire again) (edited)

5:42 PM

(oof 5/4)

The shots go wide and not disturbed by the gunfire they continue their feast

The creatures continue eating, as the gunfire falls short, with food in front of them, little need to come after you. (Eli)

Eli fires at the creature that Bavi'd hit earlier. (edited)

7:21 PM

(22/15)

It falls, dead, the others not yet having an opportunity to react

7:24 PM

(carmen)

She turns the truck around, coming to a stop, just revving the engine, trying to make it sound threatening.

(Bavid)

(I'll shoot again)

7:58 PM

(9,2)

(another miss)

8:02 PM

and with it the flock scatters, dragging the bodies of the two workers back into the dark forest with them, and leaving their own behind

(I can live with that lol)

Carmen slams her palms against the steering wheel before driving back up to the site.

8:04 PM

"Stupid morons, didn't stay in the armored truck, too worried about leg room over their own safety."

The dead creature struck by the HMG fire has been left behind, but the workers bodies, and the surviving two creatures are long gone, their trail into the woods only left by a long blood smear that ends after a few meters of following it into the woods

"Well, we got one for a sample, but did we want to go after the others to secure the site? Don't want those things or worse coming back while you two are setting up the pumps."

(How heavy is the area of the forest they came from?)

(very dense)

I feel we would fail in that venture. We likely would just find the nest and regret it.

Eli nods. "Maybe I'll just stay on the turret then?"

"Yes, and don't leave the damn half-track at night." She sighs. "Should we call for some backup?"

"Can we, the radio didn't work this far out when we tried last time?"

"Sometimes these things get more range at night, I'll give it a try." She fires up the radio, trying to get a connection with the city.

The radiowaves are a mess of hissing static and conflicting half fragmented messages. A powerful lighting storm looks to be forming over the garden, sweeping outward slowly in all directions. Whatever its cause, it is playing havoc with the airwaves tonight

She works the radio a bit, getting the static, wincing and taking off the headphones when a particularly violent bit of static comes over the air. "I hate this place sometimes. There is a huge amount of interference, even more than yesterday. Unless we want to drive all the way back, we are on our own for now. I have no clue what is causing the problem."

"We should be alright here shouldn't we? If the gun scared them off?"

"Yeah, just means this will take longer, and we will have to be careful when getting wood. Hopefully these things don't come out during the day."

(Did these things have any obvious weaknesses? while we were fighting? like bats did they scatter to sound, or anything?)

(Well they didn’t scatter when you were shooting at them which is pretty noisy)

(ok ty)

You bring up a good point! I don't believe they've ever been seen out at day time, which means they are likely nocturnal and hopefully photosensitive! if we can get Hydro electricity going we can make extremely illuminated lighting hopefully driving them away! I know it's only a chance but maybe we should try at first light!

"I could just get the other car going again and run the headlights or something if you think that would help?"

I'm unsure, but I think it's worth a try.

"Unless we have lights all around they might just circle behind them, and I don't know if we have enough fuel for the half-track to be running half the day either, this motor isn't very efficient. We could try mounting a light to the turret, and just use that when we hear sounds." She says with a shrug.

"Well we have some time right, we just woke up, and we don't even know if they'll come back after we killed one of them."

"Right, I'll see what I can do with the brake lights I guess." She pulls off the brake lights, takes off the red glass, and tries to fashion some kind of spotlight with decent power out of them while the other two start work on the canal again.

1

(Do we need an exert for that?)

(We need a fix/int for that from Carmen. They’re being powered from the car?)

1

(Yeah, unless there is something else she could power it with)

8:19 AM

(12)

(It’s going to be done from the vehicle. And the solution works for the night)

(Alright)

"Alright guys, the light is ready, dunno whether it will last though. Having to pump extra power into the bulbs to get the light level needed." Carmen says, walking over to help with the digging. (edited)

"OK, just watch the power, we don't want to get stranded or lose your awesome truck."

Agreed

"Yup. Let's get back to building this canal. We might as well get the wood now while we have the light as a backup."

"Did you want me to work on that, seems like the most dangerous job, they came from the woods right?"

"Yeah, I'll help though. Start at the treeline, we can just clear-cut whatever we need for now, will give us more space to work with."

"Ok I'm going to drop this axe in a hot second if I hear any bug noises though."

"Good idea. You coming too Bavi'd?"

"Of course."

(are we getting working tonight, or waiting until morning)

7:40 PM

(its still night)

(also what did we do if anything with the body of that bug?)

(I dont know, nobody said anything about what they're actually doing with it)

(well they were big so I figured too hard to move, and I didn't want to stop to scan it if we had limited time. I figured I'd do it on watch or when the work stopped, so not mention it until then. It wouldn't have rotted too much by that time or anything would it?)

(lets get an actual IC plan)

1

(I thought it was morning, mb)

(Edited the above post)

(We have Carmen rigging up a spotlight for the night, and some loose but noncommittal talk about possibly working through the night on getting wood for the dam)

(She never would have suggested going out at night to work, that was me getting confused and thinking we had waited until morning)

8:07 PM

(I thought for some reason it was implied)

(So what part did you want us to start from/define more the immediate aftermath of shooting the bugs? Like what we do with the tail light spot light etc?)

(She would have started that the next morning, cause she can't connect all that stuff up at night with no light)

8:24 PM

(I assumed all this talk was the next morning, my fault)

"So you don't think we should try to chop some wood while they've run away? Maybe we should scan that bug while it's still fresh?" (is that alright, help take us back to before the chopping, and suggest the idea I asked about in ooc that should have been ic so we can decide it in character during the night?)

"Wait, you mean now? In the morning, sure, but not now, nonononono, that would be a horrible thing for us to do."

"Fine, would scanning the bug be alright then? Get some samples for the city? Shouldn't be too long then I'll sleep in the turret."

She nods a bit before hopping back in the truck cab to get some more sleep.

(should we stop there, you guys going back to sleep, the plan part sort of addressed? That way we can give Neko a chance to see it and weigh in?)

(Ya)

1

Bavi'd lays down for sleep too

1

(Heal/int for the bug scan, +2 if you have a bioscan net)

5:02 AM

(Bioscanner*)

(14)

Some data that would be more at home in a biologists computer system is recorded , nothing that would make sense to you but more than you’d expect to get given the body being killed by heavy weapons fire

"Well it looks like they're susceptible to heavy weapons fire, so that's good." Realizing he's talking to himself Eli puts on his night vision goggles and mans the turret watching the forest line until he falls asleep.

Carmen lays down, lying awake for a while longer, thinking about the attack, and structures they could build to safeguard the truck from them, before finally falling asleep.

Bavi'd crashes like he never woke up.

You’re not bothered again during the night and you all uncomfortably remember it’s likely due to the beasts feeding on the bodies, as the reason for your safety. Dawn finds its way to you after a rough night of sleep

Bavi'd wakes with the morning, a bit groggy and feeling like he barely slept, because he did. Though, per usual, he does his exercises, they aren't as intense as he would prefer due to exhaustion making it hard for him to wake up fully just yet.

Eli wakes up with a shout shutting his eyes then scrambling to turn off his night vision goggles. After rubbing his eyes and blinking for a while he looks around to see of he woke anyone up.

Carmen continues snoring for a while before eventually waking up, rubbing her back. "I need to build us an armored RV or something for the next mission."

"Could you really build something like that?"

She blinks a bit and stretches "Maybe, if I find enough stuff."

"I'd need one of those hulls at some point, even then its going to be a long term project."

"Hmm I think its a matter of finding another wreck site, you saw how bare the close one was. We probably said too much to those scavengers."

12:20 PM

"So what do we need to do for the pump today? More digging or should we start on the trees?"

"Let's get the trees today, we can use them to protect the truck too, just set them up against the sides or something."

"Well chopping comes first anyway, we should go get Bavi'd you know not split up with giant bugs about. Speaking of we might want to do something with the body of that giant bug? I scanned it, but more something so we don't have to smell it or something nasty doesn't come in wanting to eat it?"

Noticing they had awoken Bavi'd yells out. Hey guys how are you this morning? Feeling energetic now that his excersizes were over.

"I've had better mornings. And as far as the body goes, why don't we just dump it in the river?"

3:02 PM

"Anything that's left we can just dump dirt on top of."

We can't do that. Decaying and rotting meat will poison the water. it's very deadly.

"Okay, then let's use it for a fire tonight."

Better plan, I like it.

"We already planned to be on watch so seems ok to me. Should we get chopping then?"

Bavi'd nods.

Carmen get's to chopping trees.

(I don’t think we need an exert here. Spending the morning and early afternoon will get you enough )

1

(Okay)

(No one had anything to do before this? You just skipped half a day

(I got rid of my post guys, sorry about skipping ahead again, ill pay more attention) (edited)

2

Bavi'd also goes to help cut wood.

Eli continues chopping wood looking out for anything in the forest when he takes his breaks from chopping.

Carmen would stop for lunch at some point late in the morning, looking at the dead beast while she munches on a bread and boar gelatin ration. "HEY BAVI'D! ARE THESE THINGS EDIBLE?" She calls over to him

(Neko would I know if it was poisonous or otherwise inedible from the scan?)

I'm not entirely sure. Bavi'd states as he walks over to her. Though i brought plenty of rations, so likely better safe than sorry.

She looks down at the ration she is eating, then looks back at the pile of them, gives a small chuckle. "Half of them give you violent diahhrea, the other half constopate you for weeks, perhaps there is a balance in there somewhat." She says to Bavi'd with a smile.

"Where did you two buy these rations?"

At the market in town I suppose. Where I called you from to meet me.

"Yeah. I try to avoid it if I can, prefer to do my own cooking."

"Another project for us to work on maybe, getting some farms operational."

"Well we did bring back some samples of that chestnutato, maybe that could work?"

Carmen starts giggling at the mention of chestnutato. (edited)

11:38 AM

"Whoever came up with that name, comedy genius." She manages to say through the giggles.

"That was me, Bavi'd didn't like it he kept on stomping on them, but I brought back one, figured we could go back for more depending on what the lab said."

She tries to stop giggling, but can't quite manage it.

Bavi's stares at her like the joke just wasn't as funny as she believed.

"Well before you go eating it you should look at the scan at least, I think know enough to help now, but I don't want anyone getting poisoned."

(Youd have that info. It’s edible but it’s sort of like how a pufferfish is edible. Has to be really cleaned )

Listening to all the work required to make the meat edible, Carmen goes back to her ration with a shrug. "Think we are better off sticking to rations."

"Probably, maybe once the water and power are going again?"

"Maybe. I'll just use it for a big fire tonight like I was planning to do."

6:51 PM

She finishes up her ration and gets back to work.

Bavi'd nods

6:54 PM

Bavi'd heads back to work as well

Eli also gets back to work. Distracting himself by humming some inane song about chopping.

by early afternoon there are enough fallen timbers to begin working on the first stage of the project, and so far the forest has remained quiet. There are undoubtedly small rodents and birds going about their day out in the forest, but none can be trouble to come close enough to get a good look at you

Carmen starts getting a pit area ready to contain the bonfire, lining the edge with whatever rocks she can find.

(Is this area heavy in clay or limestone?)

(Clay close to the water itself)

Bavi'd starts collecting clay and loose rock putting them in seperate piles. Guys we can make hardening material! concrete! (edited)

"So, back to digging?"

No, no! I'll collect it for now, help carmen sturdy the walls.

Eli nods then goes to help Carmen.

"So are you saying we could make a building with a concrete foundation here? Or even concrete walls?"

We could yes

"Cool, maybe we can do that later once the pump is set up."

Not exactly, but we could build walls after. if we are building an enclosed structure we need to build the structure first,

"We can come back later then. We could make some molds at the workshop and bring them back to build an enclosure. We can just use wood for now."

(I am confused. You want to place a wood floor then come back and replace it with concrete? If so that's impossible without destroying everything we do build.) (edited)

(No, shes thinking like a palisade wall, or just laying a frame of wood around the pump, with some more on top of it)

5:16 PM

"To build something temporary." She says, seeing Bavi'd's confusion

She finishes up the fire pit, and lights the wood and carcass inside it.

(so what would burning bug smell like?)

(Not good)

6:44 AM

The smoke is black and greasy as the flames begin licking at the corpse. fat inside begins to sizzle and run

6:46 AM

(So did we not build anything then? We were clarifying our clarifications and then now we are doing this

(Yeah, I think so)

9:59 AM

Carmen coughs a bit from the smell before grabbing a spare shirt, tearing it into makeshift bandanas, and handing one to both of them, tying her's around her face.

9:59 AM

"Not my brightest idea ever."

Eli puts on the mask and looks around then at the smoke trying to see how high it goes.(would this be a large enough stack of smoke to be visible pretty far off?)

Bavi'd enjoys the fire.

 Tomorrow we can get started with the pumps and purifier. since I've built the pumps they wont take long and I should be able to build a heating element quickly, maybe a day at most.

"Good, means we can head back soon. I like exploring and all, but this forest sucks."

"It is very dangerous, especially off the trails, be careful of traps, there are mined stashes out here, the vicious animals and who knows what else. Oh also almost everyone living here hates us enough to shoot us on sight."

She looks at him "You really know how to cheer a girl up mister."

"Sorry, sorry better mad than dead though."

She chuckles with a smile. "I'm just messing with you, mister serious." She gives him a small punch on the shoulder.

Bavi'd chuckles

"Once we get done here we should figure out another adventure to go on, then maybe another. Eventually I'll have that RV ready and we can go wherever!"

Adventure huh? Bavi'd laughs.

I don't know about that all. My goals include getting water and power to the city and being able to start trades for supplies so I can open a tech workshop and build amazing machines. Then I would love to travel and adventure.

"OOH, COOL! Maybe we can work on that together, and then when it's done we can build a racetrack to race all the machines against each other! I really want to build a racetrack here sometime, we could build our own cars and see who is better at building stuff!"

Now racing is something I would love!

"I used to have a racing car I was building back home, but when we left it didn't come with us."

My home was more interested in medicine, so I wasn't able to gain many supplies for building sadly.

"Medicine, so much chemistry, blech." She shudders at the thought of having to do chemistry.

Well my people would likely die of a cold, so medicine's important. However I believe living to do nothing and playing it safe all of the time isn't a life.

"I know medicine is important and all, I just wouldn't be able to stand making it all day every day. Too many boring rules, my uncle would have like it though, he enjoyed all that boring stuff."

Bavi'd chuckles and nods in agreement. Alright, time to rest, the real work starts tomorrow. Bavi'd heads to the truck, Rigging the lights in hopes they will keep the beasts away.

Carmen hops into the driver's seat, putting some extra boxes in where she can to keep herself from rolling off the seat. She falls asleep quickly.

Eli gets into the turret, taking a watch before going to sleep.

(Did you want an answer to the smoke question or not because it seems like we have changed scenes without me haha)

(Sure)

(Yes please, just we didn't do anything about it besides be on guard?)

It would be visible for a brief amount of time , the smell carrying a lot further than the smoke itself

1

(Want us to make some notice rolls for each of our watches?)

(No but I do want physical effect saves made for everyone)

(2vs11 fail)

(11vs13 fail)

2:11 PM

(Dis gonna be bad me thinks)

(lol fight of the bugs, then die of smoke inhalation.)

(The pit is like 5-7 feet away from the truck, so it would be the smell more than anything)

(3vs14 megafail)

The next morning all of you awaken to wet coughs in your chest, Bavid seems to be doing a little better since he has less in the way of organics, but you can all tell that you're beginning to get sick

Carmen wakes up still tired, and immediately coughs up some phlegm onto the ground outside the truck.

