Iron Stars

Eli awakens, the cold wind outside blowing through the bullet hole filled walls of the hovel he shares with three other families. It is windy outside today, and the air smells like rain.

Eli draws his coat tighter to keep out the cold, wind, and wet. Knowing he won't be able to get back to sleep he sees who else is awake and if anyone is in the bathroom or fetched more water. (I'm assuming they haven't got plumbing back up yet on it's own?)

(Nope. only been here about a month, first ring has been cleared of rubble but thats about it)

1

(are the rings and what they are in the roll 20 folders?)

(Ask Cyrus)

(By first you mean the small innermost one right?)

(Yeah, closest to the temple)

1

(were you waiting on me because that's skippable stuff, or are you busy. Sorry to ask I just didn't want you waiting if I was holding things up no rush though.)

You look to be the first person awake, lucky you. No one has fetched water this morning, and the water from last night has been dumped out for fear of something settling in it and infecting it. If someone is in the bathroom, little more than a small wooden scrap shack out back, they're probably not going to be in the mood to talk to you anyway

Eli takes the water bucket and goes to collect some water wanting to clean himself up before he reports in and is probably assigned to more rubble clearing duty. (edited)

A taskmaster arrives as you finish rinsing, on the back of one of the very few working vehicles right now, and everyone begins to assemble.

12:47 PM

"Alright, pretty easy orders today, all told. The regent has some fields planted, but we need to explore the countryside around us a bit, see if there is anything more we might be able to use. Plants and animals. Rare minerals, the usual stuff. I know some of you have experience doing that already."

Eli's eyes widen an the idea of something besides manual labor. "You think you could squeeze me in? I don't know about scanning, but I've heard some of those animals can be vicious and I can keep you safe without slowing you down."

"Alright, we'll take Eli, and three others. Don't make me start picking names"

Eli does a little dance then remembers himself coughing to cover his embarrassment. "Come on you aren't tired of clearing rubble? One of you at least has to know how to work a scanner, you know they won't let me go if the mission isn't full."

A few hasty volunteers put hands up, thinking a walk in the woods might be better than another day with endless bushel baskets full of stone debris, for the crushers

"Is that enough for us to go? I signed on first though."

The four of you are selected, and youre each tossed a canvas backpack with a few days of rations, a spare power cell, glowbugs, and one has the pressure tent for all of you to share strapped to it. "Get to it. Go a few days out, see what you find, and then come home. Work at your own pace. No heroics."

"Yes sir, can I please get my gear from the house first, sir?" (edited)

"Of course, be back in five minutes"

"Thank you sir, and thank you for taking a chance on me this mission." Eli turns and runs back to the house.

You gather your belongings and return to the truck, where the mission team is finishing getting their gear together. "There

6:52 AM

is going to be another exploration team not far from your projected route. THey'll be closeby if you run into trouble, but try not to use the leeway if its not a true emergency"

"We should be okay, no heroics, do they know how to get in contact with us if they get into trouble though?"

"Worry about your own expedition. They're more professional than any of you. If they need help, you'll be way over your heads" He dismisses the group to assemble and head out on your own, he has other tasks to get to today

Eli starts talking to the others as they head out of town. "So, I'm keeping you safe what are you all good at?"

"You're apparently good at asking endless questions" one of them says, with mirth in his tone. "Finally ready? We've got work to do"

"Yes sir, I'm ready, let's get going then."

You meet at the crumbling remains of the east gate, with enough time to see a battered cargo skiff with pioneers on it heading out toward a bogland far distant. "Must be the other group. looks like they even had a few soldiers with them. Lucky bastards" someone else says, a woman, this time

"That just means our route is that much safer. Don't get separated chasing a scan and we'll be ok. Any of you have weapons or just me?"

Three of those gathered (5 of you total, 4 and you) have small pistols. Personal defense weapons for living in a large urban spawl on the edge of a warzone, not actual military weapons

"Well, hope you know how to use them. Anyone good at navigating or finding animals or plants? I know, too many questions, but I'm trying to figure out who to follow. Don't want us getting lost this close to home just 'cause I never asked."

"Just follow the group" the same woman says, irritation in her voice. "If you're planning on striking off on your own, its best you don't even go. We work as a team. I'd expect someone growing up where we did would know that. It's the same everywhere"

"But .. I .. mm. Yes mam, I'll be quiet and keep an eye out." Eli falls in behind them watching the others to make sure they don't stray too far especially the one with the supplies.

Her collar slips a bit, and you see the faded rank bars of a Remnant second lieutenant on the lapels of her undershirt. she has her pistol out, though it is carried loose in her hand, resting near her hip, as the group sets out over the scraggy grassland. The grass is long, and sticky, clinging to your skin or clothing if you get too close

(that's not high up enough that she was supposed to be exiled or anything right? or is that common knowledge?) (edited)

(Everyone on the moon got warped here, didnt matter who you were, and nobody cares now)

(

ok thanks for the explanation I thought it was just the people with some kind of connection to cyrus.)

Eli imitates her grip with his empty hand then looks at his own shirt, suddenly dissatisfied with it's lack of rank. Snapping back to attention after he's distracted by a particularly sticky piece of tall grass. He takes out his thermal survival knife and cuts a sample wondering if that's they type of thing they wanted back at camp. (edited)

It comes free of the rest of the stalk easy enough, a few drops of the murky, sticky amber sap dripping out and hardening on your palm. It is warm to the touch

Eli sniffs at the sap and thinks about tasting it, but decides better not to until someone scans it at least, puts away his knife and the sample then goes back to following the others. (edited)

A little way back from the group they stop to wait for you to catch up. Your de facto leader scans the horizon with her binoculars and frowns , fixated on a distant grove of scraggly trees

"Find something, mam?"

“Maybe. Something might have found us. I saw a glint in there. Twice now”

"Shit, you think someone's watching us? Should I try to scope it out too?"

(are her binoculars regular or tl4? I didn't want to offer mine if it wouldn't make sense, but I think the more expensive ones have a better zoom and night vision? I'm not sure how much that would help seeing a dark spot in the day though?) (edited)

(TL4)

6:43 AM

(it wouldnt. Daylight would flood the filters and just ruin it, you'd only see blinding white)

6:44 AM

"You can try" she shrugs (notice/wis)

(7

thanks thought so.)

(I had firsthand experience with that the other night)

(I thought you might you know all that stuff. Oof does it hurt your eyes like in the movies hope you're ok?)

You notice a shadowy shape slowly rise from behind a large fallen tree. The leaves on it are long gone but there is enough wood there to make an effective barricade. Whoever they are, they havent bothered to shroud their lenses, and the morning sun glints off of them.

Eli turns to the leader and whispers. "I see them, there is someone watching us from behind that tree." ( lenses so binoculars too as opposed to down a scope or I can't tell?) (edited)

(you cant tell you just see a flash)

1

"We should check it out then. I need three of you to cut left, I'll take Mr. Questions over here, and cut right. Let's try to surround them. Lets take them peacefully if we can, but if they give you cause to shoot, don't hesitate. I don't want to explain a patrol of dead scouts to the regent, or worse, the vice-regent"

"Yes mam, I'll try not to die. Should we just keep walking like normal or arm up now? I didn't want to be the one who let them know we're coming if they're already watching us down a scope."

The other patrol is already moving fast to the left. She has begun running right, weapon out, not waiting to see if you’re following her. The mystery watchers are 100m away

Eli starts running after her reaching for his laser rifle at the same time then is surprised when it suddenly appears in his hands. He shrugs but keeps running not wanting to mess up his first non rubble related mission with a real officer. (edited)

8:13 PM

(1 use of 3 casts per day. spell this is my gun.)

You see the glint of whatever scope or glass they used flash as the observer takes off into the woods, seeing what is coming at them. Branches crack underfoot as they begin to displace, stealth now a wasted opportunity (edited)

"Good thing we started running, it looks like they're making a break for it mam." (edited)

(Exert/con)

(9)

You both are in front of the other patrol, running on the heels of not one, as previously thought , but two native scouts. Their heavy armor slows them down, and you are gaining on them rapidly- they clearly were not equipped properly for this kind of work, to their detriment.

"Hey, you two wait. We just want to talk, why were you watching us?"

They continue running, trying to put as much distance between the two groups of you as possible. One loses his helmet, and it tumbles into the dust on a broken leather strap

1:34 PM

The female officer leading your group soars past it, not interested

Eli continues running after them, following the officer. Thinking I'll get it on the way back. (edited)

She gets close to one, and jumps, trying to execute a flying kick or tackle, but misses, tumbling into the dust. The soldier she struck was glanced, and staggers, his pace slowing behind his fellow scout.

Eli puts on another burst of speed trying to get close enough to drop his laser rifle in front of the scout and trip them up.

(Lets get an opposed exert/dex then, i guess.Can't really think of a better way to do it)

(4)

(11) He gracefully leaps over the thrown rifle, sparing a moment to give you a "what the fuck was that supposed to do" look

Eli shrugs "Get your attention? Please stop, I don't want to hurt you, and obviously you feel the same you had the drop on us and didn't attack, maybe I can just tell you whatever you were here to find out?"

He is still running

"Darn, ok, sorry then." Eli starts to pull out his bat still running intent on trying to trip him again, but this time maybe by knocking the legs out of under him.

(we can get an attack roll then, lets do it as an unarmed attack)

(Lol that's the one attack skill he doesn't have. Can i use dex or would it be strength based with a bat?)

(I'd be fine with dex in this case)

(Give me a sec to hop on my pc, so unarmed/ dex?)

(yeah)

8:40 PM

(well no, regular attack roll

1

( 15/5 ) (edited)

He trips, end over end, his own helmet now tumbling from his head, the heavy armor keeping him from rising quickly. The captain, and the rest of the patrol catch up, sailing into the mix and are working to hold him down

"You got this one, should I try to go after the other one mam?"

"Leave him, you'll just get yourself killed. Whoever sent them is going to notice a missing patrol soon enough anyway"

"Oh, and I think the other one dropped his helmet back there, not sure if those are important. Maybe their names are in there or something?"

"Find out" she snaps, as she cannons a fist into the scout's face

"Yes, mam." Eli gives a little salute before putting his bat away and heading back to pick up his laser rifle and the helmet. (edited)

The helmet is a polished silvery alloy but not pure silver. It’s leather chin strap has broken. It’s integral helmet systems have fried but it looks to have offered mild targeting and ambient senses to its wearer

Eli looks the helmet over quickly, wondering if the second one is also broken before heading back. (edited)

You return with the helmet, as the scout is being bound by your team. "I think this changes the parameters of what we were doing out here. I don't think it's right to just kill him. We might start an incident. We need to get him back home, and let leadership decide what to do with it"

"That makes sense mam, besides we were sent out for information seems like we just found a different type. Should we contact the other patrol with the skiff? Seems like we should get him back as soon as possible mam." (edited)

"They're not replying. Its up to us"

"I guess we walk back then start the mission again once he's safe? We shouldn't leave these guys out here alone especially now we know someone is watching. Was the other helmet working? This one was busted, but someone back at camp might be able to fix it. "

(no one went for the other helmet. They only sent you out to get it and you didnt pick it up, so nobody knows) "My thoughts exactly. Lets get moving before we losr the day"

(I did get it right? Sorry i thought the other one's was right next to them and I only needed to grab the one that fell off way back? When i went to grab it and the rifle those Would have been further back right? Sorry I should have probably bern more specific with two helmets having fallen off?) (edited)

(you got one, not both. You said 'i wonder if the other one works' but then went back)

(I thought one of them would have picked up the close one, but could I still go grab that one? No reason to leave it behind.)

"We dont have time for diversions. Let's go , now. It doesn't sit right that only two scouts were sent to watch Mytikas. The woods might be swarming with them"

1

"Yes mam, do you want me on lookout or watching the scout?"

“You seem to like asking questions. You hardly go a second without one so why don’t you take care of our guest. See what you can get from him on the walk”

8:08 PM

She begins talking to the others and Getting them organized

Eli walks over to the scout. "So why were you watching us anyway?"

"You're invaders here. We needed to know what we were up against"

8:56 AM

he says curtly

"Invaders? No one was living where we are, and we didn't come here by choice. Who sent you, maybe we could talk to them, explain we aren't an invasion force? Just doing what we need to live." (edited)

"So are we" he spits.. Its colored by bright red blood, evidence of his rough handling

"Are you ok? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take you down that hard, but you wouldn't stop." (edited)

"and let you capture me? of course I wouldn't stop. You're not a soldier are you?" he says to himself

"I guess I'm still learning, but don't think that means I'll let you escape. When we get back I'll make sure someone medical checks you over. If you dont want to tell me about where you came from, maybe you can tell me about the planet, you know plants and animals and things?"

"I'd never stoop so low as to help an invader on our soil" he says after a long moment. "You'd have to be insane to even expect me to consider it"

"We're not invaders, what could I do besides let you go to prove it to you? We haven't attacked you, if we were invaders wouldn't we have invaded by now?" (edited)

"Living in a ruin like that" he snort. "No, you've got bigger problems for now, but it won't stay that way. We'll have one season. Maybe two. Then you'll come"

"If you're determined to fight us, I can't stop you, but I don't think we have to fight. Why couldn't we work together, or at least try to, if it's several seasons before we attack anyway what have you lost, and gaining a potentially powerful ally seems worth the risk. You must assume we have some power if you're out here spying on us, living in ruins or not."

He does not say anything to that, the answers not things he can provide

"Sorry, those decisions are probably not ours to make. My name's Eli, can you tell me yours?"

"Verkat" he says, not saying much else, though it may be to the corners of his mouth beginning to swell from the punches an d flying tackle

"You don't have to talk, sorry you were treated so rough Verkat. Like I said I'll make sure you get seen to by someone who knows what they're doing. I'm glad we didn't shoot each other though."

Now that you think about it, they did not seem to be carrying weapons when apprehended

"So why did you have helmets that help you aim if you don't have any weapons?"

"Do your people not possess the means to record videos?"

"We do, different equipment I guess, but I'm no tech. Any other interesting gadgets you have?"

He remains silent, as he's being lead back to the city, which you can now see again on the horizon

"You sure you can't tell me anything else? I know you're a little sore, and think I'm an invader, but the people who'll ask you questions after me won't be as nice about it, and they'll see what you were up to once they get your helmet fixed anyway. Please just tell me something, or maybe nod if I guess it right so you don't have to say anything? I'd rather have something to tell them when we get back, I think things will go better for both of us. Sorry I don't mean that as a threat, just like you said I'm not a soldier so I'm going off what I've heard, and honestly some of it's a little intimidating. Whatever you decide, hopefully it's ok if I stay with you until I know you've been looked at? I'd feel better knowing I did that much for you at least."

"The word of someone the soldiers don't even respect won't count for anything, but thank you" he says, a bit more warmly than he's spoken to you previously. "I'd be a traitor to my people if I said more"

"You're welcome. I understand, or am starting to, I think. Hopefully I haven't said too much myself. I'll be quiet now, thank you for indulging my questions Verkat." Eli escorts Verkat the rest of the way in silence watching him to make sure he's not pushing him too hard on the walk back to Mytikas. (edited)

(3xp, 5000 credits)

8:40 AM

A runner is sent ahead when you get close to the city, and by time you arrive back at the gate, there are six soldiers waiting to take Verkat into custody. He is roughly shoved into their waiting arms, and bound, forced to hop and hobble over to a skiff to be taken to city core

Eli tries to catch the attention one of the lead soldier before they leave with him on the skiff.

(oh, should I just do my level up now? I wasn't sure since I still wanted to tell someone going with Verkat what I found out, give them the helmet, and at least ask if I could go with him to make sure he got looked at, or if our mission was just heading back out. I realize as a player and character they probably won't let me go, but wanted to ask since I told him I would, and in Eli's mind it's part of seeing the mission through and turning over custody, and he's trying to prove his professionalism?) (edited)

The soldiers ignore you, bundling their new charge off into captivity, for questioning by upper echelons of command.

9:32 AM

(you can do it now)

"Um, hello I'm Elias Burl, before you head out I thought I should tell you what I found out, so you can pass that up?"

They fall into formation and the company sergeant calls cadence as they begin marching away, prisoner in tow

Eli tries to approach the sergeant waving the helmet. Sir, should I just turn this in with the other samples? I didn't want to drag my feet reporting intelligence. I dont want to waste you or your men's time sir. Should I just follow and report to who he ends up with?" (edited)

"I'll take it from here. Go home, get some rest. this is a matter of military intelligence now"

"There was at least one more scout, and one of our skiffs still in the area. We tried to call them, but they must have been out of range? The scouts we encountered weren't armed though just recording, and were wearing helmets equipped with high tech cameras secured with weak leather straps. That seemed odd enough to mention sir. I said I would make sure he got looked over, I'm sure you can do that though sir. Thank you for your time sir. I have some grass samples unrelated to the scouts to turn in first sir, but I'll make sure to return home and wait for my next assignment." Eli salutes the Seargeant then heads back to his group and the ex remnant officer. (edited)

They are talking in low voices among themselves for what happened out there, everyone feels they've done the best job they could given the circumstances.

"Mam, I handed over the scout, helmet, and told the sergeant everything. I'm not sure if he'll be treated like he should, or what they'll actually pass on, but I wasn't sure what else to do, they didn't seem to want the grass samples. You're the one in charge any other orders?" (edited)

(Sorry leveling up was going a little slower than usual since I'm on my laptop, I think I'm almost done though, just trying to make sure I don't forget doing or listing off anything.)

(all good)

2:51 PM

(I'll add the research to the lab too)

1

(hp from 2 to 5, 2 skill points to take int from 12 to 14, one into exert to take it to 0, for focus unarmed combatant taking punch to 1 from -1 and increasing damage from 1d2 to 1d8 and giving shock damage, one extra spell per day. ab went up to 1, I think that's everything)

(AB for casters is 1/5th your level. You'll get 1 at lvl 5 and It caps at 2)

(did I mess up isn't it like psychics for war mages?)

3:51 PM

(Unlike other Magisters, their martial training gives them a better attack bonus. They have a base at- tack bonus equal to half their character level, rounded down. Partial War Mages share this quality.)

(Ok, I hadn't read specifically for war mages then, you're good)

1

(Ready to move on?)

(Yes, thank you for asking.)

8:41 PM

(Did you need me to post the last thing again I was asking the ex remnant officer for orders, I know it got a little covered with level up questions.)

(missions over, you guys got back, shes not in charge anymore and is probably relieved to not have to answer a question every ten seconds)

"Oh, well do you think you could train me mam? I'm not sure what you had planned, but you seemed to know what you were doing out there, and I'd really appreciate it. I think I need to know how to ask for and follow orders with less questions. Before you say no, maybe I could do something for you in exchange or get you something? I know living three families to drafty ruins with no indoor plumbing has me wishing for old creature comforts."

"You do, but I'm not a drill sergeant, and I don't have the patience to train someone like you. I'd go to the temple and see if you can enlist if you're that serious about it"

"Ok, I'll do that mam. Thank you for the advice, and keeping me alive out there. Do you have a compad? I know I might not be your favorite person right now, but having competent friends outside the chain of command seems like a good precaution to have."

“Chain Of command is what I have to follow and there’s rules against fraternization for a reason. I’ve given you all the information I can”

"Yes, mam. I think the treatment of that scout, and being ignored just shook me a little. I'll leave you to enjoy your downtime and head to the temple." Eli salutes her and gives the grass sample to one of the civillians with the scanners then heads towards the temple.

(I added the RP for this last night, so we're square as far as EP RP) The temple is less ruined than the rest of the city, but that is not saying much, it is still in wretched condition compared to how it must have looked once. Dozens of soldiers and contracted civilians amble around the outskirts, preparing to begin the serious rubble clearing and reclamation work to make the core district a habitable place again

1

(cool I thought so, just I hadn't given the grass to anyone ic, so though I should?) Eli looks around for someone obviously in charge, and not too busy.

There is a Myrmidon officer with a white horsehair crest on his helmet standing on the temple steps and he looks to have just dismissed a meeting of subordinates.

Eli walks over to him trying to stay composed. "Excuse me sir, I was told I could sign up for missions or other duties here."

"You can. What kind of emplyoment are you looking for"

"I'm not sure, I was a partisan at Cruesa, and apparently I can do magic now. I wanted to be one of you guys, but it seems like I'd have to do something else first? I thought maybe you could help me with that?"

"Be one of us? " he asks, helmet remaining fastened in place "You don't just decide to be one. There's training, and trials"

"Well how do I prepare for the training, that's what I mean I know nothing, but I want to learn where should I start? You weren't all born Myrmidons sprung fully grown and armored from Cyrus' head I hope?"

(I really think you need to ask him about how he wants this to work. We sort of have the various army formations worked out already, not sure how he'd want to slot you in_

(of course, that's fine, I wasn't sure I'd even be part of the formations, just though the officer would give me an assignment that would make sense for someone wanting to move into that kind of thing maybe, but I don't know all of what's going on. So I'll go with what you and Cyrus decide on that.)

"Magic user? you would absolutely not be welcomed in boot camp. There are far too few of you. That said I think you need to talk to the Vice Regent and explain what exactly it is you can do. She will no doubt have some specialist work for you"

"Ok, how do I meet with the vice regent, I don't need an appointment or something do I?"

"I'll bring you in now, if you're ready|

"Ready as I'll ever be I guess. The Vice Regent, just knock me out if I start making a fool of myself, I didn't think I'd meet anyone this important for a long while." (edited)

He leads you inside the temple where work crews are hauling out the last of the wreckage and rubble piles, dumping it outside for teams to crush and reconstitute into cement for projects elsewhere. At the foot of some ancient steps, leading to the upper living areas where the temple's priests would have lived, Vice Regent Cole, along with four bodyguards, and a handful of clerks are all comparing notes, looking down at a map, her wrist vambrace is projecting

"Do, I just go up to her? I don't want to get clobbered by Myrmadon bodyguards or something."

"If you want to be a field agent you're not going to be hand held. Decisive action. That's my only advice" Eryx says, returning to duty at the front of the temple, and leaving you amid the controlled chaos of the temple

"Thank you sir." Eli salutes then slowly and respectfully approaches Vice Regent Cole and her entourage.

Cole notices you standing in the middle of all the chaos. "You there! Did you need something to do? Or did you get separated from your work detail?"

"Actually Vice Director, I'm here to speak with you." (edited)

"You have three minutes" she says "then I have another meeting. Say what you came to say"

Eli takes in a breath before he starts, trying to speak clearly. "Thank you for your time mam. Before I ask about myself, I thought I should make you aware if an enemy scout I was able to capture alive. Verkat. I mention him because he was in rough shape between his capture, beung marched back, those that secured him, and the soldiers I left him with, and I know you and the regent wanted to be on friendly terms with the cities he probably came from, and I wouldn't feel right If I didn't at least mention him if there was a chance he was important and you, and youd make sure he lived past being questioned. You're important enough not to be ignored by other soldiers I hope. The other reason Icame was to look for an assignment or training. I want to bevone of you eventually. I know this will take training, trials and proof of my dedication. After speaking of my interest to the officer out front, he said to come to you because I can do magic." (edited)

“I see. Well he’s right. You’re too valuable to risk for frontline service. There’s plenty you can assist with though. I have a special operations team heading out to do something a bit dangerous and I think you’ll fit nicely”

"Thank you for trusting me vice regent Cole. Should I show you what I can do? Just make sure your guard is aware it involves my laser rifle. I can let you take out the battery first if that would make you feel better?"

"I have a feelign removing the power won't matter. Go ahead. Show me"

Eli holds up his hand like he was pointing a rifle at the ground in front of him trying to concentre and summon his laser rifle like he did before. "This worked before, I'm sorry mam." As he's almost given up the rifle appears in his hands. "See, magic?" (edited)

"So, you can call your rifle to you somehow? anything else?"

"I'm not exactly sure mam. I went to where I heard the regent had given a speech. Then I felt weird or inspired? Like something else was controlling me or put an idea in my head, and started scratching and doodling these weird symbols on it. I thought I was just trying to match the temple, but later when we were chasing the scout, and I was unarmed it appeared in my hands. So you know as much about my magic as I do, if not more." (edited)

"I'm not sure if that's supposed to make me feel better, or worse, but just so, you're going to be working with one of our special operations teams. "

"Yes mam, I won't fail you mam, thank you for sending me on a mission. I'm sure I'll learn to do something more impressive soon. Do you mind if I ask you something before I go on my mission, please Vice Regent Cole?"

"I heard you were part of the group that brought in that scout. The sergeant said you were almost running after them, trying to take care of something. You want a chance to get some information from him? "

"I could try, he didn't see me as a soldier, I could use that, but I don't know how much more he would tell me since he knew I don't have the authority to make a deal with him either."

12:21 PM

"Maybe if he got some medical treatment he would believe I could keep my promises?"

“That’s good leverage” she agrees. “Head down there. Use your common sense. Be decisive”

"I will mam. Before I go, would you please sign my laser rifle?" Eli holds it out to her with the Garion with the morning grind permanent marker pen.

The guards close ranks. “If you don’t know what your powers can do but it happened from writing on your rifle , I’d rather not. Not until we know”

"Oh, ok maybe later then." Eli puts away the pen and rifle a little dejected. "Where should I go to start my mission then?"

“He’s in the crypt below the temple in one of the cleated out chambers. The dead don’t need the space”

"Cool, I mean thank you mam. I'll go meet him now. Assuming I'm dismissed?"

“You are. To your duties” she snaps

Eli salutes then looks around for a stairway leading to the crypt.

It is not hard to find, four myrmidons in heavy warden armor keep watch over the stairwell down, and below you can hear the sounds of a few more of them in conversation. They're evidently taking no chances with the captivity of the scout, and whoever else might be down there

Eli approaches the myrmadon closest to Verkat if possible. "Excuse me gentlemen, Vice Regent Cole said I needed to report to someone down here to make sure my friend Verkat the scout gets medical attention. Could you tell me who that might be please?" (edited)

"You've been called ahead on. We're not to interfere with whatever you do, nor render treatment ourselves. All on you. There is a medical kit on the table downstairs."

"I'll make due, but im no doctor." Eli grabs the medical kit and heads in to Verkat trying to catch a glimpse of any other prisoners if he can. (edited)

He nods and steps out of the way so you can head down. The staircase winds and is made of well worn flagstones. The lower reaches of the temple seem to be in far better repair- the raiders or soldiers who attacked the temple itself not delving into its depths in search of riches or desire to desecrate. The bodies have evidently been disposed of , you hope reverently, and instead the mini underground mausoleum doors have been replaced with armored bars, and thick locks.

2:33 PM

The first area has no bars, and is a nestled alcove for jailers to sit when not immediately standing guard, but the other seven chambers are jail configured, Verkat seems to be the only prisoner right now- aside from a drunk soldier sleeping off a hangover in another cell.

Eli smiles at seeing the soldier, glad to learn some things aren't punished with execution. Then looks for the key to Verkats's cell. (edited)

It is sitting on the table as promised, the guards look warily as you approach but none challenge or stop you from taking it. Verkat is curled in a ball toward the corner of his cell, back facing outside

"Verkat? It's me Eli, I came back with a medkit and informed the higher ups about how you were treated, would it be okay if I tried to treat your wounds?"

He groans, and tries to move but you can see he is too sore and in too much pain to manage much

Eli approaches and tries to carefully help Verkat to a position so he can better access his wounds and give treatment. (edited)

(heal/int)

(7)

(one thing I think I might have missed when telling you level up info I can consecrate a second weapon since it's one per level I think. That might not matter for a bit, but I thought I should tell you before it comes up that is for the this is my gun teleport to hand thing. I'm only specifying because I think the other spell is called consecrated weapons for max confusions.) (edited)

(sounds good)

7:39 PM

(ill look)

7:40 PM

You manage to treat the most obvious of his wounds with some basic first aid,a nd he seems to be resting a bit more comfortably because of it. "Alright, a favor for a favor" he says, sighing as the hydration pack connected to him via IV begins feeding

"Save your strength friend. I'll wait, you shouldn't be moving too much let alone talking. I don't think you should be treated so roughly now that those in charge have been made aware, but I don't know, so I'll wait with you if that's alright?"

(What are you waiting for, exactly?)

(him to fell a little bit better, he just got beat up again right?)

(No , lingering injuries from his capture and assorted nonsense after, but we can just get to your questions)

"So Verkat where are you from, I'll tell you where I was from, but I don't think Cruesa means much in the grand scheme of things anymore."

"The name means nothing to me" he agrees, his voice rough

"I thought so, but where are you from, on this planet I mean , what are the people you work with or under like? You've seen what I have to deal with, it almost makes me want to go back to working in the super market."

"Artema. We traveled for the better part of 3 weeks to see whats been going on out here. Your arrival was not quiet"

"Do you think those who sent you would be agreeable to an alliance? Maybe like we talked about earlier?" (edited)

"I couldn;t possibly comment on that"

"Do they often make alliances? Is it a thing that's happened before? I know you wouldn't be able to guarantee anything, but would it even be possible or likely? I'm not trying to get you to divulge secrets of your Khanate, just enough to know if we should approach them diplomatically, and not seem like a complete idiot in talking to them or those in command here about it. Even which Khan it is, general tendencies, I don't know anything, and I can't suggest an approach if I know less than they do already." (edited)

(sorry if that's too little knowledge, I just assume that Eli knows nothing, as reports other than speeches to boost morale probably wouldn't get down to the people clearing rubble?)

(He just cant say if they;d make an alliance, he is one of the least important people in his entire community)

9:07 AM

"I cannot say what Lady Artema would do. She is honorable, but proud. It would depend how she is approached and on your actions during any talks"

1

"Maybe you can tell me more about Lady Artema, and her holdings or at least Artema? What would you have or want for trade?"

"I'm just a soldier" he says with exasperation "Not a greasy palmed merchant or milksop statesman"

9:40 AM

"Youre asking for things I can't give you."

"Have you been sent to scout, or fight any other Khanates then?" (edited)

"We've fought with the Chrion Army before, against them, I mean"

12:37 PM

"Deadly with a bow. Turned the entire sky black with arrows"

"That's good to know, Thank you. Once you have recovered a bit, do you think you could take us back to your Khanate or to the others?"

"They'd shoot me, only a second before shooting the rest of you. I've been captured. I'm already a traitor"

2:35 PM

"THey'll suspect I've spoken with you,a nd I have. To them. I am compromised. My family will already be mourning me as a war casualty"

"Can you tell us where they are then? Who was in command of you here, maybe we could talk to them first? Do you mean even if we have no ill intent we would still be shot on sight? Why weren't you given weapons to defend yourselves then?" (edited)

"Sorry, that was too many questions at once ,but what you said made me nervous. Would they shoot us even if we approached as a diplomatic party?"

“Yes. They would. You’re an invader. I saw your war room on the way down here. Your regent is plotting war on us himself. Why would I cooperate”

"Even if those here are trying to start war, which I don't think is the case, you said they would think you a traitor no matter what, maybe this way I can convince them to at least get your family or friends out of harms way first? Or what if you captured me brought me back as a defector, would you be able to get back to your family then?"

“The scour I was with. Did he get away?”

6:41 PM

*scout

"Yes, I was told not to pursue him since there might be more of you in the forest."

6:42 PM

"He also lost his helmet though."

“Helmet or not if he makes it back to the city , the plan won’t work. He’s still got a voice. He will tell the tale”

"How far away is the city, did you have vehicles? Maybe we could beat him there?

(There's a map pinned in Cyrus's channel, that will tell you how far away.) "We arrived on foot, we left at the beinning of the month when we saw you come down from the sky"

"How are you feeling then? If you know the route you usually take we could take a vehicle and outrun them. Is there anyone else out there we should be worried about running into, I want to be prepared, and also not get either of us shot."

"I know the route. I cannot run, but I csan show you the way"

"You shouldn't have to, do you think riding would be too much or would you like a map or something to draw one with?"

"I can ride. I just can't run. My back is alright"

"If you can walk I will tell the guards we are leaving, though I might have to bring my plan up to those in charge first, I don't know how much leeway I was given when I was allowed to come and treat you. You should be safe here while I'm gone, but I'll be back as soon as I can. So what did you see in the war room, plans? just equipment? I'm curious as I haven't been there myself." (edited)

"If you don't know, I shouldn't be the one to tell you"

8:14 PM

.

"Probably not, let me go talk to them, I'm sure we'll have tell someone, you rest, and I'll get you when things are ready. Is there anything I can bring you or should make sure to bring for the trip? You know the route better than I do."

