Iron Stars - jacob

The noise of the refugee camp in Danae's southern province is a background noise for Jacob now, something he has become used to over the months of living here. What stands out from the usual chorus of people shifting in their stolen hours of sleep, uttered prayers, conversations, and the ever present ringing of hammers on nails is the gunshot. It's just one. There's no scream or cry of pain after it. There is just a single, sharp note that pierces the background dull roar. There is then not just silence after it, but the complete absence of sound from thousands of bodies who all heard the same thing. THe camp is enclosed by a chain link fence and a gate made of the same, strung between two thick pipe rollers to be moved aside when a Greystar relief convoy lands nearby and needs to truck their supplies in. today however, six pickups and sixty men stand there in ordered ranks. Their leader holds a combat rifle, a thin plume of smoke dissipating from the warning shot fired into the air to get the attention of the camp. No one has come forward to see what he wants. Everyone is too scared, carries no weapon, or otherwise is nursing some kind of wound from when the planet had been attacked so comprehensively.

11:37 AM

"Send an emissary to me at once to discuss terms!" he shouts finally, trying to prompt some kind of movement from inside the camp.

7

Jacob had been doing his best to tend to the spiritual well being of the camp members. It is hard to keep spirits up when every day was toiling and struggling for basic survival. Jacob had just finished meeting with a young couple who were talking about getting married when the singular gun shot is heard throughout the camp. For the first time in months, the camp was silent. Hammers stopped striking nails, conversations came to a hushed conclusion, "Now what? If someone wanted to do the kvetching all they had to do was say something... Now we got the bullets involved? What is this mishegas?" Someone standing nearby relays the message of people outside wanting a messenger, "Nu? First we don't get our regular shipment, now we have this tsuris? Feh... Probably Nothing. I will go and see." Jacob plods along slowly, he makes sure his hammer is resting snugly in its sling as he heads out towards the front gate. He strokes his beard anxiously as he calls out to the group of soldiers, "Um yes? Hello? Hi, um... what's with the racket? What can I do for you, young man?" (edited)

"This camp is under our protection now, but you see the problem with this is we haven't been paid. My men and I are quite hungry, and quite in need of some resources to make sure nothing bad happens to this lovely camp of yours. Now, you can bring them out to us, or we can come in there and get them- and I think since you've decided to be brave and come to the gate, you should be the one to decide"

"Oh? Protection? Hmm..." Jacob turns to another in the camp that happens to be near the gate, "Shlomo! You order the protection? How about you Drew? You order the protection? ... What? ... Of course it doesn't come with mayo!" Jacob mumbles some yiddish insult under his breath Jacob turns his attention back to the young man in front him, "Sorry no one order the protection... But if you are hungry there are many animals to hunt nearby... We have so very little as it is... Bupkiss... Zilch... Nil... Wouldn't be much to protect after feeding you and your men..."

1

"Your food, everything you got in the camp. This spot, by tomorrow. We'll be back" he says , starting to frustrate "And we're getting it one way or another"

"All right all right! Heard you loud and clear, young man, no need to get angry." Jacob waves and does his best to smile. "Hashem should visit upon him the best of the Ten Plagues..." he mumbles to himself as he walks away from the gate. He goes to look for whatever might pass as the camp leadership to tell them the news of the people 'protecting' the village

Walking around camp you quickly realize that there is no leadership. Greystar has made the camp and brings in supplies, but the people here have largely been left to forge their own destinies on this world with distant- off world support. The demands are a concern for everyone, but there is nothing in place to coordinate a response aside from those with strong wills who can get the people to follow them, it seems.

"Well Jacob... You wanted to help, so now you gotta help. This is your mishpokhe now and they need you... Need to buy ourselves time..." Jacob spends the better part of the next hour or so attempting to find someone in the camp who is a doctor and/or knowledgeable of local herbs and roots. "Perhaps we can give them a trojan horse..." (Trying to find someone who would know how if there are any roots/herbs that could be debilitating at small-medium doses)

(connect/cha, unless you;ve got a foci in mind or anything)

(i only have authority unfortunately. Would first need to find someone first to be able to use it) (6 with charisma) (If I could use wisdom instead by recalling on my time here in the refugee camp and who have knowledge of local flora. Result would be a 7) (edited)

(I thnk wisdom is fair)

You remember a trapper that used to move beyond the camp into the woods. He occasionally came out of the forest with vegetables, nuts, and fruits to eat along with small game. His trips were infrequent and the bounty varied, but he seems to know his way around well enough for a single person.

Jacob heads over to the trapper's hovel and knocks on the instapanel wall, "Boker tov, friend. I am sure you have heard the commotion out by the gate. We need to buy ourselves some time from the putz who wants to take all our food. I was thinking something to debilitate the meshugganer. Can put them to sleep or make them sick. Do you know of such a plant that could do that?"

“I had a bit of an incident one night when I was out trapping. Might be able to find those mushrooms again. They’re deep in a cave though. Might be dangerous. Not going to go alone”

"Oy gevalt. And you remember where this cave is, yes? Good then it was b'shert that our paths crossed." Jacob looks around and nods approvingly, "Maybe we find another muscle mensch to come with. We go get the mushrooms then come back. We aren't eating them so they don't even need to be kosher." (edited)

1

(lmk if you need anything else from me to go off of)

(you're good, this just didnt light for me)

7:20 AM

"I think we can find that place again. You know anyone with the big muscles? Look at this camp. Starving and rail thin. No mana from heaven for us, just Nutrition paste from Greystar"

"Or maybe someone with a gun, nu? That should make everything b'seder. Someone in our mishpokhe should know how to shoot, yes?" Jacob walks around for a few minutes with the trapper looking for someone carrying a gun.

A rail thin looking teenager with a rusty hunting rifle watches the retreating forms of the militia trucks vanish over the horizon. His face is hard set and angry looking despite the apparent frailty of his body. His fists are balled, while the weapon remains slung over his back.

"Looks like we found our, friend. Hang tight while I go give him my spiel." Jacob heads over to the young teen and claps him on the back, "Angry enough to do something about it?" Jacob turns to look the kid in the eyes, "If you want to help, I could use that fire. But I need to know that you can follow directions like a good mensch. Think you can do that?"

“I think I can. Hell yeah I’m angry. These people can’t get away with it. They won’t. The ants won’t stay in line like good little slaves for this one”

"Then Baruch Hashem, for you have found an ally in this. But we must be careful, nu? For they are many and we are weak. We must be craftier than our oppressors!" Jacob beckons the young man to follow him to the hunter. "My name is Rabbi Jacob Kohen. But you, my mishpokhe, you may call me Jacob." Jacob points to the hunter, "Now you said you know where some toxic mushrooms are? We had best head out to collect some for our new meshugganer who want our food. Do we need supplies to make the journey? Or is it within a day's walk?"

"Let's plan for an overnight, to be safe. Don't want to get trapped out there with no blanket to swaddle our new baby-friend in eh?"

"Dayeinu! That should be enough. I think I have a blanket or two my bubushka crocheted for me." Jacob leads the way to his own hovel and grabs a few blankets and whatever rations he has. If he doesnt have enough for the three of them, he would go to hovel to hovel offering some credits for an extra ration pack or two. (Don't know how hard they are to obtain.) Once they are all set up and ready to leave, Jacob would exit the compound and head in the direction of the cave as directed by the trapper

(probably not hard right now, but hard if the tribute is paid)

10:32 AM

Your mission and news of it is circulating and a few rations are donated to the cause- the locals feeling that a small expense today is going to save them a great amount of heartache in the future.

Jacob spends a few minutes with those willing to donate rations. He thanks them and gives them a blessing before he heads to the front gates with his companions. As they start their journey through the wilderness to the cave, Jacob says the blessing for a safe journey

(We actually havent generated any hexes around here now that im checking things over, lets get a D10)

(9)

heading north out of the camp you fist pass through a lightly wooded plain where thin trees cast the occasional shadow over the ground. Bugs and birds inhabit the region and you can see several large bushes are also present here filled with a mixture of red and purple clusters of berries.

"Gifts from Hashem, perhaps? Do you know if these berries are edible?" Jacob says as he turns to the trapper. "Perhaps if they are we can supplement our camp's diet..." Jacob moves closer to the bush, but avoids touching it for the time being

"I tried a few once, I thought I was speaking to the burning bush for a whole night. Maybe cooked they will not be so bad ? I have not wanted to try"

"Baruch Hashem! Even better for those goyim! We get them to nosh on some of these and sprinkle in some of the mushrooms for good measure! Then we can take out those shmendrikot!" Jacob does his best to harvest the berries with the help of the trapper. He then places what he is able to haul into a side pouch in his backpack

Keeping it in an exterior pouch where it wont be jostled serves well and once stowed he looks to compose himself. "ALright, woods are dark. Lots of creatures. Serpents, some kind of wolf hybrid, other bad things. They think we are food, they will come for us if they smell us. You both need to be ready to protect yourselves. "

Jacob pulls out his hammer and gives it a good heft. The trapper and the young man can both see there is intricate Hebrew and Aramaic writing on the head of the weapon, "I will do my utmost to protect you, 'For he who saves just one life it's as if they had saved the entire world.'" Jacob takes the lead as they enter the forest, "Channel your inner yenta and don't be afraid. For Hashem has set us on this path and walks with us."