Although not as sick as the other bavi'd panicks.

We need to go back. This projects not worth dying over. If I don't see a doctor I will die to a small sickness, due to our lack of immune system.

(As Ashen one's I auto fail all disease or biotoxin physical saves... I may be dead before we get back XDXDXD)

Carmen finishes her coughing fit, standing up with a sniffle "Wight, well lets all get back in the twuck, I don't want to be dwiving any more sick than I am alweady."

"If its just a koff cold I can treat us,sniff we'll be fine, I haven't let us die yet have I? Oh fine, I just don't like going back with nothing to show for it."

"Well, I dink people would pwefew if we came back awive" Series of coughs

"Alright, but at least least let me check you out to make sure it's nothing too serious?"

She nods

Eli takes out his scanner and starts scanning the three of them, Carmen first.

There is an airborne infection contaminating each of you, from the burning bug the day before.

(Is that something treatable with a medkit or is this worth going back as soon as possible over?)

(it is not treatable with medkits no)

"Well, you guys were right this time we'll need to get back to the infirmaries at the ship, looks like we've got some kind of airborne infection. We might want to radio in before we're at the base though so they can pick us up in vac suits, don't wont to spread it to the city." (that would make sense right with an unknown infection or would I know if this is just from exposure the smoke and if it would still be contagious?)

(I don’t think knowing or not knowing any of that is going to change your plan. )

1

"We can do that when we're closer to the city." She says, starting the engine.

"Alright, just pull over if you start to feel light headed though, no crashing."

"Yeah yeah, I'll dwive carefuwy." She says with a cough.

(Enough with the uwu stuff. ) Heading back to the city you leave behind the bodies of the two crewmen, not recovered, and some timbers that have been felled for their intended use as building materials

(Literally just trying to sound like I do when I have a cold, I don't even know what uwu is really)

10:37 PM

(How long is the trip back to the city?)

(About six hours )

Bavi'd lays down in the back trying not to push himself for fear of the illness getting worse. (edited)

About an hour away from town Carmen fires up the radio and tries to get a connection.

You can hear static and an idle background crackle. The city is listening, though nothing is broadcasting right now

"This is Carmen Ferraro from the water treatment team, anyone there?"

There is a harsh crackle and the radio goes silent. “Hello. Mytikas city calling. Anyone out there? We can’t read you”

She curses under her breath, gives the radio a few smacks, and tries again

8:29 AM

"Mytikas city, can you read me?"

"Should we try a compad message?"

"I don't think it would connect if the radio isn't working, its all the same stuff."

"Maybe shouting distance? Just tell them to stay back until they can send out suits for us?"

The radio is silent but you can hear that there is a connection open

Carmen sighs, giving up on the radio and drives closer to the city.

The guards on the road hold up a hand to halt the vehicle as you pull close to the city. You can see they’re busy inspecting the junk traders truck for any kind of hidden devices and doing the normal security checks

"Hey, we need someone to check us out, we all caught something while we were trying to get a new water pump built."

8:37 PM

"Might want a vaccsuit."

He calls two other soldiers over and they keep their weapons trained on the truck. “Turn the engine off. Stay in the vehicle. I’ll have to call this in”

She gets a look of abject terror at the sight of guns being pointed at her and turns the truck off.

"Carmen, stay calm and turn of the truck, we don't want them on edge, we'll be fine." Eli slowly moves away from the turret and puts his knife on the ground.

She looks at him and nods, doing her best to not start hyperventilating.

You can’t hear the guard sergeant over the distance and the sounds of the engine of the idling junk traders truck. Whatever is happening the officer is scowling and listening to instructions

bavi'd stays resting

He returns after a moment. “Landing ships coming down from orbit with a hazard team. Stay where you are , if you try to resist or escape we will open fire”

She nods, still looking a bit wide-eyed.

(Just want to see what the others do before moving on)

"Sir, I was able to get a scan of a dead bug before this happened, would it be alright if I sent it over, might help with treating our infection or if anyone else gets sick after dealing with them?"

Bavi'd still just lays in the back. Diseases are a seriously deadly thing to his people, so he is used to this.

“Stay in the vehicle. If you can send it wirelessly (which you can) send it. Otherwise stay where you are”

"Yes sir, thank you sir, sending it over now." Eli sends over the scans of the bug and those that he took of the three of them. (edited)

There is a growing roar from above as a lander begins descending, painted white with red hospital crosses stitched along the hull and some flight surfaces. Great effort has gone into making it out to be an air ambulance.

9:23 PM

It touches down after a moment of adjustment and hovering, and a team of six emerge all in vacc suits. Two carry rifles

Carmen continues looking on with confusion and fear, not understanding conpletely why there are so many guns involved.

Bavi'd stays laying down

Eli remains where he is inside the truck speaking to Carmen in a calm voice. "Don't worry, they're just on edge, this is probably the most serious non combat medical response they've had to deal with. We'll stay calm do what they say and they'll help us, no reason for any shooting, we'll be fine."

The medics emerge and begin looking over the scan data along with the security officers. One of them, unarmed but in a fully sealed vac suit begins to come over. “How’s everyone doing in there?” He says, approaching the passenger side window

"Coughing a bit, and nervous, but mostly ok."

Carmen nods, still staring at the gun barrels.

Bavi'd looks up. "I'm doing well still too." (edited)

“We are going to try to get you some help but if we are going to make a cure we need to know exactly what you did leading up to getting sick. You’re going to be in quarantine for a while too. The city can’t afford to have a native sickness running through it with so little medicine to go around

"We, uh, burned some kind of beast that we killed after it attacked us. I think he got scan readings of the body too."

8:53 PM

"On a fire."

"We fought the bugs, unfortunately they killed the laborers with us, then left when we killed one of them, not wanting to leave the body in the open, we decided to burn it and started cutting down logs, then set up a large bonfire to burn it up, the smoke was acrid so we used some rags as masks. We stayed awake in shifts after the first attack, but they didn't come back. We were sick and coughing when we woke up. I scanned us and determined I wouldn't be able to treat us, and it was serious enough we should come back. I think that's everything sir."

8:56 PM

"Oh and I was worried Bavi'd would be worse off than us as he's an ashen one."

"We tried to stay in radio contact but there was some kind of interference."

9:06 PM

"Really strange too, I dunno what could've caused it."

“Surely you saw the bombardment , whole planet saw that. Comms have been a mess ever since. You should know, since you probably don’t, Regent Adonis was killed in battle”

Carmen looks away from the rifles to the doctor, finally realizing what she saw. "He's, he's dead? What about his men, his myrmidons? Did anyone survive?"

"Only a handful, we're making contact with pockets of survivors here and there, but it looks like almost everyone was caught in the blast zone. Bombardment is playing hell with the airwaves, probably why you didn't get anything when you tried to reach the city'

"Is the Vice Regent Okay, I guess Lady Regent now?"

Carmen's face goes from fear, to confusion, to abject sadness as she starts crying into her hands, blubbering about her friends.

"Vice-Regent Cole remained at the palace to continue administration of the city, and is now acting regent, until a more coherent picture of the situation is known. We can't let you into the city" he says, listening to someone talking on his ear bead. Short range seems to be working, it seems. "We're going to bring you up to the orbital platform, and you're going to be spending some time in quarantine there, along with treatment. We can't risk this spreading"

Carmen composes herself enough to nod some more. "Do we follow you all right now?"

'Leave the truck, bring your gear, and everything you can carry, we can decontaminate aboard the station" Two soldiers come forward carrying satchels of demolition charges. "Sorry about your ride. We can't take it with us, and we can't risk someone else getting sick"

Eli starts grabbing his gear moving even slower. "What will you do with what's left?"

Carmen takes her things and gets out "First getting sick, then learning my friends are dead, now this truck I worked on so hard." She sighs.

"Maybe there will be something left, but even if there isn't you'll make something better next time, and now you have B'avid and me helping you."

Bavi'd crawls out of the truck.

If I survive I will gladly help you. Though being honest my people don't have a good history with any sort of diseases or illness.

You’re herded into the lander without much ceremony and as the ramp closes you hear, but thankfully don’t see, the muffled crump of the demolition charges blowing the vehicle to scrap

5:54 AM

A week goes by in orbit where you face endless injections, scrubbing , tests and blood work. You’re all eventually cured of the disease and your gear is sanitized, and returned.

5:55 AM

(Eli I know Pearl is waiting on you for something. As for everyone else we can split , 3xp, 5000 credits)

(cool I'll go back to my own thread, would we be able to count the week for downtime, like for learning ashen one while under quarantine? or would it be too distracting getting cured?)

(You Wouldnt have had time. )

1

Bavi'd heads home dissapointed in the failed objective.

(Did you have anything to jump into or do you need something)

(I think I need something, assuming I lost access to the T4 workshop.)

(Lost access?)

(When I was building the water tower and punps I had access, wasn't sure since we failed that I was allowed in there any more

(You can continue the project this attempt just didn’t work)

Bavi'd goes back to rebuild the pumps and sheet metal as well as build a power supply at the work shop

There are no parts of extra materials to do so, you find when you arrive. Anything you might need you’d have to salvage

Bavi'd goes to check if the truck that was blown up has any scrap metal left.

The metal and scrap was gathered by a clean up team after you were whisked to orbit to presumably be disposed of, as it still could have been contaminated

Bavi'd swears out loud then decides to walk around till night fall looking for some scrap

Anything close to the city has long since been picked over or claimed, as the reconstruction and personal business efforts in Mytikas are ever hungry for the precious mineralsz

(well, crud. Would I have any idea where to find any scrap at all?)

(Not within the immediate confines of the city, you’d have to explore further out)

Bavi'd attempts to find the vice reagent, if she is well enough to speak.

The vice regent is in the palace amid heavy security and a fair number of emergent civilian leaders. The chaos out on the battlefield and the sudden death of the regent himself has thrown local government into a special kind of disarray

Bavi'd goes back to the busier area of town and asks about scrap locations. (Sorry I really didn't know where to go from there so I had to think it over.) (edited)

The city is on lockdown as the government struggles to reform and a small army, now even smaller, works to maintain order over a population several hundred times larger. Illegal scrap crew are clearly making it out somehow , but no organized expeditions have been let out of the city

(Iseem to have messed up, i was resetting my xp back to 0, I leveled to the correct level however if you want me to go back down to 3 i will. currently all i gained is punch 2 and fix 2, as well as 24 hp thanks to a roll of 3 and 6, with die hard.)

(You’re good)

Bavi'd notices all his exercises have been paying off. His body is getting large and strong, as well as his assuredness in his repair and building ability. These things all start to show in bavi'ds work. Bavi'd starts to fear death less but decides to keep exercising routinely.

Bavi'd heads out towards his workshop/home to rest.

Bavid heads home to rest after several days out in the field, finally collapsing in a place with some solid walls around him,

Once the sun rises, Bavi'd gets up and starts his excersizes.

Bavid spends an hour exercising as the sun begins coming up outside

Feeling proud of himself for doing something great for the city, Bavid decides to do something for himself. Bavid heads towards scrappers that he knows around town asking about a potential hovercycle frame or a broken down one somewhere.

The scrappers in town haven’t been able to come out for quite a while but you hear the loud bang of a misfiring engine by the southern town guard post , and see the foreign scavengers and their two scrap vehicles outside, cargo beds full of salvage for sale

Bavi'd approaches the scrappers inquiring about parts.

Hello sirs, any chance you have parts from a gravicycle?

“A cycle, we got a frame and a hulk of one. You’ll@need to fix it up” one laughs

Fixing things up is my favorite thing to do. Mind if I look?

He gestures for you to go on ahead , and you’re led to the bed of the truck where a rusted hover cycle frame sits. It has a large number of frayed wires and the back grav plate has been severely cracked. The seat is nearly gone, used as nesting material by native rodents and birds. The power plant will need a number of flushing

Hmmm, I guess this is likely the best I can hope to find out here am I right? Bavi'd looks at it some more before deciding. Alright, whats the price?

“2,000’credits. Even melted down for the steel it’s worth at least that much here”

I'll take it, no need to hassle. What about a gun to fit to it?

They begin laughing, and start untying the wreck to hand over to you

I suppose this is a good start then, thank you gentlemen.

7:29 PM

Bavi'd pays them then drags the machine home. (do i need a strength/exert roll?)

(No it’s sorta hovers but it’s jerky and unevenly floating, so it’ll let you guide it but you can’t ride it)

(alright thank you)

Bavi'd hovers the bike home home and looks over it trying to determine what he needs to fix it. (Can I flush the power plant on it here or do i need T4 workshop to work on it at all?)

(Yeah all you’d need is water which there’s enough of now)

Bavi'd starts flushing the power plant repetetively. Checking for any damage as he goes.

Bavi'd spends the day looking over the gravicycle to see what parts he needs to buy.

(Let’s get a fix int)

(16)

Bavid is able to flush the power plant and find several hairline cracks that are readily patched from what is already in hand. The remaining parts are things that can be easily found in the market and after a morning of searching, and an afternoon of work, the bikes body is complete. (So it’s got no fittings, but is repaired)

Bavi'd excitedly gets on and rides to show carmen his work.

(shes a bit behind you in time, just letting that side catch up a little)

(Not a problem, ty for telling me)

Bavi'd calls eli.

@Rodger Landon (Corn) gets a call from bavid

"Hello Bavi'd, how can I help you? I'm at the mine right now."

I'm sorry, I will make this quick, do you know anyone who may know something about coding or computers?

"I'm assuming you and Carmen don't know anything right have you tried asking Jeonia?"

No, I suppose I can try her next, thank you Eli.

(could I roll a connections/int or something to see if I knew of anyone else?) (edited)

(I think that you just offered is your best bet slready)

2

Bavi'd hangs up after thanking him and goes to find jenonia.

Jeonia is finishing a meeting with plans for another windmill bank built out near the water, by the river pumping station , on the wall. She’s also got a desk covered in schematics for a sewer system and pipes for the city. You can see now why the workshop has not been resting

"I'm glad the clean waters being put to good use." Bavid says

“We have a long way to go before it’s pumped into the city in anything like the quantity we need, but you started us off nicely” she says “but you’re not here to talk about that, are you?”

"No ma'am, I'm sorry. I'm just wondering if you happen to know of a programmer that could program a turret to recognize lethal action for me, possibly with a kill switch to be safe. This is a personal thing so I dont want to pull anyone from a big job or anything but if you could point me in the right direction I'd be grateful and gladly return the favor."

“I could rig a turret up for your bike, but I’ll need a favor in return;as you said.

Of course, anything.

I need a hand in space, getting the troop ship down safely so we can begin taking it apart. This will be the single largest project we have undertaken as a community and I will need help to do so”

9:10 AM

“There’s just not enough skilled labor I can call up on my own”

well of course. From what I hear there's no bacteria in space, and you can't be afraid of heights if you can't fall right? I think?

Bavi'd laughs playfully.

“If we crash it will be over too fast to ever know” she laughs back. “Alright. We have a ship coming down to bring us up there tonight. Will you be ready by then?”

"Sure, but let me know if we need another mechanic. I may know a woman."

“Who did you have in mind? Another skilled hand up in space couldn’t hurt”

"Carmen. She's a solid mechanic and I've worked with her quite a bit."

“if you think she fits what we are doing I don’t see the harm” she says , packing her tools@

"Alright where should we meet? I'll give her a call."

“Here. I’m sending for a ship to pick us up from the roof”

"Alright, I will be here, possibly with carmen. Thank you." Bavi'd heads out and calls @opscomm

Carmen picks up "What's up Bavi'd? Got the turret all done, just needs to be installed and programmed."