"Just a vehicle. If we're gone long enough to need supplies something has gone terribly wrong anyway"

8:20 PM

(and i guess we see how the council finishes up before we push on, since there was some discussion of a plan there going on)

1

(That makes sense probably when he leaves the cell or soon after he's sent there. I think Cyrus told me, the captain mohawk Taros guy, and the scout and a group of speeders? "You idea, to hunt down this scout, it's well thought out. It should be done, I shall put you in a squad of some of my best trackers. Scmander, you will lead the team, but you will take Elias here as your underling for the hunt if he wishes. Take a unit of speeders, if you can, take the scout alive. But he must not report. Then we will talk about what to do next, perhaps a good next plan would be to get a man into the city, that man could be you Elias, but you'd need help." sorry took a bit to find it, but yeah probably best to wait until it concludes? I have to have hive sign my bat anyway lol) (edited)

(alright, well, your call then)

8:45 PM

(this is your mission though, if you wnt to approach it differently we can do it differently. Its your game, you dont have to do it his way)

(His way seems good, and fits with the hero worship angle. If that's ok with you? )

(if its ok with you its ok with me)

1

8:49 PM

(I'm glad youre making actual decisions)

(thanks I've been trying to work on that especially since I'm dming, but also not over posting or controlling scenes too much.)

You are given some contact information for Eryx and the small team of trackers, with their grav bikes. They will be ready as soon as you are abke to meet with them, as time is of the essence

Eli goes back downstairs to collect Verkat and the medkit. Then sends a message to Eryx.

Hello Myrmadon Eryx, this is Adept in training Elias Burl, I was wondering where I should meet you, and if you had a bike able to take a passenger so we could bring Verkat?

A bike for two men has been prepared, we are in front of the temple waiting for you

Eli puts up his compad and offers to help Verkat to the front of the temple. "Are you ready to go, they're waiting for us out front, I can help you if you need it, there are stairs." (edited)

He says nothing but stands, as the guards remove his cuffs. "Hes in your care, if he resists or runs, kill him if you can't re capture him" the warden cautions, handing you the keys and the now empty handcuffs. Outside, you can hear the bikes beginning to rev up, as Eryx grows impatient

"We're here, Myrmidon Eryx, sorry to keep you waiting sir, which bike is ours?"

"THe only one without a rider on it " he says, curtly, and you see that all but one, a slightly extended model , has an armored warrior on it, waiting to go

Eli nods then walks over to the bike, makes sure Verkat gets in okay then goes to start it.

The vehicle starts up with a purr and the antigrav motors lift it a meter from the ground, gently bobbing

Eli drives towards where the helmet was left in the forest.

(Survive/wis)

(7)

You remember the path, fragmented from the adrenaline and fevered pursuit your memories are- and find the correct place where the helmet tumbled. It has been smashed in the fall, sensitive electronics inside fried from the impact with the ground. It looks like some kind of rodent had tried to nest in it , as well, given the stalks of collected grass inside -but the tiny resident is not at home right now (edited)

Eli stops the bike, and collects the damaged helmet incase it's useful later. "Alright Verkat, this is where we lost the other scout. Where would he have gone from here?"

"northeast, he would have continued running, and evading. He would not have stuck to the game trails, probably cut a path through rougher terrain to avoid outriders or patrols"

Eli calls in to the other bikes. "Verkat thinks he went north east might have gone over harder terrain to avoid us, will the bikes be able to handle it and, how should we proceed? You're the trackers."

"Split up, you three, and the civilians, head through the forest, we'll stay on the main road, and try to see if your patrol flushes him toward us. We'll make a few sweeps before we push on. He might have passed this already"

"Yes, sir we'll start heading through then. Eli turns to Verkat after getting off of the call. "So, where would he have gone to get supplies? If we have an idea of where he might have gone I think we can better cut him off without wasting time."

"THere are caches buried all over these woods. all over the planet. I tihnk you're better off sticking to the plan

"Right, through the forest it is then. Tell me if you see him." Eli turns off of the road and heads north east through his part of the forest to start looking for the scout.

The forest is dense, and you find more of your time is spent avoiding trees coming at you quickly than visually scanning for the scout. Verkat is trying to hold on, and continue looking around. THere is constant chatter in the background as the scouts keep in touch, trying not to lose track of each other in the dense forest

Eli checks in with the others and the road team. "Any of you find anything, I'm having a hard enough time dodging these trees, but I haven't seen him yet."

"Nothing ye....wait a second, wait.. shut the bike down. "

Eli kills his bike and is quiet holding his finger to his mouth so Verkat know to be quiet too.

You hear something soft, stirring in the undergrowth, almost like how a rodent would move, but heavier, more solid, and closer to the ground

Eli gets the helmet and his bat out. He slowly rolls the helmet on the ground thinking the motion, sound ,and it smelling like the rodent that lived in it might attract whatever is hiding in the bushes. (edited)

25m to your right, something heavy stirs, moving up a low ridge as close to the ground as possible, it is large, and carpeted in leaves

"Do you know what that thing is Verkat?"

you see a very dirty, but humanoid leg swinging out, as it continues moving. "Might be our quarry" he says under his breath. "Trying to evade"

Eli lowers his voice to a whisper and calls in. "I think we found him. Are you close enough to circle in? I don't want him to get away, he's about 25 meters to our right, and I think starting the bike again might spook him." (edited)

From a distance, you hear the low buzz of the other bikes, circling back in response to your call. Your quarry has heard it too, and now, stealth abandoned, he begins running

ElI picks up the helmet throws it and the bat back in the bike then starts it up to give chase.

Verkat. left near the bike, unwatched, revs the engine, and the bike begins to rise off the ground as your gear is thrown aboard. "I

11:01 AM

am sorry about this" he says, leveling a kick at your chest to push you back

11:02 AM

(lets get an exert/str or con to try to keep your footing)

(10 Would I be able to say something as he zooms away? or would it be too quick.)

You're forced back a step, but keep your feet, and as the bike turns violently, Verkat getting used to the controls, your bundle of goods bounces off. He begins speeding toward his companion (you can call something out but it would be brief)

Eli calls out after him. "Don't do this please we'll both be killed." Then heads after the bush man scout on foot hoping Verkat stopped, but not expecting much. (It would be another action before I could call it in since I did my talking then right? or would this be a roll initiative thing?) (edited)

(talking is a free action really, we're going to be in initiative now though) Verkat speeds toward his crawling comrade, who is beginning to realize what is happening, standing up with an arm outstretched to catch

(sorry 5 for initiative) (edited)

(you, then Verkat, he is 10m from you, facing away, heading toward his companion)

(sorry let me look up the spell really quick I don't know what happened to the copy pasted one on the sheet.)

2:18 PM

(since This is my rifle can be cast as an on turn action could I cast it then shoot a burst at Verkat, or the hover bike?)

(Yes)

2:19 PM

(On turn is free it just needs to be done on your turn, which it is)

(ok, those don't explode or something that Eli knows of right? I just don't want it to be pointless and we lose all 3 anyway.)

(It's a hoverbike,

)

(would that just be a regular attack with burst then at this range? I don't know if vehicle stuff is special or something.)

(You're shooting at him right? Then it would be normal with burst if you are bursting)

(Yeah probably at Verkat if regretfully I guess.) (edited)

2:33 PM

(22/4)

The bike jinks hard right as he is hit with a shot, but he manages to keep control of it, his partner leaping on the back, hanging over it like a bagged animal (like, sitting horizontally, across the back of the seat)

2:48 PM

he accelerates, 30m from you now, trying to put as many of the skinny trees between you as possible

Eli calls in to the Myrmidons. "They got on the bike. He's hit but going for cover I'm going to take another shot, but a bike might be heading your way." He then shoots another burst at Verkat.

2:57 PM

(8/6)

Trees between you and him explode with burning shrapnel as the laser shots strike it,

The bikes if the rest of the trackers begin heading over to your location as you report the theft

Eli points to the direction he went. "He went through the trees and he's shot. he shouldn't be able to outdrive you but be careful he knows the area better, the other scout is with him, don't stop for me I'll catch up on foot, and it's more important he doesn't get away." (edited)

(the other scouts wouldnt be able to see you but presumably they can track the bike)

1

8:40 PM

You are tracking on your compad, running after them, when the signal shorts out. You see a severed clump of wires fall into a pile of leaves and sticks, as the escaping scouts power away from the pursuit site, keeping to within the densely wooded area

8:42 PM

(12 notice vs 13 sneak) The trap does not close fast enough, and without a tracker, the bike is lost, along with the scouts. Scamander swears over the squad link, profusely. "It'll be dark soon. No sense getting more of us lost in the woods. Lets head back to the city. Nothing more can be done here"

Eli kicks at the dirt. "Yes sir, sorry I let you down sir. Are you going to drive me back, or should I start walking? I know I messed up, the prisoner was my responsibility, but his wounded bird act had me fooled. Those bastards got away with the bike, most of my gear, and the bat I just got signed by the Lord Regent. I feel like an idiot. Maybe we can find some of their stashes later so it's not a complete loss? I bet he doesn't even have a family."

8:55 PM

(Oh I'm not sure if it's important, but I found where the space magic thing was and put the cast magic skill and spells there as use magic and spells like they're supposed to be I think.

I knew that stuff was on there, it was hiding under the foci I think. I had it under class abilities. I wasn't sure and it was stuff messing with the sheet so I thought I should say something.) (edited)

(all good, yeah its in a different place, down with the psionics and stuff) "We can come back out to try to find out, but its getting dark, and I don't want to be out here after dark with those..things...that Jenoa's team ran into. Hop on Morgant's bike with him. He's a miserable bastard too, you'll make a good pair"

"Sure, I'll try not to make him angry, and those things are here? Will we be safe on bikes? I only have a few bursts and my thermal knife left. My batteries were in there." (edited)

“We aren’t going to be here to find out. Let’s go” The ride back is somber and you can hear scamander dictating his report to Cyrus about what happened out in the woods

“Looks like they’re sending a fighter to sweep the area , hopefully they’ll find him”

"Them sir, don't forget the other scout hopped on. I'm wondering if they know more about tech than they let on. They got rid of the tracker, and he was able to keep control of the bike after being shot you wouldn't expect people used to traveling on foot to know all that right? I underestimated them I should have guessed when he knew what a camera was, and wasn't surprised by anything like the bikes in camp."

"I'm not sure. We've been had though. They picked the right men for the job. It's up to the fighter now, we'll try to find one of those caches in the morning, and salvage some success from this if we can"

Eli is quiet unless spoken to the rest of the trip.

12:43 PM

Keeping an eye out but not saying much else. (edited)

You are deposited at the south gate of the city, as the bikes head inside, leaving you there. None of them spare a look back at you.

2:15 PM

(3xp)

(Sad level up time. It might be a bit before i can do that though. At least no one told me to report back to Cole or Cyrus. Should I bother making a list of the stolen stuff, and would a goal to get the bat and the other stuff back be ok?)

(only person who can answer that is you. If you feel that strongly about it, make one)

1

(Ok thanks, I'll post the level up changes before continuing like usual. I only have two spells one of which I've used so it's probably not an issue right now, but changing spells would that require dedicated downtime or just take in game time?)

(Does the codex say it needs dedicated time?)

(Sorry I'd have to double check once I'm at computer, all I remember is it's a month minus two weeks for each point in know magic skill. I dont remember what is says specifically if anything about the time. I would only be at the level where its possible with a 0 at most this level since I want to keep up with the use magic stuff though for casting speed.) (edited)

(then it takes dedicated downtime from the sound of it)

1

(Thank you Neko, that makes sense. I'll probably double check it anyway to make sure im telling it to you correctly, with the times and skills . Plus Ill have to look over the book to change spell slots and pick new ones anyway. It just seemed like a good to ask since the month changed recently.)

On your way into the city, you see an Ashen One heading out, wandering with some tools on his waist @Lethargick

Eli rushes after him trying to grab his attention. "Wait, it's dangerous out there those night beasts come down from the trees."

Bavi'd looks at the man. "Reeeeeeeekyt cong teefkt" Then remember's his com, repeating into it "Reeeeeeeekyt cong teefkt." The com chimes in an electronic voice SHIT! What time do they sleep? I need scraps or i can't work tomorrow.

"I think the day? The Herald didn't say."

hmm, would you protect me for 10 credits mr... what's your name?

4:09 PM

or i can repair anything you'd like

"Just call me Eli, and sure I'm not to eager to get back. I just have to go looking for stashes in the woods tomorrow. Maybe you could help with that?" (edited)

Bavi'd looks at the ground thinking. Would I be allowed to gather my scraps too?

"Sure, I'll just send Myrmadon Scamander a compad message to make sure it's ok. I don't want to do mess anything else up after today, but I'd like to help."

5:10 PM

Myrmadon Scamander I met up with a junk trader going out of town, and didn't want to leave him alone with those things and the scouts still out there. We should be back in time to look for those stashes.

Bavi'd looked at Eli considering. Alright then sure. I'll find a spot to camp near here and be ready first thing in the morning.

"Were you going to camp out there? Do you not have a ruin?"

I have my scrap hole but its a bit of a walk, so it's easier to sleep here.

"Do you want me to stay with you? I don't know when I'll be heading out tomorrow either."

Sure I could use the company. I suppose we could leave at first light then correct?

"Sure, like I said I'd be okay with it until I hear different. I'm sort of on thin ice. Hopefully keeping you safe is a step in the right direction."

What happened, if i may ask?

7:08 PM

Bavi's starts scooting some dirt and rubble in an almost casket shape.

"Well you'll find out soon enough, but don't tell anyone please just in case. Um I might have let some native scouts escape with a grav bike and most of my stuff, but I captured the first one so it kind of evens out right?"

Bavi'd makes a sound that was likely a chuckle but says nothing. on the matter. A gravi bike? Oh how i'd love one of those, can't blame the man for wanting it.

"I guess it was fun to drive, but it was mostly slow searching through the forest."

I would never ride slow. Speed is the best feeling one can have. Bavi'd lays down and prepares to sleep while listening.

"Yeah, but I didn't want to just quickly run into a tree." Eli kicks some rubble out of the way and sits. "So are we supposed to seal ourselves in rubble to sleep, you don't have a tent or something?"

Bavi'd chuckles, stands up and starts sifting through the stuff in his pack and laying around in the old ruins. Bavi'd does this for roughly 8 to 10 minutes.

7:36 PM

After ten minutes of sifting he starts using his metatool on the items until it becomes a small box. He hold it out to Eli button on top.

Eli looks at him then slowly moves to push the button.

Upon pushing the button the cube expands into an pressuretent. Though not as pretty as one from the store it kept the air inside clean and protected as well as a pleasant temperature.

"Huh, neat trick. I guess we should sleep then?"

Unfortunately, if we want to get a jump on things tomorrow we need to rest tonight. So, yes some sleep would be intelligent.

7:41 PM

Bavi'd laid back into his rubble pit he had made instead of the tent.

Eli stayed up for a bit watching for scouts and night beasts, but since he could still see the gate guards from here figured they would be alright.

(alright so we're looking for the caches and then scrapping?)

7:49 PM

(or other way around)

(Cache then scrap, i agreed to help him first.)

(thanks I'm going to do my level up real quick now if that's ok so I'm not doing it mid mission? It shouldn't be too much just spell stuff skills and hp?)

(no problem)

1

7:55 PM

(I was just asking so i know what im writing)

(Ok so I went up from 5 to 11 hp, up to 1 in use magic, 0 in know magic. (I checked it's a month each skill over 0 is one less week not two less to a minimum of 1 week so for 3 or 4 it would still be 1 week minimum) went up from 3 to 5 level one spell slots, and got 2 level 2 . For my new level one spell I picked Combat Stabilization, and for the level two spells I picked Fighting withdrawal, and Salvage Gear. I think that's everything. Thanks for waiting Neko.

)

Morning comes and the gate guards look to have changed shifts during the night, a different set is waiting there. The guard looks to have been doubled due to some violence in the city, close to the market, though you did not hear anymore gunshots during the night. The first workers on shift for the day elsewhere are likewise beginning to rise, the endless rock crushing and hauling duties continuing for many. Winter seems to far away, but will be here before anyone knows it. The hope is all shelters can be compelted by then

Bavi'd wakes up, rolls over and pulls a pin from the tent and laughs as it falls on the man inside.

Eli starts awake and struggles to move inside the collapsed tent he reaches for his thermal survival knife to try and cut himself free.

Bavi'd is rolling like a child from an anime on the ground laughing.

Eli slowly cuts himself out of the tent. "Are you alright? Damn thing collapsed on me, luckily I still have my knife."

Bavi'd holds his breath trying not to laugh, glad his face is melted away for once. Bavi'd grabs his pack and nods to the gate and asks Ready?

"Yes I'm ready, lets go looking for some stashes on our way to the scrap I guess, maybe you'll even find something to sell before we get there."

Maybe, a nice bit of scrap would be great though.

9:30 PM

Bavid walks through the gate and waits to follow Eli.

Eli calls in to Scamander and the trackers. "Hello sir, I'm at the gate, was there anywhere you wanted me to start looking for the stashes? Just so we don't cover the same place."

Scamander is not answering his link and you see the entire tracker party is no longer reachable via your commlink

Why don't we head towards the scrap. If we see any on the way we can grab them. who knows, maybe we can find stuff to assist.

"Ok, he'll get the message, and I can't reach anyone on this thing anyway, they must be out there already."

Bavi'd takes off in the direction where he was told the crash site would be.

Eli follows behind keeping a look out for more scouts or stashes.

You're not sure if the trackers have already left , or are planning to leave without you, but either way the two of you press on. The rains from the night before have soaked the ground and turned it into something like a mud paddy, the ground spongy and springy underfoot. Some kind of rapidly growing tuber is beginning to sprout in haphazard clumps around the area. You're not sure if they're edible or worth digging up right now.

While walking, Bavi'd kicks at the tubers to knock them over. Of course it rained when you needed to track people.

You uproot a few on your walk, showing a tan colored bulb, green bamboo like stem rapidly growing above the ground with the influx of rain. They have a meaty water chestnut like interior, as you mash one beneath your boot

"You dont have a shovel or anything do you? It might be worth taking one now or on the way back, they wanted plant and animal samples." (edited)

Bavi'd pulls out his meta tool, producing a hand shovel.

"Thanks." Eli uses the meta spade to dig up an intact plant. "We can always get more on the way, back but this way I won't forget." He hands back the shovel. "So I just thought I told you my name, but what's yours, or what should I call you?"

Bavi'd, My appologies that was rude of me.

"You're alright Bavi'd. Well we've got our chesnutato, probably need to work on the name."

Chestnutato huh?

"I said it might need work."

Bavi'd chuckles sounding like a frothy bioling soup.

The wreck field isn’t far from the village and you see the tarped down truck of the scavengers who traded with the city racing away, hold full of a few large parts

"Hopefully there is still something left for us, are you looking for anything specific?"

(isn't the truck some scavengers driving away with parts? Sorry if I misread.)

Scraps mostly, a motor would be great.

5:14 PM

Bavi'd searches the scrap pile.

Eli nods and looks for any more intact derelicts, or something that might have a motor or be salvageable among the wreck field. (edited)

(its driving away with parts on it. If its ALL the parts, or simply just what they could carry, you havemt investigated at all to know)

7:35 PM

there are twenty three wrecks here, ranging from a handful of civilian cars, a large ground truck with a long trailer, three armored carriers, and the rest a mish-mash of jury rigged civilian haulers, meant for carting families and large amounts of goods. There is no standard design between them

Eli looks at the armored carriers hoping to come up with something to replace the vehicle he lost.

Bavi'd notices Eli looking at the armored carrier and thinks about it for a minute. He attempts to find parts to repair one with the other two.

If it was that simple, the scavengers would have left with another vehicle in tow, having done the same idea. As you and ELi spend a few hours stripping parts and assembling them in the body of the least damaged (which is still heavily ruined from neglect) , you are missing a few components that none of the vehicles here seem to have

10:01 AM

The drive train is missing its orbital gear, the steering column is shattered from the crash, and the troop transport bay door interlock has been shattered as well (edited)

Guess I'll have to settle for scrap. Not like we can go pull a gun on them to get our way. let me see what I can gather and we can be on our way to look for your stashes.

(so you know there's a vehicle out here you can fix eventually, in the meantime, you have 6 units of spare parts that would be redundant for this job buit you could use them to keep your business going)

(Looking around would I notice which vehicle? and could I roll to use the stuff around to create some sort of hydraulic or anti-grav dolly?)

(there's not enough here to make something like that)

(ok)

Why don't we head the direction of the scrappers and ask them if they can spare a part or two from the loot they gathered. Maybe we could find the stashes on the way there. What do you think eli? Or we could avoid them all together.

"Up to you, your the one paying for protection right? But your sure you can't get one of these things moving? Even with all those extra parts. It'd be easier to fix if we didn't have to come out here even if it fell apart like that tent afterward." (How big are these things anyway Neko? Would they be smaller than a gravtank, or about that size?) (edited)

I'm certain, there is a part missing from all of them that i cannot recreate no matter how i tried. Also very well we will follow them, but if we dont catch them by mid-day we will look for your stashes solely.

(probably about the size of a modern day pickup in terms of length, but bulked out with armor and extra cargo space)

1

(they also have a truck where you guys are on foot, i dont think you'll catch up unless one of you has a trick i dont know about)

(Well sort of? using Salvage Gear) "Well, I guess. Would've been nice not to walk back though." Eli gives the transport a kick wishing they could have gotten it running to take back to camp.

2:41 PM

(The caster can temporarily restore a destroyed vehicle, robot, or other inanimate, non-consumable piece of equipment by fabricating substitute components from metadimensional energy, provided the device is no bigger than a gravtank. The equipment must be within thirty meters of the caster, and regains two hit points per caster level, up to its usual maximum, and is treated as being fueled or powered so long as this spell is maintained. Gear without hit points is restored to operating condition. If the device is broken again while this spell is in effect, it is smashed beyond the power even of this spell to revive it. The repair provided by this spell lasts as long as the caster maintains Deep Focus, and then one round per level afterwards. Devices cannot be repaired while this spell is in effect on them.)

(works for me)

2:45 PM

(okay so we're repairing one of these with your spell, that changes things)

(Yeah, I wanted to give Bavi'd a chance to try and fix it before upstaging him. I'll mark of the use of the spell slot.)

As B'avid looks at the machine, upset at the lack of missing parts, suddenly it comes to life, engine running fine, despite there being absolutely no mechanical reason for it to do so

Eli looks at B'avid with a self satisfied grin "Yup. Well, I fixed it, just needed a good kick, so you still want to catch up to those scavengers, or we could check for more scrap? Maybe bring back some of those Chestnutatos? I have to show this to Vice Regent Cole. I told her I'd do something useful eventually."

I have a few scraps, it'll keep going for a while, and maybe I can pick up work from your friends up there anyways, so it's your call.

"Maybe we should try to catch up with them then. Get the parts we might need to hold this together without magic, go back to town turn in the sample, and if it's good maybe get some more people to help grab some for replanting, more food is good, and that way we can stop by and show the Vice Regent. Do you want to drive? You know how right?" (edited)

Yeah sure, lets go.

4:40 PM

Before they get too far.

Bavi'd jumps into the drivers seat.

Eli gets into the passenger seat. "So you know what we'll need right I might have fixed it but I don't know much about fixing things."

We need a piece of a drive train and I should be able to repair it. Of course a full drive train would work too.

You begin moving across the mud flats, rickety ride shifting around you as the decaying suspension struggles to balance the weight. The scavenger vehicle appears on the horizon, a small dot growing larger

"I see them, I think we're catching up, so have you traded with these scavenger's before?"

These ones? No! But I'm sure we can come to an agreement of some sort. Yell at them to stop please, my com doesnt have bass boost.

Bavi'd laughs at his own joke.

"You could always try the horn I doubt my voice would carry that far."

Bavid nods and leans on the horn.

Hearing it, the scavenger vehicle moves to edge over, thinking you are trying to pass, even though the terrain is largely open

Bavi'd pulls next to them holding his com out the window. Any chance you'd be up for sharing some of that scrap? specifically a Drive train?

He smiles, and with both large engines running talking back to you is impossible, but he makes a hand motion that shows he is going to be stopping his vehicle so you can talk properly

Bavi'd nods and pulls behind them shutting down the vehicle.

Eli looks over the junk traders to try and get an idea of the state of their equipment.

Bavi'd slowly gets out semi cautiously, and approaches the vehicle.

The scavengers are all heavily armed, wearing utilitarian war harness and carrying short barreled shotguns. "Morning there friends, something wrong? you came at us out of nowhere"

My appologies. I was just hoping you had a part or two you could spare from that wreckage back there. Specifically a drive train.

"I might, what's it supposed to go into?" The other two scavengers begin popping out an awning bolted to the side of the truck so you have a nice shaded place to do business under

4:19 PM

some parts bins are also pulled out packed with small nuts, bolts, gears, and scraps of wire

Well my friend here used magic to make this run, but we are looking for a more permanent fix. First time I ever saw magic in person. Kinda threw me for a bit, but he's a good enough man. Besides, he's working to fix elysium from my understanding. One would do well, a second would be great!.

"You make it sound so important. I was just trying to help, and I didn't think we'd catch you on foot."

Bavi'd chuckles at what he assumes to be false modesty.

"Alright, so its going into your vehicle. I was going to ask you how you got it running. Interesting. "I can part with one for 1,000 credits, I think that's more than enough"

Hmmm how about 750?

"1,000 , firm. The salvage effort to get it took us most of a day yesterday"

Fair enough, well you heard the man Eli, 1000 firm if you want a permenant truck. (edited)

8:43 PM

It would help us find those stashes you're looking for.

"Okay, but your scavengers right? Do you know of any wrecks that maybe we could get with magic that you couldn't or that you might want help with?"

"Would be useless without you being there the way your friend is making it sound. Doesn't really do us any good

What if we do a trade? If you know a place that you want into but are having troubles with, maybe we can help in exchange for the part?

"We'll take our chances, you might loot the scrap out from under us if we tell you where we're looking to go"

Welp Eli, I have 230 credits to help so 770 is needed

"Just the credits then. Do you find any ruined weapons or interesting vehicle husks, it seems like you aren't interested in keeping those anyway, maybe I could give you some extra credits to let me see those first? You all know how to repair stuff too right? I'd help you just ti learn that. Coming back with another vehicle means more junk right?" (edited)

"Look, we;re just trying to do some business here. We're not getting too cozy with anyone. planet is tense enough as it is, and if it looks like we're doing extra favors for one group, the others are going to want it to, or worse, stop doing business with us for aiding the enemy

"Oh, okay just the part then. I didn't mean to put you on the spot."

Bavi'd gives his 230 over.

Eli sends over the rest of the credits.

The head scavenger nods and the long drive shaft, the cams that go with it, and all the fasteners you need with some spares are neatly handed over to you after both of you inspect the part for quality. It has some age in it but mostly is in good repair. At least as good as you will find out in the wilds like this

Bavi'd nods and thanks them, and climbs back into the truck. Ready to go look for more stashes?

"Alright at least we have somewhere to put what we find."

Bavi'd turns on the motor again and takes off in the opposite direction in search of any "stashes" he might notice.

The vehicle has access to some scanning instruments that woefully outclass the compad mounted ones you have. (Program int, either of you)

(11)

something metallic, 750m to the northwest is pinging on the radar, and looks to be slightly below ground

Bavi'd drives to the ping.

"So metalic, what do you think is in there?"

The drive has you at the edge of a grove, one of the sparse patches of trees on the rolling grasslands, and you're forced to leave the vehicle 100m from the source of whatever is triggering the sensor contact. The ground is carpeted with old pine like needles and some pods that might have once been seeds, but are now far too dry to have life coaxed out of them

Hmm, maybe it's credits! Or better, a hovercycle! Bavi'd jokes as they get out and walk towards the pinged location, saving it in his dataslab.

(evasion save Bavid(

(Success 18v13)

(3 damage) You hear the snap of a fishing line like wire and something pops out of the bushes to your right, detonating outward in a spray of shrapnel. you have just enough time to throw yourself flat as the claymore goes off, but are still winged by some of its deadly payload

(I'm dead)

(technically just mortally wounded right?) (edited)

(-2hp) (edited)

(can't I still save him with combat stabilization I'm not sure how scenes work, also what would qualify as medical attention?)

(This is a new scene, and a mine is a heavy weapon)

3:39 PM

Eli, standing closer to the vehicle as B'avid rushed into the forest, hears the detonation before he himself makes it to the clearing to see the results for himself. The Ashen One is face down in the dirt, back and cybernetics punctured by shrapnel from the exploded claymore mine

"Oh no, shit!" Eli goes to the ashen one and turns him over to see if there's anything he can do.

(heavy weapon, so unless the spell specifically says it can recover from that, then no)

(oh sorry, I know I was just having the character do it for rp not trying to save him anymore.)

(^ Rude!)

(I'll let it work this time)

3:52 PM

(but lets try to no skip ahead so fast)

(I'm alive!????!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!!?)

(that's fine, like I said, just dont rush in or skip way ahead, this was a weird situation due to rushing over a bunch of detail that could have been obtained)

(Oh ok, will try to slow it down)

After flipping him over and seeing the extent of his injuries Eli tries to help. (combat stabilization.)

Bavi'd groans in seering pain.

(Would he have to heal check or can i use my ability if i'm stable and create a medpack from junk?)

(You’re stable at 0 right now. Eli would have to see what is available or around)

(Would we be closer to the truck or the stash? to check for medical supplies?)

)truck)

1

Eli heads back to the truck to try an find something to help Bavi'd.

There is a faded and tattered green medical case on the wall, hanging by straps, it looks like one vial of lift inside has not dried out yet and has remained sealed

(can I still use it with a -1 heal?)

(no has to be the rating I think RAW it's a min of 0)

(I wasn't sure in this situation since the heavy weapons damage would have killed him already, but didn't want to make assumptions about what was being allowed?)

(sadness, am i back to dead then lol?) (edited)

7:06 PM

(His spell only holds for 10 minutes of stability.)

(we're going to waive the requirement in this instance)

1

Eli grabs the injector from the old med kit, runs back to B'avid and injects him with the Lift. (5 health with the d8-1?)

(right)

(so 1 health lol) Bavi'd gasps for air. sitting up stunned.

"You're alive! I guess the stashes are booby trapped."

Maybe we should consider a new approach. Bavi'd starts using sticks and vines to make a large ball with a heavy stone in the middle and rolls it straight ahead of them.

(balls and vines? can you explain this a little more?)

(hmm 1 sec i'll post a pic in ooc) (edited)

you do not see any vines here, unlike the jungle world where you are from, this world is made of mostly alpine derived trees. The sticks and fallen material from them are simply too inflexible to be made into anything like a netting

Bavi'd looks around for any signs of the explosives

(notice/wis)

(4)

You see no further evidence of explosives with visual inspection alone

"Hmm I don't see anything else do you, maybe that was the only one from this direction?"

Alright, lets go, but you first, I can't take another one of those.

"Okay, but lets get some of those seed pods, they might be useful to the lab, and we could throw them on anything we're not sure about. At least if there are still traps they might be protecting something good."

alright.

Eli nods then takes out his knife and carefully pokes at some of the seed pods and needles.

Bavi'd makes a make-shift bag for him to put them in.

Eli starts gathering up the seeds and looks for the longest stick he can find.

You find one that is about 3m long, with a gnarled root ball at the end. It is a bit weighted due to the dense growth of wood at the end of it, but easy enough to swing and move with

Eli takes the lead and moves slowly towards the ping location using the stick to test on front of them an the bushes. Taking samples of any new plants.

There is some tension on the stick, 15m from the cache, as a tripwire is caught, and is flexing under the pressure

Eli uses the stick to tap the bushes to the sides of the path trying to check for another claymore or some other kind of trap. (edited)

To the left, it brushes a small box like device, the mine this tripwire is attached to

"Ok Bavi'd do you feel up to trying to disarm this one. We might want to check around it and still be careful in case they planned for that first though.

I'll attempt it of course, or we can check the other side and step over the wire

"I'll leave it up to you either way we should be careful."

It seems safer to step over it.

"Alright we'll just have to mark it or something so we don't forget on the way back, and check around for a second trap. Don't want to trigger something else stepping over." Eli throws some of the seed pods just past where the wire is. (edited)

You see one of them flick back into the air at hitting a second tripwire, closer to the cache, but the momentum is not enough to snap the line and trigger an explosion

"Looks like there's a second wire you still want to just cross them or should we try to disable or just use something to trigger them?" (edited)

Setting them off could damage your stash.

4:43 PM

Bavi'd approaches the closer one to study it and see if his mechanical skills would help disarm them.

They are standard claymore mines, you may be able to disarm them but a mistake would prove deadly

(we're still a decent ways from the stash right, or would one of the claymores potentially damage it in addition to us?)