(Survive/wis)

(9 if the trapper has surive-1 and wis +1. would be a 7 if I need to use Jacob's stats)

(9 with the trapper is good) You manage to make it through the woods without much trouble and without disturbing the wildlife. THe cave is approached close to the waning hours of the afternoon and you can see the bio fungus within giving off a soft blue light.

Jacob holds out a hand to stop the traveling party. Pulling the trapper in closer so he doesn't have to yell Jacob asks, "So was it specifically noshing on the mushrooms that led to seeing Hashem? Can we touch them safely? Any creatures call this cave home?"

"Eating them, yes. Not sure if there's creatures, no evidence but things seem to migrate here. Something could have moved in to shelter for a little bit"

"Alright you want to get to gatherin? I'll check the cave interior just to make sure there are no surprises?"

"We all need to go in to gather them. Let's check for creatures first, and clear it if there are any. Then we'll harvest in peace"

"That's a yoddisher kop you got there! I like it!" Jacob leads the way into the mouth of the cave. He does his best not to disturb any of the mushrooms, "Stay close and keep your eyes peeled"

The team begins moving in and you can see some spiderwebs strung on the ceiling of the cave. They’re thick enough to have entangled several birds and they hang there dangled from their legs , spinning gently in the breeze

"I wonder if spider legs are kosher..." Jacob wonders allowed as he begins to salivate at the thought of a tasty new dish. As they press further in Jacob is sure to check all around them. He makes sure his thermal knife is loose in it's scabbard in case he needs to cut himself or his mishpokhe free.

There is a scuffing sound from inside the cave as you approach its mouth. A rancid wind blows that the trapper informs you wasn’t here last time. He is wary and has his own survival knife drawn

Jacob is scared but he does his best not to show it. He grips his hammer and says a prayer, "Be with us this day Hashem..." Artistic Hebrew letters begin glowing faintly. He pushes the kid back a few steps so he might have a better shot (edited)

Two large spiders the size of small horses rear up as you approach the entry of the cave. They chitter and roar As they approach from 5 meters away

Jacob shouts his own Maccabeean war cry and dashes forward to meet the giant spiders. (Init 6)

(You, spiders , trapper and soldier)

Jacob steps up to the nearest spider and attempts to smash the head of one in

7:30 PM

And misses by a wide margin with a wild and uncontrolled swing

7:31 PM

(rolled a 4 to hit, lmao. Edit: 2 shock vs AC20) (I have 17AC) (edited)

One of the spiders is wounded by the downward swing and neither of them are able to get their jaws around your shield though you can feel the weight of their scrabbling limbs on the other side. Metal dents and buckles but holds firm. The trapper lines up a shot, wounding the one you struck followed by the soldier who with a stroke of luck also managed to score a hit. The spider falls dead leaving a 3 on 1 fight

"Oy Vey! This schlimazel got a bump on his noggin! Would be a shame... If his friend got one too!!" Jacob follows up on the other spider with a vicious uppercut, landing the blow just below the mandibles of the oversized fly eater. (20/11)

The fly eater will eat neither flies, nor anything else ever again. The hammer blow reduces its head to a thick paste that clings to the killing head of your weapon. It is otherwise very dead.

"Well, Mishpokhe! I think that is the last of them! You see how that last one exploded? And great shooting you two!" Jacob takes a second to look around and listen. He then gestures to the mushrooms, "We should collect and then start the journey back home, unless you think sleeping here might be safer?"

"We should risk it. We don't know when that son of a bitch is going to come back, or what he'll do when he gets there." THe trapper begins moving to the cave walls, following his trail of knife cuts deeper in to the loose grove of mushrooms. He begins donning a pair of rubber gloves that go up to his elbows.

Jacob moves to assist him however he can. Either with his own pair of gloves and knife or just holding open the back so he can have a place to put the mushrooms

The survival kit has other gloves in it and you quickly help, filling A large oil skin bag full of mushrooms to take back to camo

Jacob ties off the bag and finds room for it in his own pack if possible. To make room he pulls out the ration packs and hands one to each of them, "We should probably eat and walk then. My bubbe always said, 'Doing anything on a full stomach is better than doing nothing on an empty one.' So nosh and walk!" Jacob with the help of the trapper guides them back towards camp

(exert/con)

(10!)

1

You make it back exhausted and with burning muscles from the fighting, the long overland trip, and the exertion of trying to get this heavy haul back quickly before the enemy returns. You estimate you have between 4 and 6 hours before the bandits return to try to claim their haul from the camp. A meager pile of supplies has been stacked up near the gate from whatever personal initiative people had thought they were taking. You can already tell it will not be enough to appease them.

"Az m'iz hungrig, esst men breit..." Jacob says with a bit of a sigh. "Something tells me that they aren't that hungry, so I doubt we would be that lucky... Pack the berries and mushrooms up for our guests... I will see to finding more stuff to make our offering worthy..." (Would there have been some sort of quartermaster for the camp? or did people hoard supplies for themselves?) (edited)

(Svenka the NPC is administrating the planet overall, but is not in this region, so id imagine theres probably no official quartermaster, the automated deliveries just go out)

(Got it) Jacob goes to the camp center and tries to get everyone attention, shouting loudly, "My Mishpokhe! Come and gather! We only have a short time! ... Yes, Everyone! That means you too Mister Goldschmidt!"

Some of those closest begin to gather around, interested in why you are making so much noise in the pre-dawn hours of the night.

"I must plead with you, my mishpokhe. We need more supplies to give to the Khazer [glutinous pig] that came around a-shooting! Just like HaShem asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac, I am asking you to sacrifice some of your supplies. Trust that I have a plan for those momzerim [untrustworthy bastards]!" Jacob continues to shout, hoping that more people will come to listen the longer he speaks. "Please. We need only give them enough so they do not come in and take it all. Keep enough for a few days and donate the rest. We can worry about what happens next week when we get there... If we do not take care of these putz today, then it won't matter what we eat tomorrow. Please my mishpokhe, place your trust in me!"

(I have my Authority focus, but i know its normally only used on a single NPC. Your call if it could be stretched to the village. Or maybe there is an influential member of the community who has come and I can use it on them. Just a thought)

(I think as a Rabbi it could be stretched in a case like this to the community, as you've been here for some time and probably are a respected leader/religious figure)

(lol just my luck. a 4. Could I burn a plot point for a reroll?)

(sure can, or some creative narrative thing that makes people want to listen to you, like a miracle from God, be it real or a convincing enough occurrence to make people think so)

(Ok let me think)

3:29 PM

(What do you think about manna coming down from Heaven? It provided sustenance 6 days a week while the people trekked through the desert. I have 3 plot points to burn so if you think something like this would be a big ask I don't mind using 2 or more points to make it happen. Edit: even if it was only a temporary thing, like for a month) (edited)

(Sure!)

10:03 AM

(I think one is good since its based on a previous miracle thats widely understood to be part of the people's history/culture. We're not freewheeling random stuff and trying to make it stick) (edited)

As Jacob mentions having to make their own sacrifice as a community, a young boy begins plodding forward carrying a basket filled with these coriander like seeds, except white. "Rebbe! Rebbe! These are seeds that I gathered this morning... I never seent it befores! It was like ice flakes on da grass... Can this work?" Jacob gives the lad a curious look and gets down off the large rock and comes to look at the seeds. He picks a few up and sniffs them before continuing a closer visual inspection. After a few seconds he tastes on and instantly the sweetness of honey hits his tongue. Jacob's eyes go wide as he pulls out his compad and opens his Torah text. Scrolling to Exodus he reads aloud,

And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna; and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

"No... could this be? ..." Jacob has the boy show him the field where he had collected these seeds. Lo and behold, where yesterday there was dying grass in its place lies beautiful healthy grass with a thick coating of hoarfrost from the pre-dawn dew. Jacob walks over to an untouched patch and collects his own handful of Manna and tastes it. The honeyed wafer flavor hits his tongue and he begins jumping and laughing and shouting. He dances with the young boy who doesn't even understand the gravity of his discovery. The crowd follows Jacob and curiously looks on as to what the new commotion is about. More people begin to wake up and sleepily make their way to the dew covered field. Rumors of Manna begin spreading through the camp. Jacob beckons the people to come to the field to see for themselves, "My Mishpokhe! Hashem has seen that we walk with him and that we listen to his Torah! Go and gather the manna for it shall sustain you! No more than three and one half liters per person. Any more will rot. We will have all the food we need!" (edited)

The camp is rallying, blessed with hope from your actions and a kindled belief that something higher or something above is watching over you. The bandits will be here in a few hours, unaware of the situation they will be walking into.

"I need you all to do me a chesid [good deed/favor]... After you gather your manna, bring all but two days worth of rations to the point near the gate. I have a plan to deal with these nudniks! They will be noshing on things far less pleasant than grey nutrient paste"

They begin working to gather what they can, both for their own supplies and for the allotment you plan to leave for whatever is to come next.