"That's great, think you can drop it off to jeonia's? And while your at it, wanna go tear apart space shuttles in zero gravity with no air?"

"Um, when you say it like that it sounds super dangerous and not fun at all, but, if they need the help then sure."

Bavi'd laughs. "They need some help tearing apart the shuttle. We leave tonight. I will see you tonight, and thank you again." (edited)

(We can convene here then since you’re both signing on for this)

(ok

) (edited)

Carmen comes carrying her tools and some extra clothes to meet Bavi'd at the pickup site.

"Ready to fall up?"

1:56 PM

Bavi'd chuckles and waves.

"Yeah, should be fun demoing a spaceship."

Bavi'd chuckles

"Oh, I also finished the mechanical parts for your bike, left them over at the workshop."

"That's great! Cant wait to get back and ride it, thank you."

"I forgot, we already talked about this earlier during the call." She says with a laugh.

"Yeah, but it's ok I am excited" bavid smirks.

"Who are we meeting, Jeonia?"

"Yes"

"I guess she isn't here yet, we both must be early." Carmen says, looking around for Jeonia.

Jeonia is the only other person that arrives, making her way out of the palace. As she does, a cargo ship comes down from orbit, ramp already extending. It is a squat vessel but more than enough for the three of you. It’s running lights flash red and green reflected off the buildings

"There she is, ready to go into space?"

"Race you!" Carmen says as she runs up the ramp.

Bavi'd chuckles and follows, though briskly, not running. (Bavi'd never runs.... he's too short.)

When Carmen reaches the top of the ramp she slows to a walk heading to Jeonia. "Hey Jeonia, thanks for the invite! Hopefully this will go smoothly." (edited)

The ramp shuts behind you and she nods but says nothing. She is wearing a set of can headphones and just be listening to a report or something else happening with the salvage team aboard already. Her face shows deep concentration. As the lighter takes off the green sky thins from emerald to lime and finally to the black of space and star field. On the left, one of the two platforms watching over the planet is visible, it’s handful of guns pointed out into the void, ever watchful

Bavi'd stares into the nothing of space, feeling so small, well smaller than usual.

Carmen gulps as they go into space. "Forgot how scary this is."

Ahead, the large form of the troop ship comes into view, and one of the hangar mouths on its side opens, casting dirty orange-yellow light into deep space. "Alright" Jeonia says "Once we land, we make for the bridge, and we take stations. It's just going to be the three of us on this one, no one else had the skills to pass muster, and I wouldn't trust this to anyone else"

"So, the three of us are going to dissassemble the entire ship?" Carmen asks with a combination of confusion and concern.

(You’re landing it from orbit)

(Ah)

“Disassemble? In space...bavid you told her what the job was actually about right?”

"He said we were tearing apart shuttles." She says, looking at Bavi'd and mouthing sorry.

I appear to have misunderstood, but Carmens reliable she can adapt i'm sure. Besides.... we can only crash once.

Carmen clears her throat and smiles nervously. "I'll be fine, its not that different from driving a car...I hope. Just point me to anything mechanical and I'll know roughly what to do." (edited)

She begins by throwing some levers and sitting in the captains chair. “Alright. We are going to take her down into city center nice and easy...but we know it won’t be like@that. This thing is big. Really big. Once gravity begins pulling on us we are going to plummet. Im going to need you to be as light on your feet and quick thinking as possible while we do so

10:40 PM

“If we don’t control our descent not only are we dead, but we will be detonating a fusion bomb in the heart of our own city”

"And there isn't really an alternative landing site is there?"

“Not if we want to actually use the ship the way we discussed, no”

Alright captain! You can count on us.

Carmen nods

(So I was thinking about doing a skill contest for this)

(Okay)

9:29 AM

(And if we lose EP is dead forever?)

(Play and find out man)

(Badly timed joke, sorry, Just waking up)

(I'm down!)

9:31 AM

(What skills boss man?) (edited)

(You decide how you think any of the skills could be used , this is like when you guys built that atv)

(Cools. I'm ready to go whenever)

(um Fix intelligence to check that all gears good to go and will operate correctly, Pilot dexterity to fly it, Exert intelligence to land?)

(Lets do this all one at a time. Start with fix/int)

(Ill run that one)

3:41 PM

(14)

Carmen is confident that the mechanical systems themselves as far as she can tell are in good enough repair to get to the ground. The neglect the rest of the fleet is beginning to see has not claimed this vessel yet

5:57 PM

(1-0)

(Are we allowed to try to assist?)

6:33 PM

(If we did like a program/int?)

(No)

6:54 PM

Jeonia begins throwing levers and with a shudder the ships engines come to life, fuel flowing cleanly to the reaction chamber. She begins the long arc to bring the ship about and into a descending flight path

(Charisma talk for pep talk?)

(Sure)

(Solid 6)

(1-1) Bavi'd does what he can to ttry to rouse the other techs into some kind of better mood, but speaking primarily through a datapad is difficult and his message is lost amid the endlessly scrolling lists of critical data needed to do the job safely. The ships viewports begin to glow white, as the first brushes of atmosphere begin to lick at the hull.

(Pilot/Dex to help stabilize the ship)

9:15 PM

(4, using reroll)

9:16 PM

(12, sorry for fatfingering my foci twice, on mobile)

(2-1) Carmen jumps into the empty co-pilot seat, dragging the controln handles close to her, and helps to stabilize the descending course of the ship. The hull still shakes, but far less. Outside, the windows begin to light and heat orange

8:16 PM

(we used fix, talk, and pilot so far)

(Ill let Bavid make the next one)

(Exert str. Bavid attempts to call on all of his stamina and strength to keep going and to be expedient around the ship as they are likely getting exhausted.)

3:58 AM

(12)

(3-1) It is a Herculean effort for all of you to keep your minds and bodies going at such a demanding level of effort and at such an intense speed. Banks of consoles flash with warnings and are dismissed as you expertly guide crew through issues you can’t spare yourself to fix. Outside, the burn of re entry gives way to the first scraps of patchy cloud. You are almost there

(Notice/Wis 3, using reroll token)

10:28 AM

(9)

(Bump just in case of googled)

)how are you using notice though. )

6:45 AM

(I need the narrative part of this)

(Visually identifying the landing spot)

(3-2) The landing zone is still 40,000 feet below you and the ship sensors are all clouded from the re entry. This far up they haven’t had time to tune

(pilot/int to attempt to learn the controls and help co-pilot) (edited)

(Already used pilot)

(damn i missed it ok 1 sec) (edited)

12:34 PM

(preform/int to pretend i know what im doing in hopes of boosting morale)

12:35 PM

(solid 6)

12:35 PM

(ima reroll that) (edited)

12:35 PM

(9)

(4-2) bavid inspires some confidence in those around him even if he isn’t sure what he’s doing himself.

(Program/Int to check computer systems and power levels are stable)

1:00 PM

(8)

Everything checks out and you see jeonia mention for you both to strap in, as final landing preparations are made. A wide swath of ground has been cleared and up this high you can see most of the rubble clearing efforts across the city are nearing an end. True development can begin in earnest with assistance of continual power.

Carmen is tense until the ship comes to rest on the surface, letting a big sigh when they land. "Well that was nervewracking." (edited)

"I thought we were dead... I don't think i'll ever do that again." (edited)

"Yeah, let's not. I like being on the ground driving things."

)6xp, 10,000 credits )

11:50 AM

Jeonia is breathing heavily as the ship settles, never again to take to the air. An inscription has been carved into an overhead beam, above the captains chair. “There is honor in this duty” and today, those words take on a new meaning for this ship, and what it will become

(Yay level up!)

11:51 AM

(I'll head back to my thread for a bit)

Exhausted Bavi'd thanks carmen as she leaves, then looks at Jeonia. I can count on you to fix up my turret to recognise non friendlies?

(health is now 30, I've taken henchkeeper, 4 skill point went to leadership.)

(eli is going to be on his mission for a bit, did you and carmen want to get the powerplant mission going?_

(Fine by me)

(Yesss!)

(yeah have fun on your mission don't wait for me.)

(didn't plan on it, we don't need nobody to shoot at it... i think...)

(pfft, okay keep telling yourself that I'm gonna go punch another saber cat.)

2

)lets do that here rhen(

5:48 PM

The ship spends a day cooling and settling before it is safe to begin any organized work on it. Jeonia for her part realizes everyone needs rest if they following work is going to be done with the degree of skill required. The ship will need to carefully be taken apart and it’s engineering section fashioned into a power plant for the city. Bringing it down from orbit eas just the beginning

Carmen shows up the next morning, yawning occasionally due to her staying up a bit too late working on some new arrow designs. She looks around to see where Bavi'd is so she can show him her new pouch, believing he will enjoy seeing her taking after his people. (edited)

Morning Carmen, how'd you sleep? Bavi'd states as he walks up.

She yawns again and stretches a bit. "Fine, once I got to sleep. I was busy gathering some random stuff. I may have copied your bag." She holds up a satchel full of scrap parts. "I figure these will come in handy for some custom arrowheads or something later on."

Great idea right? My people have done it as long as I can remember. Though admittedly, I found a way to organize my bag to fit a bit more than most. Anyways, You ready to get to work?

"You mean get this workshop running full pelt 24/7? I'm super ready for that! Think of all the cool stuff we will be able to build soon! I've got this idea for a massive wheeled tank three stories high that can punch through all this forest around here with all kinds of guns and stuff to keep monsters away. If this goes well I might be able to build it one day!"

"You know what I want to build? I want to build a mech that will drastically improve my speed and punches. I want to never be scared to fight again. I will then be able to protect what I hold dear." Bavi'd remembers the explosion that almost took his life.

Jeonia arrives a few minutes later on the back of the only work truck in the protectorate , covered in tools, ladders and gantries. A small labor army of at least a few hundred follows on foot, ready to haul away the cut away pieces

Carmen walks over to Jeonia with a big smile on her face, still thinking about all the new things they could make with this power. "Hey Jeonia, both of us a ready to get this powerplant setup, right Bavi'd?"

Definately!

She says nothing else but motions for you both to follow her up the ramp of the ship. “Alright. Let’s get to work. It’s going to be a long few days just to get the hull peeled away , and then we have to construct a containment zone and power plant around it”

"Where do you want us?"

Bavi'd walks to the outer hull and starts stripping the parts.

The work crew follows up behind you, ripping plates from the hull in a disorganized mass, their frenzy to do something more productive than break rubble overriding their sense

Hey! I know you're excited, but take your time. we can use that scrap if you don't destroy it.

"Yeah, don't waste the materials, we need these panels!"

The floodgates have already been loosened and they ignore you, tearing at the skin of the ship to carry off whatever they can, back to their homes to fix various defects (edited)

Bavi'd gets noticeably angry and goes to work.

Your mood is not noticed as the crowd has the entire port side of the ship torn to worthless pieces in moments. This seems to keep them occupied and the work gang Jeonia brought to bring the metal to where it was most needed had dissolved into an opportunistic mob. She looks unhappy

Bavi'd attempts to take deep breathes and calm himself, noticing the look on her face Bavi'd stops working and approaches jenonia. Is everything alright?

Carmen looks at her, then back to Bavi'd, trying to figure out a polite way of saying he just messed up bigtime, maybe. (edited)

“This mob. We needed a way to disperse them. Our job just got a lot harder. I didn’t even get time to tell you what the plan was before you jumped in, “

Carmen scratches her head. "Should we get a small group of militia down here? I can get my truck down here and maybe a few bursts over their heads will get them dispersed or at least will scare them into listening?"

I'm apologize, I was unaware of the mob of people until after I had already started what you asked me to do first. That being said I could rig my turret up with sand bags to pelt all but us. It would hurt, not kill anyone who rushed the ship.

"I don't want to hurt anyone, just get them to listen."

It doesn't injure. Also mob mentality is hard to overrun.

"What do you think we should do Jeonia?"

“It will take too long to modify anything. We have to scatter them with what we have on hand. “

(Is the ship parked right next to the workshop?)

(No, a few streets over)

Bavi'd looks for a big guy in the group.

2:10 PM

Bavi'd, while looking, grabs part from various pockets and builds a shotgun. (Shotgun 3d4 10/30 $50) Though chooses not to trust anyone with ammo. (edited)

A large specimen of a man has three large beams under his arm, beginning to back away from the wreck. The ends are twisted into something like points from where he pulled them off the wreck

(So it would only be a few minutes for her to run and grab her truck?)

Hey! You! Bavi'd approaches the man, realizing for the first time that he is getting ripped from his exercising daily. Want to make plenty of money?

(It would but we are going to slow down into something like initiative since the situation is so tense. You can’t just pop back up with it if you’re leaving to get it now)

2:16 PM

The strong man looks at you. “I’m fine with this. I just need a few pieces for my house.”

(Okay, thats fine.)

You can keep that, but I need to hire you. What would it cost? Food? Money? Alcohol? I can build almost anything available here.

2:18 PM

(Bavi'd isnt yelling or anything, but not hushed. in the assumption everyone is caught up in the chaos.)

(Would she be able to make some kind of rudamentary flash-bang arrow? For less than 50 credits?)

3:11 PM

(Just something to get people's attention?) (edited)

(I'll look up the price rq)

(A grenade is 25)

(25 for grenade, how much for an arrow? and 5 per thermal flare to coat the grenade in magnesium.)

(An arrow would cost basically nothing)

3:14 PM

(Like, half a credit or something, assuming they count as regular ammo)

(Ok, if neko ok's it, probaby a create roll and a dex roll to empty the grenade and put magnesium in instead of gunpowder.)

(I'll see what he says)

“I could use someone to help fix up my house. You must be handy with tools if the chief engineer has you helping her. Could you do that?”

5:38 PM

(Flashbangs arent in the book and have been vetoed previously as a suggested item. There just isn’t a great mechanic for them)

(I'm more thinking something that can create a loud bang to distract the mob and get their attention)

(Also I was under the impression we needed to actually get some stuff on paper together before we started whipping these out

(Something that wont hurt anyonr)

5:44 PM

(Like, to shoot above the crowd)

(Ok let’s let bavids thing resolve first

(Alrighty)

Definately! Ok, heres your job. Hold this shotgun Bavid lowers his voice "Its empty" Then fixes his voice. And guard the ship. nobody in unless it's us.

“Just me? Against all these people?! Look. I need the help but not this bad”

(are these people violent?)

(At the immediate second no but they’re tearing away at this thing. You don’t know what they’ll do if you escalate things)

6:50 PM

(These are desperate people who have been living in destitution for a few months now)

6:52 PM

(Who have a slight scrap of advantage presented to them now)

Look, all i need you to do is be scarey and large. If it comes to an actual fight I will take care of it. Bavi'd looks around, trying to move on to the crowd. He builds a speaker out of his materials to amplify his voice. Enough! This ship will bring power to all of your homes! Bavi'd shouts into the mic.

Back off now! Look at yourselves, acting like animals! We understand that life is rough here right now, but the parts you are taking are the parts we will use to build up this civilization! Now if you have doubts, feel free to speak them. I will listen and answer as many as I can. But for now, please let us work to improve your lives, before you you ruin that chance!

The mob rallies and rages, getting close to the ship with renewed vigor. Very far behind them at the end of the street you see a man in combat oriented clothing @GIlouth

Guess we have little choice but to stop them by force. Carmen you ready to fight if we need to?

5:20 PM

Though Non-lethal force would be preferred. Don't shoot if you don't have to.

Carmen sighs, pulls out some things from her bag and strapping them to an arrow shaft before pausing. "I think using this will lead to bigger problems."

6:08 PM

"Let me see the megaphone bavi'd."

Bavi'd tosses the megaphone over.