6:02 PM

(or the metallic ping we are assuming is the stash.)

(no its buried and the mines blow shrapnel outward)

Bavi'd backs from the device thinking.

6:12 PM

(Could I design a srapnel shield from my scrap?)

Eli looks at the wires trying to judge if they're too close together to just step over like they'd planned originally.

want to attempt it?

"Ok, I'll try, it shouldn't be too hard now we know the second one is there right?" Eli goes to step over the wires.

Bavi'd follows a few paces behind (edited)

Knowing where they are, you move through the field, and over the spot where the cache is supposedly buried. The two mines you detected seemed to be the only other defenses here.

(Thank god lol)

"Ok looks safe I guess we open it then see if we can carry it over back? do you still have that shovel?" (edited)

I'll try to dig it up. Bavi'd pulls out his meta tool and digs down.

(a metatool doesnt have a shovel. A tool-kit, however, does, and there is one on your vehicle)

7:42 AM

The rusted shovel bites deep into the ground, though is unpleasant to use. An hour of panted digging, both of you trading off, has the shovel tip bouncing off something solid with a loud thud

Eli tries to brush whatever it is off so they can open it easier.

(I have a tool kit too)

Bavi'd looks at the container checking for traps

You dig through the rich soil, about 2 meters down. The hole is fairly deep and bailing dirt out becomes an issue

2:04 PM

You finally get the tough 2x2 metal trunk to the surface

2:04 PM

The handle is a simple locking mechanism, a latch and tumblers as far as you can tell

(can i roll fix to disassemble the lock?) (edited)

(how heavy is the case?) (edited)

(fix/int, and very heavy)

(8)

3:11 PM

(Wait i can roll 3d6 and take the best 2, does it automatically do that?) (edited)

(So long as you set the skill you're using to use 3d6 instead of 2d6, yes)

(Awesome ty)

(10) (edited)

There is a click as you manage to break the tumblers inside, and the lock disengages. Inside the chest, there is an oilcloth wrapped bundle with medical supplies, food, water, survival gear for foul weather, and a handful of small arms, enough to equip a squad of 5 for a weeks worth of extended field duty.

"We might have to make several trips. Do you think we should just record the location and about the traps or try to take it back? I'd say take at least some. They might even refill it." Eli checks the the bundle wondering whether it was the case or the contents that was most of the weight.

The bundle is very heavy

2

Bavi'd looks around for logs.

There are some thick tree limbs that have fallen off to the sides of the clearing, away from the mines

Bavi'd creates a roller system with a gap that can easily be manipulated over the wires. (Though this is a plausible system of movement [unless Neko says otherwise] unless Eli has any idea's, it will take a few hours to move it 100 meters.) (edited)

(nope I can't think of anything faster or safer if we want to take everything..)

It does indeed take until late afternoon to painstakingly move it free of the danger area, back to the vehicle,. though you do not set off anymore mines

"I think if we work together we can get it into the truck, then driving back shouldn't be too hard. I don't want to stay out here to meet those night things."

Bavi'd creates a ramp from logs hoping to minimize the strength needed to push it up rather than lift. Maybe this will help a bit?

"Thanks, I think it will." Eli starts trying to push the case up the ramp into the armored transport.

(no exert or anything here, you just get it in there after a bit)

2

Eli gets back in the passenger seat and rests a bit before trying to summon the magic that fixed the vehicle before. He knocks on the dashboard instead of kicking the grill.

Bavi'd also get's in exhausted

"You ready to head back? I think those potatoes can wait until tomorrow, and we got one at least. I wonder if the vice Regent and everybody already went to bed."

Noticing the sunlight fading due to the near end of the day, and recalling Eli's warning of the monsters at night. Yes, I think it would be intelligent to go.

10:18 AM

Bavi'd drives back towards the ruins, uncannily attentive to his surroundings in search of more explosives.

Eli watches the forest line and the sky for signs or something or someone attacking.

The drive back tot he city is uneventful, though the militia stops you far outside the town gates, as you are driving up in a military vehicle. "Impressive wheels you have there. Looks local" their sergeant says. "You understand I can't let you anywhere near the city with that kind of ordinance on board"

Eli looks around the transport. "Sorry sir, do you mean the guns we found or onboard weapons? I didn't really check the vehicle over. I sort of restored the thing by accident. Maybe you can ask the Lord Regent or Vice Regent Cole? I think they wanted me to report to them if I found out I could do anything else and I wanted to report in on finding a stash and the traps, but I think Myrmadon Scamander and the trackers released me to my own responsability after yesterday." (edited)

"Theyre both out for now, and i mean the vehicle weapons. Scmander is overseeing city defenses and will agree with this not coming closer in civilian hands"

"Well, I'll have to be on board at least if it gets too far from me it will just become a pile of scrap again. Let me try messaging him sir."

1:01 PM

Eli types up a message to Myrmadon Scmander.

I'm not sure if you're getting this, but the scrap merchant  Bavi'd and I cleared out one of the caches, they're booby trapped so that's another thing to watch for in pursuit of the scout or looking for them.  Since the vehicle became fully operational including weapons we don't have permission to enter the city.  I'll await your orders at the checkpoint I guess, but we're sitting on about a squads worth of small arms and supplies for several weeks in addition to the Vehicle.   Adept in training Elias Burl.

(edited)

The message is returned after a few moments with orders to leave the vehicle there, along with most of the supplies. Each of you are entitled to two objects from the stash. (So one tl4 or lower consumable and one tl4 or lower weapon)

(would a medkit be too much to count as a consumable? Also were there any other limits I don't want to ask for a sniper rifle or heavy weapon for example if that would be too much or silly, but the rifle could be broken down to fit in the 2x2 (I think it was) case right? Also was I supposed to/would I be allowed to stay with the vehicle or not? That might be my bad since I didn't mention that part about it turning back into junk in the message?) (edited)

(I will forgo the weapon, as my guy prefers to build stuff that can shoot, not shoot. but a lazerus patch would be good for me.) Guess I should repair the truck before we go in so they can move it. Is that ok Mr.soldier? Bavi'd looks at the guard.

“That won’t be necessary but if you’ve got parts the city will buy them from you”

Very well, sir. Bavi'd looks at the soldier holding the piece out. Who exactly can I sell this to?

"We would be cutting you both a check for half the value of the vehicle. It comes directly from the city"

Very good, thank you sir, heres the drive shaft.

"You're ok with the fact it will turn back to a derelict right? I don't want to get shot for trying to trick you or something, also we could bring more. Would you be interested?" (edited)

"We know. we have the tools here to repair it , now with this part. We would be interested, the city could use all the motorized support it can ge"

"I will try then. I know there were two other vehicles like this and an armored truck at the site we knew of."

Well maybe we have a new line of work

"I'm glad to be doing something to help the city. The credits won't hurt though."

Agreed

2:46 PM

will we get more if we repair them before bringing them in?

“In the future? Yes. You would”

Amazing, Thank you very much, I guess we will collect our reward and be on our way then.

"Yes, I think it's too late even if we were up to going out again sir."

You’re given 20,000 credits each for the chassis , since repair work needs to be done on it and it has no working fittings. (3xp as well)

"I guess next is getting permission to bring the vehicles into the city if we want to do more than just bring wrecks here. You headed home for now? I want to get cleaned up and sleep in a bed for a few hours at least before we go out tomorrow. "

I agree, we should rest.

If we get enough scrap, maybe we can build a water tower.

"Maybe we should see if we can help whoever's working on getting water running? Indoor plumbing would be nice. We can look in the morning. Hopefully the regent and vice regent will be back, and I can tell them about the vehicle."

Sounds good. I'm sure I could assist them in the building.

(Wasnt sure if you wanted to play out heading back home or scrap stuff or just meet up the next day? To look into helping with utilities and getting more wrecks?) (edited)

(Yeah Up to you guys for what comes next)

Alright, I guess i'll see you tomorrow and we can go assist with the utilities. we can always go search for the stashes every other day right? I mean it's no rush is it?

"I don't think so same with the wrecks I guess? But we can bring back two a day so I don't know if you wanted to keep doing that?"

Anything to help this city get going. Maybe, just maybe I can find myself a vehicle in all of this.

"Yeah, getting a vehicle we could bring into the city would be nice. Maybe think of a way we could make sure someone else doesn't just take it?"

Easy, rig it to blow up if they try!

5:20 PM

I mean we could just take out the spark plugs

5:21 PM

Bavi'd walks into the city as they discuss this.

Eli walks after him. "We can always figure that out after we get one working. Maybe find some more vehicle wrecks? Imagine if we brought back a tank."

You're right that would be easy to booby trap!

"Or a robot or mech or something. Stupid clearance. They'll give it to us if we keep helping though."

Hmmm bribery doesn't seem your style. Besides if we get this all going and my workshop running, I could build it better than they can!

(edited)

"Yeah, but that doesn't help us if they take it away. I meant they accept me as Myrmadon or auxiliary or something. It eould be much easier to find new sites abd get around if we had some vehicle of our own even something small like a grav bike that could take two."

Even!? Even a gravcycle?!?!?! I love gravcycles. They are the best of all the vehicles! They are fast and mean and strong and easily modded!

"Yeah, but don't carry as much people or junk wise, that's what were most worried about, at least right now, and with those things swooping around I'd like something fully enclosed. Besides no power means no charge.and I thought you wanted to build your own."

Of course I want to build my own, I''m just saying Hovercycles arent a vehicle to "settle" with. Anyways this is my.... path. I'll see you in the morning.

5:58 PM

Bavi'd turns down a duty trail of foot prints that led to what looked like the slums of what was already a slum.

"See you, I have to get this baby stickered and engraved so I'll probably be up another few hours." (So there's no running water is it just like fetch water or go down to the body of water with giant monsters to get water for cleaning up Neko?)

Bavi'd waves backwards

(They have some wells dug but it’s manual with a rope and bucket for right now)

Eli heads home and starts covering the plasma projector in stickers before carving into it with his thermal knife and drawing on it with his marker while channeling his powers into it. After a few hours he goes to to fetch some water and clean up himself and his armor as best he can before sleeping in his bed. Only slightly worried the ruin will collapse on him during the night. (edited)

(Theres some mass combat missions starting up if you want to get involved)

(Sure I don't know how you wanted to involve me in that, but sounds awesome.) (edited)

A missive comes in for you, as an adept in training your abilities might be useful. A piece of foreign machinery has broken down during the battle, and a small team is being put together by the regent's intelligence team to steal it from under the nose of our allies. Aquiring it would give the protectorate a wealth of technical knowledge.

Eli looks at the missive then gets himself and his equipment ready. Putting on his secured jacket, taking one last look at his compad before putting it in a pocket, checking the knife is in it's sheathe. Last he looks over the symbols carved into his new projector feeling the energy coming from it and nods to himself before putting it over his shoulder, grabbing his laser rifle and heading to meet the team.

The team, as it were, is just you. A small transport with two crewmen idles at the southern city gates where you were told to meet, but they are not coming with you into the actual battlezone.

"Oh just me then? Any idea how guarded or how much combat was going on around this thing? I don't want to alert the whole battle field when their vehicle is suddenly functional and walking away into our camp." (edited)

"If i was at the front I

1:43 PM

would know, but I'm not, because we're here in Mytikas instead. You'll have to make some decisions for yourself" he says

"Yes sir, I'll decide how to approach once I can see the front."

He says nothing else, the small staff truck bouncing over the uneven ground, and running out into the wilderness. A small canvas wrap over the cargo bay flaps in the wind, improperly tied down. You can see three large palls of smoke rising from the southeast, at the battle sites

Eli looks out towards the smoke trying to catch a glimpse of the front.

The allied forces seem to be arranged as a defensive force, holding three river crossings. Opposing them, half glimpsed through the ever present green fog, jagged, rusted metal fortifications with ghouls overlooking poke out. Bodies of both friend and foe cover the shallow water, turning the running current a deep crimson as it flows downstream

8:08 PM

For now, the undead assault seems to have stalled, and allied forces are doing the grisly work of collecting the dead

Eli looks among the field for the wreck.

It is on a small island, where the three shallows converge, in the middle of no mans land. For now, combat looks to be at a lull

(how far would it be? They're dropping me off on the edge of the battle field right?) (edited)

(yeah, couple miles walk)

Eli steps off of the transport, draws his laser rifle and slowly moves towards the vehicle. As he does he scans the battle field for enemies, survivors or interesting tech. (edited)

(Notice/wis)

(6)

You don’t see anything aside from bodies and churned mud, Hapehaestan guard and ghoul forced fallen next to one another on the ground. Some sort of arcane blast looks to have lain the vehicle low as you are about 50m from it. The ground is rolling and littered with the fallen

Not seeing anyone, Eli cautiously approaches the vehicle. Wanting to clear the inside before trying to repair it magically. (edited)

30m from the vehicle a skeletal hand bursts from the dirt, fastening itself around your ankle and pulling hard as a chattering skull and flaming green eyes begins to pull itself from the loose ground

(Should I roll for initiative?)

(Depending on what you do)

1:15 PM

(It does have you grabbed though)

(I was thinking trying to shoot it, maybe cursing first? I am holding the laser rifle, but didn't want to just say I did that if I should roll initiative first.)

(You still haven’t actually made a decision so I don’t know what to tell you to roll or do)

Eli looks down at the thing that grabbed him and is coming out of the ground. "Let go, please don't make me shoot you. Do you even understand me?"

The ghoul continues trying to pull your leg closer to its mouth, broken teeth opening wide for a large bite

Eli aims his laser rifle, and tries to shoot a burst laser rifle bueat into the ghoul's head.

(Hit /damage?)

(6/8)

The skeletal head chomps down hard on your leg as the shots spray dirt and mud around the body

11:25 AM

(Physical save)

(Pass 20v12)

The teeth break as they strike the wrapping and heavier traveling clothes on your leg, but the jagged stumps are still more than capable of forcing you to bleed

7:08 PM

(your turn)

Eli points his rifle at the skeleton to shoot another burst. (Shot burst roll result incoming, but since I'm not sure the structure of the rounds I thought I should say next action I'm intending to cast.)

7:20 PM

(18/8)

The ghoul comes apart enough for the pieces to blow aside from one another, and the body sinks back into the churning earth

8:27 PM

The weapons fire seems to have drawn some shouting from the nearby allied camp, but you do not see scouts or skirmishers nearby yet

The skeleton's grip on him broken Eli runs toward the vehicle, hoping to take shelter inside it.

You make it into the troop bay where if there were bodies here they’ve since been dragged out or carried away. There is a good amount of dried blood on the decking. The door to the drivers compartment in front is shut

Eli knocks softly on the door to the driver's compartment. "Hello, anyone still alive in there?" (edited)

There is no reply on the other side of the door

Eli tries to open the door.

The door opens on stubborn hinges to an empty drivers compartment. It looks like the crew was able to get out before being overrun

Eli closes the door trying to lock it if possible then sits in the driver's seat to familiarize himself with the controls.

The lock looks to be broken, but the controls remind you of a tractor of bulldozer, with one lever on each side of the drivers chair controlling a side of the tracks

"Doesn't look too hard, and maybe the lock will fix itself too?" Eli shrugs and starts to channel energy into the vehicle. (Salvage Gear) (edited)

The lock does not repair but the vehicle comes to life and systems that probably shouldn’t work suddenly do. At the allied camp at the top of the hill the sentries go on alert at the sudden very loud engine noise

Eli tries to turn the vehicle away from the front and drive it back to the city.

Three Haphestan soldiers crest the hill, one carrying a rocket tube, as they hear the vehicle moving away-fearing it captured- and their fears are confirmed right

7:02 PM

He takes a knee, and looks to be aiming the tube, 30m from you

Eli stops the vehicle and starts waving at them frantically while looking for a radio. (edited)

The radio has no cord anymore, but will work with your powers likewise active right now

7:43 PM

(the point was not to stop though, like, Cole knows she asked you to steal it )

(but if I get shot with a rocket, I'll probably die right since the vehicle comes back with reduced hit points and would be destroyed? From Eli's point of view if he's dead he can't bring it back at all so I have to get them to not shoot or at least hesitate? The main thing is I get back with the vehicle right?)

(correct, objective is to return with it)

1

Eli picks up, and clicks on the radio. "Hopefully you can hear me on this? Please don't shoot, I'm on your side, just getting this vehicle away from enemy hands, they were still popping out of the ground, and it wasn't safe there. It was inoperable, but I didn't want them turning the guns on you and attacking you from behind, had to kill one of the skeletal bastards. I'm going to start it up again. Repeat I'm a friendly non combatant, I want to be gone when the fighting starts up again, I'm not a soldier, but not dead. Please don't waste your ammo killing me, be careful, and good luck out there." After he says his peace he starts up the transport continuing away from the front at full speed.

They say nothing, the tube never fires, but you see one of them running back to camp , no doubt to carry the message and report on what was seen

Eli waves and nods to the others as he passes by, gets off of the field, then heads back toward the city.

It’s a Long drive home when the vehicle is finally taken into custody by regular forces here. (3xp, 5000 credits) Most of the city attention is focused south at the battle area and thus Cole and Cyrus are unable to meet

(that was enough xp for a level up so I'll give you the details once I've done that before moving on, if that's ok? I think it would be up to you and Cyrus, but would that count as completing my prove he's ready for more important missions goal?)

(Hang on for the personal goal. There’s a few things being decided

2

(no worries, it wouldn't stop this level up or push me to the next one. Thank you for the answer though.) (As for the level change specifics hp to 16 from 11, ab to +2 from +1, one more level 1 and 2 spell slot for a total of 6 per day and 3 per day, I put the 3 skill points into heal to bring it from -1 to 0 to 1 since it came up with Bavid, and Verkat. I think that's everything.)

Eli heads home to get cleaned up and catch some sleep if he can while waiting for new orders.

(I have to see how those mass combat missions end. If there’s anything you want to do we can do that. Sitting around waiting for orders all the time is going to have you not doing much)

1

When he wakes up Eli gets ready and heads to the market, to look around and replace some of his lost equipment.

(Just make me a list. I’ll tell you if somethings not available)

1

(Medical: medkit, Bioscanner, 5 Lazarus patches, 2 doses Bezoar, 2 doses Lift. Exploring: Survival kit(that I might have to make, or do something to get since the booklet part of it with information on local flora/fauna/dangers might not exist yet.) telescoping pole, Survey scanner, 2 weeks rations, backpack preferably tl4, Binoculars preferably tl4, rope preferably tl4, climbing harness, Navcomp, Atmofilter and vac fresher, Meta tool, regular tent or pressure tent? 8 type a Power cells, Several at least 2, but as many as I can get solar rechargers/generators, low light googles, 4 insta panels. 3 Thermal flares stuff I think would be super regulated or probably an adventure if not just unavailable at current. combat field uniform Sniper rifle and ammo Rocket Launcher and rockets Helping at the troll Boar Ranch Finding out more about construction for a small medical facility Looking into those moonshiners)

no meds are available, no nav comb is available, a regular tend is available, there are no solar rechargers

7:38 PM

there is no rocket launcher either

(Is it just stims or would the medkit be unavailable also? Were the other things ok? I planned on itemizing it but wanted to check whether I could get them first.)

7:51 PM

(sorry I don't know what that jpg was I think I linked it by accident.)

(the medkit is fine but the stimms and lazarus patches are not available

1

(how much would a normal tent/sleeping bag cost?)

(Itemized list with other items removed. medkit, 100 Bioscanner, 300 Survival kit 60 telescoping pole, 10 Survey scanner, 250 15 rations, 75 backpack tl4, 50 Binoculars tl4, 200 rope tl4, 40 climbing harness, 50 Atmofilter and 100 vac fresher, 400 Meta tool, 200 regular tent ?? 9 type a Power cells, 90 low light googles, 200 4 insta panels. 200 3 Thermal flares 15 combat field uniform 1000 Sniper rifle and ammo 80 rounds 440 Total 3780 credits + cost of normal tent/sleeping bag)

(half a pressure tent for cost)

(adding 50 for the tent for a total of 3830)

(could I add 3 portaboxes or something sort of like gun safes/cases? I was thinking about leaving my guns/equipment back and teleporting the weapons to me when I needed them, but didn't want to leave them where kids from the families living in the ruins with me could stumble on them easily and have some kind of terrible accident?) (edited)

(up to you)

1

(cool I'll do that then for another 150, they should be useful.)

After lugging all of the new gear back to his room in the ruin Eli starts to stash things into the porta boxes, and his back pack. He tries to patch up the holes a little with the meta tool and insta-panels.

The panels do a fair amount to cut down on the wind and make a ceiling where the open 'natural' skylight used to be.

Looking over his work on his own room, Eli decides to approach the other families and ask if they want help doing something similar for the rest of the ruin. (edited)

Eli puts a fresh battery into is his laser rifle before locking it and his other guns away and getting his gear together. Then he heads back to the shops moving slower under the heavy load. (Were you thinking of doing the adventure in bavid's thread?, also you can over encumber yourself a little, just you move slower? the rations and tent alone was my full stowed weight, so bringing the bio scanner, and low light goggles to help with medical and security stuff put me 2 encumbrance over. The hope was that as the rations get eaten it would be alright?) (edited)

(Theres something in the book that says what you move when overencumbered. I forget how much slower you get but I know you do)

(Ok, I found it it says 2 readied or 4 stowed over your limit puts you at light encumbrance which takes you down to 7 meters instead of 10 and 2 more readied or 4 more stowed in addition to that puts you at heavily encumbered for 5 meters.) (edited)

(Thanks for the answer, so where would I get dropped off or would we start from the ship hospital?)

After recieving permission to enter Eli's lodge, with his condition being cleared as healthy and non-contageous, Pearl would poke her head in with a wave Hey there, Greaser! Caught the plague or summin'?

"Just a little bug."

A bug? That's it? Pssh... She'd come over and sit in a nearby chair Anyways, you said you wanted to meet so we could discuss brewery plans, right?

"Yeah, sorry I guess that'd be funnier if you knew we got it from burning a bug. Anyway, so what'd you have in mind for the brewery? We weren't really successful with the water stuff yet."

11:52 AM

"What do you think about trying to distill some Chestnutatoes™?" (edited)

"... I don't know what the hell those are, but so long as it'll taste good, gives the right buzz, and isn't... You know, gross like tgat green sludge soldiers seem to keep homebrewing? Yeah, that should be fine. Mostly, I wanted to hand iver my end of the funding... You're probably going to be in town for a bit, so I thought I'd let you handle the work, or at least the management, while I go off with something Regent Cole asked me to do."

"Sure I can do setup. Chestnutatos are this cool little plant I gave the lab, looks like a water chestnut inside and a potato outside. B'avid hates them, but what does he know. What do you think of trying to get those still guys in on it, make a better version of whatever they're moonshining? Getting the rotgut off the streets was the other part of the side project right?" (edited)

"The point of the brewery is to be able to provide safer, refined beverages that can be regulated. If you think we can manage that, presuming anyone would actually want that, then be my guest. Just make sure nothing we'd churn out has unforseen side effects like blindness, as moonshine tends to have. I'm also considering getting the beverages to be an export for trade."

"I can do that, I'm alright with a bioscanner. I'll just get some samples and check out some people who have been drinking it. You know any science types though? I think all the ones I do are wrench jockeys."

She shakes her head "Sorry, the best I can suggest is to see if you can get the samples looked over by the local research department."

"That is ok, I'll find someone, I'm sure there are some brains out there tired of hauling ruin chunks. So brewery, r&d lab, then bar maybe? Possibly in one big warehouse type setup. I'm not sure what contractors are available for civilians, but I'll find that out too." (edited)

2:45 PM

"You care any about location?"

"Not really? Outside of, obviously, using commercial and industrial sectors over civilian sectors."

"So inside the city? We'll need a good deal of water for brewing right? I was thinking setup on the river, do things right, settle out there get the pumps running or we'll need a water tank and truck or something? Maybe something for power? I'll see which is easier. Yay, logistics."

"As long as everything's safe and functional... planning construction isn't exactly my strong suite, so..." Pearl would rummage in her pocket, until she could pull out 10K credits "This is what I have to chip in. I'm assuming you've got the other half already that we need to finance the project."

"Sure, I got a little nest egg built up, I have a little over 30,000 to chip in."

"Oh, sweet! That means we should have plenty!" She hands over her funds to Eli, making his 30K a 40K nest "That's about it, though. Get well soon... I've got to get going. You know, ambassador things."

"Sure, be careful, can you say where you're going?"

"Just down to Haphestea. Been there before?"

"No, but I did convince some of them not to shoot me with rockets on the front while I was magically recovering one of their vehicles."

"Hm... I think I'll have better luck with them." Pearl would get up from her seat "Anyways, good luck. We'll be one step closer to a normal town once we've got proper booze in the works."

"Thanks, you too no dying and bring back some Haephestaen booze."

"We'll see about that..." She'd head off, heading back to her own channel after this brief interraction

1

(Alright. I know you mentioned shopping Pearl. Eli what are you getting into now)

(Where would I be able to go or not go so soon after the quarantine?)

(You’re back to normal for the most part. The lost time and the truck being blown up are punishment enough)

(Are we in a ship, or would they have dropped us all back as soon as they judged we were healthy enough to leave?)

(You’re on planet again)

1

Eli heads to the market place to try and find some of the moonshiners or someone drinking their rotgut gloop alcohol.

After the attempted mugging just two weeks ago they are not present themselves but you see a few canteens of the green liquid sloshing around on waists

Eli tries to find the youngest person with a flask that he can.

It’s hard to properly judge age with the poor nutrition and most people being relatively dingy but you find one you think you’re comfortable approaching after an hour of observing

Eli walks up to them. "Excuse me, you mind if I get a drink from your flask? Normally I wouldn't ask, but its been a pretty hard week and they weren't at the market."

“Ah you’ve got the hunger for it eh? “ he seems to take pity on you. “Alright. Small one. I haven’t had luck either. I’m thanking myself for buying two last timeL

Eli smiles at him. "Thank you sir, what's your name? I should know, so I can properly thank you and toast the one giving me a drink. That's the problem not having a bar or steady supply, no camaraderie or getting the next round."

“Todd. Nice to meet you...” he says, waiting for yours. He is watching you do not take too much

Eli takes a swig from the flask, then hands it back. "Nice to meet you too Todd, I'm Eli. Thanks again for the drink, not the smoothest thing, but it does the trick."

He nods, saying nothing but replacing the stopper. “Hope I see them again soon. It’s hard to get a drink around here.”

2:09 PM

“Can’t even threaten the guy who scared them off. Heard they at least had the decency to kill him before they went into hiding”

"What would you think of me starting a bar? I was hoping to talk to those guys, but if they're in hiding might be better to let them cool off for a bit and come to me when they're ready. You know anyone else who could brew or distill drinks?"

“Someone starting a bar is an idea. I’m Mazed no ones done it yet

"Well not for much longer, just have to get the boring stuff done. So what do you do Todd, think you could help get her going?"

“I’m not very good at measuring. Or math. But I guess I could help with labor” he says

"Alright, I'll find you when that's started, or you can find me. Hmm maybe you could help another way. You said you have a second flask right? Would your sell me this one? Or maybe, do you know who else bought drinks from them and might know where the sellers went?" (edited)

“You sure you want it, it’s just a sad little wineskin. I drank the other one already. It’s been a couple weeks since they’ve been out , friend “

"If you'd part with it. I wanted to check it, see if they cut any corners, if it would make people sick or anything. How much would you want for it?"

"I'd take 20 credits. It's hardly worth anything, but the leather might have made something nice"

"That's more than reasonable. I'll be sure to make good use of the wineskin. Thank you."

8:30 PM

"Did you want chits or would a transfer be ok?"

"Transfer is fine. May as well while you still have power" he says, fishing through his bag for the item

Eli sends over the credits on his compad. "Who knows we might get more regular power soon enough, though there were a few setbacks."

(I am not sure what’s going on with that since it’s something he made up )

6:38 AM

(All I did was approve the shopping list)

1

(Ah ok sorry, let me change that then.)

6:42 AM

(Is the rubble being used for building material or mainly just cleared?)

(Mostly being crushed into cement rather than try to piece it back together)

1

"Todd, you've been drinking this stuff for about a month or so right?"

“Something like that. Hard to keep track sometimes. The days all feel the same” he says, finally fishing the flask out and handing it over

"Would you mind if I scanned you? Don't want my new friend getting sick especially after you've been so nice."

“Scan me. Why? What happened to you. What do you have?”

"Not me, I have a clean bill of health, I just meant since you've been drinking this stuff, sorry for scaring you." (edited)

“Well. Alright then. Go ahead”

"Thanks, this should help us both. So are you on rubble clearing or something more construction based?" Eli asks while beginning to scan Todd.

(what are you scanning for, exactly. is this some kind of subterfuge?)

(No subterfuge, just a scan to see if the alcohol has effected him more adversely than regular alcohol would over the month, or if he has any other treatable health problems.) (edited)

(you cant really tell as far as the alcohol thing. thats way too subjective, and you dont know what his baseline should be before drinking it, he has no health problems otherwise)

1

"Looks like you're ok as far as I can tell. Thanks again Todd."

“Um. Sure. Okay “ he says, unsure what is happening. “Well if that’s all you needed I’m sure we both have other things to do”

"Yeah, didn't mean to keep you. I'll find you when things get more settled with the bar."

He nods and moves off into the market to continue with his daily chores

Eli heads back to the ruin he lives in to drop off his extra equipment and take a scan of the alcohol for the lab and himself for the continuing experiment of the effects. (I thought I should drop off the extra gear I brought so I'm not super over burdened anymore, and starting daily scans of myself while drinking it would be easier to study than just guessing at the scans of Todd? I realize that will potentially be dangerous and take a while.)

(That’s a more scientific idea certainly)

After sending off the results , and repacking his weapons and equipment into the porta boxes making sure to bring an atmo filter(I changed some equipment around, but this was the most important thing besides re stashing the weapons except the therma survival knife into the portaboxes and offloading equipment down to regular encumbrance I think?) Eli goes back to headquarters looking for whoever is in charge of construction, and equipment requisition.

Jeonia seawall is in charge of construction now, as her team was the first to bring some kind of power back to the city, even if it is not constant. Vice regent Cole has given her far reaching latitude in continued work

Eli tries to get a meeting with Jeonia.

(You have one just lay out what you want to do)

(in character or ooc?)

(Either way

"Thank you for seeing me Jeonia. I don't know if you remember me, that meeting feels like so much longer than a month ago, but I was trying to get something built." (edited)

“It was hard to forget that meeting. What are you trying to do?”

"Hmm well just please at least hear me out before throwing me out. So the problem of establishing any kind of support structure is lack of power, water and materials right?"

“That’s right....” she says, eyeing you

"I know you were sort of against a bar, but thought a lab of sorts would be useful so I thought I'd revise the plan. I want you to know I've been doing some legwork, and would be putting in personal funds. I got a sample of that alcohol we were worried about people drinking, and even started a more in depth study on it's effects. I'm not sure what state that vehicle I brought back is in, but my idea was to turn it into a kind of culinary lab and mobile kitchen, possibly with a water tank. Sort of like a big rv that was mobile logistical support. Testing what is edible or drinkable and uses of the local flora and fauna while helping to supply our outposts like the planned pumphouse. I got pretty sick trying to dispose of those bugs, and I'd rather not have any other incidents or even worse avoidable deaths. This would be the true purpose, but I thought we could boost morale a little by calling it a food truck. Interacting with someone in the square helped me realize if everyone sees us testing things they might get panicked a bit? Well that's it what do you think?"

“It couldn’t hurt. you’d have to put the work in yourselves , I’m far too busy with city rebuilding especially now that the regent has passed on. His plans were flawed to say the least”

"That's fine, I think I know two gear head types better suited than me for that who would be eager for the chance and who'd be interested in trying again with the pump as well. Is there anything I should know about salvage rights or interacting with the scavengers? One of them is a junk trader, I don't want to get into any trouble."

“Laws aren’t something that have really been made about it yet. Common sense”

"I can do that. To be clear though its okay if I take that vehicle for our purposes, and the equipment we'll need to refit it?"

“You might as well. I doubt the regents plan for it will work now. It should get some use”

"Thank you, is there anything you need me to do Jeonia? I think this will help, but your the one looking at the big picture now."

“Not right now. You’ll be busy enough with your food truck”

"Alright, then I'll get to work. I'll submit our findings to the lab of course. The vehicle would be at the workshops right?"

“Yes” she nods

"Well if there's nothing else I'll be on my way mam, you have my compad information if something important comes up I believe."

(Alright. We can move into the next scene. I’m not sure what all you envision for this)

Eli leaves the office and heads out to the workshop.