Jacob thanks the people of the camp and gives them all a blessing for good health and fortune. After he heads back to the stockpile of goods to prepare for the return of the bandits. He tries to catch a few hours of sleep before they arrive.

(anything you wanted done before they get there?)

(I don't think so)

By morning you can hear the sound of heavy engines approaching the camp. A dust cloud announces the return of the raiders long before you see them.

Jacob wakes at the first sounds of the vehicles. He quickly says some morning prayers before grabbing his hammer and placing it on his belt. He walks to stand outside the gate to wait for the trucks to arrive. He waves at the leader that was here yesterday, "Boker Tov, long drive? Would hate to know you woke up super early for our supplies"

"Yes. The supplies. You've gathered them? We're here to inspect and take what's ours"

"Ah yes, we are the grocery store, nu? Come come! See your bountiful selection..." The sarcasm is palpable, but Jacob shows the man what they have. "Unfortunately those Greystar shlemiel [incompetent person] only give us nutrient paste. We manage some foraging of berries and mushrooms... We are still struggling to reestablish ourselves after the raid and government collapse..." Jacob does his best to sell their very hard life in the months following the collapse of planetary governments

(talk/cha) "These berries and mishrooms, I've never seen these here before. Where did you find them?"

(5, womp womp)

"You seem to be getting on well enough if you've got this much to eat off the land. We';ll take it, and that nutrient paste off your hands"

12:17 PM

"And I think a few of you to cook it for us as well"

"Oy... Was afraid you might say that... If you insist, then nu... What am I to do to fight you? The cholent my bubbe would make is out of this world. Let me bring a few of my helpers and we will be off... Please just let my people in the camp live in peace..." (Would like to bring the boy and the trapper if they will go) (edited)

(I think they'd do anything you asked given the miracles that happened here)

Jacob goes to get the two companions he had brought along previously and asks them to continue their journey with him. He tells them to follow his lead and he will do everything in his power to end this threat and save their people from these bandits. A short few minutes later Jacob, the trapper, and the boy all show up at the front gate with their belongings, "Nu... we are ready. Where would you like us to sit?"

“The truck at the back of the column has room. I’ll let them know you’re coming. “ He yells to the rest of the men to start loading the supplies. Some of them also begin to move through the camp , entering makeshift homes and huts

Jacob can see that the young lad is getting upset with them going through the camp. Jacob quickly grabs the youth's arm and walls with him towards the last vehicle. He whispers so only the young man can here, "Don't. There is nothing we can do now. We need to save our vengeance for when it can be complete and absolute."

Sensing you have a plan, he behaves for now.

10:03 AM

(3xp, 5000 credits)

10:03 AM

(I don’t think I awarded any before and since this is going to transition to something longer we will break it up

1

Level 2
HP 6->7+2->9
AB +0->+1
Sunblade 0->1 (-2 SP)
Shoot -1->0 (-1 SP)
Sunblade Art - Mystical Resilience (+Level HP)
Focus - Authority, Level 2

While they drive back to whenever they are going to be held, Jacob turns to the young man who has tired their fate to his, "What's your name boychik [young man]? I have never seen you at Shabbos services..." (edited)

"Pharos, my parents named me after the Roman" he says, looking out over the countryside as the trucks begin moving , now loaded with captured supplies. "You wouldn't have seen me there. I don't practice a faith"

"That would make sense..." Jacob starts feeling it getting a little awkward, so he quickly changes the subject. "That was some fine shooting on those spiders... Where did you learn to aim like that?"

"When times were better we had a farm. We had to learn from a young age to keep the carnivores in the area away from the Herd. We tried not to kill them if we could, but sometimes you had no choice, and if it came to that, you couldn't miss"

"Farmer's boy! No wonder! Is that the kind of life you want to return to? Assuming we get ourselves out of this mess?"

"I think so now, I was not sure for a while, but this world needs help, and healing, and people need to eat"

"From your mouth to Hashem's ears..." Jacob mumbles to himself. He pats the boy on the shoulder and gives it a reaffirming squeeze, "When this is all over I promise you we will get you that farm. You have great things ahead of you. I just know it." (Good to move forward when you are)

THe raiders are a pack of 30, a smaller raiding force than the show of power that came to menace the other day. Of them, they are all armed, except for the drivers. Supplies are loaded onto the backs of the three trucks they have brought with them, and six motorbikes provide scout and flank protection for the convoy- heading toward a distant and dark forest. There are clear signs of habitation within.

Jacob does his best to be perceptive of their location relative to the refugee camp and tries to see if they have any sentries or listening posts on the way in

(survive, or know, with wis for basically some mental mapping)

(5)

You're lost after the first handful of turns. Moving into the dark woods down unmarked trails does not help you orient yourself but you have a rough idea of the location of your settlement based on the angle of the sun. Finding it once out of here , especially if traveling at night, would be challenging.

4:13 PM

Arriving at their camp you see a large collection of buildings has been erected and fenced in by a tough wooden wall , backed up to a rocky hillside. A cave is part of the camp and it looks like they have driven off whatever used to live here- now using it as their water source by exploiting the spring within

As they arrive, Jacob does his best to get an estimate on the number of people might be in the camp. Once the vehicles park, Jacob hops out and gives a hand to Pharos and the trapper. He grabs a crate of supplies and asks the leader where he would like them to set up shop

There are about one hundred here, half of them are military in disposition, or at least playing at it with the fall of the planet. The rest look to be either families, camp followers, or others who have thrown their lot in with this group for better or worse

"Will have to find some people kvetching about the current state of affairs... Will need their help and have to work quickly..." Jacob takes the supplies to whatever area has been designated for cooking and begins setting up for his Babushka's Famous Cholent. He finds the biggest pots that he can and makes two separate groups of pots. One group for the 'military' and the other group for the camp followers. The cooking time alone should buy him time to make a connection or two. He hopes.

(who would you be looking for?)

(Dunno if the camp armorer/repair technician is one of the good ol boys or another captured person from another village, but perhaps that is a good first start?)

The camp armsman and tinker is someone who had been captured early on when the original company supply officer died of fever. He is treated the best out of all the other captives, but at heart is still a slave. He is a wise elder man, someone you could see yourself enjoying a cup of coffee or glass of wine with in better times, and his arthritic fingers still possess enough of their skill to keep the weapons and armor here in good repair, with the help of his two sons, and their mother who assist in the manufacture in this primitive forge. He is a camp lifeline, and his family is largely left alone due to their father's position as valuable chattel.

Jacob waits for a moment when there are no guards directly engaging with the tinker before walking up to meet him, "Boker Tov [good morning], friend. Name's Jacob. I'm new in camp and was wondering if you could spare a few minutes of your time?"

"Good morning. Another one taken eh. Im Benj. Nice to meet you, and A fellow member of the flock I see, your greeting" he explains quickly

"Yes unfortunately... They came to our shtetl [small village] demanding food... We aren't fighters so we gave what we could... But they wanted cooks so I volunteered to come... To hopefully protect my mishpokhe." "How are things here for us taken?"

“Yours a cook? Like me then I think. A slave, but a valuable one. Do your job well and they won’t hurt you. Take an apprentice or two if you can. Same privilege extends. Save who you can”

Jacob looks around to make sure no one can overhear. Once satisfied there are no guards eaves dropping, Jacob leans in closer and lowers his voice, "Not really a cook... Mostly learned from watching my bubbe... A Rabbi and a Maccabee by trade." Jacob waits a moment and studies the Tinker's face to see how he reacts to the mention of the ancient Israelite revolutionaries that fought against Antiochus so many centuries ago. (edited)

"Rabbi" he says reverently, giving you as much respect as able without giving you, or himself, away

10:44 AM

"I am pleased to see you here even moreso then"

Jacob flashes a quick smile and a nod of the head in acknowledgement, "Are there others who would listen to an alte kaker like me? I have a plan to continue the Maccabean tradition, but I need help from my new mishpokhe here..."

"they might, especially if the merc fortunes turn for the worst. Right now they're....they're doing okay, as you can see"

"My plan is to ensure that exact thing happens... Would I be able to meet with some of them? I want them to know who will be leading this charge... Also... Would you, when the time is right, be able to help equip them at a moments notice?"

"Hard to say. Much can happen between them and now. At dinner tonight, come sit with us once the mercs have been served. I will try to collect the people I think are the best fit"

"At dinner. See you then. Thank you and stay safe." Without waiting to tempt fate, Jacob heads back to the cook's house to get to work on the cholent. He stores the berries and mushrooms separately so they can be used in the future. Jacob does his best to make his bubbe's perfect cholent with the help of Pharos and the trapper.

The work goes smoothly and the mercs show you no mind, especially as you seem self motivated to actually get to work and know your place within the community. A few even comment that it smells good and they’re excited to eat

The three of them work diligently to get the food out to everyone. They make small talk as the cholent simmers and they bake some flat bread to go along with the stew like dish. Once almost everyone is served, Jacob has Pharos and the trapper take over. He grabs a bowl for himself and goes to find the tinker Benj at the table he indicated, "Hope everyone is enjoying the food... Mind if I join you all while I nosh?"

(at this point, has your special ingredients been added?)