(Let’s let kayden make a@choice here too$

(Ohhh didn't know kayden was here srry.)

(Did I hear Bavi'd on the megaphone or did I show up after that? Sorry, I'm moving a different state so it's been taking me a while to get stuff together)

(You’d hear that but not their short exchange after)

'Not your problem, not your problem, not your problem. Damn it, I can't just leave. Time for some bad ideas.' Focusing his will, purple energy begins to coalesce up his arm until it takes the shape of a large caliber revolver in his hand. He shoots it in the air, the crack as loud as a .500 magnum, while trying his best to shout at the crowd like he's done this before. "What the hell are you doing here?! Go on and get out before someone gets smart enough to call in a riot team!" (edited)

Carmen winces when she hears the shot, turning around to see what made it, then looking back at the crowd to see how they are reacting.

The silence is almost as loud as the mob a few seconds ago, and without further sound they begin to gather what fallen scrap they can before expediently leaving the area. Only a handful of small pieces are left behind and more importantly the work site is empty save for the five of you (Kayden, jeonia, bavid, Carmen and the guy bavid hired)

Thanks Bavi'd sighs. What's your name sir?

Internally breathing a sigh of relief, the revolver dissipates as he walks down towards the wreck. "Name's Kayden. And you are?"

Carmen just looks at the whole situation conpletely dumbfounded.

10:36 PM

"I was about to do that!"

'I'm amazed it actually worked.' He thinks to himself. "Gotta be faster on that trigger then. Mobs can get real dangerous unless you put a little fear in 'em."

"I don't use guns, I was putting together an explosive arrow, but you shot right as I was finishing it. Anyway, I'm Carmen, thanks for the help. At least they didn't get the otherside." She turns to Jeonia. "Where was the militia? Isn't it their job to make sure we can do ours?"

My names Bavi'd Bavi'd looks to the hired hand. See that's all I wanted you to do. Just be scarey. Bavi'd laughs.

Oh well, I'll still help with your house, though some help with the work here would be appreciated. Just take your time, don't rip it off into scrap.

“Do I look like a militia commander?” Jeonia asks. “Take it up with the regent. Let’s take advantage of the time we have and get inside this thing. We need to get to work. “ She turns to Kayden. “You know anything about spaceships?”

"I'm no mechanic, but I know the basics."

"So long as you can cut better than that" Carmen says, pointing at the ruined hull "I think you will do fine."

(I wasn't talking to jenonia. i was talking to the big guy.) Alright lets get started!

(Carmen was talking to jeonia) (edited)

(Makes more sense lol, thought i upset her lol)

She motions for the group of you to come aboard. “You two with the guns, let’s keep our ears open. That mob could come back and you never know who could have wriggled into a compartment or accessway when the skin got peeled back “

Bavi'd follows her.

Carmen follows behind him

Kay hesitantly follows behind the group

Inside the ship, you see the inner hallways have been spared the ravages of the mob, and none seem to have made their way into the engineering section, toward the center of the ship. "Someone should take a look at the armory, someone needs to man the computer systems on the bridge to watch the core levels, and someone needs to stay here to help me get everything hooked up to ground power."

"I can go watch the computer if you want to stay here Bavi'd. Spent last night reading about computers."

"I can take a look through the armory"

(we can go into our own threads then, this sort of worked out nicely, and then re-join here after as we bring this together with a nice little bow. Sound good?)

(Sounds good to me)

Bavi'd nods at carmen. "Thank you guys, good luck."

Bavid stays behind to begin working with Jeonia through the complex process of hooking the reactor up to city power. “Alright bavid. First thing we need to do is disconnect the reactor. Once we do, we have to reconnect it to the conduits outside that lead to the substation , quickly. “

Understood! Bavi'd grabs the plug ready to go when he is told. Ready?

(Let’s get a fix/int)

(13)

A needle and gauge on the wall begin to move toward the yellow and red fields as temperature and reactor charge begin to rise, temporarily free of the failsafes and demands placed on them , as the lines are disconnected one by one

Bavi'd looks for a metal stake to run into the ground.

There are several lying around , on the metal decking around the reactor and scattered on the riveted deck work around the room

Bavid attempts to ground the electricity by running a wire from a pole into a ground to the reactor to discharge the energy.

There is a tremendous explosion of sparks and molten metal as you ground the metal pole into the also metal engineering room floor. (19 damage)

The fire suppressant system begins working, hosing the area down with a blue foam that slowly expands to smother the blazes. Kayden appears in the doorway of the room as it begins going off

"Now explain why exactly you need these guns gentlemen?"

"We're sick of the militia keeping the city in lockdown, and not keeping us safe within the walls itself. Two of my crew got accosted , a couple months ago in the marketplace, lunatic just started shooting at them. Luckily they killed their attacker and escaped, but the militia didn't even respond. Now Regent Adonis goes and gets our army killed? No. we're taking things into our own hands. We're leaving, and we need this gear to protect ourself in the wilds"

"I understand your concerns, he'll I'd be lying if I said I dont share them. But I cannot condone this, not stealing from the average citizen. We are building power for everyone."

“You don’t need to stand in our way. You can walk. We let your friend walk. We can’t just let this chance to get away pass us by”

"I cant just walk away. It sounds stupid but I've seen changes you wouldn't believe lately and I am choosing to have faith in what we, and I mean all of us, can become if we hold on. But you are correct the people should have protection, just not stolen guns. I'll make you a deal. Leave those and I will make guns and hide them, if things get bad enough I will give you the biggest armory you've ever seen. Deal?"

“I...alright. I saw what you did for that man outside too, letting him leave with all that scrap for helping. I’m trusting you “

6:36 AM

“You’ve got a month to deliver on this. No more. But no less either”

"Agreed. Thank you." Bavi'd nods

They gather themselves and begin walking out of the room, leaving you alone in the armory.

Bavi'd goes to check on kayden, carmen and jenovia

(I want to give Him a chance to resolve this before you get there. Post speed has you ahead of him even though in actual time he would have been alone for a bit)

(No problem)

Racing into the chamber, moments behind Kayden, you can see he is hunched over the recovering form of Carmen, a lazarus patch prominent against the skin of her neck. Jenoia is down, and looks to be remaining so. she is not breathing and has sustained too many injuries for her body to bear.

(We moving here then?)

(yeah)

8:34 PM

(you're already there, this is just so bavid knows)

Bavi'd ignores Carmen's yelling rushing to jenonia. He checks for a heart beat, he doesn't know much of medicine, but maybe a shock would restart her heart.

8:37 PM

He looks up @GIlouth then at carmen. "What happened!"

(shes dead dead, she was already at 0 and took 20 more damage)

(Damned, ok)

(we don't need to keep moving around. I brought everyone into Kaydens to finish this, lets just play out the last little bit so i can award xp and we can finish this

(Your channel kayden)

Bav'd goes home, and starts to work on some guns, like he promised.

(It’ll use all your spare parts to make some basic projectile weapons but it will be enough to make your end of the deal. As far as getting them handed out, youll have to find a way with being confined to quarters)

(Ok)

11:55 AM

Bavi'd stores the guns away for the time being waiting for the verdict on his punishment.

After a day passes there is a sharp knock at your door. Outside you hear the Hum of power armor and the crunch of stones being ground under the walking tread of booted feet

8:47 AM

“Bavid dowie. Please open up”

Bavi,d opens the door

Outside is a myrmidon officer and two other troopers also in power armor. A truck has been pulled up to the front of the house, a trio of militiamen standing upon its back bed. “The regent has sent a message to you on this slate. You’re to read it first, and then us after.”

Bavi'd picks up the letter, nervously opening and reading it. (edited)

Bavi'd, 

Your willingness to put yourself forward to help this city and its people should be commended. Had you resigned yourself to a life of rubble clearing, you would not be in this position right now, but Mytikas would have been much further off. The same, this is three important undertakings in a row that have resulted in a mishap, and loss of life as a direct result of the decisions you have made. 

You have three options ahead of you now , and it gives me no joy to present them: 

1) Execution: My guards will handle it quietly, and without pain to your person. We report to the public that you died from radiation exposure. You're buried a hero and it will be known you perished bringing vital power to this city. Your relatives or friends will be provided for. 

2) Exile: You are expelled from the city with enough supplies to make it to a neighboring village or town

3) Redemption Mission: I need someone to explore whatever might be left in the Garden of Bones, marking high risk salvage, and searching for anyone who might have survived and become lost

Bavi'd looks at the guards and hands them the paper back. I'd rather not risk anyone elses life so I choose Exile.

“Very good. We will drive you to the city gates. You’ll collect your supplies and be off.”

5:54 AM

Watching from an alley, you see the trio you’d made a deal with. One puts a finger to his lips

5:54 AM

They’re not armed, for now watching the situation intently

Bavi'd points sneakily towards the house. He made a promise and, though he still has to make more, he delivered to some extent. Though he is glad he didn't make ammo.

Their lead nods and makes a hand signal used by the military for “wait” He begins walking toward the house as you’re pulled aboard the truck. The soldiers have cleaned out your belongings and bundled them for you. Two small antigrav nodes help keep the very heavy pack from pulling you over. A last gift from commander Cole, it would seem.

6:27 PM

“We are to take you to the southern countryside and after that, well, best of luck. You’ll be let back into the city in the company of others but only for as long as your business takes.”

"Understood, and will I be able to take my bike?"

"Yes, its been picked up from the workshop and brought to the gate for you already"

Well thank you I appreciate it. (sorry about the transfer from electronic speak to verbal speak I cant figure out how to do the `` sign on my phone.)

9:57 PM

Tell Commander Cole thank you, and please bid Eli and Carmen farewell. I am greatful for everything. Bavi'd follows the soldiers.

(If you’re on iPhone, press and hold the apostrophe key)

(Nope i'm a poor boy, android.)

(It should be on the second symbol board, it is for me at least on the galaxy s8)

(Im on note 10 but I found it thanks to andra but tyvm!)

1:36 AM

(It is the 2nd board)

“We will relay that to her. You should know this wasn’t an easy decision to make for her. But you understand how politics can be.” You’re transported to the southern gate on a slow truck ride through crowded city streets. Landers keep coming in low overhead and setting down at the landing fields outside of town.

9:49 AM

As you approach the gate you see the scavengers that sometimes come to do business are held up there, waiting to get in

What, if I may ask, is going on guard? Seeing so many landers come in is unusual. Are the people of this city in trouble?

(edited)

1:09 PM

Bavi'd looks worried.

“Nothing like that, some scouts had some luck up north and some supplies have been recovered... the flights are to get everything home before anyone else stumbles on it “

Oh, that's great i'm glad. Bavi'd nods to the scavengers and continues to follow the guards.

The guards deposit you outside the city gate. You see your bike there and it looks intact, some travel supplies have been strapped to it with room for what was in your house. At the top of the hill leading down to the gate you see that same trio of men from the ship. One of them points to the sun, and holds up three fingers, then points to the countryside beyond the walls

(I think by their body language you’d have the impression that if anything they’re seeing if they can help you)

(ah misread, got ya)

(You know they were trying to get out, and you held up the deal, so no reason to do anything rough)

8:28 PM

(You just don’t know what the 3 fingers he held up means)

Bavi'd nods at the men, then takes off just out of sight of the town. (edited)

The grasslands are rolling and by mid afternoon you’re far enough from the town where you can’t be easily observed but can observe. You see the junk traders begin packing up after they’re not let in this day. Lighters continue to fly overhead, coming in from the north regularly

Bavi'd sets up a small camp and readies his bikes turrets in case of unwelcome visitors. (It's not armed, just a button push away from it. don't need to accidently kill cole or something as she comes to check on me lmao.)

Your fire begins to be the only source of light, when the bike turret seems to perk up, and begins tracking out in the plains. The master arm is still off, and waiting your command, but it does broadcast a potential intruder alert

who is there? bavid gets ready for a fight

“Friends. Relax. We got the weapons you left for us and we left right after you did. Snuck out with the scavengers”

5:10 PM

“We saw the fire”

Bavi'd sits back down. Glad you got them.

“Things didn’t go so well after we parted ways did they? We thought they were coming to hurt you. We would have stepped in. When it looked like it was calm we decided to just follow instead

Its alright, I mistakenly caused the death of a friend. So they had to give me a choice, death, banishment, or a favor. I am a bit shaken by single handedly causing my friends death so I didn't want to risk it with another mission, and I'm not ready to die, so....

“That’s understandable. Well. We are here with you. Our families will be out by nightfall and we will join you out here in the wild. I don’t have a clue where to go though”

Well if you're that unhappy maybe we should start from scratch.

“It’s truly a chance to start over. We will have to get away from the cities and villages. Otherwise we will end up competing with the people who....” he pauses for a second. Lost in thought

6:37 AM

“Maybe I’ve been looking at this wrong”

I'm not out for a war, or to cause trouble. I just want a place where we can make food, power, clean water, and shelter.

“That’s all we want too. When we heard what the regent was planning we didn’t want to stay and become part of that mess”

What the reagent was planning?

He goes on at length to describe Cyrus' plan to simultaneously declare war on every single khan at the same time, before the bombardment that killed both Cyrus and his army. "Once we heard about that, and saw it was probably more than just political chest puffing, we decided we needed to get out"

Well, I highly doubt the people in power now are stupid enough to wage war before getting themselves safely set up. Though I suppose they dont have a replacement for cyrus yet, so we will see how well they do when they find one.

Bavi'd sighs worried about his new friends.

The lead of the small group shrugs and as nightfall comes they slip away to gather their families They return after a few hours, now 20 in total between spouses and children. Everyone has tough traveling clothes on and is carrying at least a backpack, though several have that and more

So is anyone good at anything? It would be useful to make sure we utilize our talents in a way that could help. Bavi'd says as he starts walking south.

Oh and I just remembered, What were those hand signals about 3 and pointing towards the side of the city?

“We were saying wait for the three of us. But you did. We aren’t really that skilled but we are either going to learn fast or die fast out here. I think we will be alright”

Very well. Bavi'd nods keeping an eye out for food on the way pushing his bike.

3:53 PM

Maybe I should go ahead with someone on the bike and scout a good location, then return for another?

“It’ll be a long night with us riding that bike one at a time. We should scout though. I’ll go with you. Let’s try to find a place upriver from the city , where we won’t risk drinking in whatever they decide to dump”

That's a great idea. Lets toss together a few traps to protect your families. Also we need to toss together a dome shaped frame to keep out any flying beasts if we aren't back before sundown.

“We have pressure tents. That’s the best we can do without getting some extra metal to make an exoskeleton for it. Let’s move into the trees so we are out of sight and we can figure things out from there”

Sounds good. Bavi'd walks to the treeline moving his things.

The camp takes a few moments to set up in the lee of the trees. Whoever isn’t scouting can finish this while you’re off scouting

4:35 PM

(Pick a hex(

(To scout or for the camp?)

(Also I have the map of heras, but I don't see one with hex markers/coordinates)

(To scout, and the map that’s up is the map. I have to generate what’s along the way. Just need a general area)

(Across from the volcano lands) (edited)

7:00 AM

(Straight south of mitkas) (edited)

(the roll20 map does have hexes on them, theyre just faint with how detailed the terrain is)

10:28 AM

(I just looked)

(Yeah they just aren't numbered, but I think I know where I need to scout, based on common knowledge. I wouldn't likely go south due to knowing there's a town there, I appologize, I'd likely go west since most people don't know whats there and I doubt I would've heard from those who did. about 5 hexes north of stygia is likely where I would scout.)