9:22 AM

(Nothing too complicated. I'm not sure how you wanted to do the Vehicle, or bringing on the others though.) (edited)

(I don’t know. That’s yo to you

9:33 AM

Up

9:36 AM

(I need some kind of hard idea. The others are on to other business)

(I was thinking go to see the state it's in then get someone to help fix it. I wasn't sure how you wanted to resolve the fittings and repair though, it seems like the closest thing would be living quarters that has a kitchen? I wasn't sure how you'd want to do a water tank, if that would be cargo space or if I'd need to bring back scrap before doing anything like that though.) (edited)

(Or if I couldn't find anyone and it's still wrecked just magic fix and load things to cook and experiment up, buy a toolkit move things into it night as well move into a semi mobile ruin if I'm going to live in one anyway? Sorry I didnt want to move on without you saying it was okay, but I wasn't sure how much detail you wanted.) (edited)

(I’d say magic , but the vehicle works now. Carmens first mission was recovering it

( I thought she recovered and fixed the one Bavi'd and I left at the gate that later got blown up when we were quarantined, and this is the one I recovered from the battlefield? When I fought the ghoul and almost got blown up? before everything got glassed.)

(No. She recovered the apc you took from the field of bones. The thing that got blown up was another vehicle that was recovered

8:38 PM

(You and bavid recovered something. Then you went out on your own for the second during the mass combat

(cool, thank you for the clarification there were a bunch of salvaged vehicles.)

(Yeah we had a few brought in by various people)

8:41 PM

(I wouldn’t have blown that last one up if it’s your only one)

(So is this one a tl4 ground truck with a turret also? and how much would cooking equipment/ supplies and drums for water cost(I might add a second medkit and toolkit but those have pre existing costs, If that's all ok of course. (I assume since Bavi'd had to custom make the pumps those would be harder to find than just buying them?)or is this stuff I should ask in character in the market and or equipment area)?)

(This is the atv you recovered as I said. I think that stuff would be included with living area and if you’re using your magic on the vehicle things would work that probably shouldn’t)

(but if it was already repaired I wouldn't need to use my magic, also you can't repair it while it's fixed with the magic though.)

(Sorry, Okay I think I got you now, even things that couldn't be repaired would work, but for that part I'd have to use my ability which requires deep focus? Though it was repaired some? Thanks again for being patient explaining it to me. One last thing would it be okay to add a vac suit possibly armored and com sever, I'm fine if I have to pay for these just after getting sick and cut off from comms it seems prudent to at least ask before leaving the city.) (edited)

(Comm server they don’t have. No electronics manufacturing and that they do have is being kept for the army )

5:39 AM

(And yes that’s exactly what I meant. Even things that hadn’t been repaired would work. Building pumps went fine your mission failed during the set up for it when you guys got sick. There was nothing wrong with the actual machinery)

1

(Cool, is it okay to continue the scene, thanks for helping me get on the same page.)

8:59 AM

(Also, did you want me to pickbup andra or leave that to an npc?)

(Npc)

9:46 AM

(That missions about over and all we have really done are travel danger scenes

1

Eli walks into the workshop looking for the garage and the atv. (edited)

Both are there waiting as they’ve been for some time

Eli enters the Atv and checks to see fi the drivers compartment lock has been fixed. (Sorry I thought I posted this earlier, but I think I forgot to send the message.) (edited)

(you posted it , I just didnt respond to it)

1

The lock has been fixed

Ha great work. Eli went into the compartment and closed the door and locked it then started up the atv and began driving to the ruin to pick up his stuff.

You arrive at the ruins without incident , the family living there with you out at tasks for the day

Eli leaves a note with some credits attached (a little more than however much you think it would cost to insta panel fix the rest of the place.)

Please use my room while I'm gone, but save a bed for me in case things go poorly.  At first I thought living with families not my own wasn't the best arrangement, but I think I'll miss you all and how you made me feel welcome yet respected my privacy.  Not sure when I'll be back.  Your friend and absentee housemate, Eli.

(edited)

The note looks like it will hold, where it’s been affixed. The street is fairly empty, a few late for shift workers scurrying off to duty

Eli loads his things then heads back out stopping at the market, looking to grab a meal at the market so he doesn't have to dip into his rations. (edited)

(The meal would be the cost of a ration but like you said wonT dip into your supply)

(would there be an actual place, I was thinking of trying to ask about finding a cook or someone who knew about brewing/fermenting/distilling since I don't think I have those skillsets personally currently?)

(Is that leaning too much on npcs without the hench thing? I can just pay for the rations, just I didn't want to go out on a plan with all -1s that seems not to work out too well sometimes?)

(It’s not that so much as not enough time for a grow season has passed and no ones allowed out to hunt since there’s no security forces right now)

3:03 PM

(So no ones for anything

1

After eating the meal Eli continues on to where he and Bavi'd first found the chestnutatos. (edited)

Something has been rutting in the ground where you found the first batch, and you find a trollboar tusk sunk into the soft soil. The break looks clean.

Eli smiles taking the tusk then examines the patch for any remaining chestnutatoes. Or seeds. (edited)

(Notice/wis)

(5)

You find a few more chestnutaoes but no seeds.

7:19 AM

The fruits you do find have a few bites or blemishes taken out of them. The feeding here looks thorough

Eli frowns holding up the tusk, "I'll find you one tusked trollboar!" Eli looks to see if the trollboar tracks head in any specific direction.

The tracks are still visible in the muddy soil, heading down tk the river nearby

Eli moves as much of his gear as he can into the drivers compartment and leaves the few chestnutatoes he found in the back then drives as quietly as possible towards where the tracks went.

The vehicle is heavy with a large engine and it brings you to the waters edge where a group of the boars are basking in the shallows at river edge

8:51 AM

There are at least twenty, with piglets

Eli looks for the one with the broken or missing tusk.

In the deepest part of the shallows it lays basking in the warm water as summer begins to heat it to a pleasant temperature

"One tusk I will capture you, but causing a stampede might not be the best idea." Eli gets out of the vehicle taking some of the remaining chestutaotes and a few days of rations. He approaches the Sounder of Troll boars trying to keep a distance from the piglets.

The piglets instinctively move to the back of the group as you approach though it seems more like they’re just staying out of the immediate way rather than panicking. The boars slowly take note of your approach

Eli breaks of pieces of one of the rations he took and throws some of it to the boars that notice him continuing on toward one tusk.

They scatter in greedy packs heading off toward the food to investigate. One tusk is a scarred boar you see, his snout is heavily caked in healing wounds and his other tusk is cracked

4:45 PM

It notices you, and begins moving laterally, investigating and trying to figure out if you are a threat

Eli puts down the rest of that ration with one of the more whole chestnutatos, then holds out his hands and stops moving trying to appear non threatening.

(Are you trying to get it to approach you?)

(or to let me approach it, I was thinking of trying to tend its wounds or at least build up some trust with it.)

(Survive/wis)

(8)

The boar is interested and begins coming close

Eli speaks in a soothing tone to the boar as it comes closer moving slowly to get out his bio scanner and medkit. "Yes that's right you can trust me Alpha Trollboar, we'll get you patched up, and maybe even see about reattaching your tusk, or maybe a cybernetic one, would you like that huh a laser tusk?"

1

It stamps the ground , rutting a murky path in the soft soil. It lowers its head and begins breathing heavily

Eli takes out another ration holding it out to the boar. "Okay, we'll wait on the laser tusks, it was just a thought. Slow down though I only have so many of these."

The boar does not approach any further than he has, still a handful of meters from you. This rut seems to be as far as he will go

Eli slowly moves closer to the boar, stopping to see how it reacts after a few steps. (edited)

(Evasion save)

(failure 2 vs 11)

The boar charges forward as fast as it’s legs can carry it. You barley manage to throw yourself out of the way as it stampedes past, (4 damage)

Eli pushes himself up watching the boar, and moving away slowly so the rest of the boars don't charge.

The boar seems to be shepherding it’s sounder away towards the woods but the pigs do not move with hurry. It remains as the other handful of male boars get the rest clear , one tusk remaining alone, behind, watching hou

Eli leaves the ration and tries to stay to the side not moving directly toward it or the other boars but slowly circling around to the atv.

You make no other forward motions and one tusk finally satisfied heads into the forest with the rest of his pack

"I'll win you over eventually, one tusked boar." Eli laughs jokingly shakes his fist at the forest, then retrieves the ration pack, and heads to the atv. He takes some scans of the area to better find it next time before trying to patch up his scrapes.

The area is densely wooded and the scanners do not get far before becoming overwhelmed or simply not able to pierce the dense scrub

9:34 AM

But the riverbank is marked

Eli looks at the river trying to judge whether this is up or downstream from the dam and project site.

The river is flowing south toward the bay of bones, making the river project further up stream

9:41 AM

(So you’re moving back to Carmen and bavid?)

(At least to check on them, and fill up water tanks. Possibly scout locations for the bar, and get another bug sample to try to cook it non fatally? (Since that's how I justified my mission. Finding and experimenting with uses and edibility for new flora and fauna. Also why I have the suits.) See if anything from it could be otherwise used. I don't know how much I could tell from the earlier scan. I remember you said we should have cleaned it first like a blowfish.) (edited)

)exactly. That was the only catch. I would have given you the entire problem if there was more(

(Yeah that's not on you, we're just dumb kids that didn't think hey, burning them in a giant bonfire is pretty close to cooking them isn't it lol.)

Eli heads upstream to where they faced the bugs last time. (is the atv environment sealed. I don't want to switch to the armored vac suit if that would just be silly right now.)

(You’re a bit ahead of Carmen and bavid so I need to see what happens there before I can tell you what’s here right now.

1

(of course I'll leave it to you to tell me when we're on the same page. Thanks for letting me play out the stuff with the one tusked boar neko it was fun.) (edited)

It’s night when you make your way to the suspected area of the pumps, harder to find your way in the blackness of the woods. A muffled thump draws your attention and you make your way in the direction of the noise. An armored vehicle like yours sits next to the worksite, you were just a bit off course, with Carmen and bavid in the bed

5:38 PM

(We can move into theirs)

(Eli Level 5 : 16 hp to 17, 3 skill points to take use magic from 1 to 2, new first level spell Field report(the vocal telepathy planetwide link, but voluntary.) 2 new level 3 spells, Walking wounded (creates an area where stabilized 0 and mortally wounded unstable 0 are healed and put to 1 they are able to move, but nothing strenuous before resting overnight or being otherwise tended medically or they'll die instantly.) Team Liaison (give self or ally the ability to communicate with any intelligent creature and read but not write foreign or alien texts, this works in person or on radio.) level 5 foci Henchmaster level 1 which also takes leadership from -1 to 1 Total credits after awarded 45,245 I think that's everything. I was thinking of spending some a couple hours time consecrating the survival knife and sniper rifle, I'll do that in game, just a heads up.)

"Well I'll try with you first if that's okay Madame Regent? I can just step outside so you know I'm not just talking."

“Of course. Let’s see what you can do then” she says, dismissing the others with a. Wave of her hand

"Okay, don't be afraid, I haven't tried this yet but we should be fine." Eli smiles at Regent Cole then teleports them both to the other side of her office. "I could have gone farther, but I wasn't sure if you wanted the others to know since you dismissed them."(Fighting Withdrawal) (edited)

“This is fine. Im glad you’re thinking. So, what. You’re a psychic now?”

"I don't think so, but being able to talk to people telepathically doesn't really help that assumption does it? I've never heard of a psychic doing the other stuff though, making guns shoot better. Can Psychics do that?" (edited)

6:51 PM

(would Team Liason let me understand B'avid without his interpretive device? I wasn't sure about that part so I took it out of what I said for now.)

(Id have to re read what it does)

(It's worded imbues you with the ability to communicate with any intelligent creature in person and over comms, for the part that applies. He was just the only one that I've been exposed to that doesn't speak common mostly I think? I'll let you review it and just not mention it either way for now if that's easier though.)

(You'd be able to without his translator then, but just you two, you'd have to relay to everyone else)

7:54 PM

(Kind of pointless since i made the ashen ones still able to communicate, or at least always have a compad of some kind anyway, to avoid exactly this kind of situation)

(yeah, it's not an always on thing either it requires light focus, the B'avid part was just for the point of realizing I had it mainly(story stuff(sorry if it made things overly confusing))? I was thinking it might be useful for other intelligent species or languages down the road.) (edited)

(Got it)

1

"Whatever I am, I'm part of your protectorate. Do you now if there's anything else I should get doing while the pumps get setup?"

“Not at the moment. I’m waiting to hear back from a delegation I sent to one of the southern cities. I’m trying to make some friends on this planet now that we have wasted our chance at a peaceful first contact “

"Do you think it'd be worth trying to contact Varkut, that scout from Artema?"

“Not with the political situation there being unknown. I’ve got a couple possible missions for you though. Andra is looking to head into the mountains to scout. I’ve also got pearl heading out to Chiron to sneak in and try to recover a soiled intelligence mission there.

4:57 PM

“Either one could use your skills”0

"Which one do you think needs the help more? I've worked with Pearl some, and I have the Atv. Would that be able to get through the mountains? I think they said a hoverbike could, but this is larger. If it's where the scout said they travel through there might be a bigger chance of enemies."

(You decide

5:02 PM

(Both of rhem have been largely alone

"I'll head to the mountains, investigating the flora and fauna around us is still my secondary mission, do you know where I should meet them?"

“Downstairs. She will be there with a handful of rucksacks. Hard to miss”

5:07 PM

(We can jump into Hersey

5:07 PM

Hers)

(am I supposed to be her transport, I just wanted to double check before writing it that way.)

(No the team js getting flown to the mining camp and after that it’s on foot through the peaks

(I'll just walk up then, good thing I checked thanks.)

(Sorry if this is a stupid question, but would this mission have helped me meet my goal of proving that I'm ready for more important missions?)

( yes)

(thanks.)

9:48 PM

(that gives me just enough to level then. I'll post the details when I choose the spells and stuff.)

(one second level spell and spell slot, one third level spell slot, attack bonus went up 1 to +3 1 skill point to bring pilot to 0 one to bring survival to 0 one in use magic, noted in unused for now, hp went up one to 18 new second level spell Rookie Courage can have a total of 6 consecrated(teleport in as on turn actions total 2/6) weapons. Added goal to discover the history of the Lamplighter foundation and finish exploring the secret mountain base. I think that's it.)

Eli blushes a little chuckling and gets out his compad quickly.

Regeant Cole I expect you know at least how the last part of the mission went, I think my skills will be better spent escorting Pearl off planet.  Please give the Green coast my apologies, I hope the apprentice exchange goes well 4 for 4.  I apologize for my part in the crash as teaching Andra and taking the shipment to trade in the next village were my ideas.

(edited)

(I meant to ask how does that crystal work it's okay if it's a pafo thing but second question then have we still been connected this whole time?)

(You’ll be connected without her needing to spend anything as long as you’re both wearing your respective item. )

(ah gotcha so the range and all still apply, thanks neko.)

(Yeah. Otherwise pafo)

1

(level 7 18 to 24 hp, use magic up from 2 to 3 using 3 points and one banked point, new foci Cross disciplinary study allowing choice of level 4 arcanist spell orbital insertion which now can be used as any other level 4 spell known. one level one spell know gained: Force shelter, 2 level 4 spells and slots gained: Forced march, and Radio intercept protocol. I think that's all for this level up besides saves)

(would it be okay if I role played using my new spell as to why it didn't take as long to heal up from the bullet wound Neko? Since it gives you healing of 1 hp per hour? only useable once per week though. I thought I'd ask first or tell you so you could include it in whatever we end up doing maybe, so I wasn't just blindsiding you.)

(Works for me. Either way is fine)

(thanks Neko.)

(I added the weapons and consecrations. I can still do one more but I figure I'll save it for something cool.)

Eli gets most of his stuff together then goes to talk to Lars.

on his way to find the old pilot Eli shoots of a message to Carmen.

Hi Carmen, this is Eli. Sorry I don't know if you're busy as deputy regent or whatever, but I was hoping we could catch up while we're on planet, maybe have that fight we talked about.  Either way just wanted to let you know we're doing okay and met some cool psychic guy and an old cyborg lady who left the UNW too, don't ask about her eye.

@opscomm

Meeting with the regent right now, but once that is done I'll meet you and we can catch up. Happy you are home safe.

Thanks okay I'll meet you at the temple or wherever, I need to debrief with you, anyway.  Some stuff I'd rather not say over comms.

Whenever Eli gets to the temple ruins, Carmen is there waiting for him, bandages wrapping around one of her shoulders and thighs. She is sitting on a small pile of broken stones, fiddling with her dataslab.

(Sorry neko I'll ask afterward and if I get left behind that's okay.) Eli sends a messag to Pearl and Andra I'm taking my stuff since we were switching ships. I'll meet you after, going to go catch up and debrief with Carmen. @Deleted User @Deleted User After sending the message Eli heads out to the ruins. He smiles when he sees Carmen already there and puts down his heavy backpack then rushes over to her giving a hug then noticing the bandages. "So how have you been, what happened were you hurt?"

She smiles upon recieving the hug, returning it. "Happy to see you. I'm fine, just got shot by a few tribal arrows while trying to blow up their evil dam. Did you get the butteracotches?"

He looks down for a second. "no" "We did rob an armored car and meet some psychics though, sorry. Didn't get a chance. You actually found other people that use arrows though?"

She smiles. "I'm just happy you came back safe. And yeah, we found some tribals that were corrupting a river. Blew up the dam, got some wood for the loggers to harvest safely, the got back here a few hours ago. Why'd you guys have to rob an armored car anyway?"

"Money to buy lab stuff, and it was fun. I got to punch out a guard, but I was shot. I learned a few new spells though. Oh almost forgot it wasn't the pirates like we though it was the Fenris Brothers or Brotherhood. magic weapon guys, highly trained really nasty we were going to swap for the armed ship and go after them."

Her smile goes to worry for a bit when he mentions he was shot. "We both seem to be nice targets for bad people. It's nice to know who attacked us, but outside of shooting down every ship that shows up I have no idea what to do about them. I keep getting loaded with more and more responsibility."

"Couldn't we scan for those bugs or something? You're the smart one. I can stay if you think I'd help more here, but were you planning on doing more fighting? I'm a magic gun, and medkit, I don't really know too much about the important work you were doing. I could help you heal up though if you want You won't have to eat sleep or drink for a week though and you'll be faster I know it sounds weird to warn people about that, but still.."

"No, I've been looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight. I need to stay here and oversee some projects, I've had my fill of fighting for right now. I like having you around, but I know you have other people who can make use of your skills better than I would."

12:47 PM

(Bout to go on the clock, will be off at 7, might respond during my break)

(no worries focus on your work. I'll be here whenever probably lol)

1:04 PM

"Well I like being around, you stay safe and move to the mountain base if you have to. Someone should be using it."

She smiles. "Well, I do need my own place. I meant to ask the regent about that but got distracted by your message and wanted to get out of there as fast as I could so I could spend some time with you before you run off to wherever and get yourself almost killed again. Everytime you leave with Andra you either get blown up or shot, makes me worry."

"I'm tough too though, but yeah not getting shot was nice. Where are you sleeping if you don't have your own place though?"

She shrugs. "Either in my truck or at the workshop. Nobody told me otherwise so far or let me know I have a place. Reminds me, I need to clean those sheets, they smell terrible." (edited)

"You should have slept in the food truck there are a couple beds there, but I'm taking it with me."

She gets a sad look on her face. "Oh, you are leaving again?"

"Yeah to hunt the brotherhood. Make sure they don't attack again, if you weren't on a mission you could have been killed. They destroyed the Temple."

She blinks for a second, realizing how true that statement was. "I, I never thought about that. We don't really have any way to stop another attack like that right now, not unless we make people dock at the station. I dunno, I just miss when my day was spent having fun with my friends and building stuff. I feel really alone here. Kayden is nice and all, but he isn't as fun to be around as you are. Maybe now Bavi'd will come back and we can all go exploring together."

"I could stay if you want, I kind of feel like a third wheel with the other two, and I wanted to look into whatever lamplighter is and the glass garden."

"I'm going to be full speed ahead on building my exploration vehicle, one with big wheels and armor and stuff. Assuming I can get it to work, I'll need a co-pilot and chef and things."

6:29 PM

"Cause I want to go explore the planet too, but do it in some level of relative safety."

"Well I was trying to get the food lab going? Do you know when you'll have it running. You shouldn't do anything to crazy until you test it right?"

"It's not even out of the blueprint phase, if I'm honest. I'd be happy to help you with the food lab though. We can focus on that, the exploration thingy, and rebuilding. Some stuff that will let us recouperate and get extra ready, what do you think?"

"Okay, I'll have to tell Pearl and Andra. I think they'll be okay with each other and Dr. Thorn."

"Who is doctor Thorn?"

"The old psychic lady from the UNW, but not anymore sort of like Sylvano. We met some people, but I think they're going back to space."

"Hmm." She says, giving him a side hug and resting her head on his shoulder. "Glad you are staying here for a bit." (edited)

He hugs her back smiling. "Me too. Glad you aren't tired of me I guess."

"What, tired of you? Never. If ever I did you would just pull out another silly dance and make me burst out laughing." She says with a big smile.

"I can't dance my way out of everything, but that's what the magic is for."

Carmen doesn't say anything, she just enjoys the moment with a big smile on her face. (edited)

Eli smiles back at her and rests his head on hers, feeling for once like he doesn't need to ask any questions.

After a minute or two, Carmen gives a content sigh. "So, what does this mean for us then?"

"What does it mean to you? I don't know, I'm scared I'll say something wrong and mess it all up. I'm happy there's something worth asking about though."

"Well, I've never been in this place before either. But what we are doing right now seems like the kind of thing people only do when they are family or a couple, and we aren't family, so, I guess, we are the latter then?"

"A couple sounds nice."

Carmen shouts for joy internally. "Yeah, that it does." She sits with him for a few more minutes before getting up. "I've got to go work on those vehicle blueprints as well as the ones for the new government building and check on how the wall construction is going. I'll see you at the town hall later." She says, giving him a kiss on the cheek before walking over to the wall. (edited)

Eli stands there for a moment frozen with a dopey smile on his face. Then catches up slowly as his face turns crimson. "Oh yeah see you then."

8:09 PM

Eli heads to the council meeting trying not to skip then turns around and runs pack picking up his pack and looking around to see if anyone saw him forget it.

1

"Well, that was interesting." Carmen says as they are walking to Eli's truck after the meeting.

"Yeah, too bad we couldn't talk more with the robot man. So what was it you wanted to discuss with me anyway?"

"So, I know we just decided on the couple thing, but when we are talking to, like, important people, we should probably focus on being professional. Cause that was kinda emberrasing in there."

"What was, I'm sorry? I didn't mean to make you look bad."

She smiles. "Oh, no, I'm probably overreacting. I've never been good at dealing with authority figures in the first place, so everything makes me emberrased."

She sighs. "I'm still just not used to all this is all, and I don't want to screw things up because I've never been in a relationship before and I really like you and have for a while but I don't want to look bad and I start thinking like if people see us together thats going to look bad even though I don't think anyone cares and, oh, I dunno. My mind is a big mix of happiness and anxiety and its a lot to process."

"Ah, I don't care about authority that much anymore people in power have been kind of violent and dumb, and we're the council now right? I don't think we should go out and tell everyone or keep it a secret especially if it's going to make you so anxious. What do you think we should do next though? I want to help, but don't know where to start."

She bites her lip. "I mean, I think if we just don't make a secret of it, then everyone will get used to it right? If anyone asks we can say yes, but we don't have to tell people outright at all. I don't just want them to think we are a couple of teenage kids hooking up like its summer camp or something." (edited)

11:46 AM

(I actually think she already had a birthday back when we were on that first mission together, so she is still just 19)

"That sounds good, and I hope not but whatever your okay with. These talks about us kind of make me nervous so I'll let you dictate the pace of things." Eli looks down at his feet. "Umm anyway so what missions do you need done, you said you'd be working on your own vehicle for a while right? You should make something that can go on water and fly, but Then again I don't know how hard that would be?"

She takes his hand. "Hey, I don't want you to think I'm not serious about this, I really have liked you for a while, I just don't have a plan, so part of me gets anxious. Instead of worrying about us, why don't we just play it by ear and whatever happens happens? Sound good? She says, giving him a smile and another small kiss on the cheek. Anyway, the vehicle I'm planning is going to be a big ATV with like, 6 foot wheels or something. Something that can just roll through whatever terrain it comes across. I want to give it a sealed environment with an airlock too, so it can go into radioactive zones and underwater, but that may happen later once we actually have the tech for it. Once I have that all ready, we can go and explore the whole planet pretty much." (edited)

"What would you think about taking the food truck with me into the Glass garden? I have some spells that can keep us safe even if it doesn't. From what I've heard the best tech is there." (edited)

"I mean, we can if you are sure we will be safe. Will they still work when you are asleep? Does the truck have a gun or would we need to rig my trucks gun up to it?"

4:27 PM

"Maybe we can get some Vacc suits."

"Heavy machine gun, and I have an extra inscribed one. It should I can cast it twice and it lasts for 12 hours, and then the little house should help too, I think?"

"I don't know what most of that means, but I've been wanting to go exploring the planet for months now. Doing it with you will just be an added bonus."

"Great, where do you want to go first. Just when you don't understand me it's usually magic or me getting tongue tied... sorry."

"I mean, let's go to the garden! If we can go there why wait?" She says, getting visibly more excited the more she thinks about it. "Just think of all the cool stuff we might be able to find, assuming it wasn't all vaporized." (edited)

"Yeah, and we could get some readings from the place."

"Yeah. I feel like we should leave in a week or so. I need to spend some time setting up the construction schedule if I'm going to be gone for a few weeks where we might not be able to radio in from. Should give us plenty of time to make sure everything works and everything is ready." (edited)

"Okay, what should I do?"

"Well, actually, it should only take a day or so. Just talk to the radio people and see if they have some way to talk to us in the garden area, maybe see if they have some vacc suits, stock up on supplies, that sort of thing."

"I won't distract you hanging around will I?"

"Only the good kind of distracting." She says with a sly smile.

Eli smiles rubbing at his arm. "That's good, not too unprofessional though? I know some of the workers were kind of mean to Andra."

"For what? I mean, tonight wasn't great, but everyone has a bad night every once in a while. I'll probably try to make up with her in the morning, don't want her to leave without being on good terms." (edited)

"Oh not tonight, just some of the miners made fun of her for thinking there was a secret mountain base, but there was. I didn't mean you. Though I wish you would be friends."

"Oh, there is a secret mountain base? I hope we find more of those, that would be fun. And I hope we will be friends too, I'm not used to not liking people."

"Why don't you like her anyway?"

"It's not that I don't like her, that was just my first time talking to her and she was mean for no reason."

"I think she was just a bit touchy, she's sort of like me in thinking things were her fault just because she was there or wasn't. So she took a low blow with what happened with Jeonia."

Carmen sighs. "Yeah, it was. I, let's talk about something else. That day is in my top five worst experiences ever."

"Oof, hopefully not that bad." He squeezes her hand.

"Oh, no, I didn't mean today, today was great despite anything. I was talking about the day Jeonia died. That day was terrible."

"Oh, yeah it's been a few bad days for all of us, but we should just focus on the good."

"Yeah, the good." She says, leaning on his shoulder for a second. "Think I might just stay here for the night." She says as they arrive at his truck. "You have a spare bed right?"

"Yeah if you think we need one. Oh was that too much? I don't think sometimes. I just meant sleeping, I swear! I'm going to go die in a hole now." He looks at his feet again.

She laughs. "Yeah, I know what you meant. Cmon, lets get some sleep, got a long day ahead." She says, hopping onto whichever bed is closest.

Eli follows her into the room, falling asleep with the goofiest smile on his face.

(So, the food truck, I’m not sure what we are using for it or if there were stats made. )

6:30 AM

(I don’t remember getting anything from Eli )

(I thought you gave them to me? Ground truck with the power plant thing a broken lab 10 sleeping quarters and a kitchen, and a hmg let me draw up or look for something more formal. It was that tread thing I saved.)

(We can use that. I’m just makifn sure what we are taking)

(Cool, I didn't want you to think I was trying to pull a fast one, but searching logs on phone is annoying and I don't remember if we ever statted something out.)

The next morning Carmen wakes up early and makes some coffee before getting out and sitting on the roof of the truck to watch the sunrise.

Eli wakes up to the smell of coffee and goes to get some then looks around for carmen. //sorry trying to get something for the vehicle, but spreadsheet wizard I am not.

"I'm up here." Carmen calls from the roof of the truck.

Eli climbs up with his coffee. "Huh, what are you doing up here?"

"Watching the sunrise. Look." She says, pointing to the horizon.

"It does look beautiful, almost makes you forget how inhospitable this place is."

"Yeah, almost. It is more hospitable when you have people around you care about though." She says, finishing her coffee. "But, I've got to get that stuff done and see if I can talk to Andra before she leaves, so I'll see you later." She says, climbing down after giving him another hug and kiss on the cheek. (edited)

Eli hugs her back the watches her go before standing up on the truck's roof and shouting after her and waving. "Wait what should I do? Oh Bye Carmen."

"We talked about it last night, go get supplies ready and make sure we can still call in." She calls back to him.

"Call into where, I have magic anyway, I never fixed the comms on this thing."

"Oh, well then just get supplies, I'll try to fix them tonight."

12:05 PM

"And tell the regent where we are going too."

"Okay, I'll see what I can get from the bar. I guess it's time I met the new regent formally too." Eli climbs inside and closes the hatch to the top then walks to the front of the truck. "You sure you don't need a ride?"

"Yup, it's a nice morning, I feel like a walk."

"Okay I'll see you later tonight then I guess." Eli waves and drives off to the marketplace to find some rations.

The marketplace has plenty of rations at the normal cost. The end of summer has seen the first harvest and although things are lean, winter does not appear to be so hopeless. Enough dried food is available to keep a modest expedition running for about a month

Eli buys as much as he can in case something goes wrong figuring too many rations is better than not enough.

(A month for the two of you is all they have )

(that then, sorry I wasn't sure when you said modest expedition let me check and take off the stuff for 60 rations.)

(1 day is 5 5x 60 so 300 credits. so down from 34,000 to 33,700) Eli stows the rations in one of the boxes then drives back to the temple ruins to meet Carmen.

6:40 PM

(oh crap was I supposed to meet the regent, sorry. I'm still kind of out of it.)

(She sent him a message, no worries)

(thanks)

Carmen comes walking down the road to meet Eli. She waves at him when she sees his foodmobile. "You get everything we need? Did they have any Vacc suits for us to use?"

"Oh I mostly got food, we might have to go to the ships? They didn't have much here last time. Sorry I didn't ask."

"That's okay, we can swing by there again and then I'll fix the radio."

"Thanks, sorry I've been kind of in a daze like I'm floating or something is that normal?"

(The ships are heading out and won’t have suits to spare. The actual crew need them)

1

(Okay)

6:53 PM

"Uhh, I dunno, are you feeling alright? Also, I just checked and all the vacc suits are currently in use, so I'll just fix the radio."

"Well the spell should work, I should have grabbed some when we were in space."

6:56 PM

"I thought I didn't need them cause magic though."

"Its fine. I'll get to work on the radio. Also, I talked to Andra, smoothed things over. She got dissapointed when I told her you were coming with me, but I said that it was my fault you didnt contact her." She says heading back and opening up the radio. "I distracted you with getting supplies."

"Well I kind of told her about that in the meeting. More magic stuff."

"Oh, well, she must've forgotten." She says, checking out the radio guts. (Do I need to make any checks to fix this?)

(No you said you fixed it already and your fix is good enough on its own so I didn’t say anything)

1

(Okay) Carmen fiddles with a few interior pieces, redoes some wires, then closes it up and tests the radio. It fires up first try. "Radio is fixed, we are all ready to go."

"Woah, you're really good at that, I'll have to have you teach me or take a look at the lab."

"I can take a look at the lab, see how hard it would be to fix." (How hard would it?)

(It would take days right now and several thousands of credits worth of parts. Basically buying the fitting. There was just a mission to go steal that stuff from other worlds so there’s nothing to go around right now)

(Okay)

7:47 PM

"Yeah, this whole thing is basically unfixable. I'd need a bunch of time and parts we don't have. Let's just head out. Also, if for some reason we have problems or anything, we are heading back. I want to explore this place but I'd also rather not die, okay?"

"Okay, but if we find something really cool, or useful we might have to do something risky okay?"

"Yeah, I know. I just don't want us to get together and die a week later trying to rescue some random ass spear."

"Was it a spear we were after? I was hoping to see some of the vehicles and stuff maybe some armor, or another secret base or some ruin of that castle, you think the regent's weapon survived, or the tree?"