(no. Wanted to meet with some camp people first. As badass as Jacob will be. He isn't gonna win 50 v 3 even if they are mostly incapacitated) (edited)

You can see the tinker and his family eating with three others. He locks eyes with you for a moment but doesnt make any move toward you so it does not look like you are in cahoots with one another.

Jacob meanders a bit acting like he doesn't really know where to go eventually finding himself at the table with the tinker and his friends, "Shalom, I'm Jacob and I'm new here... Mind if I join you chaverim [friends]?"

"Of course, please. They conscripted you too eh? I see you're not exactly the bullets and balaclavas type. Why'd they take you?" a woman who appears to be their seamstress says as she takes a large bite of the communal meal

"Volunteered to come... Didn't seem right as the rabbi of my community to let that schmuk take some other innocent, nu?" "And besides... I'm more of a hammer kind of a mensch" he gives a wink before continuing to eat his cholent.

(anything specific you're looking for out of them?) (edited)

(was going to try to talk about their desire to be involved with a change of leadership of the camp. Just didn't know if they were gonna have more questions) After a few bites in silence Jacob speaks up again, "So... I've been lead to believe that you all might be interested in an end to all this mishegas [craziness]" he says looking around with his eyes briefly. "I might have a... Maccabean style solution. I just need more chaverim to help make it realty..."

The implication of your words settles across them. "A hammer needs a head to fall upon. You're looking for the right one. I see I see, Well there's five, i think we we take them, the horde will collapse. These men and women following here, are not smart"

"Good. Just five? Nu, that is good the rest lack brains. Tomorrow for dinner. Do what you need to so that you can have the things you need to protect your families and other innocents. Most of the guard force should be indisposed. Most likely thinking they are talking to Hashem himself!" Jacob then turns slightly towards the tinker, "If you can do anything between now and then to reduce their combat ability, I will be most grateful. Make their boom sticks not go boom? Nu, will leave it to you to come up with something."

"One thing. They'll notice if they are all eating, and we do not. Not to be a fly in the soup, as it were"

8:13 AM

"Is there something we can do to try to blend in? or something we can do to mull the effects of whatever you're doing?"

"We will make two dishes. They will look the same so they won't know the difference until it is far too late. The guards get their own line to begin with so a second pot shouldn't set off any worry. How does that sound?"

"I think that's a clever way of doing it. Alright, we'll do what we can, and we'll try to find you when things get going. Good luck Rabbi, we will need it"

Jacob nods and proceeds to finish the rest of the meal in silence. He says a few blessings over the meal that they had just eaten. He then heads back to the kitchen house to help clean up the days dishes and if left alone, clue Trapper and Pharos in on the plan

(dont wanna skip to showtime if you had anything else going on)

(i don't think so. Good to move forward to the next evening)

The raiders spend their day going through the latest plunder abd beginning to get some work details set up to expand the cave with the captured building materials. They're planning on another slave raid soon from the sounds of it, this time for general labor and with far less discrimination about who gets hurt in the meantime. The evening meal gets closer and closer while everyone makes their own preparations

Over the course of the day, Jacob sets about preparing his bubbe's Matzo Ball Soup. Albeit not his best work since he doesn't have actual matzo meal, but he makes due with some nutrient paste that he has formed into balls with the help of some flower to thicken up the paste. When it comes time to make the stock, he makes sure he has two huge pots that are kept separate. Jacob with the help of the Trapper, carefully prepare the mushrooms and berries, "Only the best for our benevolent protectors!" he says to no one in particular. He then keeps the ingredients to the side so they can be added after the soup cooks. A little before the evening meal is set to being, they put the cut up mushrooms and berries into the pot for the guards and give it a big mix so its mixed through out. (edited)

The camp begins assembling for dinner and everyone seems eager to eat. Despite the hallucinogenic nature of some of the ingredients , both pots smell delicious and captivate everyone in the camp

"Alright alright. Everyone will get a bowl, stop your kvetching! We got two lines, guards and camp leadership to the right, everyone else to the left." Jacob waits until the first guard steps up and he gives the man a wink and whispers, "You, my chaverim, got better than just nutrient paste in the matzo balls. Need you all to be strong to protect us!”

He seems to accept the explanation at face value and eagerly begins trotting off to the company eating area with his warm bowl, soon to be followed by his fellows. The camp followers are also enjoying their meal, and nobody seems to be suspicious of anything afoot.

Jacob continues to serve the guards as quickly as possible. Doting on each one with a comment like his bubbe would make. "Oh such big strong muscles you got! ... That's a nice shirt you are wearing! ... You got so big! Look at you! ... Oh new shoes? You must run super fast! ..." He hopes to get through the line before the first one starts displaying any symptoms

The line proceeds rapidly and it seems everyone gets through things before the effects begin to take. As the pot ladle scrapes the bottom and everyone has had their fill, the first of the soldiers to eat begins passing into something like a slumber. He'll awaken and begin ranting like a lunatic soon.

With the last of the bowls filled, Jacob motions to Pharos and the Trapper to move along with him, "I think that is our cue..." Jacob immediately goes to find the Tinker so they can make a move on the Camp Leadership

The tinker is already up and moving , hanging out near the cave entryway with his family , waiting on your word (edited)

(just to make sure I'm not doing anything I'm not supposed to. I was allowed to keep my equipment?)

(yes, if you had decided to do anything crazy you might have killed one or two before the entire armed camp descended on you, as was their logic too)

1

(now it will be their downfall!) Jacob nods to the tinker in greeting and dons his shield while pulling his hammer free, "Today we are slaves, Tomorrow may we all be free..." He intones the mantra from the Passover story. "Just add this day to the holidays where we eat because they tried to enslave us and we survived!" Jacob the Rabbi steels himself for the hard fight ahead and begins saying a prayer under his breath as they walk into the cave, "Blessed are You, Hashem, Sovereign of all, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season."

The leadership cadre had all eaten together at a table here, and the five of them are passed out, heads down or next to overturned bowls. One of them is squirming, about to awaken as the contents of his stomach war with his mind, and his sense of constitution.

"Pharos look for some rope. Let's get them tired up before they wake up" Jacob moves to subdue the individual that is waking up (edited)

(sneak/dex)

(7)

Dazed and indigested as he is, he is unable to fight you off as you try to subdue him

Jacob searches him with his off hand looking for any weapons. Waiting for Pharos to come back with a way to tie up the leadership, Jacob uses the butt of his hammer to try and knock him unconscious. (Rolled 7/11 if you need an attack roll.) "Feh..." Jacob looks at the other cadre to see if they are likewise waking up.

(I don't think there's a way to mess it up since he's basically immobile still)

7:42 AM

THe rope is returned to you and this man had a hunting knife on him, but his firearms were with the tinker for repair, and he does not have them on his person.

(Sounds good!) Jacob takes the rope offered and begins the work of binding the leadership cadre so they can't hurt themselves or anyone else in their temporarily induced psychosis. Once they are tied up, Jacob begins looking for a loudspeaker or PA system that he can speak to the rest of camp

The camp doesnt seem that sophisticated. There is a large metal bell drilled into the rock outside the cave mouth though, which would signal assembly for the camp itself.

9:06 AM

(they'd know to gather but not for what reason)

Once the leadership is tied up, Jacob looks around for a PA system to no avail. Noticing the bell he jogs over to it and rings it several times hoping that the camp dwellers come quickly

Those not tied up or incapacitated from their meal do as they've been instructed to do, and the camp followers begin flocking into the assembly area in front of the cave, waiting to see what is happening, many openly wondering what is happening.

Jacob gets up onto any sort of box or rock nearby so he can be heard by all, "Ah yes! My new mishpokhe! Come in come in quick! Hi I am Jacob Kohen and I am sure you have noticed the guards are rather out of their sorts. The time is now to seize control and end our slavery, nu? I have the leaders all bound up, collect the guards and do the same! Try not to kill the shmendrik, but defend yourself if you must... Once we have control we can talk more! Go! Shnel!"

1:47 PM

(even use my authority feat to do so if needed. 6 cha/lead vs their morale)

(their morale is terrible, so a six passes and they'll do this)

1:35 PM

THe camp followers begin working, a few of the more craven take advantage of the situation and flee into the countryside- but they're out of danger, so chasing them down is less important for now. THere is struggle as some of those with a greater degree of fortitude resist the effects of the tainted meal, but they're quickly piled on, and subdued.

Jacob does what he can to help subdue and does his best to keep anyone from getting killed. He lets the people who want to escape do so, He has more important things to worry about than cowards. After the roundup is complete, he helps everyone start shuffling the guards into the variety of cages and other methods of storing their prisoners, now that the role reversal is complete. With the guards secured away, Jacob heads back to his rock, "Mazal tov my mishpokhe! Yesterday you were slaves, and now you are free! Are you all from the same village or different ones?" "Where I come from it is little more than a refugee camp at present, I might ask them to sojourn here until we can get those Greystar Schmuks to pull their schnoz out of their tuchas and bring order to Danae like they said they would! If you want to stay here as well and start a new shtetl [village] we can do so together!"