Heading west, there is a small village known from maps of the planet to be about three days of hard travel by hoverbike away. It will be slow going with the traffic restricted to on foot- the journey in that case expected to be a couple of weeks. "We should see about collecting what supply we can before moving out of the woods, and while they forage, we should scout a river crossing west of the city, so we don't wander up and down the riverbank"

That's a smart idea. If the waters are calm we can cross one at a time on the hovercycle, me plus one every time. We don't need anyone getting sick.

Bavi'd begins to feel overwhelmed being responsible for others lives again, but knows that most of them likely were miners who weren't prepared to deal with the creatures of the wild here.

The group staying behind begins working, not needing to be immediately supervised for their simple jobs. One of the three workers from the ship takes as close as he can get to a carbine from the weapons you’ve made. It looks like he has his own ammunition. It slots home into the magazine feed with a satisfying crunch of plastic on metal

6:49 PM

“Alright. Let’s be off then. Just covering the distance we can walk tomorrow, and back. “

Alright, let's go check it out. Bavi'd waits for the man to get on then heads out.

Traveling west to the riverbank you see the muddy ruts where the burrowing creatures usually bask during the hotter parts of the day. They look to be absent right now.

2:08 PM

A pack of trollboars a kilometer downstream takes advantage of the shallows to bathe themselves and take in water

Maybe we should follow the Trollboars examples and clean ourselves with a cloth, though I still wouldn't suggest getting into the water. I'm not sure what lives in there. We also may want to follow them back to their den. They may offer a bit of protection if we feed them a bit and they get used to us before nightfall.

“Up to you. I don’t think the rest of the group is going to be ready to move today. You’re in good shape and used to traveling. They’re not. It’s going to be slow going “

I understand, I just mean to get this far and camp though. I feel we should be further away but I'd rather us together for night fall.

“I agree. Well, if the boars are using this area to bathe it must be shallow enough to cross. I’d rather do it here than deeper water when we are ready to move tomorrow

5:14 PM

If we can get over the river and into a thicket of some kind, that will be a good first day if travel.

Agreed. Bavi'd turns back to pick up the others, noting that he will have to investigate closer just to be safe before entering the thickets.

Bavi'd heads back to the others, planning to camp there and move tomorrow.

The move during the day is quick, everyone has stuffed bags, sacks , and pockets with nuts and berries and roots that they’re willing to take a gamble on. You can already sense a lot of what ends up being safe to eat will be found by trial and error

7:06 PM

The trollboars have moved off by dusk and you have the riverbank to yourselves, overlooking it from a small hill, hidden in the trees

We should grab the high ground and settle down for the night. better to assign a few guards too. we have enough people we shouldn't lose much sleep.

“Those guns you made are going to come in handy, but I hope we won’t need them tonight. Let’s get everyone settled and we can cross early before the sun gets too far up”

Bavi'd agrees and lays down a small camp in the tree line and checks if anyones in need before moving on.

Everyone’s in good spirits tonight and the foragers begin working on figuring out what’s safe to eat. Before long a stew that smells pretty good is being made, and the warmth helps fight off the summer nights chill

Bavi'd feels kind of good seeing this many happy people for once, it's been too long.

You’re not bothered during the night but the trollboars do arrive around 4 in the morning, waking everyone up with the sounds of them basking by the riverbank. Close enough to sunup anyway, everyone begins breaking down camp as soon as there is enough light to see.

(I'll answer when I'm able, sorry been busy today finding out gender of new demon and out and about celebrating.) (edited)

Alright, lets get everyone across the river. (edited)

10:36 PM

Bavi'd says to the same man he's been speaking with.

10:36 PM

By the way, I guess I should get your name.

(You guys aren’t crossing?)

(Shit yeah, i was tired srry)

The group spends the morning crossing at the shallows, each trip taking about fifteen minutes for the journey across and back again. The trollboars seem to keep their distance. As you all assemble across the River , you realize it would take a concentrated effort from Mytikas to come after you now. You are finally free

Alright! We need to move further on still. I know it would be difficult for Mytikas to come for us but even seeing us in this area may cause problems with the more stubborn locals. We can celebrate once we have reached a good safe place to build a home.

11:51 PM

Bavi'd gives everyone a few minutes to drink, eat and rest before shuffling them onto their way again.

Rested and fed the group makes good time across the plains during the day. Pack animals do not trouble your group, by now wary of humans and knowing that they’re prey for you. At midday, the group stops and someone has the idea of foraging through the long grass to try to load up on eggs or game

4:32 PM

They look to you for a decision

(What's the rough number of people following?)

(20 of you in total)

5:37 PM

(You, the three men from the ship, and their families )

 We can hunt for one animal, but we dont need to over hunt or hunt any pack animals. We dont want to have rotten meat on us or any meat on us when we travel.

This makes sense to them and they begin spreading out into the long grass to forage or try to scare up some game. Anything you can find that keeps you from touching your rations during the trip will aid you in staying where you settle down

Bavi'd hunts for mushrooms, with the trollboars defecating here, there should be plenty of healthy mushrooms around. Though Bavi'd thinks, I should feed it to an animal first to test the effects before trying to feed a human. Maybe test for any foreign contaminants or toxins.

There are dozens of patches of them as you begin working your way through the grass. Their caps are a yellow , milky like amber , with bright white stalks

(I'm assuming they aren't the same for sake of in character knowledge. Do they look like Death cap Mushrooms?)

(The flora here is all totally undocumented so basing it off irl knowledge isn’t going to really be helpful )

(I know, im asking about looks though not health)

9:02 AM

After collecting mushrooms, and making sure that the meat gets cooked and eaten, Bavi'd gathers everyone for another small push before sundown.

(Notice/wis)

(7)

You hear the sound of a heavy engine nearby. The breeze is carrying it, but it’s clear it’s approaching from behind you

Everyone get down. Bavi'd rushes everyone off the road and hides close so he can see (edited)

There aren’t trees close to the group in this endless grassland but they do take what cover they can in the long stalks. The two vehicles belonging to the scrappers rumble up the road

Bavi'd gets up but motions for the rest to stay down and walks a little ways out to be noticed but far enough that hopefully the villagers wouldn't be noticed. (P.S. if i am starting a settlement with scrappers and miners I hope you are ready for a steampunk/clockwork city XD)

(I’m game for it)

3

1

The scrappers Park their cars upon seeing you and shut them down. The metal and assorted odds and ends on the backs jingle as the vehicles cease running

9:17 AM

“Far from Mytikas are we?”

Yes, I suppose we are finally. (How large is this clearing?)

(You’re not in one. It’s just a grass path you’ve been following. It’s about 5m wide. Barely big enough for their trucks

(i mean the grass, you said there weren't any trees near by to hide in just grass that they have to make a real attempt at covering in.)

(The stalks are long. Like ragweed’s 4-5 feet tall)

(Your color keeps changing XD and ok nvm.) What are you guys doing all the way out here?

“We finished a trade at Mytikas this morning. The water is too deep for most of our trucks , so we had to find a way around.

Ah, Well I guess that makes sense. you guys live near here or just searching for scrap?

“Hard to find scrap staying in one place, now that the garden and most of the wrecks there are gone. There’s still plenty to pick over, abandoned in the woods and fields.

6:59 PM

“It’s a life that makes it hard to settle down”

Ah understandably. Well once we find a new home maybe you could stop by there and sell to us. Once we are up and running of course. Though I could definitely pay for any generator parts you find.

“A new home? You’re not with Mytikas anymore?”

No, there were complications, I have to relocate. I think theres a few people unhappy with the living situation there as well so they want to help build a good kind place to live.

Bavi'd motions the others it's safe. (edited)

“I can respect a softer touch. Mytikas is the hardest part of our route. Something always seems to be happening there. It’s a dangerous life. We didn’t have the numbers to set down anywhere on our own before, but we might be willing if you can keep the group together”

Well if you can help us set up, we can fence off an area for you to store scrap and other valuable items for your caravan as well as some housing to rest at.If you're interested of course.

“We are. This is something we have wanted for a long time. We just never had the people or the resources to do it. Together, we just might have a chance”

7:04 PM

“You’re in luck. Our truck beds are fairly empty. We can carry you and your gear”

Deal Bavi'd laughs. After everything he's done going south maybe, just maybe, he could do something good.

It takes a few minutes for everyone to get their belongings together , and hop into the trucks. They push scrap aside and make themselves comfortable. A space is cleared for you in the cabin of the lead vehicle

Thank you. Bavi'd states as he jumps in ready to go, even if slightly confused about the special attention.

“Did you have an idea of where you might want to settle down? It seemed like you were on a mission when we came up on you”

Yeah, I hear just past where the river goes north theres a bit of a clearing. It should be enough room to build and near the water.

The driver knows the place and by afternoon you arrive, the river forking around the cleared island. The island itself is fairly large and in time you could even bridge back out to the mainland. Thick groves of trees surround both mainland banks. “Pretty spot. The trucks can Ford the river. We have floats. This will stop most casual pursuit though. Nice and defendable”

7:35 PM

“I think it’s brave. You planting your flag out here. You’ll get revenge on Mytikas if that’s what you’re after. I just know it”

Bavi'd laughs.

I don't know that revenge is something im after just now.  I think I'd be happy with a safe place to efficiently feed and shelter everyone and not live impoverished

There is a hiss as the trucks inflate their swimming skirts and sail across the river, rolling up on the rocky bank and venting their air brakes. The engines shut down and you can finally hear your own thoughts again

Bavi'd looks around taking in the scene, excited about this new frontier.

Let's set up camp today and tomorrow we will rebuild a water purifier together and send some people out to capture animals for meat and breeding.

“We won’t need to build one. We have one of those already but with this many people...I don’t know. We might need to make another. It just so happens we know a place”

Well I'd like to actually make several, one in each direction, to supply the town with steam. We could run most of the town off of it and steaming food is good for you as well as most things can be piston run and we can run pistons off of steam.

“Well if you’re looking for all that equipment there’s a place we can go. But it’s dangerous”

4:57 PM

“There’s a bunch of surface ships (navy. Like for water) half sunk in one of the main bays where the rivers here join. The wrecks are dangerous , ghouls live on them, but ships would have all the pistols and bilge pumps you could want. And probably spare parts too so we can learn to make them ourselves”

Sounds great, guess we should do that sometime soon, though only take volunteers if it's that dangerous.

“It could be. We don’t head down that way much. And we shouldn’t set out until morning. You don’t want to be on the river after dark”

Alright, but we will have to leave my bike behind. The turret will be the only protection that the people will have. (I just realised I rode in a truck here... did I leave my bike behind?)

(No they took it with them. Their trucks are big)

(Ok awesome, i spaced on it lol)

“It will probably just get in the way. Let’s set up what we can before dark and be ready to leave at first light. It’s going to be a long trip

(3xp, 5000 credits)

Understood. Bavi'd rushes to make sure everyone has shelter and sends out a hunting team. Toss bones and meat that are left over to the water or tree's. We can't risk an attack by wild animals tonight. Bavi'd reminded them.

(Lvl 6, 39 HP, lead 3 skill and attack bonus 3)

The hunting parties do as told and catch a small trollboar runt as daylight begins to fade. Carrying away what they can, they bury the rest far from camp, returning with more than enough for two days of meals

Bavi'd sets up a thermal box, not as cool as a fridge but should keep the meat from rotting. Then prepares a tent, assuming that everyone can figure this part out he suggests they make a temporary shelter as well. After making his tent he wanders seeing if he is needed.

(They’ve got a few pressure tents that are climate controlled with a type A cell, and the scavengers have solar rechargers since their tools would use something like it )

5:46 AM

(Is the thermal box a book item?)

(No I was setting up more specifically, a hole in the ground with water inside of a plastic bag to keep it cool. It doesnt help a ton but it stops food from over heating. Also the meat would be wrapped in plastic.)

A few of the travelers kindly give up their weatherproof ponchos for you to cut down into plastic. The scavengers have none of their own, anything found is usually too dirty or too decomposed to be of much use

2:16 PM

Things seem calm in the makeshift river camp tonight and you see the scavengers talking by the riverbank, one with a survey scanner like device set up

So, Bavid says walking up to the scavengers. Do you have a representetive for your people? You have been together so long I assume someone does the talking?

“We work as a team. Everyone has a say, but we divide the work on what we are good at.”

6:04 AM

“Some of us have a better eye for business. Some of us can get scrap or broken machines working again when it’s hopeless for anyone else. It all depends”

(WE ARE LEEEGGGIIOOONNNNN LOL)

8:01 AM

Fair enough. I need one of you to draw me up a layout of what you hope for in your junk yard. please keep in mind we have to build homes and such as well but I understand for you to do efficient dealings from here you will need some space. I cannot promise everything will go exactly how you would like but I would like to reach a compromise before we start building. Does that sound fair to you?

8:02 AM

Starting to get a hang of leading, Bavi'd saw his confidence starting to push through in that seemingly well deligated sentance.

They agree but it’s going to need to wait until you’re back. The pumps need to be obtained first and laid out before anything else can be discussed

6:49 PM

The trucks can float, and will be useful as makeshift boats to reach the wreck field

Alright, lets get some sleep then, just things to sleep on. Bavi'd makes sure everyones safe and in bed. Then lays down himself.

The night passed with ease and you’re woken before dawn to board the float truck. The trip is a long one, possible in a day but every moment counts. A few other sleepy eyed scavengers look to be accompanying you. The camps’ weapons , except for one left in the hands of a sentry staying behind, are also coming along. They’re clearly expecting trouble

Bavi'd asks if theres any details he should know. How bad is this going to be? (edited)

“Derelict wrecks , probably ghouls aboard. Maybe worse. Hard to really say until we get eyes on it”

Alright let's move out then.

The two trucks inflate their float skirts and attach snorkel kits to their large engines. They both roll into the water, a motor in the back taking over for the wheels instead and you begin heading down stream

Bavi'd looks in wonder at the mechanics of this submersive truck, thinking on how to improve it.

Bavid spends the morning wondering, while the trucks continue swimming downriver. A smoky haze begins to build over the surface, as noon approaches, making it hard to see far in front of you

This fog always this thick?

“No. Not like this normally. It’s summer though. And it’s been hot. Let’s be careful anyway”

Bavi'd carefully watched the road.

(youre on the water)

9:05 PM

(notice/wis)

(Oh srry)

10:30 PM

(9)

You notice a trail of bubbles slowly floating parallel to the truck convoy.

Hey Bavi'd whispers,knocking a junkers shoulder lightly and pointing to the bubbles

“Shit. Do you have a gun?”

Bavi'd pulls out a laser pistol and shows the man. "Though to be honest, I'm better in hand to hand combat."

“You don’t want to hand to hand a river dragon. I can promise you that.” (Initiative)

"Dragon!"(3)

The river serpents head pokes above the water and it’s lidless eyes watch the truck swimming along. Without warning, it lashes out (Evasion save)

(Success 14v8)

Some sort of binding agent is sprayed down the door and window youre able to raise in time, shooting from the serpents fangs like a fire hose.

9:13 PM

It coats the door and window rather than you but it doesn’t seem like you can open the door or lower the window on the front passenger side now. (Bavid up) (edited)

(Is there a fire extinguisher on board?)

(Yes)

We need a way to get this Bavi'd grabs the extinguisher.

into it's stomach. It may not kill it, but a reptile is still cold blooded! The sudden freezing temperature should do a ton of damage

“The window and door on that side won’t open. You might be able to squeeze onto the roof though through the hatch” the driver raps on the ceiling with a knuckle. He’s too busy driving to do much else

)you’re still up in the initiative too since nothings been acted on yet)

"I'll try to keep us driving straight. Do what you can from up there. Good luck!"

(Bump)

Bavi'd climbs to the top of the truck with the extinguisher watching for the serpent.