"I dunno what's there. I didn't even remember he had a spear. I just want us to be sure the stuff we think is cool is actually cool. Anyway, everything is ready to go, and so am I."

"Okay do you have a Geiger counter or something, I don't want to take any chances with the spell."

(Does the metatool have one?) (edited)

7:59 PM

(She also has a survey scanner, so I think we are covered)

1

(The survey scanner would. The Metatool is just a wrist mounted Swiss Army knife

1

"Well what do you think about getting up to the edge of things then we test out the magic? I don't want us both to get zapped if I've miscalculated things, and we should be able to study it from the edge anyway. You're the smart one though."

"Yeah, let's do that. We can always park the truck outside and spend our days on foot if we have to. Or we could just use binoculars. Then if we see something we can take the truck in to haul it out. Gonna have to really clean everything in here well if we take this thing into radiation. No protection, anywhere, for the truck at least."

"Yeah, but we should be fine, I'll just cast the first two when we get close, and we can do a little exploring or should we wait?"

"Wait and see if we find anything decent, I'll keep an eye on the radiation levels."

"Alright I'll drive that way just tell me when to stop."

"Sounds good, just don't crash." She says, sitting in the passengers seat. "I'll try not to be too distracting." (edited)

"Wait what? Maybe you should drive? Just don't fall asleep then." (edited)

"Uh, okay then, I was only half joking. Everytime you look at me now you stare for like 5 seconds before realizing what is going on. I mean, am I really that pretty or something?"

Eli smiles. "You're just fishing for compliments now, you know you are."

"I mean, I wouldn't say no to some, but I also never really cared enough about my appearance to think about whether boys would find me attractive."

The truck leaves the city and begins heading over the bumpy unimproved surface outside the makeshift guard post in Mytikas south. The garden is about a day away by truck, with the drive expected to end long into the night. The weather should be clear for a few days

"You watching that counter Carmen? Between you and the road my eyes are occupied."

She blows him a raspberry and checks the counter.

This far from the garden the levels are normal background radiation

"Everything is still fine, we just left town two hours ago."

"Oh, well so what was that mission you and Kaden went on like?"

"Ehhh, lots of arrows and mud and almost dying."

"The metal people were interesting I guess. Kayden found a shiny magic piece of armor, I just got some new scars." (edited)

"Ah, your scars are pretty too. At least it was only arrows."

"How would you know if they are pretty? You can't see any of them." She says, giving him a confused look.

"You said not to look, I'm watching the road. I just assumed, I'm bad at compliments."

She chuckles. "Don't worry about it. Maybe someday we will reach that point."

"You could always come do the apprenticeship with me, then we could go swimming on the coast."

"What apprenticeship? Also I would need a new bathing suit, I left mine on Crusea. Then again, maybe I won't." She says with a shrug and a sly smile.

Eli coughed. "OH UH um the one at the green coast, they were going to teach us woodworking and help me make a boat, but then we got kidnapped and space adventures so it got postponed."

She nods "Hmm. Sounds interesting. Maybe I could teach you some woodworking, I know a bit about that stuff."

"Yeah, that'd be nice. A vacation on the coast after things settle down. I could try to eat a live sea monster it'll be fun."

"Yeah, once this place is a bit less wild."

"Well for now let's hope there's more to this place than glass."

"Yeah. Hopefully." She says, going back to her binoculars and survey scanner.

"Hmm so what should we do, I don't want to split up, if the magic works we'll have almost a week awake."

"Like, a week straight of no sleeping?"

"Yup, no sleeping, no drinking, no eating and we walk and run faster."

"Well, we can just park the truck outside the irradiated zone, camoflauge it, then head in with this spell."

"Sure, what should we do to hide it?"

(Do you want to just get there and see what the area is like so we don’t do all this planning for nothing?)

1

(yes please)

(Yes)

The drive to the garden is the work of two days of overland travel, the Geiger counter chirping steadily faster until you reach the edge of the blasted area. Dust storms, yellow in color, drift over a landscape of blasted hills, charred black wrecks of wrecks, and an endless plain of glassy ground. The world tree is gone, not even the skeleton of it remaining, and only the truly massive super-mechs have maintained anything like their fallen current shape. These even, will never work again, heat fused by powerful explosions far too many times

"Well that looks a bit dangerous, you ready? we shouldn't go too far into it tonight."

(Is there even anything to hide this truck behind at all? Anything to camoflauge it with?)

//sort of how big is it though?

(Its probably an RV size with all the stuff youve got in it)

(Thats what I thought)

(same I think that's too big for anything I got to hide it.)

(I meant like terrain-wise)

(oh)

(not really, area's blasted pretty good)

"Man, what a waste of good salvage." Carmen says, staring off into the distance at the mech wrecks. "Oh, uh, yeah, we might as well, we aren't going to be hiding this thing it looks like."

"You want to look around tonight or wait until tomorrow?"

"Let's look around tonight, shouldn't make much of a difference."

"Okay, we'"

9:33 PM

"will have to be back in 12 hours though."

9:37 PM

Eli starts casting the magic and suddenly he and Carmen seem wide awake. Then as if protected by magic. (using 2 slots to cast Forced March, and Orbital insertion.) "We can spend the extra time looking at everything else, should we set an alarm so we can make our way back. Sorry I'm talking so fast, just I feel like I drank three gallons of coffee all at once."

Carmen just looks at her hands, then looks around, then looks back at Eli. "Uh, yeah, sounds good, yeah. What did you say?"

"We should be okay to go in now. Just set an alarm or something?"

"Yeah, yeah, I can do that." Carmen says, setting an alarm for ten hours, still weirded out by the whole experience. "I set the alarm for ten hours, that should give us plenty of time to make our way back." (edited)

"Good, now lets explore! I'm leaving most of my weapons here since this stuff is heavy."

"Alright, let's head out." Carmen says, pulling out her binoculars to look around as they go. (edited)

Eli smiles following after Caren putting on his goggles and atmofilter out of habit.

The edge of the blast zone was hit by the least radiation and the most scattered of the actual force of the blast wave. Lighter craft like motorcycles and civilian cars pressed into service as military transports are too scattered or mangled to be of any use now- twice cooked like metal biscotti left in an oven too long. A passenger 10, the side facing the garden more black than others sits buried under piled up motorbikes and blackened ghoul skeletons, the ashen remains of vines binding the entire small metal hill together. The passenger van itself looks like it’s parts at least facing you, could be taken

"You think that's whole enough to bither with? Don't want ti waste spells." (Does it look like it could be made operable with magic to get the parts out easier, and drive around in?)

(Not with the amount of stuff burying it)

(Would it be possible to excavate it with the tools on hand?)

(If one of you has a post tech tool kit)

2:09 PM

(A metatool isn’t enough for heavy labor like this)

(Carmen does)

2:40 PM

"Let me see if I can excavate it enough to take a look at it." Carmen says, pulling out her toolkit.

"I'll keep an eye out, dont want you to get attacked while you work."

Eli starts patrolling around.

Carmen starts trying to excavate the van as best she can.

(How exactly is this happening Carmen. What area are you focusing on)

(She is going to focus on removing enough to get inside so she can see what the interior looks like first, and if that looks intact enough, she will start trying to remove the junk on the top of it so they could potentially drive it out using eli's magic)

The first handfuls of the wreckage come away cleanly, the rotted metal pieces almost disintegrating as they hit the ground. The sliding door looks clear now

Carmen slides the door open gently before peeking inside.

The two rows of metal benches in the passenger area are tattered scraps of cloth hanging to rusted metal frames. The front area looks a little better. The windshield is cracked from a pair of bullet holes. The engine, extra large and ad hoc as the vehicles was press hanged into army service, is in the trunk and accessible

She gets out, believing this to be serviceable enough with Eli's magic, and starts clearing the top off, trying not to damage things further.

(Let’s get a sneak or exert both with dex. Depends if you’re worried about noise or not

(Sneak/dex, 12)

9:35 PM

(Perfect check for her in this case)

Eli comes back from his patrol and looks over Carmen and her work on the vehicle.

Carmen is able to near silently remove the rest of the offending wreckage

"Are you ready, you might want to get clear before I use the magic." (how much time would we have left?)

(It’s been six hours

(so 4, thanks)

Carmen steps back from the van, breathing heavily from the hard work she just did.

Eli smiles touching her shoulder, the focus his magic onto the vehicle. (Salvage gear.)

The vehicle groans as it’s long disused engine comes to life. The headlight covers are dingy and cracked , casting a dusty reflection of light across both of you. It huffs and wheezes as the fraying belts keep ancient gears moving

"You want to drive Carmen or should I?"

"Up to you."

"You drive this time, so I get to be the distraction." Eli laughs and hops in the passenger seat.

Carmen shakes her head and smiles, hopping into the driver's seat, backing out of the hill area, and heads towards the former-tree crater.

(Physical effect save for each of you)

(3v9 fail)

(11vs9 success )

Carmen begins to feel a bit sick. The rad counter in the vehicle begins to spike sharply , and you near the first of the fallen mechs

"Are you okay Carmen we can head back if you want? We got the vehicle." (Did I roll the wrong save? I think my physical is the same or better, should I refill?)

9:39 AM

(Sorry I think I read psychic and rolled mental which is one worse?)

(would an 11 be successful vs your physical save? Regardless it doesn't matter which button you hit since saves are done as a straight 1d20 roll.) (edited)

(Yeah it's 8)

"I'm fine, maybe. I think your spell might not be working as well as you had hoped though. Let's just check out this mech then head back."

"Okay, damn more radiation than reentry. Guess I underestimated things? You still okay to drive? Ill have to stay pretty close to the car."

"Uh, yeah, I think so."

"Okay, don't go too far though I don't want to have to drag you back if you start feeling more sick. You think we'll find something?"

She shrugs. "Maybe. If we can find sone kind of reactor parts or heavy weapons that will be worth it. I'm not going to try and remove anything tonight, we can do that tomorrow or come back later with a bigger vehicle."

"I'd be hapoy if we could get a mech suit even busted might help keep you from getting sick."

"None of this stuff is going to be operational, not after the blasting it took."

Yeah, but magic, so operational enough? Broken is better even sort of. Besides I maje it eork for now, abd you repair it, another reason we're such a great team!"

"I guess so. Let me go take a look at this mech." When they arrive at one of the mech wrecks, Carmen gets out and goes in to take a closer look at it. (edited)

"Just be careful. Ah, I should have brought something."

8:27 PM

Eli gets in the driver seat in case they have to kake a quick getaway. (Does this thing have guns?)

(The van? No it’s a minivan basically)

1

The mech is ruined inside and out. Repeated high explosive impacts, a nuclear blast wave, and the following emp have fried, fused, or ruined anything of relative value

Carmen walks back into the open and has a look around using her binoculars for anything more interesting.

(There’s really nothing here. The place was orbitally bombarded with capital weaponry )

(but the rumors though)

She sighs, feeling like this was a massive waste of time before walking back to the van. "There isn't anything here, this place is a wasteland. Let's head back to the truck, maybe we will find something tomorrow. We can go back through some of the area we haven't been too before but I doubt we will find anything."

(I didn’t say it twice before the mission for my benefit)

(I blame scavengers. and Bavi'dopolis.)

(So we have your original vehicle and the van right now)

(currently, but I think the idea was canabalize this one for parts, we might just drive it back though if it seems that obvious there's not stuff here, but I think the first thing is get back and plan what to do since Carmen was feeling sick and we don't have to sleep, but we'll be hitting our 10 hour alarm time soon I think?) (edited)

10:02 PM

"Okay, I'll drive, better safe than sorry." Eli starts driving back to the base camp looking around for anything else salvageable.

(Yes time will be running out.) Intact pieces of machinery seem like an impossible find outside the very edges of the garden where the lightest fighting took place- just like how you found the van. The area has been subjected to a titanic amount of energy between Cyrus destroying the shard of the overlord , the annihilation of the world tree of Heras, and the orbital bombardment. The land seems truly desolate now

"Maybe we could find something around the other edge but for now, I'm getting you back."

(Bavid is pulling from seagoing wrecks closer to his city and well outside the bombardment zone. That’s why he’s finding stuff and you’re not. )

(Someone had to check in character to be sure)

(No worries like carmen said we had to check and in the case of irradiated stuff so news is better than bad news.)

(also I figure one thorough search is better so we can not come back to the hotzone.)

"Let's go bed down for the night, hopefully I'll feel better in the morning. You don't have a medical scanner or anything like that do you?"

"Are you feeling that bad, you shouldn't be tired for a few more days, I'll drive us back to camp. I'm a decent at it, but I don't have a full lab or hospital here."

(It'd be like the early stages of radiation sickness right neko?)

(Yes, you guys didnt risk it, you'll recover with rest for right now)

Eli stops at the makeshift camp. "Please rest, we'll drive back tomorrow if you feel up to it, I can still scan you if you think it would help?"

Eli just gets out his scanner and starts checking her over. (I think I can roll it's intermittent but went through, I do have a scanner and 1 in the medicine thing though.)

Carmen lays down on the bed while Eli looks her over, clutching her stomach. "Ugh, my stomach is not happy right now."

"Do you need help getting to the bathroom or some tea or something, I could put a kettle on."

"Maybe some instant soup, if we have any."

"Probably, I could just get you a bucket and you could stay by the kitchen? I'm scared to let you out of my sight."

"Yeah, that's probably.." She starts to say before her body heaves a bit. "A good idea. Fast please." (edited)

Eli runs to go get her something to be sick in.

She throws up as soon as something is in front of her she can throw up into. (edited)

"Feel better? hmm maybe you should not eat, I mean we don't have to."

She throws up one more time before she groans and rolls over into a little ball on the bed. (edited)

"You still want some tea? Maybe we should just rest if not sleep?"

"Please stop talking about thing I have to put in my stomach...." She says quietly.

"Okay. Is it alright if I just sit here with you?"

"Mhm."

(Let me know when you’re ready to move on then. I don’t really know what the plan is now)

(I think its either try to explore more of the edge or go back to Heras, though the former sounds like a waste of effort at this point.)

(We can go back to Heras then the radiation sickness even if only light can be an excuse or wait so we can drive both vehicles back up to you. You do heal faster while under the spell, though I don't think it specifically mentions sickness.)

(I'm fine with going back to Heras in the morning, then we can go exploring somewhere there might be more useful stuff.)

1

(were we going to jump to the next day, I didn't want to presume either way.)

(Whenever you’re done with whatever this is)

(Yeah, lets go)

(yup)

The next morning Carmen’s condition remains the same but does not worsen. The radiation level at the edge of the zone is lower. Both vehicles are working fine for now

"I think heading back is a good idea for now. Maybe once we have more advanced equipment sometime far in the future we can come back, but for now it isn't worth it. I'll do my best to drive this truck while you drive the van."

7:29 PM

"Unless you just want to tow it."

"I don't know if we have the cables. For now you drive in front." Eli hugs her then goes to get the van and follow her back to Mytikas.

(I guess we head back to mytikas then)

(Sorry did you want to head somewhere else first? I figured radiation sickness takes first priority.)

(Nope, we can head back.)

2

Carmen leads them both back home.

You make it back to the city.

Once they make it back, Carmen hops out of Eli's truck and walks up to the van. "I'm going to go talk to the regent and let him know what we saw and also see if there is anything new we missed."

"You want me to come with you, you should get yourself checked out."

(How long were we gone, like 5-7 days?)

(3xp, 5000 credits, and no, 3 days )

1

8:37 PM

(One to drive, you explored one, and drove back one)

(Okay)

8:38 PM

"If you want to you can, but I don't think this will require both of us. There isn't really anything to talk about other than it is a giant crater surrounded by rusted metal scrap."

8:39 PM

(Does that count as exploring the garden for carmen's goal?)

"Alright, where should I drop this thing off at?"

"Just leave it outside the city, it probably still has radiation on it. I'll clean it off and see what I can do with it."

(Yeah that’s fair. There’s not anything there worth going back for)

(Gonna scrap the one for recovering the ship hulls since Bavi'd's people are doing that)

"Okay, I just didn't want the scavengers to get it."

(There’s dozens of ships there but that’s up to you)

(Ok, it was just listed as 0 xp too)

8:59 PM

"I mean, if you tell the guards about it they should keep an eye on it. I just don't want anyone else getting exposed to radiation for no good reason. Hop in and I'll park this thing next to the workshop and then we can head up to see the regent."

"Shouldn't I go drop this off first, so I can drop the spell?"

"Just back it up like 20 feet off the road."

"Well just when I stop it'll be a pile of parts, but okay." Eli drives the van a little ways off the road still in sight of the guards then drops the spell.

Carmen waits for him to get back in the truck before dropping it off by the workshop. She then leads the two of them to the regent's office.

The regent has just finished what must have been a large meeting when you arrive. There are a number of people leaving. The guards wave you through

(What's his name again?)

(Regent Ferriman) (edited)

"Hello Regent, we just got back from the remains of the Garden and thought you would want to know what we found, or lack thereof."

“The bombardment was quite heavy” he sniffs , sitting back in his chair. “Finding anything at all would have been a surprise”

"We did find a wreck of a van, amazingly. Eli here used some magic to bring it back. It's sitting outside the city right now so it can get scrubbed down and cleaned before we try to work on it. I don't want to take a chance with the radiation."

"Better we investigated the rumors than a less prepared team went in and got hurt." (edited)

"I mean, we were still kind of unprepared a bit I guess. My body doesn't like radiation apparently"

“I’ll send a team to cleanse it and haul it into the city. I’m sure we can do something with it even if it’s just parts. “

"It was worse than I thought, with all of the exploded mechs and ships."

"I have some ideas for something I could do with it. What was that meeting all about if you don't mind my asking?"

“Preparing the city for the future. We also had a message from Silvano Mazzio, that the good doctor delivered to us. I needed to get some information before I acted but I think I know what to do now”

"Anything we could help with? We both are still in an exploring mood since the garden turned out to be a bust."

Eli nods in ascent.

“We still know almost nothing of our immediate surround aside from the short paths the recent expeditions have covered.

7:04 PM

The Haphestians have approached us with an interesting proposal and a couple of explorers could be quite useful”

"What kind of proposal?"

“A railroad between our city and theirs. It would allow their factories to process our raw materials. If completed they’ve agreed to form a formal sphere of influence with us”

7:50 PM

“But we need someone to scout the route”

"Would it go through the mountains or around them?"

“That’s a call youll have to make in the field. If we knew we wouldn’t be sending scouts, would we?”

"Right, which side are we starting from?"

“Ours. A path to their city”

"That should be interesting. Did they say when they wanted to start?"

"The sooner the better, why put off a potential alliance and source of all the processed goods we're missing"

"Okay. We can get some people together and head out in the morning or day after that. I would like to go through what is left of that van before we leave so I can use some free time to sketch together a blueprint while I am away."

"What kind of equipment would we be given for this. You agreed we might need to blast our way through if we deem it necessary, also those mountains are commonly used by some of the other Khanates, what's our stance with them?"

“You’ll have an exploration vehicle. You’re scouting the route. Not building it. Make an assessment on the mountains when you get there. The team is just the two of you, it will be a long expedition and we don’t have the ability to keep that many people fed that far from home

4:57 AM

“There aren’t any city states along your eastern or southern paths. If you run into scouts use your best judgement”

"Is this the vehicle I've already been given. I think that one is too large to fit into the mountains."

“We don’t have anything else. No one has scouted the mountains. We don’t know”

1:21 PM

“I can assign another team if this isn’t something you want to do”

"No we're capable, vehicle or not, and I know the dangers, besides we're scouting a route so best to see where we easily can and can't fit and what ground is safe."

1:23 PM

"Should we head out now sir?"

"We can take my half-track instead, that is smaller. If its just us we can head out in the morning." (Its nightime right now I think)

"Well at any rate we'll work on a plan and head out soon. Is that alright with you Regent. Was there any time we were supposed ot arrive there, or just as soon as posible?"

2:27 PM

(remember we still have 4 days or so without need for sleep and stuff.)

(Oh, okay)

(basically every other week, as that seems more right than just being able to cast it every week and never needing to eat or sleep again once you get to level 7)

(It’s close enough to night

1

"Before we leave. How good is your security detail here. I made the suggestion of moving the regent to the mountain base before. I understand if that isn't possible for logistical reasons, but still I think you should heavily consider it or having a plane ready to take you there in the case of another attack."

"The mountain 'base' as you call it, is just a storage room dug into the mountainside. That also puts me closer to the northern villages which are at best cold neighbors, and the northern city states. I'm far safer here than I would be anywhere else"

"Perhaps while we are scouting the mountain route we might find some more like that one."

"Well I'm sure you know what's best. Good luck trying to keep the home front in order, we'll find the best route for the train. Do you think a road is realistic or just a set of tracks?"

"Well, we can figure that out while we are scouting the route. Let's go move the supplies from your truck to mine and get going, unless there was anything else you needed from us regent?" (edited)

"The help is appreciated. I will see you when you return. Mytikas has some serious work to do, support won't be able to come if called. You're going to have to be somewhat self sufficient out there"

"We will need to stock up on some supplies then for sure. I'll make up a list of what we need." She says to Eli. (edited)

(I think the regent has said all he can or needs to. He doesn’t really need to approve what you get, aside from it being something that’s available anyway)

"Be back soon, hopefully with good news." She says to the regent before turning and walking out, assuming Eli will follow.

Eli nods to the regent then follows her out.

"So what should we gather first, and does your truck even have a bed or a bathroom?"

"It has beds, a few power cells, a tent, lazarus patches, and 10 days worth of rations for each of us. I just want to get some more grenades, see if I can get my hands on some more complex explosives, and restock on arrows and some other survival equipment."

"So we should transfer over the rations maybe some ammo, or batteries for me, is that it?"

5:03 PM

"Climbing equipment?"

"I'll make up a list as we walk over." (I'm making up a list rn)

1

5:09 PM

(So, she would be looking to take whatever supplies Eli has in his truck and the following: -Climbing Harness, 50 credits -60 meters of TL4 rope, 120 credits -Low-light goggles, 200 credits -40 more arrows, 20 credits -2 more grenades, 50 credits -A medkit, 100 credits Also the following if she can get her hands on them: -2 Lift Stims, 100 credits -2 demo charges, 500 credits, and/or a rocket launcher with two missiles, 4100 credits She will try her best to get the equipment, but if it isn't there it isn't there.)

5:10 PM

(Anything else for Eli? The lift would be going with him since Carmen can't use it yet.)

(No I think I have the ammo. and as long as the weapons are on planet I can summon them now. maybe a climbing harness I can bring a medkit and some rope. I'll wait to see what Neko says about the list. He's kept his goggles and a atmo filter ever since the gargoyle bug incident though lol.)

(lol) (edited)

(No rocket launchers. They’re all sticking with the army during this criss. The lift they can spare 1)

8:49 PM

(No way to make more right now. You can try to brew up some of the field medicine before you go if you want. That’s in the iron stars book)

(What about the demo charge?)

(One)

(Okay, thats good enough)

(Or if one of you drives the other can try to brew it since it’s a very big vehicle )

(I think we were going to take Carmen's half-track instead since its smaller)

8:53 PM

(Just realized shes sitting on a total of 8 type-a power cells, 4 in the truck 4 on her. I have no idea if that right or not)

(They’re not that expensive and everything uses them

(Okay, i just remember them being rationed at one point)

9:00 PM

(Unless Eli has anything else I think we are good to go now)

9:00 PM

(He said something about waiting to see what you have to say first though)

(You guys restored power so it doesn’t make sense for city quartermasters to hoard them anymore

9:14 PM

(He was just waiting to see how the list came out

(Well, at least to the workshop)

(Andra and Eli found a black box reactor in the lamplighter mountain base. Other people just took care of it this time)

(Oh. I guess Carmen doesn't get that 9 xp goal then)

(It’s the whole city now)

(To build a power plant)

(You didn’t do the mission, so unfortunately no)

9:16 PM

(The attempt was made. Didn’t work out. We moved on) (edited)

(sorry just got out of a set of games the main things I wanted to get for myself were ) 1 climbing harness Ammo for the hmg Maybe a data slab for carmen I don't know if she had one or a programming skill though So I wanted to check.)

(She already has a dataslab)

(cool let me just check to make sure I do the ammo for hmgs right I think it's more expensive. So I can give neko the price on things.)

(so 4 realoads of a mag which is 10 rounds would be 1000 credits and a climbing harness 50 and 140 meters of tl4 rope 280 credits. //total 1330 credits?) (edited)

(All that is available)

(cool I'll take the credits off and add it then.)

(added stuff and subtracted the credits. I think I'm ready to go. Don't know if you wanted us to get together and list off all of the stuff in the smaller truck and what was staying in the larger one?)

After they get all the things in the truck and situated, Carmen turns to Eli. "So, ready to go?"

"Hmm I guess just let me double check things." Eli looks over the lists and supplies. "You driving or me?" (Are you okay with Andras new char joining)

(Im fine with it. We might need the other truck though)

(Food truck yay!)

As you do the packing a woman, presumably in her late twenties, gets closer. Her hazel hair is about shoulder length and has slight curls. But even her green eyes and pointy Taros ears won't overshadow her furry clothes. She wears something like a coat with a hood, consisting mostly of fur with a more sturdy material at her chest. She has no visible firearms but a spear on her back, strapped to her rucksack. As soon as she sees Carmen she starts to move faster and directly towards Carmen. "Mrs. Ferraro? Is that you?" (edited)

Carmen looks up, confused. "Uh, mrs ferraro? Thats, no. Im not married. It's Carmen. How can I help you?"

2:04 PM

(I get off work at 7 est, if i dont reply thats why. Just finishing my break)

(All good) Daitrij looks at Carmen and smiles. "Ha, lucky me. Oh yeah sorry, I just thought, you know, a head engineer would be older. But all good no complaints you must be good if you have that position." As she closes the distance and reaches out with her hand to shake Carmen's, the bandages on her forearms become visible. "My name is Daitrij. I am part of Mytikas's medical team. Long story short. I requested that we check local flora for candidates to be synthesized and used as pharmaceuticals. We can't live off of stocks forever. Well, they said go look for yourself if you are eager to. I said yes. I found out you were going on an expedition aaand that's why I am here. So is there a possibility that I could join your trip for my personal research? I mean I can assist you with your work too."

"Hmm a medic and working with flora, that's like what I've been tasked to do, but more for consumption. Don't suppose you've made any progress on Chestnutatos have you?"

Daitrij turns to Eli with a confused look. "Oh, hey. Sorry I did not see you in the first place. Are you like the bodyguard of mis.. Uhm Carmen? And Chestnutato, well I heard that such a thing exists but no, I did not study them"

"Darn, maybe next season when they start growing again I guess? What about fauna or is it just flora with you? Are you interested in cybernetics, I think they're neat, but don't really know too much about building or programming them yet. That's why Carmen and I make such a good team."

"You are asking many questions, aren't you? But I guess that's fair, you should know who you are dealing with. I do like both, flora and fauna. But as I am trying to find active ingredients that could be useful, it is only flora. As for cybernetics." She starts to grin. " Well, I am a Taros, we do like those little guys. I do have one myself. Pretty proud of it, had to work a lot to afford it. So you two are a team huh? What science field is yours, agriculture?"

"Yeah sort of, but mainly medicine and MAGIC!"

3:54 PM

Eli flourishes his hands theatrically.

Daitrij's eyes widen and she looks at Eli open mouthed. "Wow, Magic? And you know stuff about that? Amazing!"

"Yeah only a little, mainly how to do it right now, but I"m learning. Maybe I'll show you some. First I think we have to move things back to the big truck though?"

"Sorry for the inconvenience. I'll help you move the stuff."

"It's okay, I wasn't looking forward to not having a bed or bathroom anyway."

Eli starts loading the things back onto the larger truck.

(We can push on when you're ready)

Carmen would've shaken her hand when given the opportunity, then let them talk for a bit. "Hey, there are beds in there, there are only two though. Also, yeah, another hand is always nice to have around, especially another medical person since it will only be the three of us and no backup. Since we have another person perhaps we should wait until the morning to leave so we don't strain your magic Eli." After this she starts helping to move the equipment to Eli's larger truck. (edited)

6:35 PM

(Ready to go now)

(same, not sure if Daitrij's still on though.)

(Its late at night there)

(Where is she, Europe?)

(yes Europe, Germany to be precise) "Oh well, no bed is no problem. Without the two of you I couldn't be going at all" Daitrij helps them move and prepares to leave with them as soon as they are ready.

"Don't worry, this truck has plenty of beds."

"And a kitchen and bathrooms. Don't mind us we haven't slept in a few days." Eli chuckles to himself.

"You know how to drive? And do you mind not sleeping eating or drinking for a week at a time?"

"I am not actually a driver kind of person. Not sleeping for a week? Are you guys on drugs or something? I mean I was your age as well but damn a whole week."

"Magic, not drugs sorry, though we were seeing about making a chestnutato based alcohol."

"Oh okay crazy" Daitrij helps them getting ready.

(Not sure if anyone wants to help me route plan and draw the path youre intending to take)

(I let Eli and Carmen go first with that. It is their trip and I just joined.)

(Let me look at the map I make no promises this wont look horrendus, youve seen my quiet year stuff, but first dog walkin'.)

(just a line, it lets me know what to prepare(

(I assumed the through the mountains line would be something like the black one. Thinking about it, the purple one might make more sense since it would allow us to extend to Chiron easier)

(you're not required to follow any one singular route. the black one is faster but more dangerous, the purple is safer and has more practical applications in the future, but takes longer)

10:59 AM

(Chiron is likewise friendly to you, but hostile to one of your allies)

(You dont think it's too exposed to phyrica they're kind of opportunist against us.)

11:04 AM

(Or the damn chestnutato smashes. They're allied now, but im watching you B'avidopolis )

(also should we switch to ic discussing the route like planning it out on carmen's dataslab or something, just curious, or do you think that might draw it out too much?)

(I dont know why we'd need to do it twice, we can just say it happened behind the scenes)

(Oh right i just meant continuing forward.)

(so, I do like purple)

(Purple!)

(Purple it is then)

1

"Alright hop in, guess I'm driving." Eli heads in to the drivers seat of the food truck.

"Shotgun!" Carmen calls, hopping into the passenger's seat.

Daitrij is on her way to find a seat when Carmen shouts. She immediately has a hand at her spear but does not go into combat stance. "Who has a shotgun? Everyone okay?"

"I mean I have one, but it's just a term to clam the passenger seat." Eli smiles. "You can familiarize yourself with the vehicle if you want. Would you mind teaching me Taros in the off times if there are any, my last teacher is in space still."

Daitrij relaxes again and finds herself a seat to sit down and some space to drop her backpack. She nods at Eli. "Sure thing. I'll try my best. Thank you for learning the language of the Taros. I am ready to go."

"I really need to find some time to learn stuff like that, but I haven't had any time to do any of the projects I've been planning anyways. Let's get going, no time to waste."

"Alright, you're the navigator Carmen." Eli starts driving toward the gate.

"Should you need some directions or should you think that we are lost, just uhm, tell me. But I guess you two are good even without me. I mean you didn't even know that someone else would accompany you." Says Daitrij from her backseat position. (edited)

"Sure, sorry you can help navigate. Didn't mean to tell you what to do. Just we won't have to sleep for a few days then we'll work in shifts."

"All good. I just wanted to say that I can be useful as well."

(At work till 7)

2

12:54 PM

(Will have some small break somewhere)

(d10 eli and Daitrij. since youre here)

(1)

(Sorry I crashed, will post results in a bit.)

3:57 PM

(10)

Nekosmash pinned a message to this channel. 3/21/2020 5:40 PM

Heading out east of the city on your first leg of the trek you pass over the sparsely tree’d plains. The grassland is rolling and the grass starting to brown and wither at the rapid approach of autumn. The land closest to the river is perpetually muddy it seems and the chutes of buried chestnutoes are now tall and leafy

Eli stops the truck. "Come on we have to get some samples before Chester and the other troll boars eat them all."

(Should I go ahead and roll a d10 now?)

6:19 PM

"Make sure we save some to plant back home." She says, hopping out and looking around the area for Trollboars.

"Of course Maybe we can even grow some on the way."

(to take some of the plants would that be a survival or would we just be able to take them?)

(You would be able to just take them now since you know what they are. And yes go ahead Carmen )

(Notice/Wis, rolled 6, used reroll, got a 13 which is her max for this roll)

Carmen doesn’t notice anything

8:03 PM

(I don’t know what that was for )

(I thought you wanted me to roll that when you said go ahead, my mistake)

8:06 PM

"I don't see any Trollboars around, so we might as well take whatever we can get our hands on."