(3xp, 5000 credits )

6:03 PM

Almost everyone plans to flee back to the camp you’d come from after hearing about it, but the guards and mercs here will break free eventually, and they’ll come back with a vengeance if this isn’t handled now. Nobody really wants to handle a meet and greet until the security situation improves (edited)

Level 3
HP 9->17
Sunblade Wielder +1->+2
Lead 0->1 (-2 SP)
Bank [1] SP

(edited)

Jacob converses with the Tinker and his family as well as others who voice an opinion. The thing that everyone agrees is that the mercenaries and guards will be a problem. "Nu, of course killing them all would be the simple solution! But We would be liable for their murders in HaShem's eyes. For the Talmud clearly states, 'One who kills a would be murderer when breaking a limb would have sufficed is liable for capital punishment.'" "What do you all think if I break the left foot of all of them, and then we pile on to their trucks and drive back to my shtetl with all their weapons and equipment. We will not be the easy target we once were, if they ever come back against us." (edited)

It seems a more palatable idea than presiding over sixty or so executions, and the group quickly agrees to this alternative punishment.

Jacob nods and he lets out a sigh at the confirmation of what he must do. 'Not a death sentence...' he tells himself. Starting with the leadership Jacob with the help of a couple camp prisoners, sets out to break the left foot of all their former oppressors. Not enough to force them to lose the foot, but enough that they would be in for a rough few months at the least

Weighing your blows carefully, there are sixty down swings. Sixty nails driven into the coffin of this group's reign of terror over the countryside. As the sun dips behind the trees the cries of wounded men mingle with the sounds of heavy truck engines starting as their weapons, food, armor, and other equipment are hauled away toward a place where no one can be harmed by them again who doesn't deserve it.

With every blow, Jacob says a prayer to HaShem asking for forgiveness and for these men to learn from their transgressions. Hoping that they will emerge from this event better people. After the last foot has been felled, he heads back to the trucks. Stopping to help any of the old or infirm into the trucks as he makes his way towards the lead truck. Once ensuring they are all ready to leave the camp behind, Jacob makes a motion to head out. Trucks filled with supplies, weapons, armor and other equipment begin the slow journey back towards the refugee camp. Back at the camp some hours later, Jacob does his best to keep everyone organized and unload the trucks as thoughtfully as he can. He knows that they have more people than the camp can house, so the trucks will likely be used for temporary sleeping arrangements until something better can be created.

(So we've got some options here, focusing more on this little community, or we can try to push west with one of the trucks to get in touch more directly with GSC and let them know whats going on)

(I think Jacob's first goal would be to ensure the health of this community for when he will eventually need to leave. So maybe focusing on getting Pharos a farm set up?)

(works for me, so scouting a place nearby to start it maybe?)

(sounds good!)

Pharos is looking to get a farm going now that the region seems clear of danger. It's evident that regular supply shipments are going to be short in coming, and although mighty, GSC cannot or does not notice regional problems such as this. Any help you get is going to have to come from yourselves.

Sleep comes easy to Jacob. It had been a long day and thankfully no one had to die needlessly. With the dawn came new possibilities. After morning prayers Jacob goes to find Pharos. Who knows how long the Manna would last, HaShem only allotted Shabbat for rest, so securing a food source was the next priority. "Boker tov, Pharos! Something tells me now is the time to realize your dream of having a farm again, nu? Have you seen any places nearby that look like a good place?"

"There is the forest we went through to find the mushrooms . Also a field to the south but it is large and we don't know what might be out there. Lots of animals. Some of them don't like us"

"I feel like the wildlife will be a problem no matter where we go, nu? With the extra equipment we just acquired, we can ensure there are people to guard the farm after we get it established. Let's go find a few mensch to help us identify the site!" (Maybe trapper and another soldier type?)

(works for me, we can do that, using the same trapper if we want)

(yeah for sure)

(D10)

(4)

Moving into the grassland you see that it is a lush and rolling place one of the few on the planet that have been spared the horrors of the raids and bombardment from space. This far south everything has a slight radioactive tinge from the fallout that has settled across the landscape and any farmland will need to be cleansed before use. A rad counter is a must when traveling beyond the nuke snuffing boundaries of the camp.

12:17 PM

For now the counter gumbles but remains in the low, but tolerable range as you move into the plains. You can hear the sounds of rodents running through the long grasses, and the chattering of various plain dwelling bugs.

"So we either need to get a better nuke snuffer or find a way to clean the soil... Pharos, Trapper... do you know of anything natural that could help with soil mikveh? Anything we could add to the dirt to counter the radiation?"

"Lye, or plants. Some plants can trap and absorb it from the soil surrounding where they're planted. Thhen you've got to dig them up when they're grown and destroy them. "

"Well... These plants seem to be thriving..." He gestures to the field they are standing in. "Any of these little babes good for what you are suggesting?"

“Maybe. The grasses could be. They’d need to be analyzed and that’s more than we can do here. Being able to monitor it over days to see if it’s working is the only way we will know”

"Oy gevalt... Do we even have the capability to do such analysis? Nu, Seems like more roads lead to Greystar then I had planned"

"We could try to do it ourselves, but we'll have to find the equipment somewhere instead of asking them for it, and that's going to cost us time"

"Maybe if we show them Greystar meshugganeh that we are good balebusta [homemakers] and will be more inclined to actually help us..." Jacob thinks out loud while he strokes his beard. "I'm guessing we would need to go to the nearest city to find this kind of equipment, nu? Let's go get one of the trucks and a few mensch to help us with any heavy lifting."

“Probably plenty of ruins . People too. We need to be careful if we go there”

8:24 PM

“They might not take kindly to us poking around the neighborhood “

(I'm still on the Independent Nation of Traseus, right? In that village down there on the coast?) (edited)

(Yeah we aren’t traveling far )

"Let's go poke around the neighborhood then. If I have to knock a few noggins, then that's what I shall do." After their brief trip to the fields, they turn around to go grab one of the trucks. Jacob makes sure to grab some supplies as well as a few strong people to help with some heavy lifting. (Just 5 basic mooks to help with lifting/disassembly. 10 days of rations for the 8 of us. And 2 tents. Would be 600 credits) Driving out of the camp, Jacob directs them north towards the main city of the continent. "Unless any of you know any secret places hiding out in the woods"

The niche wilderness knowledge doesn’t seem to come into play this far from the camp and the only thing the team thinks might be reasonable is camping for the night before entering the city

"That's a Yiddisher kohp! [Good head] We can camp for the night before we head in. Two people on watch, changing every four hours. Should give everyone a chance to rest, nu?" Jacob stretches in the chair as they pull out of the camp and head towards the city. "Be good yentas during the drive. Might be able to find something extra interesting on the way"

(D10 on our lovely encounter table for the night )

(3)

The woods are quiet tonight, and so are the fields. The city beyond you is dark absent a few small fires. Sleep is broken up occasionally by the rattle of brief bursts of automatic gunfire, but nothing creeps out to assault you during the night

(72 rations remaining) Jacob takes the last watch and enjoys watching the sunrise over the continent. Pulling out his camera he takes a photo of the beautiful sun and adds it to his connection. The distant gunfire was concerning, hopefully an issue they could avoid. Jacob washes and says his morning prayers in solitude. After a few more peaceful moments he sets about waking everyone up. After everyone eats, he directs the driver to make their way towards the city

(notice.wis)

(That's a big ol' 3)

(let me get one of those city maps made up real quick and ill move the scene)

1

(All good buddy)

(south side of the city where we are approaching from)

9:48 AM

Jacob instructs the driver to first make for the weapons tech facility. He tells everyone to keep their heads down and we will have to work quickly, hopefully they can avoid being noticed.

10:12 AM

(This is the route I was thinking. Definitely planned on stopping at the weapons tech) (edited)

10:12 AM

Eisheru, et al. pinned a message to this channel. 10/5/2021 10:12 AM

The windows of the weapons tech have shot up metal sheeting pulled down over them, you can see pieces of glass have fallen from those fist sized holes to be crushed under boots on the sidewalk. The door likewise shows bullet and laser damage but it does not seem like anyone was able to get the thick locking block free to get inside. The building is a low one, just one floor, and is wider than it is taller- its walls directly adjoining into surrounding buildings.

(anything preventing me from getting on the roof?)

(You could pull the truck up and climb the bed and then cab to the roof if you want to risk not having the gun in the most optimal position )

"Alright Moishe drive us up real close. I'm gonna hop onto the roof and see if I can get in that way." Once the truck is in position, Jacob hops into the bed of the truck and attempts to climb onto the roof of the building

The roof has several buckets and cans scattered across it meant to collect rain water, though they're dry right now. A tarp and the remains of a tent are collapsed in a corner, covered in mud and splattered with whatever else was dragged down from the air by passing rain storms. A small access hatch from the store to the roof is also next to the tent, and its lock is not on.

Jacob does his best to be light footed as he walks over to the access hatch. Carefully surveying his surroundings as he makes his approach, he drops down to put his ear next to the hatch to see if he can hear any activity below him *'Oh HaShem, please let there be no traps... Please no traps... Please no trapps' he thinks to himself as he makes the trek across the roof.*

There is a gentle electronic buzzing you can feel through the roof. It does not sound like there are people or anything large below.