(It’s there. It’s your turn. Getting to the roof was your move. If you’re waiving the rest of the turn that’s fine I just don’t want to cheat you)

(Yeah, wave it)

(Evasion save)

(20v8)

The stringy binding shot goes wide, arcing over the top of the vehicle into the river harmlessly behind you

Bavi'd readies himself to throw the extinguisher into the beasts mouth. (hold waiting for it to open it's mouth.)

(It’s mouth would be open now since it sprays its binding chemicals. It missing you happens at roughly the same time as your action)

(Ok bavi'd tosses it into it's mouth, what roll would that be?)

(I’d say just a ranged attack. All your normal bonuses would apply we will just do something different for damage if you hit)

(16 for hit)

The extinguisher lodges itself firmly in the serpents mouth. It reflexively swallows and begins trying to regurgitate after a long moment

(It failed its physical effect save, back to you)

Bavi'd throws together a grenade out of his supplies. (I think that ability is a turn itself right?)

(yeah, its basically like fishing an un-readied action out of your bag)

(Ok EOT)

(Evasion save)

(12v8)

The stringy shot hits the side of the truck and cargo bed, missing you once again. The river dragon is angrily twisting and writhing as it tries to regurgitate the extinguisher

7:54 AM

(Your turn)

Bavi'd tosses his grenade at it, careful not to throw it too close to the truck. (11/12)

The serpent fails to dodge and reflexively swallows the small object , diving under the waves

7:09 PM

Seconds later a geyser of red tinged water and chunks of chum pepper the sides and roof of the vehicle, likewise spraying you in a wash of slimy gore

Shit, do we have anything to clean this off before i get an infection or something.

“There’s a sulfite scrub in the medicine kit. Rub down and use the bilgewater tank hose to rinse, back in the bed”

Bavi'd nods and does as he was told.

You feel slightly better but are at least sanitized as you sit back down. The wrecks become visible after another few hours, lighter vessels first at the outside of the large derelict field

6:42 PM

“Patrol boats and cutters this far in. Lighter stuff that would have been ripped apart at the heart of the fight. They might have some supplies or pumps on them but we would need a lot more since they’re smaller. What do you think?”

Do we have a dredge of any sort o the truck? I think we have one chance to make this run, we need to make the best of it.

“A small one. Just for creek beds and the like. What’s your plan?”

Just hoping any loose items, such as metal doors, or anything, would fall to the bottom.

“We can try. Anything metallic down there is going to be much more rusted than anything afloat. We could always tow one of those smaller craft back and ship break it on the island if you’re after scrap”

That's not a bad idea, and of course im after scrap. Bavi'd chuckles. We will need plenty of it to get the town running.

“What do you think then. Try to get a tow line around one of these small patrol craft? We can bring it back and break it down slowly on our island rather than try to fill the hold here and end up sinking what we don’t take”

Sounds good. Bavi'd looks for the tow line to hitch with.

The line is secured on three different points on the foredeck. The winch groans as it begins to tighten , the cable stretched to almost its maximum capacity

Alright. Is there more to check out?

(If you’re towing this whole thing back piecemeal and breaking it down at home, getting it back is probably the most important thing right now.

11:04 AM

(We sort of circumvented the mission with a better idea, not that it’s a bad thing. You still had the river dragon to contend with)

(Yeah that's fine.) Well time to head back then.

2:01 PM

Bavi'd readies everyone and sits down for the trip back

(There’s enough salvage here for two large buildings or five small ones, however you want to proceed)

(For now an apartment style building, and a large workshop would be best I think. is there enough?)

(Yeah two large then. They’ll be rough structures with more needed to furnish them and make them nice inside )

(alright.) Bavi'd, upon arriving back at the island, directs the members who can work on how to and where to build both an apartment building and a workshop.

The process of ship breaking is dangerous. The scavengers work to make sure any fuel, chemicals, propellant, and bilge are siphoned off and collected to see if they too can be purposed into anything. An elaborate assembly of pipes and containers are soon full of small amounts of various liquid. It’s only after the combustible materials have been removed that breaking teams with hand torches begin cutting the outer layers of the ship away

Bavi'd watches, making sure everyone works safely and the project is built correctly.

Dozens of small bottles are taken off by the scavengers , the chemicals not something they can make on their own right now. Estimates have a week to properly break the ship down, inventory the parts and then finally make the desired buildings out of what is useable.

Bavi'd helps where he can. (I can just afk a week, Bavi'd would help with this.)

(It doesn’t need to be a real life week but yeah we can move on)

(ok np) After the buildings are built Bavi'd looks for the scrappers. You have a minute?

“Sure. What’s on your mind?”

We are going to need more scrap metal to build a water purifier like i did over there, you think that we could go on another run, even if we have to fight a sea serpent each time.

“River dragons shouldn’t make the same mistake. That little show should have scattered the pack for a while there. We will absolutely need more, another two or three craft that size and bigger.

9:33 PM

(added your town)

(Bavi'dopolis XD love it) (edited)

2

11:44 AM

Alright then, lets get on it asap then.

(We can change the name but without a label I would have forgotten what was where)

(Lol all good)

“We have tonight then to rest. Tomorrow we set off. I don’t think all our runs will be as easy as that one “

I agree, good to take a breath here and there. (edited)

He doesn’t have anything else to add. With some hardened shelters in place the brief rain squall that pops up during the night. doesn’t trouble anyone but those keeping watch.

10:05 PM

Morning dawns and the trucks are once again prepared for their secondary float functions and the scavengers get ready to set out

(are nitrogen grenades something i could make? I don't see them in the books so i wanted to check with you.)

(You’d have to develop a way to harvest , compress and then process it into the grenade but we could make something

Is there any way that a few of you scrappers could stay behind and make a small sphere with a hole in the top out of the metal that the extinguishers are made from?

Bavi'd asks while approaching the men.

(Like a grenade shell? They can do that it’s just the internals that’s the problem. )

(oh ok)

“It’s the compression and harvesting of the gas. It’s not impossible but they can’t just do it with what’s on hand right now”

7:26 PM

“The shells themselves for the grenade are easy. That’s just shaping metal and making a simple pin and release mechanism”

I understand, let's be on our way then.

The scavengers prepare both of their trucks to head out into the wilderness once again. One of them presents something to you in a cloth wrapped bundle

"We found this in the bed of the truck after you blew up the water dragon. We thought you should have it

They’re too eager for you to see what they’ve made and the cover is taken off the item. A long two handed sword made of the river dragons fang has been created. It’s edge is serrated with sharp points following the originally jagged surface of the tooth, meant for ripping and tearing larger prey. All made of one piece the hand guard and pommel is the same piece of@bone as the blade. It’s all been finely milled and polished.

7:04 PM

The hand guard itself is wrapped in leather bands for comfort

7:04 PM

(It’s an advanced medium melee weapon)

(I didn't realize this had been updated in days srry i was pretty busy)

7:07 PM

Bavi'd stares in amazement. I don't know what to say thank you. Bavi'd lifts the sword in awe.

The air cuts with a whistle at the passage of the blade

Well now im excited to fight one of those beasts! Bavi'd exclaims.

“Hopefully you never have to use it, but if you do, it’ll ensure you come out on top”

I don't doubt it will work very well to keep me alive, as well that the time will come when it will be needed. Thank you so very much friends. I will do my best to be worth such a gift.

(edited)

(Just to be excited about it, is there a chance there's a pic of this sword) (edited)

(Fucking beautiful!) (edited)

10:07 PM

(Just wanna add a chain and dagger to this now XD)

"So we go back to the wreck field in and hour. We got lucky the first time that nothing hostile was hiding aboard. We might not have the same good fortune this time

Fair point. This time once we get it to dry land we should investigate itr to be sure.

The trucks set off again early in the morning, heading back to the wreck site to see what else might be inside the edge of the large former battle zone. "Once we get some further buildings set up, we might want to look at grabbing a few of these to use for ourselves. We seem to be relying on the river as much as the roadway" the former leader of the scrappers says

Maybe we could fashion a good old steam boat from one.

The drive continues for the morning before you arrive back at the wreck field. Something brushes the underside of the truck, and the engine coughs once before belching greasy black smoke

Great. Bavi'd looks around before exitting the cab.

There is some kind of snagged cable twisted around the propeller blade. , you can only see a bit of it above the cloudy water

Well shit. Bavi'd looks for a tube to connect to his air purifier mask and some tape so he can breath under water a bit.

There are plenty of random tubes and pipes in the back of the truck. Finding something that works and fastening it into place is a matter of just a few moments

Bavi'd hops into the water looking around for "Revenge of the sea monsters cousin" just in case.

With what you can see from the surface it does not look like there is anything but you and your team in the area

Bavi'd yells up to the men. Make sure everything's powered down. As he dives below to check the propeller.

The propeller is wrapped up in three loops of cable from something deeper. It looks like it might be rigging or a comms mast from something sunken deeper

Bavi'd studies the rigging to see if it can be untangled.

(Fix/int)

(15)

It’s a matter of finding the right tool, and you do. There is a snap and spray of bubbles as the thick cables fall away , and sink back to the ocean floor

(Probably should've checked what was attached buuutttt im a coward XD) Bavi'd returns to the vehicle. Alright with any luck we should be ok

While you were in the water untangling the propeller blade it seems like your companions have replaced the damaged pieces of the engines

Well to do friends.

“How did it look down there. Can we start it back up?”

They choose to start it up anyway and the boat seems to be working perfectly once again. “What was down there anyway?”

Just a cable wrapped in the rotor. easy fix. Bavi'd says a little exasperated from the dive.

"Something must be down there then, we should mark the spot for a dive when we come back. So we have a choice, we can drag another of those coastal patrol ships back, or we can try to loot something bigger."

Agreed.

We should mark it and if we find nothing come back.

There is a rumble from below, and the water begins to froth white.

8:06 AM

Whatever reaction occurred when the cables were cut, a miniature submarine begins to emerge from the sandy depths of the river. It is empty, and groans as ballast tanks finally fill with water. the scavenger trucks are buffeted by the large whitecap waves, before the area begins to calm down. In the wreck field nearby, something shrieks at the sudden noise

Be on your guard!

"Guess we try to take this thing, right?" the lead scavenger asks. There is plenty of shouting now as weapons are being passed out to those not working to get the possible salvage wreck secured. "Feels like we're already committed"

(your color changed, I like it.) Yeah, we are here now.

(initiative, and thanks!)

2:49 PM

(We're going to use that yellow for NMC(

(nice)

2:50 PM

(8)

(2 for me) A pack of ghouls nesting on a nearby wreck was disturbed by the sudden sound of the submarine making its way back to being above water, and the following whitewater surge did nothing to improve their mood. You see close to a dozen of them, 100m away leaping from wreck to wreck, squatting in porthole doors or crawling rapidly along roofs on all fours

Ready men!? Bavi'd makes a grenade from the items in his pack.

One of the ghouls is shot through the head as one of the scavengers makes a clean shot. Two more jerk violently as they are hit, but not killed. Two shots miss entirely, kicking up sparks from the metal surfaces where the rounds stuck.

3:02 PM

The ghouls close the distance to 75m, loping off walls, and slated hulls to close in. The scavengers responsible for securing the wreck are working as fast as they can, but something this big takes extra effort to tow properly

Bavi'd tosses his grenade towards the largest cluster he see's. (24, 5)

(I dont know anyone who can throw 250 feet/82 yards) The grenade skips through the air, detonating well short of its target amid a tangle of dirty rags and cannisters on the deck of a nearby tugboat. the heat from the explosion starts a fire, and the ghouls freeze their previously ravenous advance

(oh well oops

Lets wrap it up boys, we likely only have a second or two.

There is a wrench of inertia as the truck begins moving and with a giant tug the hull of the submarine begins moving with you Outside of a swimmable distance , the ghouls break off, and the fire keeps them at bay

11:19 AM

(3xp, 5,000 credits)

Well done boys!

(The pumps you've been looking for would be on board, but I'm not sure what you want to do with all the salvage)

(comfortable housing if enough.)

(And for the pumps?)

(Pumps are priority, if we have leftover it all goes to housing.)

(Yes, I'm saying theres enough of all that here, so we have comfortable housing, what are we doing with the pumps, what are they for?)

(For clean water system like we built in mytikas) (edited)

(gotcha)

5:26 PM

A month (catching you up) goes by as your whole band begins taking the miniature submarine apart. Wiring is stripped from every surface. Lights are dried and made working again , pumps are taken and used for water, and a power turbine system, allowing the repurposed lights to be both streetlights and strung up in the dwellings here. The remaining metal is used to reinforce the existing buildings and make a rudimentary storage shelter. Winter is just two months away, and long term food is beginning to become an issue here

Bavi'd inquires about any hunters in the area, asking around for anyone who might have experience with tracking and capturing animals or fishing.

5:30 PM

(sorry about being so flakey lately, the plague has forced my family home all the time due to school shut downs so i have very little time to sit down and relax with things i enjoy.)

(You’re fine this has made all of us need to undergo some life changes)

The scavengers are good hunters, as they've been forced to handle their own needs, or trade, over the years

Bavi'ds approaches the scavengers.

Hey, what's the chance we can round up some animals for animal husbandry, as well as some seeds to start growing crops on the shores?

"This close to winter (Its october now) we're not going to grow much here. We can try to make some fish farms and hope for a late spawn, or we can try to hunt, and smoke whatever we kill- It's going to be a lean winter, but anything we try to paddock now is going to starve in the fields, we dont have any fodder saved up"

That's understandable we could smoke fish or dry it into jerky as well. we need to start gathering food for winter, as well as attempt for a heat source for peoples houses.

"I don't like the idea of uncontrolled or unvented fires in these confined spaces, even if we are using mostly metal. The buildings aren't insulated either. Not well at least. Ships werent designed to do that, they're usually in port during the winter seasons, the rivers ice over too much. "

2:31 PM

(So if you dont have any clear ideas, ive got suggestions, but i dont want to roll them out unless you're stuck)

No, open fires is a horrible idea, I agree. Bavi'd thinks for a bit. What if we used hides from the hunting to line the walls for insulation, then we just need a way to heat the rooms. (I'm gonna do some research, Bavi'd is smart enough to know a solution but I am not so I figured i'd try to figure something out rq.)

We could use compost to heat the houses. Just no fruits or meats so we don't poison anyone.

"That's a thought. I suppose we could try to trade with Mytikas too, maybe sell them some of the extra scrap from the submarine we took apart"

11:45 AM

(any choice works)

That is an option, though I'd have to see what the others think due to a lack of trust for them that many of the people here share. I don't distrust them but I understand their feelings and want to know what they feal about it first.

(edited)

“We could hold a short meeting? There aren’t many of us. It won’t take long to ask around. “

9:51 PM

“If they don’t like the idea it sounds like we have other options “

Sounds good, lets assemble any who want a say, if you don't mind helping, and we will decide as a group. But yes, even for crops in winter I have an idea if it comes to it. We can use the same idea, using composted dirt, and build a makeshift greenhouse from any glass we can find. The temperature will be kept with the compost, the sun still shines in winter, and all we have to do is tend the crops at that point.

(personal goal for build a workshop, 3xp, is complete as well with the little town here)

(awesome!)

The small less-than-a-village comes together, and the decision is partially in favor of not relying on Mytikas- by a vote. If the situation gets worse over the winter, the opinion may change.

Alright, then what we need is plenty of "life", no meat though. Hair, leaves, branches etc.

(Foraging parties can accomplish that. Did bavid have any big things he wants for the place next?)

(Just a large batch of weapons for protection. on a personal level, if everyones happy, he would likely start working on a mech if feasable.)