(A d10 for what’s in the coming hexes. Not a skill check)

(Oh, right. totally forgot I asked that)

8:07 PM

(Was on the drive-thru for 3 hours and 15 minutes straight selling product and having my brain fried while I was at work today)

8:08 PM

(5)

Eli grabs some specimens of plant and makes sure to get a good amount of seeds and mark the location on the map then gets back behind the wheel.

Carmen hops back in too. "You know, now you have to cook some of that stuff for me."

"Hmm maybe a nice soup?"

She shrugs. "I dunno, something. Whatever you think will be good."

"We'll fix something, but we don't have to eat for a few days. "

"You don't, but I have to." Daitrij says as she gets back into the truck with two complete Chestnutato plants. "But I am not hungry yet. I guess you analyzed Chestnutatoes completely, but it is a good start to see if my equipment works." Daitrij gets her bioscanner out fully knowing that there won't be something new to be found in those samples.

"Well, not me but the lab, I'd appreciate your help though. If you decide you want to work for me I need someone with actual expertise. I'm more of a big magic dream guy. I could get the lab working if you want?"

"Yeah, I mean as long as there is no new catastrophic event where my work as a medic is needed I could work for you as well. So you have a lab in the city? Wait, you mean in here? Damn, I didn't think we have something like a mobile lab. What was your name again?"

"Eli. Darn am I that forgettable. Well it doesn't work all the time not repaired yet, but if you start work on the chestnutato drink I could spare some magic." (edited)

"Oh, I forgot, you are more of an agriculture and food kind of person. Uhm, I can cook. But wow, making a drink out of a fruit or vegetable that I never tasted before? I can try, but don't expect to much." She starts to speak to herself rather then with Eli. "Maybe some alcohol? But I can't make them all alcoholics, that wouldn't be good, so it shouldn't taste too good, just not kill anyone. Oh what did I get into?" She looks towards Eli again. "I'll see what I can do. But on this trip, I guess my focus stays on finding some active ingredients so we can combat a possible shortage on certain pharmaceuticals. Unless we can establish some trade with a more developed world. I don't know how long this trip will be. So any magic you don't have to use now is magic you can use later, right?"

"Ahh no it should taste good, we can lower the alcohol content, but it needs to taste good. At least shoot for good taste." Well it's by the day really, so I should be fine with a little meditation really. This is only the second time I've made myself not need sleep. We'll make better time driving, and we won't be ambushed. Also Carmen can take the wheel and I can go jump on the guns. She's quite the pilot, and gearhead." Eli gives her a quick smile before turning his eyes back to the road.

"She is our head engineer after all. I'll see what I can do. I guess I'll have plenty of time to think about something."

Eli concentrates and tries to make the lab workable again. (Salvage equipment.)

Daitrij finds a place to sit in the lab and compares her scans of the Chestnutato with the database to check if her scanner produces the expected results. While doing so she uses the next part of their journey to think about the recipe of her grandfather. He used to distill some potent alcohol. Maybe that could work with those Chestnutatos as well.

(We should stop and wait for Neko. This is what we talked about sort of, but I don't want to get too far ahead of him though now that we're getting back into stuff if that makes sense?)

(Nothing new about the plants. Not much to it other than it’s edible and what’s already on the handout. Salvage equipment works on the lab but like in real life, fermenting anything takes time)

(Yeah, even if she remembers her grandfather's recipe for the special Wilhelmova potato vodka she should come to the conclusion that it would only waste precious lab space.)

Carmen returns the smile. "Yeah, Most of the car's I've ever owned I built myself."

"That is good to know. Do you take orders?" Daitrij says laughing. "I am seated, soo am ready to go on."

"If I can get my hands on enough metal, I'm sure I could build you something. Let's go ahead and swap seats Eli so I can get us moving again." (edited)

"Sure, you drive for a bit." Eli moves to the passenger seat. So do either of you name your weapons?"

Carmen shakes her head, starting the truck and heading off once Eli is settled. "I've named my cars in the past, but never weapons."

"Uhm, I've never thought about it. I mean, I fight to defend not for sport or fun. So my spear is just my spear. Why do you ask? Do you name your weapons?"

"I didn't before but a friend does. So I took it up so the fallen and distant always fight with me. Sorry, don't mean to bring down morale."

Daitrij smiles. "No, No, all good. I was just wondering,"

"You said you were interested in cybernetics right?" (edited)

"That's true. They can be quite helpful."

"I wanted to learn more about msking and installing prosthetics. No one shoukd be unable to enjoy the basics or luxuries in life. That's why I helped start a bar more about community than shilling booze."

"Oh, that is really nice of you. Maybe I can help you with those prosthetics. It's maybe easier for me than cooking unknown vegetables. A community is great as well. But I rather like a community bound by a common faith than by a common beverage. I hold nothing against alcohol, but it can lead down a dark path."

"I mean so can the zealousness of faith or war, but I don't want to attack your beliefs. I plan on making a spa some day. Nice secular massages and soak tubs. It's hard for anyone to be against that."

"Chapeau Eli, yes faith can lead down a dark path too. Shouldn't you watch the road? I can't see it from the lab and even if Carmen is the best driver, I guess she would enjoy a little help there too."

"I'll be fine. Cybernetics can be useful but there are limits. My Great-Uncle died during the scream because he was kept alive through cybernetics. His body was like 3/4 machine or something like that. I dunno if I'll ever get one."

"Not even a cool glowing tattoo?"

"Oh I can show you mine Carmen, you'll like it I guess. It's handy. But not while we are on the road."

The muddy riverbank is left behind before long and you roll into an area with sparse wood and mostly rolling hills of short grasses. The stalks wither and wilt in the autumn sun, their pollen long since carried off with the wind for the season in hopes of blooming again come spring. There is a gentle buzz in the air that seems to get louder but the progression is faint

"I really hope that sound isn't from more of those flying fur things we saw in the forest." Carmen says, looking around, putting her low-light goggles on if its dark outside at this point.

"Well, let me hop on the turret just in case. Will you be okay if I have to shoot?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm started to get more used to the sound."

Eli nods, and grabs one of the extra reloads for the hmg then heads to the turret.

"Atmofilters might be a good idea here too." She says, grabbing one of hers from her bag between the seats. "You have one Daitrij? I have a spare."

Eli turns on his atmofilter and goggles. (I have had them readied since the incident. Just wanted to specify in case.)

"I have none, so if you can spare it I would love to take it. But why do we need one? I heard stories about the wildlife of the planet. But it sounds like you have seen it already." Daitrij looks a bit worried and tries to get to the front of the truck.

"We both were poisoned when we used the body of one of these strange flying creatures to fuel a bonfire. Ever since then we try to be careful about this stuff. The spare is in my bag, front left pocket."

Eli looks around for the source of the buzzing trying to see if it's another swarm.

"I can understand that, but we should be save, unless we burn them." Daitrij gets the atmofilter out of Carmen's backpack und puts it on. "Thank you Carmen. Is there only this one turret or does this truck have another lookout opening?"

"Uh, I'm not sure." She shouts up to Eli "HEY ELI, THERE ANOTHER LOOKOUT SPOT IN THIS THING?"

"I mean out the back I guess. Or on the roof. You can take the turret if you want or I have another hmg you could setup to shoot out the back."

She speaks louder than before but is not really shouting. "Oh, I am not used to guns, it would be a waste of bullets I guess. But I could look out aswell. Four eyes do see more than two." Daitrij walks to the back of the truck and checks the sky for something unusual as she doesn't know what to expect.

"Do you use a bow too? It'll be nice for Carmen to have an archery friend."

"I use my spear."

"Ah well you can throw it or something right. Hmm is it just a weapon or sentimental to you?"

"Nah, I don't need to throw it. And yes it is kinda sentimental for me and I don't see it mainly as a weapon. Training with it is kinda meditative to me, it's relaxing after a long day. "

"Would you mind if I marked it up or carved it a bit? Just I can summon weapons too me and then you could throw it without worrying you'd lose it."

"How do I say this? I am thankful that you let me join on this trip, but no. I would mind. I've been carrying that spear around for about a decade now, give or take. I don't feel good with a stranger carving magic stuff into it. I don't feel good for more than just one reason. I am sorry."

"It's okay. Sorry I'm a bit flippant with my use of magic, but it's the easiest way to learn. Sorry I don't mean any offense."

"I am sorry that I reject your, most likely generous, offer. Maybe sometime else."

"It's alright you hardly know me and have only seen a bit of my magic."

"Yeah. Do you see anything?"

"No, and hopefully nothing is out there."

"These things turn their kills into some kind of zombies. None of us want to run into them." She says, continuing to drive along.

(Medical staff should know what that everyone comes back, right? )

(I don't think anyone has actually examined these creatures or the husks)

(yeah I think we took some samples and cooked some and burned some, but I don't know if we ever brought back a live or dead specimen whole.)

(The two zombies we saw got blown up by a grenade)

(oh a zombie I meant the other thing.)

(We didn't get either of them examined is what I'm saying) (edited)

1

(we know now that everyone comes back)

1

7:55 PM

(its been in the news and stuff now)

(Ok)

(Do we see anything in the distance though?)

(I didn't want to make a notice before asked.)

(i didnt get that far)

9:00 PM

(i had a bunch of posts to read through after i answered you)

(Ok)

(ah no worries neko just didn't want to move things too far before you got back to us.)

1

500m in front of you, two motorbikes with long aerials trailing off their back move across a hill in your path, from east to west. They've certainly noticed you, due to the terrain being relatively exposed, but have not changed their course

"I saw two motor bikes, you think I should listen in on them I'd have to drop the spell fixing the lab."

"Probably a good idea, but its up to Daitrij." Carmen says, slowing down slightly. (edited)

"Well, right now I am not sitting in it anyway. Our safety is more important than the lab. So if you need to shut it down to do other magic stuff, do it."

Eli nods and lets the spell go then focuses on the signals between the bikes. (radio intercept protocol.)

The bikes are just talking about hopefully making it home before it gets dark tonight. The second rider doesn’t think they will. Neither of them seems to be paying much attention to your vehicle

"Nothing important they're ignoring us."

(You'd also completely pulverize them if they decided to be hostile)

(Maybe? Lol.) Eli looks at the bikes trying to tell where they're from.

"Should we talk to them? Maybe it is better to stay the night with other people then alone in this vehicle. I mean, are people dangerous here?"

"Depending, yes. Some still don't like us and even a small village took us for ransom. Are you that eager there are beds and showers here it's secure. Perhaps we should find out about another patrol on the route though?"

"Took you for ransom? Really? Wow, I did not think that such stuff happens here. But it just makes me want to explore this planet more. You said some don't like us. Wouldn't share a meal with some villagers make us look better? They could maybe tell us about the dangers on the planned path. I mean that's just me. I more often then not wish that all people would be nice and kind. But if you say that it would be dangerous. I guess in that case it would be better for us to go our way and let them alone."

9:55 AM

"I just hope we don't plan to built something on sacred ground."

The bikes have crossed in front of you, continuing on their way

9:56 AM

(if you're going to do somethng we need to do it within the next couple of lines)

"Let's just let them pass, they seem eager to get home, unless you wanted to offer them some safety in here."

Daitrij just bites her lip and doesn't say anything.

"Might get us some goodwill with someone and maybe they know about another secret vault in the area."

After yet another moment of hesitations, Daitrij turns towards Eli and says rather hastily with a clear note of insecurity. "Tell them to wait. Please." Then to Carmen. "You could use the horn right?" She then turns to the front again and looks through the windshield.

Carmen honks the horn at the bikes and waves at them.

Carmen can see Daitrij smile for a short moment, then she interlocks her hands and looks up to the sky to breathe a "thank you"

The bikes slow and the lead rider makes a gesture with his hand to show that he is turning around. With a wide arc, the two motorbikes come to a halt, and the riders dismount, dropping the kickstands, and removing their helmets. Each of them has a sidearm, but has not drawn it. Their hands are relaxed

Carmen hops out of the truck. "Hi, I'm Carmen, you guys looked like you were headed somewhere really fast, did you need some help or just trying to get home for the night?"

Daitrij removes her spear from her backpack and gets out of the truck. She secures the spear on her back and waves towards the riders, but doesn't say a thing.

(Headed to work, will get a half-hour break today, getting off work at 7)

"We've got some friends camped out nearby, just trying to get back before it gets dark out"

"So where are you two from anyway?"

Daitrij looks hesitantly to Carmen and then to the bikers "And how many friends are waiting for you?"

"We're not going to give you that information, but we're from Janisus"

"Oh that seems cool were trying to speak with all of the cities we haven't yet when are you heading home? Or do you know?"

"And I am sorry if I offended you with the question. I was just afraid that we can't help you, should you be to many."

(They dont know what your intentions are, if its a small camp you could roll them, and their only knowledge of Mytikas was Cyrus threatening to kill everyone)

"Look I understand if you don't trust us. We're from Mytikas and we dont know each other, but we'd like to help if we can, change our reputation the time of the temple of ares and the warmaster are no more, and we'd like to prove our good intentions if you'll let us by sharing a meal and perhaps escorting you back to your camp for the night." (edited)

The lead rider looks back to his companion "What do you think Terlas, we got time for a snack?" His companion nods, and then clears his throat. "We'd rather not bring you back to where we're camped. Not our decision to make to put the others at risk like that"

"That's okay we can stop to eat and talk here. Do you know of any dangers in the area? I'd hate for our peaceful meal to be interrupted."

"Sabrecats, and Grass Serpengs mostly, but in that vehicle they'd think twice before making a run at you

"Did you want to come inside to eat?"

"I hope we weren't intimidating you too. Oh and yes, inside it is cozy and more relaxing. Are you cooking Eli?"

"I could or we coud share some rations or just eat together. I don't know if you'll trust me to cook for you?"

"We stopped to eat with you, we're just not going to show you where we camped"

"Ah sorry for the confusion I meant in here there is a kitchen."

Daitrij points at Eli. "And I heard he is a good cook."

"Yeah, he is. Maybe you can finally cook that soup, even give them some to take back. We were going to offer you someplace to bunk down for the night if you needed it too, but it doesn't sound like you need it." She grabs a piece of paper, writes something on it, and hands it to them. "This is my comm frequency, if you all run into any issues during the night and need some help let us know. Being out here without any backup is dangerous to say the least.

(Headed back to work now)

"That's generous of you, thank you. So you said something happened in the city? and the regent is dead?"

"No, but that is true, guess news spreads fast."

(Your post at 2:07 pm said the warmaster was no more so they were picking up on that)

4:03 PM

(And the temple was no more)

4:03 PM

“I’m not sure what you mean friend. You said yourself the warmaster and temple are no more. So what happened ? You’re confusing me”

"I thought I'd worded it well enough. I more meant were moving past them, but yes we were attacked by outside forces and she was killed and the temple destroyed. We are seeking out allies in case they return. No reason for us to be fighting ourselves. When there are enemies who threaten all of us. Sorry if I'm a bit jumpy. Our last reception wasn't as kind as this one."

"Indeed. Word travels fast on a planet even as big as this one. So, what's for lunch?"

"I could freshen up some rations, or chestnotato stew."

"Well, that uh, sounds delicious. Find yourself a place to sit down and while Eli is cooking, we could like talk about stuff." Daitrij tries to remember where Janusus is and then points towards its direction. "Janusus is pretty far in that direction. Is it dangerous to travel that far, with just bikes?"

“Bikes are one of the safer ways. The speed helps. So does traveling in a group whenever you can”

"How do you get across the water?"

“The same way you would I presume. Look for a shallow spot to ford, wait for a ferry barge. Swim if you have to”

Daitrij looks at Eli and whispers in his ear. "Should we tell them why we are here? To see what they think about such a project?"

"Makes sense. I haven't been out this far before, so even simple information like that helps."

7:44 AM

"I sort of already did, and I'm sure they'd find out if it went in. We are scouting for a rail to go between us, do you think Janusus would be interested in such a line? More trade can only help us all I think."

"And we would be way faster in helping each other, should something bad happen."

"The Khan is an indecisive person. Even if he agrees today, he might find fault with the idea tomorrow. I can't really give you an answer that would survive the test of time"

"He wouldnt attack us if we just built it there or went to visit right?"

"If you built a rail line through a sovereign city state's territory without asking permission I''m pretty sure anyone would attack you. You'd do the same thing to us"

"Well to the edge of our territory or something then? What are the lines anyway?"

Daitrij gets a bit excited. "Oh, could we visit your Khan and ask him ourselves? What's your city like? Do you have any needs? I, uhm, yeah."

(You're not getting remotely close to their city)

8:24 AM

"I can't stop you from showing up. I make no guarantees as to what happens when you get there. I can't take responsibility for anything you might do"

Daitrij talks a bit to fast and seems to be fascinated by the thought of visiting Janusus. "Oh, I mean, you are friendly and we get along well. At least for the time of our conversation. So is your city not too accepting when it comes to people from other cities? Are there special rules we should know first? So just in case."

"Right, just like I can only vouch for my own actions, but I won't shoot anyone without provocation. Some of the Arteman's told us everyone was shoot on sight with Mytikas, and two stole my bike and tired to kick me to death as he rode away. Do you know anything about the other Khanates? or customs we should know from yours? I didn't want to offend anyone and even common knowledge could be useful."

"Like I said, the Khan of my city is great at changing his mind and not making long term decisions. As far as customs, same thing, holidays change by the year, get declared and cancelled without notice, all that fun stuff"

8:33 AM

"Just dont shoot anyone or threaten to stick anyones head on a pole, and things should be okay. "

"Cool, it sounds kind of fun. That shouldn't be a problem most times I don't even carry a weapon. I'd rather not hurt anyone if it can be avoided."

"Why would anyone want to stick heads on poles? That sounds disturbing. But good to know, so if we are nice we can visit Janusus. Great. I'll remember that. And you guys? Are you on a trading trip or something like that?"

"Something like that. Not really our pay-grade to say"

"Ohhh, really? Not even a tiny tiny bit? You are getting treated by the best mytikan cook outside of Mytikas! In return I could even check if you are healthy!"

"Well probably not trading if you cant say or raiding since you didn't kill us. I'd guess you're scouts or scavengers maybe escorts, but you don't need to say."

"You are friendly to us and thats what matters. Let's go ahead and have, whatever it is Eli is cooking. We all have a long way to go yet."

(Do i need to roll for that?)

(for what?)

(The stew.)

(Please don't, let us just assume it's great :-P)

(So you want to make a food truck but are unskilled enough in executing the core concept to need to make a roll?)

(He is not. The food is delicious. They might be on space magic drugs and don't need to eat. Daitrij has to and is hungry.)

(Lol okay, I didn't want to assume that's why I asked.)

(Yep. Everything is good. No need to roll)

Carmen will eat some even though she doesn't need to, and is genuinely surprised by how good it is. "This is actually really good Eli."

"Thanks, glad you like it."

Daitrij, already close to starving enjoys herself as much as she can get. "That is delicious. Oh did we eat everything already?"

"I guess so." Eli laughs. "I'll write that one down."

Daitrij looks at their two guests. "See, I did not lie. It was delicious. Soooo. Do you want to tell us a tiny tiny bit more about why you are here or do you want to leave for your friends?"

"Just trying to get a lay of the land. Not sure why the Khan wanted us to scout all the way out here , but who knows why he does anything. I'm sure theres sometihng nearby he wants"

"So are the scavengers as aggressive in your lands?"

“You’ve had trouble with them? Have they attacked anyone? “

"No just scavenged plsces they shouldnt have, or pretended to, which is almost as bad." Eli shows off his vambreace. The man I git this from said scavangers were bragging about taking this out from under us. Doesn't quite seem right for purely neutral folks does it? Haven't got proof yet, but thought I'd make you aware you seem nice and who knows if they're hitting sites on your lands."

“I’m not going to judge the worthiness of someone making a living” he shrugs

5:47 PM

“And you ended up with the vambrace anyway didn’t you?”

"I had to buy it from another village that took me for ransom. I don't judge them too harshly, but they're still an inknown quantity especially if you're trying to find something out here. Just be careful they don't even get a hint you're looking for it. Just a friendly warning from experience. They scooped me on some serviceable wrecks."

"Sorry, in case you can't tell I'm a bit bitter at being taken advantage of."

"Aside from our cook who feels like a nomadic tribe took advantage of him. When I listen to you talk, I get the feeling that you don't really like your Khan. Can't you just choose another one, someone with a more clear vision of the future? A peaceful one of course." (edited)

“I’d be a traitor for leaving and anywhere that would take me in would see me as someone untrustworthy since I’d betrayed my own home city state to live somewhere else. I’m unhappy and under threat no matter what I do, but if I just deal with my khans mood at least I get to remain in good graces at home and get to see my family”

"Hopefully someday you won't have to worry about that anymore. Our old leaders felt exile and execution was the price of failure, thankfully that isn't our way anymore."

Daitrij looks at Carmen and then back to their guests. "I, uhm, so we don't want to see your Khan dead. I just thought they kinda get elected or something. " She hesitates but still adds something. "Well, phew, one pretty indiscreet question that you don't need to answer. Do many of the people of Janusus see it the same way you do?"

“This is getting a little closer to treason than I’m comfortable with”

7:42 AM

He looks at his fellow. “I think you for the soup and the conversation but I fear endangering myself and my friend here if we stay and answer any more.”

Daitrij looks unhappy with how they feel. "I am sorry. It was not my intention to make you feel like that. Is there anything else we can do for you before you leave?"

"Not really, I think we've said and seen enough. Thanks again for lunch, its probably the only hot meal we're getting until we get back"

"That is so sad to hear. I wish you best of luck on your ways, maybe we meet again who knows? I wish for your flames to never go out and may your inner flames always guide your ways."

"Stay safe out there." Carmen says waving goodbye.

"Well hopefully your khan will be in a good mood when we visit then, your city still sounds like an interesting place and worth a visit to me."

(You didn’t have any info about their city before at all so this wasn’t a waste, that’s all I had planned for them when we are ready to move on)

(oh I liked it, hearing that those khans are all strange people. I mean it's the first one Daitrij heard about)

(yeah it's fun and I think we learned a lot and that the Khan is fickle, but approachable so for sure not a waste.)

7:32 PM

"You want to keep driving or would you like a break Carmen?"

"I'm fine to keep going. Everyone hop on!" She says hopping back into the drivers seat.

"I'll stay on the turret then. Don't want any of those things taking us by surprise, or did you want me to keep you company?"

Daitrij finds a place to lay down. "The food was great Eli. I am taking a nap, just wake me up if something happens. You two will be okay I guess? With your space magic drugs keeping you up and running I mean."

"Yeah, we will be alright. If you want to stay down here Eli that's fine, up to you."

"I'll stay down here for now then."

Carmen waits for Daitrij to lay down before turning to Eli. "Next time we are at home I want more of that cooking."

"Sure, I could whip up some stuff, I can' only do that one spell every other week, and I can take the first awake shift. Oh also what did you think of that. Spending weeks on and off sleep so someone's always ready to respond, or would that be too lonely in the off hours?"

"I, kinda like, sleep, soooo, maybe only when we need it."

8:13 PM

"Like on missions."

"Alright. I guess it did kind of freak out Daitrij."

"Yeah. Besides, are you really saying you want less time with me?" She says, cocking an eyebrow at him.

"What less time? Wouldn't it be more?"

She shakes her head. "That's my point. If we are both on the same schedule then we can spend more time together."

"I guess, probably just me getting overexcited to use magic. So how are you feeling not sick anymore right?"

"Nope. I'm all good on that end. I think once we got out of Cyrus' folly I just needed a day or two to recover."

"That's another thibg the magic helps you recover faster."

"Yeah. We should get a place back in Mytikas, like an actual home instead of just some cots or a truck."

"We could just live at the bar, or fix uo some ruins, you mean?"

"Something. I haven't had a real bed to sleep in in years. Not saying the beds in here are bad or anything."

"Well you could always come with me on apprenticeship, learn to make your own bed."

She looks over at him with a deadpan expression, then back to the road, repeating a few times.

9:28 PM

"You do realize who you are talking to right?"

"Well you know this stuff, but you never taught me, and it'd be like a vacation for you."

As you enter the next area of rolling grassland your come to your first challenge in navigation. A wide river with a moderate current stretches out before you running north to south, and beyond this river is another about as wide, some 30km away. Conventional road or rail traffic would require a way of getting across that does not involve complex vehicle modifications

Carmen stops a few hundred feet away from the river. "Speaking of things needing building." She says, whistling afterwards. "Dunno how we are going to get across this river, might have to drive up and down it for a bit to find a place to cross."

"Seems like a good plan. Hopefully the passable areas are close together."

Carmen starts looking around for an area to cross, driving up and down the coast as needed before stopping to peer through her binoculars every now and then, using the turret platform for a slightly higher vantage point. (edited)

"I... are you sure you don't want me to just take those and look around from up there, it feels silly for one of us to be doing the scouting and driving."

Daitrij wakes up, prays for a bit, gets dressed and walks to the front. Still looking a bit sleepy. She doesn't have her hood up and her hair looks kinda messy. She points at the river. "I guess this truck can't swim, huh? We'll eventually find a way over it, but Carmen, do we need to check for stuff here or can you build bridges everywhere? Sorry, I am no engineer."

Further up river, it looks like there’s a place where the current isn’t as fast and where the river isn’t as deep. It’s the best place so far you’ve seen to be able to cross

"There, you see that Ford? We should try it and mark ot for later."

A smile hushes over Daitrij's face as she looks up to the sky. "I will remember that place anyway, but yeah mark it on the map. But, shouldn't we get out and check that on foot? I mean, I don't know your truck but it would be sad to see it sink or get stuck in this river. And aside from that, there is maybe some vegetation growing at the river bank. I still need some probes. It's great helping you with your great project but I want to be useful in my field too."

"Oh, sure. Would you like some help. I know a bit about medicine and plants and stuff, but I'm always eager to learn."

"Well, right now I am just looking for interesting plants that we have no data about yet. If I get a hit I would gather some samples and check them in the lab later, yours or one in the city as soon as we return. Finding some useful active ingredients that can synthesized, well that is a matter of luck I guess. But if no one does it we will never know which riches we may possess on this planet."

"Yeah there is a lot we don't know about Haras still."

When they are nearing the crossing position and slow down, Daitrij gets her Bioscanner and her spear and gets out. Breathing the fresh air and touching the grass on the ground. She looks out for some interesting plants and tries to see if she can gauge if this part of the river is really passable with the truck. "I am not experienced with driving trucks through rivers. What do you think?"

"Well it's the best we've seen so far, I think it's worth a try."

Nothing growing along this part of the riverbed seems to have anything special about it

5:52 AM

(Pilot/dex for whoever is driving if you’re attempting a crossing)

(we can wait for carmen. I don't want to get too far ahead of them anyway.)

(and she would be the one driving anyway)

(Would she have her re-roll?)

(Doesn't matter, both rolls were 7 anyway)

(I'm working 1-9 today, so ill be at work when neko gets back)

(No worries it's pbp)

(It’s a new scene so you would)

4:51 PM

The truck is buffeted by small waves and the current , at one point getting rocked hard by a tree trunk floating down stream and colliding, but you make it to the other side

Carmen lets out a sigh of relief. "Well, that was interesting. Whew.." She sits back in the chair for a second before an idea pops into her head. She hops up to the turret and looks around for any nearby trees.

8:25 PM

(Want to look for some trees to use as stabilizers for the next crossing)

(It’s empty mudland. Like a river delta. Just an island made of silt )

(She wouldn't be able to use her 6 spare parts for that would she?)

8:34 PM

(Or those plus her one scrap foci we stole from the ashen ones?)

(You could use three spare parts to make stabilizers)

(Per side or in total?)

(In total)

Carmen hops down, frustrated for a second, before she realizes she brought along her spare parts. She walks over to one of the beds, opening the small door that separates the bed area from the rest of the cabin. Right as she does this a small pile of scrap falls off the bed, almost knocking Carmen down (I'm imagining each bed is like an airline bed area, just big enough for the mattress/cot with some kind of sliding door between them)

Before anyone can say anything she grabs some parts from the pile and heads out to start attaching them to the side of the truck using her metatool and toolkit.

Daitrij follows a bit later, to not make this feel awkward for Carmen, and leans out of the passenger door. "Miss Ferraro, do you need any help?"

Carmen looks up from her tools right as she is lining up a weld "What? Oh, right, I should, probably, uh, tell you guys what I'm doing. I'm gonna make some stabilizers so when we ford the next river there is less chance of the truck rolling over. If you want to help you can come hold some things for me while I weld them onto the truck."

"Sorry. I should have offered, but you know I'm horrible at fixing stuff. Thought I'd keep an eye out or something?"

"I'd love to be of some assistance." Daitrij fastens her bandages and hops out to hold whatever it is she needs to hold.

1:33 AM

"Miss Ferraro, do you have a plan on what type of bridge you will build here?"

"My name is Carmen, and not really yet. I'll have to cross that bri..., I mean I'll figure it out later. Depends what kind of equipment we can bring out here and how deep the bedrock is and a whole bunch of other variables I don't know yet. The rest of the terrain seems good for the railroad, while that is being built I can focus my time on stuff like this."

1:41 AM

She starts to weld the pieces of metal together with help from Daitrij.

"I am sorry, Carmen. I will remember that, promise. It's just like, you know, you are the head engineer albeit being so young. And that is my first trip outside of Mytikas. Most of what I have seen here is the medical tent. But no more Miss Ferraro, got that." Daitrij avoids to look into the welding arc but enjoys every spark that finds its way onto her hands. (edited)

Eli heads back in and returns to his com call.

"I'm the head engineer because the previous head engineer died in an accident. I'd be happy if someone else had the responsibility but they don't and I do. It just feels weird being referred to in such a formal way from someone older than me."

"You're a good engineer though. You rebuilt the food truck."

After finishing with one piece, Daitrij puts her arm on Carmen's shoulder. She smiles at her "I believe in destiny. The former head engineer died, yes. But you did not become the new one because the old one died, instead you became the new one because you are the most skilled and best suited for this position. And as far as I heard, you are doing a fantastic job. This project of yours is one that can ensure peace, cooperation and unity on this planet. You are doing great. And the way you act, I see that the right one was chosen. May we finish with the rest here?"

The truck rocks as it starts back up but the floats seem secure for the second crossing

"Thanks guys, I appreciate the compliments and confidence." She says with a soft smile. "I know I'm good at building stuff, its the leadership parts that have me worried. Anyway, let's get going." She says, hopping back into the driver's seat to set off across the next river.

(Same roll but with a +2)

(13)

The second crossing is much easier now that the truck is stable, and you arrive on the far side of both rivers after fording them. The land is flat and muddy on this side too, and your route begins to hook south

Carmen smiles during the whole crossing, happy that her improvements made the crossing so much easier.

"Sorry I didn't help I was on the comms with someone asking about the money we got from the armored car job, so where are we now anyway. I'm bad with maps. "

"Uhh, I think we are supposed to start turning south now. Unless you want to look around I'm going to keep going."

"No, keep to the route. We don't want to ever too far this is a scouting mission."

Carmen keeps driving, turning south towards haphestia (edited)

"You would help me steal an armored car, right Carmen?"

She slows the truck and looks at him. "What? What do you mean steal an armored car?" (edited)

"Well we pretended to hace car trouble then i knocked one out and the taris crew got the other one. I told you about this and me being shot, and the armored car being in the motorpool, paper money millionaire? Remember, when I asked about your arrow wounds?"

"Oh, right, I forgot about that part of the conversation. Uhh, I don't think I would be the one to do that, no. I mean, unless we really needed the car for some reason."

A lone mountain peeks out of the early fall haze as water still drips from the flanks and running board of your vehicle. Aside from the mountain, the immediate area is a mostly flat grassland

"Mountains, that means we're close right?"

"I think so, do we want to get closer and take a look at it at all?"

"Up to you, I don't want to slow us down. The mountains are dangerous though, but I might have business there once Andra gets back."

"Mountains can inhabit some interesting flora. But I do understand if you say you don't want to risk it for that. I trust in your assessment. I don't know much about the dangers here."

"We can just get a bit closer, look it over with binoculars, and if we don't see anything keep going. Sound good?"

"Either way, I can keep you safe, just didn't want to be the only one going off on a wild goose chase."

"Every little bit is good. Thank you, Carmen." Daitrij says with a smile

"You think we'll find another lamplighter base?"

"I hope so, let's see what we can see. We can always come back and look after we finish our scout trip." She says, turning the truck towards the mountain, driving closer until they are a mile or so away from its base before pulling out her binoculars to look it over.

"I don't know what those Lamplighter bases are but if it means we have to explore strange places, then I am definitely interested!"

"Just watch out for other scouts or sabercats."

"Sabercats? Sounds uhm fun and dangerous."