Jacob places his shield in front of him and uses his knife to gently open up the access hatch. Hoping and praying it doesn't explode, Jacob pretends the electronic buzzing is just old lights that are making the noise.

Nothing explodes as you open the trapdoor, and you see flickering lights illuminating a small office space down below the hatch, accessible by a short metal ladder.

Jacob slides down the ladder and pulls out his hammer once again. He looks for a door out of the office once he confirms he is alone in the room. Waiting at the door he listens further to see if anything else is in the store

Every ten seconds there is a small mechanical click on the other side of the door. It is faint, it almost sounds like the mechanisms of a clock. There is nothing on the other side of the door betraying footsteps or anything sounding like another person is inside the shop

Jacob slowly pushes the door open. His shield is raised as he peers over the top.

THe remains of some kind of flame trap are on this side of the door. You can see a long scorch mark on the floor and a blackened skeleton near a hole in the wall where someone tried to tunnel in from an adjacent building and paid for their cleverness by dying to an even more clever trap. The rube-goldberg like device is still rhythmically striking the flint, even though anything to burn has long since been used up.

"Oof nasty trick!" Jacob whispers. He looks around to see the layout of the inside. He tries to find any sort of storage for weapons, hoping to equip his crew a little more

There are six large steel mesh cases in the room, that have not been touched by raiders. The glass cases that once held weapons and ammunition have been shattered and looted, and there are four of those.

Jacob looks to the front door to see if he can get it open so the others could possible help getting the mesh cage open

The door lock is an easy thing to disarm from this side , and the bar is thrown up into its open position, and the door puffs outwards so the others can open it.

"You two mensch, in the back! Grab the toolkit from the truck and help me get these cages open!" Jacob doesn't wait to see if his orders are being followed and heads back inside to ensure there are no more traps or surprises potentially waiting for them. He looks for other doors to other parts of the building

There is nothing else aside from a fire escape that leads into a back alley, the door is metal and looks normal

Jacob walks over to the first of the steel cages and tries to see what the locking mechanism is "Nu? Let's walk quickly folks!" He says to the two people he asked to bring the toolkit (edited)

(fix/int)

(NPC bonus? or Jacob's?)

(If yours aren’t good we can use theirs )

(8)

The tools begin hacking away at the cages and sparks begin to fly. You can see hunting rifles and all sorts of other modern looking combat weapons behind the mesh along with all different calibers of ammunition. Survival gear is also in some of the cases such as knives, solar chargers and so on. The noise is tremendous and anyone nearby will surely hear

Once the cage is cut free, Jacob begins issuing orders to the mooks, "You! Get as much survival gear as you can carry!" Jacob says pointing to one of the guys. "And you, get those combat rifles! Get back to the truck quickly!." Jacob begins loading up on ammo while continuing to look through the other weapons or possibly armor in the cage. Knowing he only has a short time before they have company (edited)

9:12 PM

(i have 13 free enc. So definitely grabbing a lot of ammo and spending a few extra moments to search through the cage some more) (edited)

There is one long barreled weapon with a barrel attachment on it that reminds you of a tuning fork, just with an extra limb to it. Its unclear what the function of it is or what it might use for ammunition.

"That is no tchotchke..." Jacbo lets out a low whistle before picking up the long barreled weapon. He pulls off his backpack and quickly throws it open. He places the mag pistol in his belt, and then proceeds to stuff as much ammunition as his pack can hold. He also looks to see if there are any type-a cells. (Looking for the following. LMK if the Ammo/Cells are not bundled and will adjust the amount taken)

Mag Pistol - 1 Enc
Tuning Fork Rifle? - 2? Enc
Ammo x24 (Bundled) - 8 Enc
Type A Cell (if any; Bundled) x6 - 2 Enc
Total = 13 Enc

(edited)

(they're all bundled, they were prepped for sale so think like, shink wrapped together. The weird weapon is 2 handed so 2 enc is in line with other weapons of similar size)

1

(Perfect!) With his pack filled to the brim with ammunition and a few type-a cells, Jacob hoists the heavy back and slings it across his back with the tuning fork looking rifle. He then quickly makes his way back to the truck. Jacob tosses his backpack into the bed of the truck and helps the other guys get their loads into the truck as well. "That's a good haul, we shouldn't be greedy! Come now, everyone in the truck, lets be off before someone comes to check us out." Jacob makes sure everyone is in the truck before telling the driver to head out

A shot slams into the front of the truck as the group begins moving outside, and it looks like a pair of shooters is in the opposite roof.

"Get to the truck!" Jacob hisses as he moves to the back to try and climb up to the HMG. (Lmk if I can fire this round or if that takes my everything to get onto the gun)

(move gets to the gun, we have a main to fire if you want to)

Jacob climbs into the turret and swings the gun around to point at the rooftop. He futz around with the controls for a second trying to get his bearing before unleashing a spray of lead at the two assailants (Fire to suppress, 4 damage) "Let's go! Get us outta here, driver! East!"

Heading east, several shots follow you but bury themselves in the road. They don't seem to have the ability to follow you quickly

Jacob cuts firing after they are out of their effective range, "Go past the coffee shop and hang a left... Let's try and park it at the transportation company..."

One of the workers hands you a small cannister. "Smoke: Military Grade- Color: Green"

8:08 PM

He shurgs, unsure if it will help with concealment or not

(what's the scale on the map?) "Good idea!" Jacob pulls the pin and tosses the canister into the middle of the road. He tells the driver to ease up a little to let the smoke build before making the turn

(That is a good question, i had not really considered we would need to know that, the HMG is in range pretty much no matter where you are, so long as there isnt a building in the way)

(was more asking in terms of how easily they would be able to see us changing directions. Are we talking like Manhattan City blocks? Or small town neighborhood?)

(Manhattan blocks I think is closer.)

1

Once the smoke is fully deployed he taps on the roof of the truck, signaling for the driver to cut northward further into the city. "Let's see if we can park ourselves at the transportation company, Nu? I think our next stop might take us a bit..."

“You got it boss! Hang on back there!” The tires squeak as the heavy vehicle enters the underground parking ramp of the transport company. A small office is next door on the surface level while down here in this doorless garage several trucks In various states of being stripped out by the locals are here. You seem to be the only ones here now.

"Whoa! Oy gevalt! Watch the-... !!! Hey there's a bump there-!!! Oof!" When they finally roll into the basement Jacob takes a second to gather his wits. He looks around for the darkest corner and directs the driver to park there and kill the lights. "Alright Menschs! Listen up. I'm going to take Pharos and one of you smart nudniks to go check out the print shop next door. Hopefully we can get something printed up to allow us to farm again." "The rest of you sit tight down here. And keep good watch. There's rifles and ammo a plenty. Be smart and watch each other's backs, b'seder [alright]? Any questions?" (edited)

They have none and will get to work watching the area and picking through the vehicles here for anything that you might be able to use back in the refugee camp

Taking one of the technical minded folks, he makes sure he and Pharos both have a combat rifle and a three boxes of ammo. Jacob grabs one box for himself before heading out toward the ramp to the street level. Before exiting the parking structure, Jacob signals to the others to wait and listen to see if anyone was actively searching for the truck that just raced through (Notice/wis 12 if it matters)

The heavy weapon seems to have co convinced them that following you was a terrible idea if they plan to continue living. The streets are quiet and recovering from the sudden outburst of noise

"Alrighty, looks like they got the message. Let's go check out the print shop." Jacob stores his shield and pulls out his mag pistol. Loading 6 rounds in he has the gun in one hand and his hammer in the other, he dashes quickly across the street into cover on the other side. Checking to make sure the coast is clear, he then signals to the others to follow. Once everyone is safely across, he starts looking for a way into the print shop (edited)

(boop)

The print shop door is locked but doesn’t show the signs of being forced closed or like anyone has tried to break in. The lock is industrial- the type you’d expect to see on a store door, and no one seems to have risked being out on the street long enough to work on it and get in

Jacob sees the lock and then looks around the street before tutting, "This seems like asking to get shot in the back... Let's see if we can find a back door, nu?" Jacob quickly tries to circumnavigate the building looking for an alley way or back door to the print shop

The back of the building does face a street and you can see a row of bullet holes in the back wall that shows where other would be looters have met some kind of challenge , possibly even their end, though there are no bodies here now. The door here looks less secure.

Jacob inspects the locking mechanism, hoping that it would be something they could quickly go through, or even something he could smash open

It looks like it can be picked, you have no evidence on the shooter or if they are still watching the door.

"Schlomo!" Jacob says in a loud whisper to the extra hand that they brought along, "Think you can get this open in a hurry? This lock looks a little schlok [cheap]" While the man attempts to get the lock open, Jacob scans the street making sure no one is trying to sneak up on them. (Would fix/int work to get the door open?)