(You don’t have the heavy machinery , parts , or highly specialized knowledge to attempt something like a mech right now, but you can try to handle one of those prerequisites )

(Lets start with building the heavy machinery.)

10:13 AM

Bavi'd looks for the scrappers again, realizing he is relying on them a lot.

Can I put you guys on retainer for help and information in finding things? you seem very good at it and you are business men. I feel like I should pay you something.

“When this becomes a full city just don’t forget who helped raise it up”

10:40 AM

(I’m going to draw you a local map for the town area)

(Ok thank you) I won't ever forget who helped. On that note, is there any chance I could ask a personal favor?

They put their work down for a few minutes and begin gathering around “Alright Mr. Mayor. Let’s hear what you have to say”

Bavi'd chuckles. Mr. Mayor huh? No I certainly think not, this is a town for the people not for the man. Bavi'd pauses and sighs. Could you keep an ear out for any heavy construction equipment like a crane and such. Things used to build large ships.

"Something like that will take some doing to try to source. Might even have to go off-world for something like that. It's possible"

9:31 PM

The roar of overhead engines cuts through the evening, as a shuttle painted a radar reflective matte black passes by the forest canopy a few kilometers from your settlement

Guess we oughta check that out if we want to get off-world huh? Bavi'd laughs, a bit unnerved by the timing. (edited)

The shuttle makes a turn and banks into a cleared area at the end of your settled island, away from the village. The ramp extends and @Stev Andisom emerges, with an old man following him , still bright eyed despite his age

Hello there gentlemen, how can we help you today?

“Hi. Just in the area, saw your unique place here and figured we would have a look. Stev.”

6:53 AM

Stev holds out his hand.

Bavi'd takes his hand firmly and shakes it.

Bavi'd. (pronounced bah-veed) It's a pleasure to meet you. This is a new colony of people who felt mistreated by our old city and decided to branch out on their own as well as a group of scavenger scrappers who have made this come a long way. I am hoping to help them build a beautiful and prosperous city, though I have no hate for my home, just love for these people, and understanding why they feel the way they do.

Bavi'd sighs.

I'd be glad to show you around, but, if I may since you are here, May I ask you to speak with me before leaving? I don't see many people with ships such as yours.

(edited)

“Well it certainly is an interesting place to look at. I’d be happy to have a tour, though we can’t spend too long. There possibly a fight brewing back that way that we’ll be involved in if it happens and if I miss it I won’t hear the end of it. So, if you want you can ask me whatever it is you want to ask while we look around.”

Sure. As bavi'd shows Stev all the things they built and goes over how they obtained them they come to the workshop and Bavi'd beams excitedly about it.

I've always wanted to build a workshop, one that I can use to my hearts content. I suppose that brings me to my favor. I would like to build a Mech to help protect this place and it's people. To do this I need to build a machinery bay and move in some heavy equipment that's not found here on this planet. If I payed you would you be willing to bring me the necessities to build not only a mech, but a ship? The kind of stuff that can't be built from scrap? I'll pay for whatever you can bring me with whatever I have if needed.

“Wescott, we got enough on the Pillar to be able to get Bavi’d started on a mech?”

8:16 AM

He turns to Bavi’d.

“The Knights have a couple of mechs that we use, so there might be parts that we can spare for you to use to build your own, but they are bloody expensive beasts to maintain. As for building your own ship, can’t help with that sorry. This one is a little shuttle, tiny on comparison to what you would need to carry a mech around in. The one the Knights use is huge, takes the whole army to wherever we need to go, but last I heard it was a couple of million credits to keep it flying every year.”

Well that's a bit costly, guess I should work on a ship first so I can do jobs for pay. Though i'll still gladly buy those parts.

"We do have one of those damaged frames we took from corpsec. We don't have enough skilled hands to keep it running, but we can maybe make an arrangement for sale. These guys seem to know their way around scrap, they can probably get it running again"

“That’ll work for a start. Mechs definitely cheaper to run than a ship. I’ll comm the Pillar are get them to drag the frame and some stuff down for you to look... actually, want to visit the Pillar?”

That beauty! Bavi'd gestures the ship, obviously in love with the mechanics. Yes!

(bavidopolis local map)

(eyyyy looks nice)

(as you expand and do more ill update things

1:12 PM

(youve got another island to expand to and can bridge out to the shores)

(Awesome, thank you very much sir, can't wait to fill it up with mechanical awesomeness)

“Ah, that’s not the Pillar, that’s just a shuttle. The Pillar of Salt is in orbit.”

6:02 PM

“We’ve got a workshop on board for the mechs, living quarters for the entire army... it’s big. Handles like a whale but she’s beautiful.”

You have an even bigger ship!? Yes!

Stev laughs and steps into the shuttle. “Come on then. Pilot, call ahead, let them know we’re having a guest onboard.” (edited)

Bavi'd excitedly joins them. Then he pauses for a moment worried his excitedness could be causing him to be a bit naive. You are bringing me back right? He asks cautiously, hoping he didn't offend them.

“We’re not in the business of kidnapping people, so yeah, you’ll be delivered back home safe and sound.”

4:45 AM

He laughs.

4:46 AM

“If we can make a deal about that mech frame, you will be coming back with more than what you left with.”

4:46 AM

“And then while we’re discussing trade, we’ll need to find out what you have to offer.”

Understandably. I have some money, and im really good with mechanics. I can do most anything mechanical. I suppose I'd be a good fighter, though i mostly only got in shape due to a near death experience with a claymore.

“Fighters we’ve got. There’s a whole army of them over that way,” Stev waves his hand in a vague direction, then grabs on to a handle as the shuttle lifts off, “but your mechanical prowess is something we could use. Not that I want to take you away from that place you’ve started, so maybe there’s a trade we can make to do with our mech for some of your time.”

Well lets hear it first. If I am going to be away for a while I need to get things sorted first.

Stev hears the engines wind up as the ship pushes to leave atmosphere. “All depends on what you can do, but not to worry. We will make sure that you’re back here soon, no matter what we agree to. Figure you might want to have a look around the shuttle while we are on board. It’s not a long flight and I don’t want to waste your time.”

10:50 AM

He stands proudly near the back of the shuttle. “This is a wraith shuttle. Some sort of engineering miracle makes it hard for radar to spot, so we can use it to get in and out of places we might not have permission to be. I don’t know the in and outs of it... honestly, Id rather fly the thing than figure out how it works.” (edited)

It's a beautiful machine, I'd love to take it apart and put it back together. Though I suppose that's counter productive.

Bavi'd chuckles. Very well, I suppose we should go then.

“Good to hear. I think the pilot is ready.”

10:54 AM

He nods and the ship lifts high into the air.

10:55 AM

“I’m more of a soldier than a mechanically minded person, but after seeing what some of these crazy machines can do I’m starting to come around to the fact that maybe it’s something I should learn.”

Oh I think everyone should learn a little at least. Though most races prefer a warm embrace to cold steel, our race can't do a lot of touching due to our compromised immune systems. So I fell in love with the most fulfilling thing I could, making something from nothing. Taking scrap, melting it down into compounds strong enough to withstand a firing squad, then putting it onto a really big robot, is just one of my many mechanical ventures. One day I hope to make a machine that bridges the gap in a sense though. I want to make a weapon that forms to who you are as a person and uses your own strengths, and your actions as well as your morality, to form a weapon suited physically, and mentally, for a person alone. Though I suppose that's a bit crazy and beyond our technology to my knowledge.

Stev takes a seat as the shuttle reaches altitude and the shaking gets worse.

11:05 AM

“So you want to... make weapons with you mind, or are you talking more about controlling machines with your mind... a real person/machine interface?”

More like a machine, or weapon, that knows your flaws and strengths. Say you are very fast, though not so strong. If it doubled your speed it would be a tremendous advantage, but if it doubled your strength it would likely still not measure up to a strong fighter. A million paper cuts, and enough speed to not get hit will go a lot farther than a few mediocre hits till the stronger opponent knocks you out or worse. Vice versa as well. If you are slow and strong, adding a shockwave would make you much more dangerous. For the perceptive, an AI that can read an opponents possible courses, and so on. One weapon that alters for you, so you don't have to train to learn it.

“That’s one hell of an ambitious goal. I’m definitely not going to say it can’t be done but I have no idea how it could be done. On the battlefield though, what an advantage! Give me a rifle and some sort of machine/AI to help with stability and angles and the range goes up unbelieveably.”

(bavid are you trying to make a zero system?)

I agree that it's ambitious definitely. Though I may never see it in my life, I would love if I could get a real start onto the technology at least.

(Hah, I had to look that term up and I felt dumb for not knowing what it was. No more like a handheld weapon, though i suppose the same technology applies. I don't expect it to be added by any means though. just an ambition of his.)

“Well, if you can make a city out of spare parts and reassemble a mech that we previously destroyed, there’s nothing stopping you from achieving your goals, as long as the universe allows it to work.”

We will see, but for now I am focused on helping these people get moving and safe.

The shuttle shakes violently for a few moments before becoming the motion becomes impossibly smooth. “Right, the bad part of flying is over. Go have a look out the front, see the Pillar in profile before we get too close to appreciate.”

Bavi'd walks to the fron peering out into space at the beautiful, massive, ship. Speechlessly he admires all of the little mechanical details that most would overlook.

“It’s been repurposed from a colony ship. No weapons to speak of but she carries a hell of a lot and gets us to where the fighting is.”

She is a thing of beauty, for sure. Bavi'd replies in aw.

“Beauty isn’t the word I would use, but I guess you engineers are things differently. Won’t be too long to get us there and you can see the mech frame and the workshop.”

I can't wait. Bavi'd chuckles.

A small hangar on the side of the ship opens to admit the shuttle, and ground crew stand by to begin getting it ready for the next time it is needed . This hangar is small, but a lift sits in the corner, able to bring you down to the bay where the mechs are normally worked on and stored - along with the cargo bay

Stev exits the shuttle, waves off any salutes made in his direction and gestures for Bavi’d to follow him to the lift.

Bavi'd follows.

Once they’re on the lift he gives the okay sign and the lift starts to move down to the workshop.

10:29 AM

“Welcome to the mech playground.”

Bavi'd, obviously excited looks around in wonder like a child in a toy shop.

As the lift shudders to a stop Stev steps off and slowly spins in a circle.

10:32 AM

“Paradise. The big mech is usually stored over there,” points, “and the two smaller ones are over there,” points again.

10:34 AM

“And that, right there, is a mech frame. A few bullet holes, some scorch marks, maybe some wiring that you can reuse.”

Being in the military must be fun if you get to play with all these mechs. Bavi'd says obviously clueless. That frame is beautiful. I can build a mech from that easily!

“Fun is one way to put it.”

10:36 AM

Stev sits on the edge of one of the work benches.

10:37 AM

“Have a look at the mech and then we can discuss trade value. Oh, and check out the spare parts in the cargo bay, through that door. I’ll talk with the chief engineer and see what we can let you have to make life easier.”

Bavi'd inspects the frame to see what it may need to repair.

(Neko will have to detail that. I was only there to shoot it up.)

(I know lol ty)

(its a light shock mech. The chassis is there but the 'repairs' in this case would be whatever monies are needed for the fittings you want to add)

(tyty)

(so that, plus whatever Stev feels is fair for parting with it, this frame did kill one of the draconis mechs during the battle)

(ohhhhh nice)

(for sure, when he returns tonight we'll see if we can get a deal done)

Stev watches the inspection and waits for Bavi’d to finish.

iT'S BEAUTIFUL! What are you asking for it?

“Depends on what you can offer. I’m guessing it won’t be credits, as building a town can’t be cheap. If you’ve got spare parts, or maybe your expertise for a certain amount of time? We’re also looking for recruits, if any of your people would be suitable to join the Knights as soldiers or specialists?”

Well as long as I can leave someone in charge before we go I don't mind lending my expertise, though, I may have another idea if you're interested. What if we signed a treaty allowing you to build and store on, or under, our land and we happily keep it a secret. Strategically it would be a fine move for you to have a place out here. If that's not to your liking I do not mind giving my time.

5:49 AM

(sorry, slept early.)

(That’s okay. RL beats all)

6:03 AM

“Storage space... like a hidden base? Interesting idea. Got any information about the land under your town? Also, we could sweeten the deal a little. For something like a hidden base, you would be able to access the workshop for your own mech as well.”

We haven't excavated much, but there are a few interesting creatures the seem to parasite the dead and use them to attack us on land so I would suggest using a crew to clear it in case there's danger below the surface, and we have miners that could give you more information on anything they've seen.

“Things that eat the dead? Yeah, that will have to be something we look at after the big meeting.”

6:34 AM

He stands up and makes sure there is nothing oily or stick on his uniform.

6:36 AM

“Speaking of the meeting, I’ve got to get moving. So... at the moment we’re looking at the mech and cleaning up some dead-eating things under the boat-town in exchange for access to a hidden base of operations?”

We don't really need a clean up, it's been a while since i've seen them but access to economy and trade as well as the mech and we will give you the land under us, yes. But if you're in a hurry we can iron details out when you return.

(edited)

“It’s okay, if we’re close to an agreement I can hold off leaving. As for trade, that’s really not what we do. Draconis are an old family from Rawhani, exiled when the MegaCorps took over. Now we’re mercenaries, not merchants.”

I mean more along the lines of, if you find parts you need rid of for ships, guns, mechs, etc. we can buy/trade them from you. You travel alot so i'm sure you pick up a lot of extra items out there from wreckage and such. If we can get a ship going we have expert scavengers here that can make both us and you good money if you send coordinates for wreckages they can strip.

“So this is going to be more of an ongoing deal? Interesting. Okay, I’m happy with this. You get the mech and the parts we have that you need right away, you and your people organise the land for the base and we share joint ownership and usage of the base and equipment within. Further into the future we bring or send scrap that you can use or sell and between us we expand our respective fleets.”

I'm happy with that, yes. We will get working on a hidden base right away.

“Nice doing business with you.”

6:55 AM

Stev holds his hand out.

Agreed. Bavi'd replies, and shakes his hand.

“We have this little thing going on near Phyrica right now, but after that I’m hoping to have a little free time to explore.”

Stop by any time, i'd be happy to taker you around and show you what we have found so far.

7:00 AM

Bavi'd gestures at the entryway. Should we wrap this up then? I will take the supplies and go home so we can get a layout of the base started.

“I’ll get the team up here to pack what you need. Unless you want to stay up here for now and oversee it yourself? We’ll need a lifter to drop it all off for you anyway, so you can ride that down if you want.”

That's ok. This trade won't work if we don't trust each other so, unless given reason not to, I will take you and your crew at their word.

“That’s fair. Just a moment and we can get going.”

Bavi'd nods.

Stev comms to the bridge. “We need some help down in the mech bay. Our new business partner is taking the mech frame and whatever parts he points out that he will need to get it going again. Send a couple of the mechanical geniuses down as well to make sure everything is on the lifter.” (edited)

Bavi'd chuckles at the term "Mechanical geniuses."

Stev shrugs. “I’m a point and shoot kinda guy. They make it work and I tend to break it again.”

Understandable.

He gets back onto the lift.

7:11 AM

“I’ll meet you back at the shuttle once you’ve told the guys what you want.”

Thank you. Bavi'd nods

As the lift goes up Stev is back on the comms again, looking serious as he discusses the preparations on the ground.

7:14 AM

It doesn’t take the team long to arrive, and Neko would describe how they’re efficient so we can just skip the picking the part bit and get to the shuttle lifting off and going back to the town. (Unless you would like to do anything else on the Pillar?)