"Can take your head off with one swipe of their paws, so I'd say that's about right. I might hunt one, some time when we're not so busy."

"I am good at keeping people alive and patching them together again. But if your head is gone, I can't do anything for you. At least that way you won't come back. "

"Yeah, but these aren't the things that brought people back. Just killed c before we could help her. I did punch one into submission though."

"Everyone comes back. You don't know that?"

"What, sorry I didn't know, would you tell me?"

"There is not much that I can tell you about it. I did not have the team nor did I have the equipment to find the cause. But if you ask me, that is no normal virus. But who knows, sometimes I am seeing the supernatural in things that can be explained scientifically. So I don't know why this is happening all I know is that it is happening as long as the brain is intact."

"It was only a few that were effected though right? Or you mean we'll all come back now?" Eli's eyes start to go wide. (edited)

Daitrij looks at him and just nods, looking a bit sad. "You'd better not die."

"How, and just us, we beat the illness though. It's not fair. Would I even be me?"

Daitrij feels the heat rising in her the same way she gets angry. She bites her lip and looks, breathing a "Sorry" before calming down again "I am sorry, I can't answer any of this with certainty. As I said I had neither the time nor the equipment to do any research in that matter. I feel like I am asking for too much anyway. Felt like the only reason I was allowed to search for active ingredients was to get me out of there. I am sorry this is nothing of your concern. So you won't just die, because I am around. And should you loose your head, you don't need to worry anyway."

"Does this mean you were on the team that treated us in space? If so I owe you more than I can pay, we were really sick." (edited)

She shakes her head. "No, I wasn't in space. So you don't owe me anything. And whatever viral or bacterial infection you were battling with is not necessarily connected to this."

"Sorry I'm confused what you mean? Just everyone will come back as a zombie? Sorry I'm a bit stupid about things sometimes."

There is just one word leaves her mouth "Yes"

"Does this have anything to do with the ghouls?"

She shakes her head "Elias I told you already, I don't know that much about it"

"Sorry, thanks for telling me. If I do die, you'll make sure I don't hurt anyone right?"

"Uhm, it's kinda insulting to hear that you think that's it's possible to die when you have a field medic with you. But aside from that. Should you die and I am around. I would make sure to severe your spinal cord just below the cerebellum. I hope that is enough. It is less destructive than the common bullet through the head attempt. I do like to be more respectful with the dead."

The mountain is short enough to be without a snow cap but the rock itself looks heavily striated. Distinct layers can be seen under the wind erosion and with the heat and pressure necessary to@make that happen you can be assured there is some type of valuable ore in the mountain somewhere

"I know it's not what we're looking for but we should mark these mountains right?"

"If it's good for the city it's fine. And you are right, we should mark it so someone else can check that mountain."

It is about evening now, and the choice must be made to continue on through the night, or camp

"Soo, are you guys still on magic drugs? Either way, shouldn't we look for a place to park this vehicle? I mean unless you want to drive during the night, but one can't see much in the dark right?"

"I guess not and were getting into more hazardous terrain." (edited)

"Yeah, let's go ahead and stop for the night. We are in a good spot even though we are out in the open, nowhere for anything to pop out and surprise us, not unless they come out of the ground."

"Even if they do, we should be safe in the truck."

"Yeah, so do we have a guarding schedule or something like that?"

"Not yet, should we make one for later. I was just thinking we'd stay up since we don't have to sleep?"

"Sure, well then. I guess I can go to sleep then?"

"Yeah, go ahead, Eli and I will keep watch."

Daitrij thanks them and retreats to her bed. Sits down cross-legged and starts to meditate and pray. At one point she forms a bowl with her hands and a small flame, not bigger than the flame of a lighter dances in her hand bowl. After that she goes to sleep. Happy to be on this trip and eager to see what the next day has to offer.

The night passes and true to word, with a commanding view over the local terrain , nothing makes any kind of attack or attempt at trouble during the off hours. The weather is clear for the second day of the expedition and your path now hooks south , away from the mountain and toward your true destination

Carmen groans and stretches when the sun rises, getting up from her chair and walks over to Daitrij's bed, knocking on the wall. "Hey, suns up, let's get moving."

Daitrij opens one eye and blinks at Carmen. Then both eyes are open as she yawns with her hand in front of her mouth. "Thank you for waking me. Give me a minute to get dressed and do my morning prayer before I'll come to the front." (edited)

Carmen gives her a smile before walking back to the front and poking Eli. "Better put those skills of yours to use and get cooking." She says, giving him a small peck on the cheek.

Eli gets up with a smile "Sure, should I make anything specific?"

"I dunno, whatever you are in the mood for. Surprise us."

After Daitrij is finished with her prayer she shouts "Are your magic drugs running out? Are you finally hungry as well? I love eating but I feels strange when you are the only one eating."

"Two more days I think, don't worry, Carmen isn't too excited about it either. I'll save it for emergencies. Well I'm going to try my best with jazzing up some rations, if that's okay? Don't want to eat up all our samples."

Daitrij gets to the front to see what breakfast awaits her. "Oh, I am not against it, rather, uhm fascinated? Hope that doesn't sound strange. I am just afraid that staying awake for a week ruins your biorhythm. Should you need help to find back to a healthy rhythm, just tell me. I do have some equipment with me."

"Yeah, I would prefer sleeping. I like to sleep, its a nice feeling, especially now. Being awake forever feels weird."

"For biorythms? I'm sort of okay with it, though on my own it's a bit lonely. I do miss dreaming though." Eli moves to the kitchen and starts adding things to a ration before popping it in the oven.

Carmen sits down in the drivers seat before calling in to Mytikas to report on their status and what they have found so far, especially the potential ore location.

Eli serves the rations to Daitrij. "Here you go, hope you like it."

After reporting in Carmen turns back to the other two. "Once you get finished we can go ahead and keep heading south."

"I'm good, and you can start driving, or I can."

"I'll go ahead and head out in a bit then." Carmen waits for Daijrit to finish her breakfast before setting off to the south.

"That was delicious, again. I am ready to see some more of Heras!"

"Me too, so you think we'll come across anything on this leg?"

"I hope so, but hopefully nothing violent."

"That'd be nice."

(D10 everyone, for the path ahead)

(Ill roll once I get home, at the hospital urgent care which is thankfully empty aside from me)

(Well there’s two other people here I can just put their hexes first)

(8)

The plains Around you begin to darken somewhat as the heavy tires crunch over the grass. Fields of flowers spread over the Gentle hills and bubbling creeks crisis crossing the meadowland. A pack of trollboar lie ahead, their leader with one broken tusk and a host of scars

"Uh, Eli, is that the one who gored you?"

"I think so, he looks like chester at least. You think I should try to feed him again?"

"I wouldn't, but if you feel like getting gored again and making me upset, be my guest."

Eli looks between the troll boar and Carmen then rubs his leg. "Yeah, probably not? See that's why I need you along sometimes." He smiles at her, then waves at Chester.

"To supplement the common sense you don't have?" She says, giving him a smile.

5:14 PM

(Rolled a 4 on the d10)

"Well one of us has to be the adventurous one, you're not wrong though. What about you Daitrij? Adventure or common sense?"

Jabbing him with her elbow."More like recklessness or common sense." (edited)

"Hey, sometimes you have to be reckless, when it comes down to saving people."

"You told me you just wanted to have the one-tusked boar because you wanted to give it a cybernetic horn and ride around on it. That sound more like being reckless for the sake of being reckless to me."

"Not a horn that would be silly, a tusk. He didn't like the idea either though, that was when he gored me."

"Horn, tusk, whatever, its still a wild animal and obviously the alpha of the pack. Let's just let them go to one side and we go to another."

"Can we mark it though, Troll boar migration patters or something?"

"Sure, I'll mark it." She pulls out her dataslab and pulls up the map. "Troll, Boar, crossing." She says as she labels their location with a mark. "Alright, let's get going."

"Thanks, just I figure if we mark every known chester sighting area we'll at least find some edible vegetation or something useful."

(rolled the d10 and it's again a 1)

"Definitely an interesting conversation to observe. When it comes to adventure versus common sense, I guess I'd lean towards adventure. But I am not reckless. But, uhm would you mind if we stop here for a moment so I can take a look around? Not just because it's pretty here, but you see all those flowers? There could be a candidate in here. And those trollboars are here for something as well. Could be something that is not of interest for us but maybe there is another edible plant here to be discovered."

(So getting out then?)

"I guess we can take a look around. Eli, you stay here and man the gun, we will go look around. If they start coming near us, just fire a burst over their heads or at the ground or something. Don't hesitate to deal with the big one if he tries to attack us for real."

"Aw, can't I just feed them, we have a bunch of extra rations. Please don't shot at them though I don't think it'd go well, and you might cause them to stampede."

Carmen sighs. "Fine, you go, I'll stay here and man the gun." She climbs up into the turret with a pout. (edited)

"No one has to man the gun, I can always port one in if something bad happens, and I know you don't like guns."

She throws her hands up in the air before climbing back down. "Well, let's get going then." (edited)

"Sorry, just if I'm ever going to tame him I should get him used to me right?"

9:24 PM

Eli gets some rations together and starts looking for chester and the small troll boars. He looks back at Carmen and says. "I'm adventurous don't hate me?" Then goes back to trying to find the troll boars.

She facepalms and mutters to herself "Why, of all men, did I choose him?" Before following him

Daitrij grabs her rucksack and spear and jumps out. She looks at Carmen with guilt in her eyes. "I am sorry. I don't want to be troublesome for you. I have everything ready to patch him together again. Aside from those boars and your Eli, could you look for interesting plants too? I know the part that interests me is not visible. But should something be blooming just tell me an I come over to check it."

Carmen sighs and smiles at her. "It's okay, if there were wrecks of vehicles or mechs out there that actually looked salvagable I'd be the same way as hes being right now. He may be an idiot but he's a very lovable idiot, like a teddy bear with magic."

(Let’s get a survival/wis eli)

(7)

While looking for some plants, Daitrij never loses sight of Eli. "I know what you mean Carmen, everyone has their weakspots. I mean I know what you mean considering the first part not the second, don't worry."

Carmen looks embarrassed for a second, not realizing what she had said. "Umm, right, I, yeah, totally meant to say that, about Eli, and all, yeah. Oh, hey, those are neat." She says pointing to the nearest flower in the meadow.

To follow up Carmen's change of topic, Daitrij gets her Bioscanner out and scans the some flowers.

With a huff and a primal bellow the boar begins to charge

"Aw c'mon not again!" Eli tosses the food to the ground and runs back to the food truck zig zagging in a lazy serpentine pattern.

(They’ve got some time to react before you make it to safety as does the boar. You can’t just leave the encounter )

(Cool, i didnt think I'd suddenly be safe, just wanted to describe what he was doing when able as in giving up the rations and not fighting the boars.) (edited)

11:36 AM

(Also trollboars are big right I had a plan sort of, but am not sure how much larger they are.) (edited)

Carmen looks over at the shouting Eli. "I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!." She pulls up her bow and shoots at the boar once before running back to the truck. (7/9)

(Also sorry if I should have rolled init or waited or something.)

Daitrij sighs while pointing her spear towards the boar. She doesn't like the thought of murdering them, but it seems like they have to at least hurt the alpha to save Eli. Daitrij inhales and the spearhead begins to glow. Together with a crackling sound a hot glowing projectile is send towards the alpha (10/7). While there is still enough space between her and the boars, she walks slowly backwards towards the truck. (edited)

The arrow misses, as does the spear

12:50 PM

(Evasions. Save eli)

(fail 1 vs 8)

2

Eli is Hurled through the air , (15 damage) as Chester rams him from behind. He tumbles over the back of the beast and is catapulted by his Hind legs before coming crashing down

Eli shouts while he flies through the air. "Chester, why!" Once he hits he mainly just coughs a lot not moving to well after having the wind knocked out of him and being kicked by the Alpha troll boar.

(Could carmen get to the truck's gun this round?)

(He’s close enough where he’s going to have to roll a save if you’re suppressing)

(She's just going to shoot the thing)

(eli gets to actually do something first though. All he did was talk)

(Yeah, just checking for when its her turn) (edited)

(how far away is the truck could he get there with his increased movement, and is the boar coming back?)

(It’s 100m@away)

Eli gets up and moves away from the boars, not turning his back on the large one.

60m from the truck if you’re using your main action to double move )

3:16 PM

(The others are up

Carmen runs back into the truck, climbing into the turret before turning it towards the trollboar and firing off a burst, screaming as she does so. (14/10)

After missing the first shot Daitrij concentrates on the second one. "Ognyena, please guide my shots." She aims at the alpha again. Another pellet of magma flies towards Chester and Daitrij makes a few steps backward again. (19/11)

The boar is killed by the combined mix of heavy weapons and finally the pellet shot from the magma spear , setting it alight before it collapses into the grass

(Are the rest of the boars running away now?)

(The pack is scattering

Carmen hops off the gun and runs as fast as she can over to Eli, sliding into a kneel next to him. "Are you okay?"

Daitrij spins her spear in front of her and the spearhead stops glowing. She thanks Ognyena for the guidance. She puts it back and runs over to Eli and Carmen. And gets her medical suplies out. "Are you in need of any medical attention or is your magic doing the job? Oh, and I am sorry that your little friend died. But at least he is kinda cooked already."

"I'll be fine, just its my fault he's dead, I should have listened I guess. Will you help me so he doesn't go to waste?"

Carmen sighs "Fine, but let me do one thing first." She says right before slapping him in the face. "DON'T YOU EVER DO SOMETHING THAT STUPID AGAIN!!." She shouts at him before giving him a big hug.

Eli hugs her back. "Sorry, you know I can't promise that, but I'll be fine assuming you don't punch me to death."

She hugs him for just a bit longer before letting go. "Alright, let's get this guy taken care of and get back on the road."

"Well I guess we'll have enough boar to eat for a while. Try not to mess up the skin and tusk too much if you can."

"I'll do my best, I'm not exactly experienced at this stuff." Carmen says before taking out her knife to start skinning the boar as best she can.

(survive/wis, or dex since its knife skills)

(did survive/dex, 11)

The skin and the lone intact tusk are pulled from the corpse relatively cleanly.

"There, its done, now you have a nice rug for the bar or somewhere else. Let's get this meat in the refrigerator and keep going. You get to sleep for a while mister, and no backtalk!" She says, poking him in the shoulder before helping him to the truck.

"But I can't sleep though! I'll heal faster."

9:03 PM

"Let me help you get him back to the truck."

"I said no backtalk. I don't care how strong your magic is, you don't need to strain yourself unnecessarily after getting trampled by that boar."

"Okay, I'll rest, but the magic makes me fidgety, like I need to move around, can I at least take some of the meat to cook or something?"

Carmen groans. "Fine, go cook something, just stay in the truck alright." Once Eli is back in the truck and they get all the meat and stuff stored away, Carmen turns back to Daitrij. "Did you still want to look for flowers and such?"

Eli cooks up some of the chester chops. (I'm going to take off the goal of finding and taming him.

)

(Yeah. You didn’t get a whole lot of time to try anything)

(You got charged for like half your hp, Carmen wasn't going to let you die, as much as I wanted to see Eli on top of a mamoswine carrying a railgun with a cybernetic laser tusk)

(I mean there are other ones, like the alpha around Bavi'dopolis, but Eli doesn't know about them. Also he doesn't know about Andra so I'm not adding the hunt down that sabercat yet, and no worries. I also enjoy living lol.)

While Carmen and Eli were talking, Daitrij already shouldered her backpack again and moves a few steps away to give them some privacy. Or at least give them the feeling of such. Upon Carmen asking, she turns to her with a smile on her face. "Sure, I mean the boars are scattered already and shouldn't pose much of a threat right now. And I guess after the heat of battle we all need to do something chill. Might as well look around for some flowers or fungi."

"Alright, lets go take a look."

12:39 AM

Carmen follows her to have a look through the field.

"Thank you. And should you two, uhm, ever need some, uhm, privacy just, just tell me. I can go meditate on the rooftop or something. Or man the lookout to guard us or something useful like this." As Daitrij feels like this takes am awkward turn she tries to switch topics again fast. She gets her scanner and points at some flower. "I, uhm, I am going to check this one right there."

Carmen looks at her confused for a second. "Privacy, what would we need that fo..." She says before her eyes go wide "Oh, no, no, we aren't at that kind of stage yet, no, we, no. Yes, let's just go check flowers, please." Carmen stammers, going very red in the face from emberrassment.

The scanner gently pings as it passes over a purple flower the color of rich amethyst

7:46 AM

Daitrij is still having a monologue in her head, that she shouldn't have said a thing to Carmen. She did not want her to feel bad about her feelings. She almost doesn't notice the pinging of her scanner. But out of a sudden, she realizes that the ping sound is not part of her inner monologue. She stops and her eyes widen as she reads the confirmation on her scanner. This plant could be a potential candidate. Smiling, with a tad too much excitement she looks at Carmen and points at the plant. "Carmen, don't move. This one here, with the purple leaves. I think this could be something. Should you find some, please gather them, not too many, I don't want to eradicate them." Daitrij gets two pairs of disposable gloves out of her medkit and hands one of them to Carmen. "Take them, just in case. I am going to examine them when we are underway again." Daitrij looks up to the sky and marks her position in her head. She cuts one plant with her spear just above ground level and tries to carefully dig out one specimen, including soil and trying to keep the roots intact.

Carmen takes the glove, puts it on, and does the same as Daitrij using her knife.

Daitrij thanks Carmen for the help and gets everything to the lab. When she passes Eli and Chester, she grabs something that looks ready. "Tastes good, maybe some salt? Eli, I could do with just the scanner for the start, but could you get the lab going again or is that too much strain for your hurt body?"

"No, just I can't maintain that and listening in on the radio signals like I have been."

"Is that a yes or a no?"

"Sure, just give me a second." Eli stops concentrating on the signals and walks over to the lab touching it and pouring his magic into it, bringing it back to working order. (salvage gear.) "Just tell me if you have anything going on, don't want to stop you in the middle of something."

"We good to go then?" Carmen asks, hopping back into the truck.

"Yeah thanks for the help. Uhm, I will be occupied here for a bit. Gonna scan everything and run some analytics with the lab."

"I can drive slowly for a bit if you'd like then."

"No, no, all good."

Carmen nods before settling into the drivers seat. "Okay, let's get going then."

Daitrij tries to find out all she can about the plant and tries to analyze if the plant has any useful active ingredients that could be used in pharmaceuticals. While snacking from Chester once in a while.

(The plants here can be turned into a production center for drugs:raw materials , with the next faction turn if the regent decides to spend the faction turn on it$

Carmen drives off, continuing down the planned path. (edited)

The plains of flowers come to an end as you enter the second zone for the day, the time is nearing noon. Ahead is the wisest of the rivers that will be encountered on the journey so far, the waters deeply brown and filled with sediment

Carmen pulls up a few hundred feet away from the river, gets up in the turret and has a look around using her binoculars for any threats on the horizon, as well as any nearby crossing points. (edited)

There are shallows but in the case of this river shallow still means a depth of several meters

She hops back down "That's a big river. Gonna have to drive upstream to see if we can find a thinner point where the shallows aren't just made of mud that will bog down the tires."

(isn't it treads? Dont know if that matters)

(Its your truck, not carmens)

(Tracks will still bog down given enough mud though)

(You fixed it though I just hsve it, abd remembber it being treads when I brought it back so unsure if that's still true.)

Daitrij is way to focused on her work to really pay attention to the trip and the respective landscape. As soon as the first analyzes are done she's got a wide smile on her face. Further testing would still be needed but this flower is a positive. "You need a name. I've never got to name something. Uhm, a flower bright as an amethyst, huh, Jarko-fioletovaja (bright violet) flower? Nah, I guess that wouldn't be too well-acclaimed outside of the Taros population. Ufyuin flower? Yah, that sounds good. Let's see what the rest thinks about it." She gets up and walks to the front, wondering where they are. She grabs a bit of Chester before speaking. "Hey, uhm, a river? Damn, you better have a good idea Carmen. And that river looks muddy, no place to train the young how to swim. Well, I've got something to say. My search is a success. That plant, or better it's active ingredient could be used to develop drugs. Further testing is needed, but considering we are in front of a large river, that testing can wait. I'd call the plant Ufyuin flower. What do you think?" (edited)

Eli laughs. "Sounds cute, what does it mean, sorry haven't learned that word yet, it's Taros right? " (edited)

Carmen doesn't react for a few seconds, still thinking about the river. "Oh, sorry, yeah the name sounds fine. Let's go ahead and head upstream and see if we can find a place to cross."

"Sorry, should I hop on the turret snd help look?"

"Yes, and no. You won't learn that word by learning Taros. It is, not as scientific as I wanted it to be. It is more or less to honor my family. Ufyuin is the name of one of my sisters, the same as Daitrij is a nickname. My sisters used to call me like that. It's to keep them close. So Ufyuin flower is simply a flower named after my sister. I was thinking about Jarko-fioletovaja flower, but decided against it. But I guess we should help Carmen find a solution to cross that river."

Eli nods then heads up top to look for a shallower passing,

"Do you have any magic that can do the trick here?"

"Sorry, I don't think so, and it'd take to long to switch spells."

"I don't know that much about it, sorry." Daitrij takes the passenger seat and tries to find a good position to cross the river.

It is late afternoon, driving west, before you find an area where the crossing is made or rock poking through the surface of the running water, rather than mud or sediment

Daitrij points at the rocks poking through the water. "Could that be something? Uhm, can we do anything to make a crossing there less risky?"

"Yeah, looks passable to me. Hmm I don't know, we might just have to trust Carmen to drive us over?"

"She did perfect last time, soo I guess so?"

"Yeah, I've learned not to doubt her except when it comes to cooking and guns, but I can do that stuff, also magic."

"Let's get out and take a closer look first." Carmen says, hopping out to have a look around.

Daitrij accompanies her. She has her spear ready, just in case. Once closer to the water she tries to gauge its depth with her spear.

Eli hops out after them. "Hopefully we won't need another building project to get over it."

(the floats would still be attached or at least available to be re-attached)

11:24 AM

This crossing looks far easier than the other. The rocks present a challenge to traction, but less so than the mud

"Well, everything looks fine. Let's go ahead and get going, hopefully we can get to the other side by nightfall." Carmen says hopping back into the truck and waiting for the others before setting off.

Eli gets in to one of the passenger seats and straps himself in.

Daitrij gets to her lab seat and waits for them to cross the river

Carmen tries to line the truck up as best she can, looking for the easiest way in and out before starting to cross.

The floats and your picking of a good crossing allow you to do this with far less risk than before. You arrive safely on the other side as sand and rocks tumble from the vehicle skirting

12:48 PM

The inside is mostly dry

"Wohoo, well done Carmen! On we go towards our destination."

"Yeah good job, you make it look so easy, I guess you did rebuild this thing though."

She smiles at the compliments. "Thanks guys." She says as she continues onward (How much further do we have until we get to Haphestea?) (edited)

(3 hexes so one more day of travel)

(do we need to roll d10s again?) (edited)

(No we have enough to finish the trip)

1

2:37 PM

Night is falling rapidly as you move away from the river , most of the day spent finding the river crossing and then fixing the special equipment to get across it safely

(would it have been enough time that I healed, or how many hours? Sorry it's 1 hp per hour with the forced march spell.)

(By time you do that and sleep you’ll be at full anyway)

(we don't sleep though.)

(Eli. You’re at full health by morning )

1

(thanks, sorry.)

Daitrij grabs herself another piece of cold Chester before abandoning her lab for the night. "So, you guys still don't sleep right?"

"For a little yeah, why?"

"I wouldn't feel comfortable to sleep through the whole night if you guys have to sleep as well. It is comfortable right now, but I am ready to do my part of the guarding duties to."

"We can be in offset shifts, you sleep during the day, how does that seem?"

"That's fine with me. Just tell me when I have to be ready and I will be."

"Let me check with Carmen, she wanted us to be on the same shift, is that okay?"

Daitrij laughs "Well of course it's okay. It would feel awkward to separate you two."

Eli looks down at his suddenly interesting seat buckle. "Thanks for understanding. Sorry if we got off on the wrong foot with the magic and all. I really am trying to help usually, for what it's worth."

"It's okay. I am thankful that you two made it possible for me to be here. For the rest. Well. There is still a lot that I don't understand concerning magic. I am more curious than afraid. I was just concerned that staying awake all the time could mess you guys up. But I guess I was wrong."

"Only every other week." (edited)

Carmen parks the truck in the open again "Alright, should only be one more day of travel to get to Haphestea. Hopefully its less eventful than today was."

Eli looks at the ground. "Yeah, no more boar taming."

"Maybe we find you a boar that is less aggressive."

"Doesn't have to be a boar, just in the moment I thought Chester, the chestnutatos it all went together, who knows maybe it'll happen again, but you can't force that kind of thing."

Daitrij looks to the ground. "I am still sorry for killing Chester. I just felt that there was no other option. I will include him in my prayer tonight."

"It's alright, he probably would have killed me if you and Carmen hadn't intervened. Maybe it was stupid, but I don't know, it feels like you have to go for that kind of thing, or live in fear of it."

7:44 PM

Eli looks at Carmen and smiles.

Carmen shakes her head and smiles back at him. "You're tenacious about things you care about, its one of your better qualities, so long as it doesn't get you killed."

"So, shell I guard you two tonight? I know you won't need sleep yet. But maybe you want to talk in private. I took that away from you by joining in on the trip."

"Eh, I'd rather die having fun with you than in some stupid war or having to overthrow another despotic empire. You're fine, I just embarrass easily for all my stupid bravado. It's kind of nice to have someone to show off to though, makes things feel more real, or that might just be me being dumb again."

"You're cute when you're dumb." She turns to Daitrij. "Go ahead and head to sleep, you need it. We will be fine." (edited)

"Yeah, you have to be fresh for the chestnutato refining and analysis, and our big meet with Hapheastus." Eli laughs.

"Thanks. See you tomorrow then." Daitrij heads over to her bed. Gets ready to sleep. Meditates, prays for Chester's soul to find rest and gets to sleep.

(anything more to add while Daitrij is asleep? )

11:57 AM

(or shall we press on, no nighttime encounters)

(Let's press on)

2

(Yup I'm good to press on too.) (edited)

1

Morning comes after a brief flash rainstorm overnight. If all goes as planned you'll be meeting the Haphestan surveyors outside their city this evening. A short report comes in from Mytikas, most of it is redacted but what you do see is that the friendly engineers closer to your destination have spent the time making a bridge across the river crossing outside their city, where you're expected to come in, completing the last leg of the journey for you.

Carmen reads through the report. "Sweet! One less river fording! Hey, Daitrij, wake up, we have one more day then we are at Haphestea!"

Daitrij still lies in her bed, already awake but daydreaming. As she is being called by Carmen she opens her eyes. Some eventful days led them to their destination. And up until now, all went well. Actually way better than expected. She gets up and kneels in her bed as good as she can and starts praying to Ognyena, thanking her for what she's been given. After another five minutes she gets up and dressed before coming to the front. "Quite some rain last night, eh? Did anything happen while I was asleep?"

"We got a report, and the engineers are meeting us they already built a bridge to their city."

"That's great, right? Sounds like they are eager to built something up on the planet. With us and in peace. Can't wait to meet them. I just hope that their Khan isn't as crazy as the one from Janusus."

"I don't think so, from the deals we've made, but I'm eager to see too, and how we can help."

"I've never made a deal with them, so everything is new to me. I guess I am going do some more lab work, just call me if you need help or another pair of eyes."

"Yeah, will do." Carmen says before settling into the driver's seat for another day of travel.

"Well I haven't personally, but Pearl set up some deals for alcohol with them."

As Daitrij sits down at the lab she frowns by the mentioning of alcohol. "Alcohol as the core part of the first diplomatic deal with a city? That sounds rather fishy and not really like an official deal."

"It was for our personal business the bar. Oh wait, you two haven't been. We still haven't named it yet, but I figured we'd do that when Pearl gets back. She's done most of the work, I just gave her the money."

"You talked about that bar before right? I guess you mentioned it at least."

"Yeah, when I mentioned chester's horn I think. I'm kind of proud of it. A place where people can be together and have fun, and we don't server that glowing green stuff. Oh hey, maybe you can help me test it, I think I still have some. Carmen and Andra convinced me not to drink it anymore."

"If I remember correctly that stuff was some kind of hopped up battery acid basically."

"Something nasty probably. I thought it wouldn't be right to experiment on other people though even by buying them drinks."

Daitrij hesitates a bit before answering. "Well, I can think of scenarios where testing things on unknowing subjects could be worth it. I mean, of course only if it is for something important, not just to know the ingredients of some weird drink. But yeah, I could analyze what you have left, although that would be just for fun I guess as you don't want to serve that stuff."

"Well to see if it's harmful, and maybe make a drink that isn't or something to counter the effects. I know medicine, but just not the science really."

"I could help you with that, but first we have to get some route scouted and meet some people from that other city."

"Right, sorry, I am easily side tracked."

Scanners begin to ping with a metallic contact return as you move away form your campsite, into the zone close to where you'll be meeting the friendly engineering team. Bridge completed, they have begun laying down track at a record pace

"Dang at this rate, we'll be able to take the rail road back."

1

Carmen laughs. "Yeah, that would be nice. I've had enough of driving for a bit."

The metallic contact still pings

Carmen takes a look at the scanner to check what the ping is coming from.

There is a strong metallic return coming from this area. It is 500m to the left of the vehicle but there is nothing on the surface from what you can see

"Hey Eli, there is supposed to be something 500 meters to our left, but I don't see anything out there." She says, pulling her binoculars out to take a look. (I don't remember but do the tl4 binoculars have thermal vision or anything like that? Or is that the cybernetic vision thing?)

8:50 PM

(Nvm, its just low light and magnification.)

"Could be another cache, but it might be trapped."

"Want to check it out?"

"Sure, we just need to be careful."

Carmen drives the truck to around 200 meters away from the source of the pinging before stopping to take a look again. "Was the other one invisible?"

"No just a tripwire trap and a claymore, and a big metal suitcase buried underground."

"Well, hopefully we can spot some kind of entrance, maybe some kind of land that shouldn't be there or something." She says, continuing to scan the countryside.

"Oh, you think it's another door? Hmm there was a symbol on the last one."

Daitrij was already trying to focus on her Ufyuin flower stuidies but gets distracted from the non-linear movement and talking in the front. "What's wrong? Are we having a break already? What's that pinging noise anyway."

Carmen points in the general direction of the pinging source. "There is supposedly something metallic about 200 meters that way."

"I hope it's not a bomb or something like that. But I guess that would not lead to a scanner pinging from a few hundred meters away. Any guesses? Could it be some ore, or some recon system of Haphestea?"

"My guess is one of the scout caches, but we'll see?"

"I've heard you say that they could be protected. Shell we shoot at it to see if it goes boom?"

"No we would lose what's inside. Just be careful sne we should be good. Varnen us tough and a tech head, and i have magic."

5:13 AM

"And youre here to patch us up."

"What kind of traps are we talking about. Sensors? Tripwire with grenades attached?"

"Tripwires attached to claymores last time."

"Ya, no, can't help with that, other than stitching your pieces together again should something go wrong. Do we have any other scanner to help us detect traps?"

"I don't think so, we shoukd be careful with the fiid truck though, also why would it be this close to the city?"

"Who places those caches?"

"Scouts from Aphaenae? Or I think that was the last one we found or maybe old lamp lighter caches?" (edited)

"Well, so they are no scouts from this city. And remember that we met those guys from Janusus pretty far away from their home as well. So it wouldn't be a suprise to find a cache close to an enemy city. So that their spies on the run could restock or something like that. But what do I know, we don't even know for sure what this metal thingy is."

"Besides interesting, and big enough to pick up on scanners, so worth investigating."

"Oh heck yeah. That is definitely worth investigating." (edited)

"We could always call it in if we find out it's something bigger than we can handle."

"Sure but at first we need to unearth this treasure. So shall we walk there, slowly carefully and spaced out?" (edited)

"Yeah, but we should wait to make sure Carmen parks the car first."

"Yeah, I get my medical equipment ready, just in case."

"Also I'm nervous having carmen to in first, but if there is a trap she'd be the one who could disarm it. I'd rather me get hit than you or her though."

Arriving 50m from the ping the surface of the land looks undisturbed and nothing is visible on the surface

"I think Carmen has a toolkit with a shovel. Damn maybe I should have learned that digging spell." Eli starts looking around for Carmen's toolkit.

(Is this some open grassland?)

(Yes dairrij

6:25 AM

(The vehicle has a shovel we don’t need to rp finding one, but we do need a work/con)

Eli walks to where the ping was slowly looking around and starts to dig. (role incoming.)