(would work yeah, i dont think this is necessarily an obstacle because the door is hard to pick, its an obstacle because there is an apparent unseen danger here)

1:26 PM

(so giving the lockpick some time to safely work somehow is more the challenge)

(I guess let's give it a go! Jacob will just pray that the shooter has moved on) "C'mon c'mon! I'll cover you! Pharos Keep an eye out too!" Pistol raised, Jacob scans their surroundings while Schlomo works on the lock

(notice/wis)

(8)

You see the glint of the sunlight on glass on the opposite roof as your lock pick kneels down preparing to get to work

"Pharos! Rooftop! Get the schmuck!" Jacob raises his mag pistol and draws a bead on the glint he saw. Pharos also raises his combat rifle and the pair take a shot at the would be shooter. (21/10 for Jacob. 5/6 Ammo. 14 rounds in backpack) (13/6 for Pharos. 27/30 Ammo. 30 rounds in storage) (edited)

The mag shot looks like it impacts much closer to the target than the combat rifle shots. If there is anyone up there, they do not return fire as your team peaks out from the scant available cover.

Jacob and Pharos keep an eye out for more potential threats while they wait for Schlomo to finish getting the door unlocked. "I know you are, but still gotta say it, please work fast, nu? I'm feeling as exposed as on the day of my bris here..." (Edit: 8 if you still need the fix/int check) (edited)

There is a mechanical ping as the lock disengages, and the door is pushed open. Pharos basically falls inside with his eagerness to get out of the line of fire.

"Good job lad! Yes everyone in! Schnell!" Jacob follows in quickly after the other two and pulls the door shut with him. Once inside he locks the door and looks around at their immediate surroundings

Four parts printers are in this building , there were six but it looks like two of them have been carried off, along with half the resin that the printers use to produce the objects fed into them. A desk with a computer, wooden pegs of safety gear, and a large collection of hand tools to help maneuver and handle prints are here, but again, it seems like half of these have been taken as well.

(could we fit two of the printers, the rest of the resin, the computer and the tools in the truck? Just trying to gauge the size/scale of everything)

(id say we'd be super packed and you guys would be hanging off the running boards, but yes)

"Looks like we will have a cramped ride home, gents... Schlomo you are a smart lad, think you can see on that computer if there are any plans for some sort of nuke snuffer field generator? Pharos watch the doors, I am going to make sure we are alone in the building..." Pharos takes up a defensive position where can hopefully see both doors. (If not both then the back door) Jacob walks around the print shop to make sure there is nothing else of value or any person who might be hiding out

A download is going to take twenty minutes and there looks to be too much raw data here for him to skim through it quickly.

"Got it Schlomo, keep the download going..." Jacob continues his route through the print shop, if nothing else is present he looks to see if there might be a service entrance where a truck could pull up and be loaded directly

From inside it looks like you can get out the front, opposite the place where the shooter had been observing you. This seems to be your b est bet at loading safe from sniper fire

Once the download is complete, Jacob pulls out his compad and gives Trapper a call, "Trap! We hit the jackpot! In 30 minutes bring the truck around front and we will schlep the stuff in. Tell the boys to keep their heads on a swivel. There was a a sniper out back." Jacob in the mean time will begin staging stuff near the front door so it can easily be taken to the trunk

You wait the half hour before the download completed and the truck reports it’s on the way over. They’ve got a couple spare tires and a type B cell with enough juice in Ti to make it worth taking.

Jacob does his best to move everything that can be close to the door while HaShem's Whip drive over. As soon as he hears the car outside he opens the big front doors. Pointing at the four remaining guys in the back of the truck, Jacob begins issuing orders. "C'mon you four, Need to get these printers loaded. Just two of them. Then we have the rest of the resin and the tools. Lets go!" Turning to his companion he places a hand on his shoulder while propelling him through the door, "Pharos get on the gun and keep us covered!" Jacob puts away his pistol and Hammer, and begins helping the others lift the printers up and into the truck. (edited)

As the loading begins and is halfway done you hear a loud engine three streets over and what sounds like someone laying on the horn. A city bus rolls into the crossing ahead, with OUT OF FUCKING SERVICE spray painted on its sides. Armed men are on the roof - you can see five of them there, and there is an undetermined number inside- its windows have been replaced with sheet metal or gun ports, in some places sloppily done.

(are they driving right at us? Or perpendicular?)

(Perpendicular)

"Let 'em go Pharos. Just keep an eye out to and if they start heading towards us light em up!" Jacob turns back towards the others, "C'mon you can kvetch back in the truck, we gotta hurry it up!"

You no sooner get the commands out that the first rifle shots from the bus begin hitting the ground around the truck. One shot gets a bit luckier and punches a hole in the passenger side of the windshield. (edited)

"Feh! Can't have an honest conversation around here can we?! Hit em Pharos!" Jacob runs outside using the truck as cover and lets out his own shot with his mag pistol. Trapper takes aim with his combat rifle and squeezes off a burst. (Jacob - 7/9; Pharos - 20/14; Trapper - Nat 1)

(pharos on the HMG?)

(correct, Combat rifle for Trapper and mag pistol for me. Dunno if they are past 100m for Trapper and myself)

(100m seems like the distance they are. Everyone can hit the HMG is going to get some penetration on the bus what’s why I wanted to know)

7:21 PM

The heavy machine gun is churning through several rounds a second and is punching through the thin makeshift armor on the bus. You can hear screams of pain from within as the over penetrations hit some of the crew.

7:21 PM

The bus engine coughs black smoke as they try to back out of the square

(cool. Good to know for long range penalty too!) "They're leaving, Pharos. Just give a warning shot!" Pharos aims in the ground in front of the bus. Jacob rushes back to help finish with the loading, "Motivation enough, nu? We can all kvetch later!" (edited)

No one wants to stay here anymore after being attacked three times in the last few hours, and the team loads the remaining printers along with the resin that makes them work. The heavy engine turns over, and there is almost no space in the back anymore but you can squeeze in for a little bit. Dust is kicked up by the tires, and the vehicle begins exiting the dangerous city blocks.

"I'll take a running board! You get in! Once we are out of the city we can rearrange! Step on it Trapper!!!" Jacob holds on for dear life with one arm and the other grips his mag pistol tightly. He has the driver make a mad dash for the forest road.

(6xp, 10,000 credits)

1

10:23 AM

Exiting the city, you make it to the countryside and put a few kilometers between you and easy foot pursuit before the vehicle is finally stopped and the load can be safely arranged for the rest of the way home

Level 4
HP 17->18
AB +1->+2
Sunblade 1->2 (-3 SP)
Bank [1] SP
Sunblade Art - Deflect Bolts

10:52 AM

Once the crew is far enough away from the city and they have a chance to breathe, they stop for a while to recover. The equipment is repacked in a more efficient manner to allow for others to sit in the back, tens are broken out and a watch is set. Jacob uses his time taking the first watch to begin his study of the strange tuning fork rifle they had found. He looks it over to see what kind of ammunition or power source it requires as well as anything else he can discover about it without firing it.

(lets get a know /int or a shoot/int)

(RIP! 2 shoot/int

) (edited)

It seems that on a quick field inspection here by firelight we can't determine much about this strange weapon, but there are undoubtedly people out there who might be able to shed some light on what this is.

Jacob sighs as he is unable to glean any insight from the strange weapon. 'I am sure the Tinker will know a thing or two about it... A problem for tomorrow' He gets up an makes his rounds around their small campsite, peering out into the inky blackness of the forest of his home. As he patrols around he thinks back to the day's events. The city looked worse than it ever did in his lifetime. 'Abandoned yet not entirely. Reason had been abandoned, that's for sure. It seemed the people there had reverted back to their baser instincts.' Jacob shakes his head. He continues his walk and his hand reaches for the hamsa that hangs around his neck. The stainless steel amulet was starting to show its age, it hadn't been cleaned since before the Etxaurren came. Eventually Jacob comes back to rest near the camp fire. His back faces the fire so that his eyes stay adjusted to the dark of night. It was Saturday night now. Another Shabbat had come and gone with him toiling away, "Forgive me HaShem for working on your day of rest." Jacob begins singing softly the Havdallah prayers that separate the work week from the holy day of rest. The only thing that can be heard is the crackling fire and the Rabbi's wisened voice. Eventually it turns into humming the toon as Jacob continues his watch into the night. (edited)

(Re roll token for that)

1

6:26 PM

No one leaves city limits during the night. There is a brief amount of gunfire but there’s nothing coming to get you. Morning finds you before long, burning off the thick mist

Jacob wakes after last watch and begins his morning ritual. He washes what he can and makes his rounds with the people that joined him on the mission, "I want to thank all your menschs. I could not have done any of that without you all and I want recognize how cool you all were under fire. Yasher koach [Great job]" Eventually they all finish their ration breakfast and get in the truck to make their way back to their refugee camp.

The camp is still standing upon your return and there is no sign of the bandit presence that had menaced you just a few days earlier. It looks like a drone delivery has come in but no one from the nations on this world has made it out to the countryside. Indeed no true political presence seems to be in power anywhere here.

Jacob ensures that the printers and resin get stored in the camp meeting room (E:) along with the weapons and armor. He asks Trapper and Pharos to stand guard discreetly over the area. Jacob then sets about a major priority for their camp bordering village. Security. Jacob tries to find people who would be interested in establishing a guard unit for their home. As people flee the city their village will surely be discovered. Jacob looks for more people like Pharos. Not too eager but definitely wanting to change the current situation. If such a person can be found. Before leaving Jacob asks Pharos if he has any friends that might be eager to protect their home (Not looking for henchkeeper, just to IC establish the guard for their village) (edited)

He has a few people who he might be able to convince to help take charge of things here. Volunteers will be easier to come forward when things begin working out brettet here

(You want me to play out finding them? Or just move to convincing them to take the job?)