(I wanna rob it... lol jk no im good)

(Hahaha and just like that the partnership is over.

)

(lol)

7:16 AM

(Don't wanna leave neko behind either though... may need to let him overlook before we go too far.)

(Okay, I guess he can catch up and make sure we haven’t broken the game.)

2

(lol)

(You're good, so the deal is Bavid gets the mech to fix up, and will essentially act as a front for your scrap/salvage - it makes sense, I think Draconis will need to invest in a trade ship to haul their stuff here as time goes on, but with seven major cities on planet, I don't think finding an end-user for whatever you find is going to be an issue

7:40 AM

And with a major chunk of the available scrap/recycling now gone thanks to cyrus, I think that need exists now more than ever)

(We were going to work on a fleet, so we just split whatever we make and Bavi’d controls the scrap side of things.

)

(Yep yep)

(works for me!)

(So skip ahead to me and mech stuff on ground, and stev taking off?)

(yeah we can do that, the meeting is about to happen now, I'm sure bavid wants to begin working on his new toy)

(yessss)

(Deal is made, I’m happy to vacate the channel for now. Sayonara! Thanks for trading!!)

(same)

7:48 AM

Bavi'd goes to the old miners to ask for help with the excavating of the under-the-island area and running supports.

"We're working off an island right now, I don't think it's possible here, we'd need to branch out to one of the coasts and try there. Anything we do to undermine the island might cause things to collapse, and if that happens we're all going to be underwater"

7:49 AM

"Not to mention the hydraulic pressure in the soil we would be trying to brace against."

Understandable. With the right equipment can it be done on the other shore then?

7:51 AM

Across the river?

"That would be easier to do. Bridging out there needs to happen first"

8:03 AM

"Preferably something we can raise, so any boat traffic can still pass"

We can do that with wood and rope for now, shouldn't be too expensive.

"We could. If we're already sending teams out to forage, we can mobilize almost the whole village. A team to gather plant fibers, a team to hunt, and a team to collect wood for the fish farms and the bridge. What do you think?" (edited)

Very good, lets get it going then. Thank you.

(Which of those three things will Bavid be directly helping out with)

(Likely hunting.)

(So hunting is what you want to do? just trying to figure out what to prepare)

(Yeah)

One of the smaller scavenging trucks is fueled and brings you across the riverbank to the northern shore. A pack of trollboars with many females was seen in the area, and msot of them looked to be ready to give birth at the time. THe woods should be crawling with beasts now.

3:37 PM

The engine shuts off, as you, and three scavengers jump out. Weapons are passed out, and a final communications check is made to be sure everyone has a working radio before you split up and head into the bushes. A medical emergency this far from formal care could make even a routine fracture or fall a lethal experience

Only shoot for males if you can help it. With luck the females will run off since they're pregnant. Bavi'd orders in a hushed tone.

Crouching low , moving through the brush, it is not difficult to find drag marks and gashes in the ground where tusks have been dragged in the attempt to forage for food

Bavi'd points out the trail and follows them.

The trail that you’re following ends in a splash of blood and a cracked tusk buried 1/3 of the way into the ground. Tufts of fur stick to the tall grasses- they themselves starting to wilt with the rapid approach of winter

What do you think happened here? Bavi'd asks, hushed.

“Predator. Or ghouls. Something bit down , enough to crack the skin and was either big enough or...dead enough...to survive being gored. See that tusk?”

Yeah, looks like it was broken off. (How close to our island is this, could it potentially be a future problem for us or is it way to far?)

(If it can swim it would be within easy swimming distance of you. Really the trucks here were just to get you across the River. You didn’t go far)

I suppose we should take care of this, can't have something this big, or strong, near us. I would worry about the workers who are digging too much.

The scavenger leader, a heavy set man with thick muscles, crouches down to dig into the soil with his gloved hands "We'd be sending them to dig their graves rather than the base. I think you're right" He sighs and stands up, stretching. The beautiful piece of artwork on his arm, a medusa head tattooed into a howling face catches the evening sun. "We're going to have to track this thing down and handle it, whatever it is"

Alright, can you track it you think?

"Without knowing what it is, we're going to have to get lucky. We don't know what it is, or its habits, aside from that it eats meat"

Maybe set a trap? Though without a size estimate we probably can't do that either.

He sighs after a moment. "I know someone we could talk to, in Janusus. It's going to cost though. My sister has a touch of...a gift....She seems to know things that it would be hard to know...like an oracle"

How much, if you know?

"It would be for her to decide. Shes....inconsistent"

Understood, lets get a couple trollboars and go give her a dial.

He says nothing else but you sense he is in agreement with the plan, and the boars are easier to track. An hour of tracking, in conjunction with another teamin the woods is able to find a pack of three, grazing at the edge of a wooded treeline

All right, everyone pick a mark and aim for the heart. Wait for it. Bavi'd pauses and waits for a moment where all boars are completely visable. Fire. Bavi'd says low, but plenty loud for everyone to hear.

There is enough gunfire to bring down the entire small pack, the three boars tumble to the ground, neatly shot through. The truck that brought you across the water makes its way through the trees, winch ready to load them into the back

Good hunt boys, lets load 'em up Bavi'd exclaims, proud of the haul.

The three boars are hauled into the back of the truck, and you make your way back to the village (3xp, 5000 credits) the other projects will continue in your absence

(skip ahead back to camp then?) (edited)

(Yes that’s fine)

Back at camp Bavi'd asks about the mans sister. How long would it take you to contact her? He asks patiently.

“The call is instant but we would need to travel there. It’s about five days overland from here”

Alright lets get ready to move then.

“You’re going to be the first from off world to see what is happening inside that city. Take notes. Watch everything you can. Whatever you see might be worth it to your friends back in Mytikas. We trade in information as well as scrap. You need to have a keen eye to do both”

Understood Bavi'd responds nervously

(5 days of downtime for the overland trip, not sure what you're working on right now)

(Since it's not enough time to learn much of anything I suppose if there's time can i make a grappling hook?)

11:40 PM

(or can i work on something as an incomplete project? such as adding shock absorbers to my gloves so I can punch harder?)

(none of the trips people routinely make are a whole 30 days in one go, so you can bank it toward a language or skill. If you're not making a book mod I'd need to see what you want it to do so we can figure out how long it takes)

im just going to practice tauran I think. I wasn't prepared for this so I don't know what I want to do or where the stuff is in the new book set up so for now this works.)

(Downtime activities are in a handout on roll20, where they've always been. Most of the travel on Heras has been more dangerous, so we've played it out, but things are beginning to change)

(this is my first downtime so I wasn't aware, I'll check into that ty.)

7:59 PM

(ok I'm going to work on my shoot skill, I'll be aiming at trees in a moving vehicle.)

The gates of Janus fall below a wide aqueduct and two sentries are outside checking those wishing to enter. They each carry a long rifle , and a small walker backs them up, it’s spotlight sweeping over the column slowly

Bavi'd stares at the walkers gawking in adoration.

The spotlight shines on you and the scrap leader shoves past to go talk with the guards. A few credits change hands and you overhear them talking about their families. There is at least some level of familiarity here. The gates open after a long few minutes , unveiling the paved streets of the city

3:31 PM

We need to get some roads like this built back home. I think it'd help with travel some.

Children run through the streets and a watchman is busy lighting gas lanterns in the street with a long taper carried over his shoulder. “Alright. My sisters place is by the warehouse district. She said we can stay for a few days if we need to. I gave her a very general description of what we were coming to ask, so she could prepare , but it would do her good when we see her for us to get into more detail”

Undderstood.

You move through the winding city streets as the head scavenger guides you, taking you through the marketplace and down a narrow alleyway with doors. The home is long but tall, the rooms look narrow from the outside, as though they are packed in. He knocks twice, and a child answers. They hug, a niece reunited with an uncle she hardly sees and you’re let in. Up a winding set of stairs you’re bought to a kitchen where a family is sitting down to an evening cup of tea

Bavi'd nods waiting for the introduction, not wanting to be rude and intrude on the going-on's

“Yaraina, this is bavid and my crew. We were hoping you could answe some questions he has with your gifts. He left Mytikas and joined up with us, and then more people came. We have a small town running and so far things are coming along, but we have a few troubles and need your guidance

9:55 AM

“Bavid is essentially the mayor and if you’ll allow it, I’ll have him ask the questions “

9:56 AM

She has not said anything yet, but nods once and takes a sip of tea. One of the children pulls out chairs for you and likewise sets a glass in front ot you

Bavi'd thanks the child and sits.

I hate to inconvenience you, but your brother speaks highly of your gifts. We have a large beast, I believe, Hunting large amounts of trollboars very near our town. Though it's unlikely it can get to the town unless it can swim well, I fear for the workers who need to work on that side of the river, as well as any hunting parties I may send out. If you will allow it, I would enlist your help at any cost I can afford to find out what this creature is and, if it's a danger, Take it down or relocate it.

Bavi'd feints a drink of the glass to not appear distrusting or disrespectful. (preform CHA 9)

2:27 AM

(unless it's dex)

(It would be dex if you’re trying to do something slight of hand like this)

7:04 AM

She listens and thinks for a moment. “Describe the area to me, where you have set your town up. I must see it in my head”

(10)

Well we live on an island that splits a river. It has housing pushed to one side and some places to work scattered around for basic needs. It is still small and has plenty of room due to just beginning building recently. We have dirt shores on both sides of the river with a fair amount of wooded area's with pockets of grassland scattered off the island across the river. All of the pipes we run are exposed and easily accessible for maintenance except the waste pipes. We have basic electricity and power lines around. If you're looking for information on Flora or Fauna these men with me would know more than I but if i missed something feel free to ask.

"I know the area" she says, and her eyes close. one of the children seems to be familiar with what is happening here, and gets a piece of coal and a roll of paper down from a low shelf that they can reach. The woman's hands instinctually grasp for them, and she begins to sketch

7:59 AM

That's an interesting beast, what is it?

“It doesn’t have a name but it’s what I see. Leftover from the overlord war. Something dark that escaped his thrall”

So it is dangerous I assume then. How do we kill it?

“The body is able to be harmed by normal weapons, if you can hit it. It is fast. You need to burn it once you’ve wounded it enough to immobilize it”

So, if I can slow it down it should be fairly easy to kill then?

"Your efforts would be easier" she nods sagely. "It seems to enjoy the taste of meat, and seems to eat it live, or at least enjoy the struggle, based on what you have said, and what I have seen. If you can't catch it, you may need to make it come to you"

So a trap with bait may be smart. Understood. Anything else to be wary of?

"You have the main points. If it catches you, or the trap is sprung too early, nothing else I have to say will be of any use to you"

Alright.

(okay, so i guess we wrap that up then) The scavengers stay and socialize for a few hours, but opt to leave the city that night for the drive back to the town, everyone is concerned for those left in town with that creature on the loose. (5 days of downtime for the drive back)

(shoot skill more, same way.)

(10/90 shoot) As you return, you see that the villagers have been busy. Wooden pilings have been driven into the river, though the actual wooden decking for the bridge itself has not been completed. Several sections of it, along with railings, are stacked up on the village island, ready for use. A wooden raft, made from other trees, is in the middle of the river on the north side, working on getting the last few pilings into place

7:43 AM

Three trollboars are hung from a nearby tree, close to the village square, drying out above a very smoky fire

Well, maybe we should leave more often. Stuff really gets done around here. Bavi'd laughs and jokes.

"So, we're back. And we know what we're looking for now. How do you think we should handle this?"

Well, remember the beast that attacked us on the water? Bavi'd pauses to make sure he understands.

Same idea, but we can set a trap before hand. Get a few fire hydrants and we can shoot them if we can imobolize him for just a second, or catch him off guard. The cold should at the very least cause his muscles to contract and slow him a ton. Then we can lure him into a trap. If possible I think I'd like to catch him though. May bring in good money for the town.

(okay, so we're trying to get like some pressurized hoses basically, with storage tanks for it to pull from. We'd have to dig or make those things in the settlement, or we could try to fabricate some equipment and mount it on a boat, but either way, there's going to need to be some work done to put it together 3xp, 5000 credits for visiting the city)

(Yeah I figured, but better safe than dead. lol)

(Fix is now 3, henchkeeper is now 2, and health is now 46... i don't think i missed anything.)

"I remember seeing a fire tugboat in the wreck field. This will be the third time we've gone back, and the ghouls will be on us a lot faster this time, but It's the only way. The river water should be cold enough already, and we won't need to worry about running out. Doing it with a boat, we're still going to need to lure that thing close to the river to do anything about it"

I'm not saying it's a very ethical plan, but what if we tried to lure it with the sounds of a dying animal? If it's hunting it should follow wherever we take the animal right? At least that's my belief.

"It;s better than any ideas I've got. We'd need to kill one amyway to get bait, may as well improve our chances"

Alright, send a crew out to get an animal for us. Preferably a loud one. We will go out and get the trap ready. Send a driver with him. Just in case the beast chases them aggressively. The rest of us can head out and build a trap cage on the water and with any luck we will have us a new pet till we find a buyer, or a use, for the beast.

"And meanwhile the rest of us are going back to the wreck field, arent we?"

Yeah, I thought that's where we would place the trap. (edited)

"Alright, we've got a night here then while the hunters go out. We should rest while we can"

Agreed.

(Anything you want to do in town before we head out?)

Bavi'd grabs some welding supplies, rope and poles, along with a chunk of scrap (if he can find them.) and loads it into the truck. Let's get this over with. He says. ready to go. (that's all i think.)

(Yeah all that is here now with all the ships you guys have taken apart)

6:29 AM

The truck fills its floats with the thick air and begins pushing itself into the river. The engine deploys it’s snorkel, and the large vehicle begins heading in the direction of the wreck field. You can see the hunters on the opposite bank brining back the captured trollboar. After several hours of driving down the otherwise still river, you approach the wreck field and the vehicle slows, as the scavengers pan for threats with binoculars

After several minutes of searching they put their optics away, satisfied that for now things are safe enough

(sorry, baby was born. she's been a handful, then the riots... been non stop no sleep here.) Are we clear to go in then?

6

(Hope all is okay, and congrats on the baby!)

7:55 AM

"I think so, we still need to keep watch for it. Lets split the gang, we need half of us on the fire-boat to have a chance at getting it free and to steer the thing while we tow it. Maybe you can fix some of what's on board once we're underway. "

(Thanks, everything is fine and ty for the grats (:) Sounds like a plan, let's get a crew on repairs and a crew setting up the tow. We need a lookout for the ghouls too.

"We need three over there, so you and two more?"

I could likely do the repairs myself if we have security. I just hope i'm fast enough. Or I can guard while a team repairs.

"I think you're our best mechanic. Do what you can while we get underway, and we'll get security on the deck with you"

Understood! Bavi'd readies to board the fire-boat as the men get moving.

The three of you head aboard and after securing it to the truck with ropes you feel a gently shove as you get underway. The deck has five water cannons on it, one bow, and two on each side. The rear water cannon has been torn away by a collision a long time ago.

7:46 PM

The pilot house is a mess of broken gauges and a fused wheel, locking the rudder in place

(Many congrats for the baby! Life just got more interesting.

)

(and hectic... i feel bad i've been non stop may have to kill off bavi'd

)

(well, no one relies on him to be there, I guess, as you are in your own village that we don't need to touch. So I guess you can come back when it gets less hectic)

(Bavid doesn’t need to die just because you got busy my man)

(ok, sorry about the hold up. just been hectic af here. i'll try to at least make weekly posts if possible.)

(alright, no problem)

"Well, we might be able to work with some of this. We just need it to be able to move for right now, we can tinker with the rest on our way back home"