6:27 AM

(12)

Daitrij keeps her distance, but doesn't stand to far away as her curiosity keeps her close. While Eli is shoveling she is poking the ground with her spear.

There is a crunch , as the shovel comes back with the first round of topsoil. The second reveals some coarse rock, and finally the third mighty swing chinks off what looks to be a nugget of iron

Eli clears out the dirt around the nugget. "Hey Dai, see if you can get a scan on this, you're the smart one."

Daitrij laughs and points at the metal. "Uhm, you know I have this here." She raises her bioscanner "But from the looks of it, I would say that thing is not alive. But I run a scan for you. Things like that are most likely something Carmen knows way more about." Just for fun she points the bioscanner at the metal to see what happens.

"Here take mine." Eli hands her his survey scanner.

"Fancy." Daitrij gets a cable out of her sleeve and connects it with the scanner. She points this scanner at the object as well. Her right eye gets a bit reddish while she browses through the results, without physically looking at the scanner. (edited)

"Woah, that's cool, you can keep it if you want. Have you had that a long time?"

"Really? Thank you! And yeah, I have that for a bit now. I really like it. It makes working, and other stuff, a bit easier and just different. Different in a cool way."

"Yeah, you're a friend, and I haven't used it really anyway. Plus that was cool. I thought about getting cyberware, but never could afford it and kept chickening out."

"Never buy something like that cheap or low quality. A malfunction could be painful to say the least."

"Eh I think If I get something I'd have Carmen do it or do it myself, but I'm still learning."

Daitrij raises an eyebrow. "I know that you like each other, but isn't she an engineer? She could keep something like that going or even develop something, but does she have the surgical skills to put something like that into you?"

7:10 AM

"You are a living human being, right?"

"Yeah, but I could help. I know medicine, and it wouldn't be any time soon anyway. I'm too much of a coward."

"No worries, you don't need to start by replacing an eye or getting access ports built into your spine. There are less invasive Cybernetics on the market. And you are not a coward just by not getting pumped full of those stuff. By the way, thanks for calling me a friend, that came, uhm kinda early considering we didn't talk that much. But nonetheless, thank you."

"You're welcome, sorry I consider people friends quick, you don't have to call me friend."

7:22 AM

"You and Carmen did save my life though."

"Don't ask me to put cybernetics in you, I'm not doing it." Carmen says as she walks over and pulls out her survey scanner to look over the iron nugget.

Eli jumps a little. "Aw, why not and have you been there the whole time?"

"Uh, yeah? What did you think I was doing, sitting in the truck while you guys checked out what could've been an invisible underground base entrance for all we knew?" She says with a laugh.

"Sorry, I was too focused on digging."

Daitrij mouths an ouch while looking away from them. "So Carmen, I guess you see the same scan results as me?"

(I'll give neko a chance to catch up first. I'm working 9-5 today though so I might not be around when he does)

2

There is a howling beep as a buggy flying two hapeheatan flags comes racing out to the deposit.

8:12 AM

One of the passengers, of the four total occupants, leans out the window and is flagging you down

Eli waves back.

Daitrij, realizing that there is company on their way, unplugs the scanner and stows them away. She spikes her spear into the ground to not appear dangerous. (Any results with the scan?)

(That its iron)

8:29 AM

The buggy comes to a halt almost directly in front of you, physically separating you from the rest of the ore lode here. A sharp nosed and well dressed figure, with his two bodyguards hop out, and one plants a Haphestan flag into the ground in this spot.

8:30 AM

"Thank you for doing the heavy lifting. Hephesta claims these lands and holds your contract complete. You can go home now, back to your little stone pit" he sneers

"Not yet, were supposed to meet some people for the railroad give them oir report. Just noticed something on the scanner, and thought we should help. I'm Eli." Eli smiles and holds out his hand.

One of the bodyguards quickly closes the gap and smacks the hand away

8:33 AM

"Hands away from Lord Andilis"

Eli steps back and bows. "I'm sorry, never met a lord before, my apologies your lordship, are you the one to whom we're supposed to report?"

"I don't much care about the railroad. I'm not sure who you report to. I'm here to claim this deposit in the name of our glorious city, and House Andilis. We of course being the holders of the exclusive mining rights" He laughs to himself, as the flag gently flaps in the wind. (edited)

"Well we were thinking about inquiring how we might aid the fine people of your city, and you seem like a man with connections is there any other way we might be of service, your lordship?"

(added them as a sub-faction and they have a handout in the folder now. They're legitimate targets for any faction actions)

8:42 AM

"Going home and not bothering our plot. Hapehestan engineers have been working steadily, and are almost here with the tracks. If you clear out and keep heading that way..." he points out to where his buggy had come from "You'll probably find the chief engineer there"

Eli bows again. "Of course your lordship, and I hope you don't judge us too harshly for this misunderstanding. It was our pleasure to make your aquaintence."

Daitrij leans onto her spear. Slightly shaking her head and smiling. "Some funny people live on this planet." "You know it's great to meet such important people. And your Lord seems to be wise and mighty and such. But I guess we are still supposed to meet some city officials. Oh by the way, how come you didn't find that iron earlier? Nevermind, you had your reasons I guess. Eli I guess we should move on then and don't bother these fine people. "

(you guys didnt do anything wrong, ooc, hes just a dick)

"Yes to the head engineer, good day your lordship, thank you again for the directions. Sorry if i caused any offence." Eli bows again and goes back inside the truck. (edited)

"Yeah, yeah. Have a nice day lord Achilles." Daitrij grabs her spear and let's the spearhead glow while following Eli and Carmen to the truck.

(We should wait for carmen be for diving too much into the engineer/railroad stuff, right?)

(You're about to finish things up, not really anything the particular skills are needed for)

8:56 AM

(but its up to you guys)

(I am good with everything, but she should be here when we meet the head engineer)

1

As they walk to the truck Daitrij whispers to Eli. "Is this normal behavior for the native population or is he a particularly assholy specimen?"

"We'll see I guess, weren't there nobles where you came from?"

"There are more powerful people in any culture. Though, seeing that guy and and his testosterone gorilla's made me wonder. I mean we met the scouts as well. They were nice. It felt like they feel oppressed."

"The only people from here I met were some soldiers, and they were okay, didn't shoot me with a rocket launcher at least."

"You don't set the bar to high, aren't you? It will be interesting to meet more people then. Well, let's get into the truck. I wanna watch some head engineer level tech talk." She says smiling at Carmen.

"Okay, hop in then we can go."

Daitrij gets into the truck and places herself in the lab again

Eli drives off to the rendezvous point Lord Andilis pointed to.

The camp is a moving series of habitation wagons, and a few rough looking trucks. A steam engine pushes a series of freight cars ahead of it, with planks, beams, and rails stacked neatly on the flat surfaces

12:07 PM

There is a figure standing on the engine, holding onto the smokestack with one hand, and directing the workers with the other

Eli parks the truck then hops out. I guess we should go introduce ourselves and tell them the state of things, that the Janus scouts were in the area and about the river crossings, am I missing anything. The troll boars I guess right?

"Don't tell them about the scouts. The rest, yeah we could tell him. But I guess for the rest we need Carmen's brain to understand what they are doing."

"Alright let's go and the head engineers can discuss."

Daitrij follows Carmen and Eli.

(lets wait for her then i think here, we got to about where we said)

2

(Might have to wait until I get off work at 5 so I can read and process all this stuff.)

2

(No problem, I'm in no rush)

(yup no worries have a good shift.)

(More than fine to wait, work comes first)

Carmen would have held back the insults that came to mind when they met lord jackass, instead opting to go to more important matters. "Yeah, let's get going. Next time we find iron ore I'm planting a big flag over it and am going to run that asshole out of business though." (edited)

4:21 PM

Carmen walks up to the camp to look for the head engineer.

Eli laughs. "You know the lead miner back home was kind of a jerk too."

"Haven't met him, so I'll take your word for it."

(He’s the one on the train. )

Carmen waves at him "Hello, we are from Mytikas, we just finished our scouting run!"

(ours, I thought he was the one from Mytikas?)

(The haphestans are making a rail from their side. You’re about to get to their city. He needs a scouting report and so does back home )

(Yeah, thats what Carmen is going to give. She already sent the report from their first day to Mytikas as best she could over the radio that first night)

(You’ve got two days of scouting that home doesn’t know about still then)

(Yeah, unless you are fine with her having done that during the night, I just forgot to mention it both nights. Up to you)

4:33 PM

(Work and getting over this sinus infection has really fucked with me this week)

The chief engineer from Hephaesta sees your vehicle approach and although the work around him does not stop, he directs the people closest to the train to start working in another area so they’re not in the way. The worksite is loud and it’s clear you’ll have to shout

"Did you want to come sit down in the truck so we don't have to shout?" She says, motioning to their truck. (edited)

“No! I need to direct my crews. How’s it look out there?”

She pulls out her dataslab and starts showing him the map of the route they took. "Everything is relatively clear. The only problems we ran into were some trollboars. I decided taking the path through the valley would be easier than the mountains and make expanding things easier, especially if we wanted to add a road alongside or any farms or anything along the rivers. The next river has a very muddy section we were able to avoid by crossing here, so there should be more easily accessible bedrock there."

"IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED FROM US SIR, I HOPE THIS RAILROAD WILL HELP US BE MORE UNITED AND PROSPER AS ALLIES, I WANT TO DO WJHAT I CAN TO HELP IT SUCCEED!"

(6xp, 10,000 credits)

12:22 AM

They take the report and your fellow engineers in Mytikas likewise get a copy of the results. The railroad construction will proceed much more rapidly thanks to the survey data gathered

12:22 AM

The line itself should be completed by month end with the first trains expected to run a week or so after that

(Yay, another level up!)

12:25 AM

(Do we want to stop back at that mountain we looked at on day 1 to check it out more?)

(Seems like a cool idea. Are you okay with looking at haephestae some first?)

(Sure, we can)

12:33 AM

After finishing up the meeting, Carmen drives the truck to Haphestea, hoping to spend a day or so resting before they head back to Mytikas.

(I am happily following you to both of those destinations.)

(Eli lvl 7 to 8 24 to 29 hp, 2 points banked and 1 skill point to take sneak to 0 from -1 new second level spell commando invocation, and third level spell tank kill, additional second third and forth level spell slot. attack bonus up from +3 to plus 4)

The city guard prevents the truck from entering the city, but they watch over you while you park near the wall and make plans to rest for the night.

"So if we can't drive inside, should we wait until tomorrow, or leave the truck here? Don't want to get stolen or 'repossessed' by that jerk or someone like him."

"I guess we can take some rest here. They won't rob us, I hope so atleast. The guards know we are here. Maybe we should tell them that we want to visit the city tommorow and talk to city officials. What do you think?"

(They’re not letting you in because you’re not allowed in)

8:04 AM

(Doesn’t matter with the truck or not)

(oh well that sucks. Did they say why or just turn us away?)

(Turn you away)

1

"Well we might have to prove we're trustworthy or something to enter. They just sent us away. I wish we could talk to someone, but the only person I could even try to get in contact with was either busy with the rail road or that miner Lord Jerk, and he seemed to really want us gone."

8:08 AM

"They let Pearl in, I wonder what changed."

"Aren't we like allies?"

(Doesn’t mean you get Carte blanch in their territory)

8:13 AM

(Guys I’m not ready to write anything for them aside from what we have done just now. Inventing a problem just to give you something to do makes pearls trip pointless)

(ah sorry, I didn't mean to just give you extra work, should we stay away from the other khanates for now too then?)

(All good) "Maybe we should come back when we have a reason to be here or when they open up a bit. I guess we still can rest here for the night and start our trip back home tomorrow. With a stop at that mountain." (I guess when we have no reason or business to visit another khanate we don't need to go there.)

(weren't we trying to stop the wars though? That's still a thing isn't it, or is Chiron just going to get dogpiled?)

(Well everyone keeps saying they want down time and couldnt wait for the mission to be over since they had stuff at home to do (edited)

8:19 AM

Then I write it in and we don’t want it now. So I don’t know how to proceed)

(sorry Neko, I guess we should decide that first, but everything is so interesting it's hard to focus on one when when sometimes it means the destruction of the other. Probably that would come first? I think I still need to get up to level 10 before focusing on the bar for faction making and downtime right? I should probably talk to Carmen about it in character though?)

(You were working on the green drink, you had your chest drink, you wanted to do stuff at the bar, there was a bunch of other stuff too )

8:22 AM

(And we keep saying we never get time to do it)

8:23 AM

(Byron hasn’t really been playing so the green drink is open season as far as I’m concerned

(yeah though that makes sense focusing on the goals I have before trying to do new ones, I just got nervous cause I think Chiron has a clock and the L gates are really awesome so it would suck if it got destroyed or fell into enemy hands.)

(I wouldn’t do anything like that without a news post)

8:24 AM

(Which has been the game format almost exclusively since it’s creation)

(so could I ask Daitrij* to analyze the green drink that I bought from that one militia guy then? Or would we need a more dedicated lab?) (edited)

3

(It can be done here let’s just spend the time

1

"Well if we can't get into the city you think you could take a look at that drink stuff I got? If it really is as bad as Carmen things it could be dangerous. I'm not saying you have to find a way to switch the main ingredient for Chestnutatoes™️ just that I would shower you in credits if you did." Eli scratches his neck. "I could help, but you would basically be teaching me the basics while we go."

(I don't know how often I wrote Andra instead of Daitrij but it gets better. And with the whole war situation, maybe we should speak about it for real at the next meeting.) "Yeah, I guess I have some time for that and I could finish it faster than making some Chestnutato drink I think." Daitrij points at the few Chestnutatos she has left in the lab. "Do you have some of that stuff with you?"

Eli takes out the flask and hands it to her. "I think this should still be good for analysis."

"It glows green like something pulled out of a nuclear reactor's waste pit, it has to be bad for you."

"Yeah, but if we could make a version that did that, but wasn't that would be great for business, and the colonists."

"Sure. I'll prepare some first tests that can run through the night. Let's find out just how dangerous this is." Daitrij takes the flask and after Carmen's comment doesn't bother sniffing it first. She prepares some of it in glas tubes. "Gonna check the volatility of the solution." After preparing the first test she puts two drops of the solution into her hands and walks out of the truck. While doing so she asks Eli. "Do you happen to have any gas chromatography systems in you lab?" "I am sorry for using your gift for something like this Ognyena, but sometimes I want to be cool too." Once outside she heats up her hand with the two drops of the solution to see if it is highly flammable or if its gas is explosive. (edited)

10:09 AM

"Oh, did anyone die from drinking it?"

"No, as far as I could tell people were still unaffected, but I only scanned one person, and myself. Sorry I don't know what you'd need, I'm not so good at sciency stuff."

The substance is highly flammable as you would expect an alcohol based substance to be

"Do you think you will be doing much more with that stuff that could cause it to explode? I don't want us to be driving and have the truck catch fire."

Daitrij smiles when she sees the small flame go puff but immediately feels guilty and insecure after Carmen comments her action. "I, I just.. Sorry, no, I will be sticking to other methods." Head down and hidden under her hood she sneaks back into the truck. A whispered "Sorry" can be heard as she passes Carmen. After reaching the lab she turns to Eli. "Aside from knowing if it's dangerous or not, what exactly do you want to know and what do you want to do with that information?"

Carmen tries to say something as she passes, not meaning the comment to be rude or anything, just curious. She decides against it and goes back to the driver's seat to get the truck moving back to Mytikas.

"You know what's in it and all, if it can help us make a drink out of the chestnutatos. How bad it is or addictive. You know if we can just slowly phase it out with something better, or if we need to go confiscate it and send people to get free drinks and break up distribution. They people selling it went underground last I heard."

Daitrij thinks for a bit and writes something down before replying. "Listen, I can try to find out what's in this. I will run some tests including gas chromatography. Replacing parts of it with Chestnutato, I don't know. You are the cook not me. I can not simply create tastes, something like that wasn't part of my studies. What I can do is trying to find out what produces this green glow and to find out if it's dangerous. If not, you could use that as a base. I could help you make some potent alcohol out of Chestnutatos, but for that we need a kitchen, not a laboratory. With the glow and your Chestnutato alcohol you can create your drink that drives the dangerous stuff out of business. By being just a green glowing alcohol without sideeffects. How does that sound?"

1:00 PM

"Oh, and should we really start to drive now? Wouldn't it e better to stay here for the night and get moving in the morning?"

Carmen blinks for a second before looking out at the afternoon sky. "Uh, right, yeah, let's wait here for the night then set out in the morning. I think we actually have to sleep tonight."

"And I guess we need no one to stay awake with the city guard around"

(I thought we had driven a little ways away from the city)

(We don’t need to simulate the whole drive back. You know the safe paths and you’ll be running into friendlies sooner than normal since they’re building their end of the railroad )

(Works for me)

2

"So are we going to the mountains or straight back to Mytikas? There is a more full kitchen at the bar, but there is one in the truck too. I know you wanted to start on the ATV, right Carmen? I'm up for whatever you know me, I'll do what's in front of me!" Eli smiles then looks back at the chestnutato stalks.

(The only other thing I wanted to do was stop and investigate that mountain we found that looked to have metallic bits in it)

1:28 PM

(But we can do that later as another quest) (edited)

Without a clear answer, Daitrij tries to find out if there are any dangerous ingredients in the drink and what produces the green glow. (She would use the whole trip back do run those tests.)

They drive back to Mytikas

(I'm going to just summarize the findings)

2:40 PM

The active ingredient is a highly unstable mix of chemicals that EP does not have the ability to produce domestically right now. The main ingredient can be substituted for fermented Chestnutoe liquor, and combined with the crushed petals of the flowers you recently discovered, and then blended, the drink takes on a bright purple hue instead, and is far more stable.

2:41 PM

(that would be the base of it , i guess, after that we can try adding stuff)

2

(Are you done? I was going to post, something silly, but don't want to interrupt your summary.)

(Oh, I'm done)

1

(Thanks Neko.) Eli watches over Daitrij's shoulder as she analyzes the plants holding Chesters tusk trying to sing a song about Chestnutatos and purple liquor. (Cha/performance 3) It comes out horribly off key and his voice breaks half way, but he tries to keep singing. "Oh Chester you bleed purple, in a field of chestnutaotoooeooss koff koff" "Come down to the pearl and drink some chestnuttoeeoesos." "Lost your tusk, but gored my heart all for chestnutatooeoees." "Raise a cup at Eli's bar we serve chestnutatoooeoss." "Oh uh probably needs some work huh?" Eli runs to the turret.

"Hopefully your ability to distill is better than your singing Eli." Carmen says as she continues the drive along.

3:02 PM

(I'm ready to skip whenever, just doing rp)

(same that was the little bit I wanted to get in lol.)

(are we skipping to Mytikas?)

3:29 PM

When she hears Eli sing Daitrij is happy that she doesn't have a gun at hand and has enough to do for the rest of the trip to stay occupied.

(Yeah)

(Okay)

(Yes. We are. Xp was awarded already , and we got the drink base down. Sounds like that’s all )

(Is there anything going on in town when we get back?)

(Like I was saying , you guys kept saying you had downtime stuff to do, so me throwing another quest at you and therefore not doing the downtime stuff wouldnt have been very helpful

(Just meant in general)

"You're the smart ones, you two think you can help me show this to the people in production maybe get some of this stuff made before you go off on your own?"

"Uh, I dunno anybody in town who knows that kind of stuff."

"Maybe you can help me check it then. I haven't seen the production myself even really." (edited)

"Wait, which production? The underground production?"

"I doubt they will just let you walk in and change things if its all underground." She says as they hop out of the truck, having parked it in front of the bar this time.

"We have our own facility, and I doubt they could stop me if I really wanted, but o don't want to go in set for a war."

"Just make something better and people will come buy that instead. I can help you get things started if you want me to, I've got some projects to work on anyway so I'll be in town." (edited)

"What about getting a house, you still wanted to do that, and something that wasn't the bar?"

"Huh, I completely forgot about that. Yeah, we can do that." She turns to Daitrij. "Did you want to come with, maybe find a place for yourself that we could add a medical lab to later or something?" (edited)

"You are going to build me a house? That's generous to say the least. That would be great yeah, unless of course you really want some time together without your new Taros friend. I guess I need to hand in a report about the Ufyuin flower. But I guess they'd still be happy even if they hear about it tommorow instead of today." Daitrij turns to Eli. "So you've got my findings and the recipe for the Chestnutato liquor. I guess you owe me a credit shower." She says laughing. "No instead of money, how about we settle with you owe me one? So if I am ever in need of some help I could come to you?"

"I, um, meant more find someplace that already is built, but I could certainly get something new made, I am the chief engineer after all. I didn't think you would want to wait months to have your own place. I still don't have one and it kinda stinks. I keep coming back to town and find someone else asleep on my cot."

"I, um, oh, yeah you know." Daitrij scratches her head and sighs. "No, I don't want you to go over board with doing stuff for me. When the head engineer doesn't have a real place to live, why should I get one? No, don't bother building something for me right now. There will be better times in the future, I am sure of it. Up until then I do have my one room mini apartment in the building where some other medical personnel is housed as well. So I am good for now. But thank you. I guess I am just finishing up my deal with Eli and will report back to some officials. Maybe there is an existing lab to synthesize the active ingredient in the Ufyuin flower. Maybe we can start producing untested drugs soon. But thanks for the trip Carmen."

"Its okay your both are always welcome at the food truck or the Pearl or wherever I end up. I mean you've seen my silly song and dance, and how moony and lovestruck I get around Carmen. and how I get side tracked about silly things like chester so you know what you're in for. Of course I'll be there if either of you need me, you saved my life and more than that we're friends!"

"Thank you, Elias. Don't mess up your Ufyuin drink. Never forget that the flower is named after my sister." She says with a wide smile. "I wish both of you best of luck on your ways. May the flame in your hearts always guide you. And should you ever need me, just call me and I'll be there." She nods and puts her hood up before turning around and walking away. "Ognyena, I know they don't believe in you. But if you got some time, guide them on their ways please."

Eli waves at Dai as she walks into the distance. " I won't." He looks to Carmen. "Now that she's gone, were you going to head off with me or should I just meet you at the garage or the bar before the day's over, I know you have reports to make and things to build, and I have my own stuff to do with getting ready the Ufyuin punch, but I like spending time with you." Eli takes Carmen's hand in his and smiles at her. Looking a bit like a lost puppy, happy, but scared and unsure of what to do next.

Daitrij turns around and walks back to them. "Sorry I almost forgot to take that one potted plant with me." She gets the potted Ufyuin flower from the food truck and leaves the two alone, now for real. "Bye"

"Bye, sorry, I think that sounded worse than I meant it to. It was supposed to be silly and fun." Eli grabs Carmen's hand tighter and looks down slowly starting a quiet panic.

Carmen smiles at him and laughs. "Lets go see what kind of houses are free, then we can decide what to do after that."

"Worst case we can always fix up some ruins and get something for the family inside, that'd be a nice project right? Maybe you could finally teach me how to fix stuff?"

"Yeah, that would be a nice project, though with how often we are out of town it might take a while."

"That's okay, we just need to fix up one room for now, or we can wait, but what did you want to do first?"

"Let's go talk to one of the town administrators and see what they can find for us." Carmen walks off to the administrative building. (edited)

1

"Sounds good to me, I'll let you handle it, you're the chief engineer." Eli follows her to the building.

The city architects are working on another pumping station, and plans for what looks like a plantation for harvesting flowers like what you had found out in the pasture. Planned production centers are laid out on a large map of the local area, along with tallies of the supplies needed to keep them going.

"Hmm Carmen how much do you think it would take to get a greenhouse of those flowers going? I'll probably need my own if I'm going to use them for the drinks right?" (that would be like a harvester or something right?)

(It depends what your faction is going to operate like. If youre planning on doing far trades some day, it would be a production center. If you're just trying to keep things small, we could say its a harvester as you just sell locally)

9:16 AM

(but it cant be both)

(so would I need to make both to sell locally and abroad?)

(Minor production centers dont have an unkeep cost, it is assumed they sell enough locally to cover their expenses without you doing anything. Really its a matter of do you want a monthly tonnage amount of trade goods, or do you just want the chance to get a fac cred every month)

(that might make more sense then. Would it need to be it's on production or would that be covered under the one we talked about before. I know it was kind of nebulous since I'm not sure on the details of how starting a faction works.)

(I dont know what you just asked me, but I'd be happy to answer once its clear)

(Sorry. I know before you gave me an idea of what I would have if I took the bar into being a faction. I was wondering if I would need another production center for the flowers and flower drink, or if that would fall under the one already listed.)

(The production center covers everything needed to make, transport, and sell the good)

1

(Also I guess what should I do if anything to set that up in character. Sorry I just never had a faction before so I'm scared I'll mess it up.)

(You've been doing fine with the ghoul king!)

(yeah, but you do the in game version of him and shh lol.)

11:16 AM

(let me go find the prospective thing you gave me.)

(Just rp out whatever house we find? We are going to be splitting the pcs up after this bit of rp just so we can run separate threads again)

(sure, probably better if you guys decide what you want anyway without me forcing choices)

Carmen talks to the administrator, finding a house with some working plumbing and electricity but that needs some serious work to make the top floor livable. She takes Eli to the house. "Well, its certainly a fixer-upper, but its the best around thats free."

"Running water and power is better than what I had before. The limit of my handywork is putting up Instapannels, are you okay with doing most of the heavy lifting and teaching me repair wise?"

"Yeah, but didn't you say you had some apprenticeship thing you were going to do?"

"Well that was before the crash and the news about Andra and Pearl. I still have to get things started with the bar though before long Elias Liquors Incorporated will be more than a one front business. I don't know if I have time to spend fixing up boats. With Pearl gone I own the bar fully."

(Yeah Eli is sole proprietor now)

Eli sighs. "That wasn't too callous to say was it. I hope they're still out there somewhere, but with so much death I know it's probably wishful thinking."

(Bbl, get off work at 8)

(later, have a good shift.)

Carmen shakes her head. "No, its not. You have to hope until you know otherwise. Part of me was wishing we would find my friends out in the garden, but I knew that was never going to happen. She might still be out there and come back, you never know. For right now, just focus on what you can do. Didn't you say something about learning magic from that robot man who came through too?"

"Yeah, but the school is still being built, and he knew more psychic stuff than magic I might check it out though. Students and teachers usually need a watering hole right, why not the Pearl?"

"Is that what you are going to call it?"

"The bar? I think so, is that alright. I haven't done anything formal yet."

She shrugs. "It's your bar. I've got to check up on the construction and grab my things, you want to meet back here tonight?"

"What at the ruins again or the house?"

"The house silly." She says, giving him a kiss before walking out.

Eli smiles and waves. "I'll bring the food truck just in case. I know the rooms are a little cramped, but better than waking up to a rainstorm."

"Good idea! I'll see you later!" She calls back to him from outside before continuing out of earshot

Eli waits watching Carmen leave before getting back in the food truck and driving out past the checkpoint and to The Pearl.

The bar is the same as ever, though business has dropped off significantly with no one here to drum it up, and no one trusted enough to run it

Eli muses to himself. "Maybe that's the first thing I should do, get someone I trust to run the day to day." He looks for some of the regular bartenders. (sorry I'm not sure if anyone was working it. I was kind of in the dark besides that one scene where he put the tusk above the bar, so I figure that it will I rp Eli as being the same?) (edited)

No one is behind the bar. It seems that there has been a bit of an honor system in place, leaving credits for drinks, but the tip jar seems light compared to the amount of beer that is missing

Eli looks around for any interesting patrons.

A woman in garb far too old for her sits at the bar, compad constantly going off

Eli walks up to her. "Hello, I'm Eli, owner of the Pearl, how has your time here been so far?"

She shrugs, and continues texting on her compad. "only place to drink in town. Not really the kind of place I'm used to"

"Hmm what kind of place would you usually drink at if you had the choice?"

4 tons of cargo space. (edited)

Rey (Shriven) pinned a message to this channel. 4/7/2020 12:44 PM

"Something a lot more upscale than this. But if its this, or nothing, I'll have to make do wont I?"

12:48 PM

she stops again to tap out a message, before putting her pad down again

"So what do you do, you seem tapped in. I was thinking of opening a ritzier location, would you drink there if it was a little more upscale and expensive?"

"Don't know about expensive, but you could stand to clean the place up, try to make it a little nicer"

"Sure. Sorry I've been off planet. Robbing banks, scouting railroads and punching saber cats. Anything else you would change?"

Her eyes light up at the sound of your adventures

1:55 PM

"Really? And you own this bar? why arent you promoting yourself?"

"Well I co owned it. I thought my partner was handling all that, but she died in a fight with the brother hood so I came to see what the state of things was. You don't happen to know anyone looking for a job or who knows bars well do you?"

"I might be, I seem to fit things dont I?"

"Why not, you seem to have good ideas for the place, and how to promote it, would you like the job?"

"Really? just like that? what are my responsibilities?"

"What you said, keep the place clean, get people coming in and you know paying for their drinks. Start a whisper campaign about our new purple drink Ufyuin Punch, beat out that glowing green swill, stay safe. I think that's pretty much it." (Sorry I thought I sent this I got distracted looking up the flower for the drink name.)

(Ufyuin?)

(isn't that the flower?)

(yes)

(I thought I'd name it that since it's one of the main ingredients.)

1

"You got any to try? would be nice to know what you're trying to get me to hype up"

"Not yet, I'm still getting production and all going, we mainly have the imported stuff for now."

9:36 PM

(we won't have it until turnover right? or did I need to do something else to get it?)

(Nothing from the drugs:raw materials production center this month for this right now)

9:38 PM

(oh your production center, no, its spending this month developing)

(The month after that then?)

(correct)

1

"Heck I haven't even tried any yet, but I have faith in our production team, or I will." (they also sort of don't exist yet right or they do?)

(Who?)

(The production team, I assume someone has to do it?)

(Your faction does not work with any mechanical differences to anyone elses. Your production center is up and running next month without any further player needed input)

(ah sorry. I'll leave it alone besides references then

. I get caught up in minutiae too much. I just want to make sure it all goes smoothly since it's sort of one of my goals.)

"Alright, well what are you making right now? what am I supposed to be selling?"

"The imported haephestae brews, they're pretty good, but I think you all have been drinking them more than me." Eli laughs. "Hmm have people been eating the food stuffs, I spent a bit of time figuring out how to prepare them, but I can understand how it might be daunting after some of the stuff in the news."

"Ah I see, so nothing is being made here right now. Sounds like that is all about to change. Alright, I'll take the job, and try to whip this place into something you can work with"

"Thank you. Well I'm Eli, but if you're working for me I should probably know your name. To put on your checks if nothing else." Eli laughs and holds out his hand.

"Veronica is fine, you can call me that" she takes the offered hand

Eli shakes her hand. "Then Veronica it is. So how much do you think you'd need to help you get this bar into shape?"

"25,000 to really turn this place into something respectable and get the rest of the help we need. We need a nice big storefront so next month when your product comes in, we have something to sell"

3:53 PM

(25k is the cost of going from a lvl 1 to a lvl 2 base of influence, which will be next month's upgrade for you)

"Here I'll tell you what do it up really nice and take some for yourself, I don't want anyone else poaching you Veronica. Give me your info and I'll transfer over 35,000." (edited)

“That’s surely too much. I’m not trying to make money off you. Well maybe a little. But I’ll just take what I need to fix things up for now”

"Alright if you're sure. Just want you to know I value you as a friend, person and employee. So you don't feel left out in the cold. Yiu know anything about these militia bootleggers Veronica? Also how fo you feel about the Sarya Saloon? I'm still workshopping the name."

“I like it. And no. I don’t know what you mean”

"The glowing green drink jerks. I dont want them to muscle you out while I'm gone. Tgey killed an acquaintance of mine in the square, or allegedly he shot first, but he was a hero at the mines and a precog, the whole thing stinks worse than a dead trollboar. You know how to defend yourself if it comes to it?" (edited)

Hey, I met someone awesome from offworld you should meetn she found where the green goop guys hang out! Meet us at this house if you want in. Coordinates are attached

No, its in town, we will come get you (edited)

"Well I think my girlfriend is coming to pick me up Veronica, so I'll just send over the credits and get out of your hair."

She doesnt say anything else, wrapped in her thoughts of how to improve this place

Eli nods and sits a table waiting for the others taking out his compad to send the credits. (going to take of the 25000 of of the sheet now.)

(47,370 down to 22,370)

(Alright. Thank you)

(you're welcome.

)

(oh also adding ghost reroll token for a third. having 3 is okay right sorry I didn't do it before now.)

(You can have as many as you’re awarded )

(Thanks Neko just wanted to double check.)