(I think more convincing them is making sense here, the refugee camp being a place where everyone is a bit contained finding them is a matter of time, not probability)

1

Jacob spends the next little while rounding up the friends of Pharos and takes them to the meeting tent of their small refugee camp. Once inside he gets them to sit down and relax, "Ah thank you all for coming without kvetching. I am sure you all have many questions and I will do my best to answer them all, nu?" Jacob takes a breath before continuing, "I think we have all come to accept that those Greystar Schmucks aren't coming here any time soon other than their supply deliveries. And I am sure those guys that tried taking all our food aren't the only group out there. There is always someone with more chutzpah than sense..." He rolls his eyes in dramatic fashion "Now Pharos has told me that you yeladim [Kids] are a trustworthy bunch. I want to ask you to take on a very important job. As we start branching out and securing our future, we will need strong people to help protect the village. I want you all to be the first shomer [guardians] of our home. Now I think that I have laid a lot on you, do you have any questions before I continue?"

They don't seem to have any, but are interested in hearing what you have to say. The security situation of the camp has long been in doubt.

"We just got back from the city to the north, and things don't look good there if I'm being erlekh [honest]. We need to protect ourselves until order gets restored to Danae as a whole. You all would be the core of our new security force. I will make an announcement to the village later but I wanted to speak with you all first." "There aren't enough of you, at least for the moment, to be a true police force, so don't go around schlepping people in for silly things. Our first priority is to ensure things outside of the camp do not hurt the people living inside the camp. Our second priority is to ensure that people in the camp aren't physically hurting each other." "We have scrounged up a piece of equipment that will hopefully make all of our lives better. Or at least more tolerable. And anything will be better than the near bupkes we have been given. Once we start improving things, more will want to volunteer to help. Then the workload will not be as heavy." "I know I am asking a lot of you and I am placing an even greater amount of trust in your hands. If you have questions I can stick around an answer, if not we had best go and let the village know what the plans are for the immediate future" (edited)

"What are your plans for the immediate future? Do you foresee any security challenges to the camp over the coming weeks? " one asks

"Securing our food source is certainly going to be the next big challenge. Then after that organizing ourselves into a village that supports itself as opposed to a refugee camp waiting to be saved." "As far as security challenges, well training will likely be an issue for volunteers that come later. Once we start lifting ourselves out of squalor, I imagine that theft might also become an issue. Securing the resin printers from sabotage and use on nonessential items."

They all agree that going back to the city for more resin will be dangerous right now, but might be worth it in the future once things are more organized. "We're going to need more people, and we're going to need to expand and strengthen the walls. Chain link is an obstacle but there was nothing stopping those bandits from driving a truck through it. We don't know if any of the other governments here survived either, we should consider roving packs of soldiers or bad people with military equipment being out there too. Greystar has a long way to go to fix this place..."

"When we were there, it seems like people were very fractured and just looking out for individual survival. A well organized push into the city will yield great results, I am sure. But that will come in time. I agree with your thoughts for better walls. We will start with wooden bulwarks and then as we foray into the city we might be able to salvage sheet metal for better walls." Jacob waves his right hand while pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers, "But these are all problems for the future. Organization and Food are our top priorities for today. We do not know how long HaShem will continue to bless us with his manna. Perhaps reaching out to Greystar directly to get more direct intervention here will be a good thing... Something to consider. Come!" Jacob leads the group to the refugee camp square and as he walks there he calls out to gather near the square for a village meeting. He hops up onto a rock near the square so everyone can see him. He beckons people to come close, "Come my Mispokhe! There is good news and much to discuss! Come! Come!" Jacob waits a few moments for people to arrive before beginning, "Chaverim! We have good news and things to discuss. First! We have returned from Traseus City safely and have returned with equipment that will help secure our immediate future. We plan to start a small farming operation next to our little camp." "Which brings me to the things to discuss, I think it is important that we organize ourselves so we can better tackle the future problems of our village. A village council of sorts. While I am happy to spearhead solving problems, I am only one man. I do not have every answer nor can I be everywhere to help every problem. If there are volunteers please come up after so we can discuss our collective future." (edited)

10:27 AM

. "The last thing I wanted to announce is that these fine menschs have come forward and volunteered to help defend our shtetl [village]. Since we are very short staffed they are not operating as a true police force yet. I hope that we are treating each other with chesed [kindness] because we do not have the extra effort available to police internal village conflicts. We need to focus on protecting ourselves from those outside who would seek to take what we have worked for." "My Mishpokhe, I think we are the start of a new beginning for Danae. We will be the light forward in due time. We need to continue to work together with hazak [strength] and hakadasha [dedication]." Jacob nods and gives the crowd his priestly blessing and then waits around to see if there are questions or anyone who comes forward to start the village council.

10:27 AM

(Appologies for wall of text! No rush on this)

(I think your thoughts as far as how you would organize things would be good too, are you planning on making work details, or are people free to help out wherever? what happens to people who don't contribute? ect, people would want to know their place in the social order now, and the expectations on them if they want to keep it)

1

(ok I'll put some thoughts together)

10:43 AM

(Approximately how many people are in the village now with the original refugee camp and the people we picked up from the bandit camp?)

(I would say about 600 or so have remained after we saw many scatter into the countryside when things fell apart shortly before our adventure)

1

(LMK if this makes sense for what you were asking. If you need more or in a different direction just lmk)

Every person over the age of 13 who is in good health will need to support the community in a manner that is appropriate for their age and skill.

  # One member of every family/household will need to work on the village farm once established. 
  # Volunteers first for Guard Force up to 5% of total village population (~30 right now) once enough equipment is available. If not enough volunteers, will have conscript rotations lasting 6 months. Will rotate through families
  # Village Council will determine work details for specific tasks and their priority. Volunteers will be called for first. Conscripts taken as a last resort to fill village needs
  # People who refuse to work towards the collective good will be given reduced food rations or they can leave the village. This does not include people who are physically incapable for working. Village Council will make the final determination if someone is fit to work.

(edited)

1

(This is perfect, and i think if passed around to the people they'd think the terms reasonable)

(Awesome! I think while waiting for volunteers for the village council, Jacob would want to go and find the Tinker to see if he could figure out more information about this strange tuning fork weapon)

Passing the information around you know in a community this large it will take some time to get into the hands of everyone so they can make a decision. The tinker has settled in close to the center of town and already has a thriving business from what you can tell. Piles of half broken items are everywhere along with donated materials to help in fixing them. He has his magnifying glasses on, looking down at a compad in his hands. The back has been removed and he is working on some of the wires within.

Jacob approaches the Tinker and gives a low whistle at the amount of with he has already, "My my... You have been here what? 3 days? That's an impressive amount of work!" "I hope you are settling in alright. Actually had two questions for you... One is this-..." Jacob pulls the stage tuning fork rifle off his shoulder and holds it out for the Tinker.

"my my, where did you find this? I'm not sure entirely what I am dealing with here, but I have some ideas"

"We raided a gun store when we arrived at the city. I know we needed some more equipment to help augment what was taken from the bandit camp." "Nu, would love to hear your thoughts on this piece of tech. I tried examining the gun but wasn't able to come up with much. Not much of a technician so it would seem..."

“This is a wavelength tuning fork. Looks like a port for a type B cell here. I think you might have a shatter gun here. It’s a precursor to the shear rifle. Loud as all fuck but it’s going to make a red mist of whatever you point it at. This is exceptionally rare tech”

6:32 PM

“One thing though , it’s not going to do much more than peel the paint off a vehicle or building. The wavelength it uses doesn’t seem to pull apart real dense solids like that. “

"Oy a Type B? Feh will have to keep an eye out for one of those... How many shots am I going to get off of one charge?" Jacob runs a hand down the length of the rifle. He admires the craftsmanship just as much as it's raw power.

“Hard to say without seeing it work. Probably four or five “

"Will have to schedule a field test then! But there is something else I wanted to show you. Have a minute?" Jacob motions for the Tinker to follow him.

He stretches out and grabs a walking stick he has been working on, the thud of its metal point against the ground is rhythmic as though it was a third leg

As they walk towards the meeting building where the printer is housed, Jacob continues the conversation, "So you have been here a few days, what do you see as a big problem that needs to be addressed?"

"Security, and a lot of angry people in the hills who just had their legs broken"

7:25 AM

he looks at the hilltops, thinking for a moment, before shaking his head and continuing on

"Perhaps their punishment was not severe enough... Only time will tell. Nu, that does not mean we will sit around and wait for them to come back angry. We will be ready." Jacob walks the rest of the short way in silence until they get back to the building housing the printers. Waving to Trapper and Pharos, Jacob unlocks the door and heads inside "Managed to secure a couple of resin printers... Was hoping you would know how to work and maintain them..."

"so this is what you wanted to show me. Very impressive. I assume you have a plan for them and this is not for me just to tinker with people's broken toys"

"Resin is limited for the time being until we can find more. I was thinking the first thing to print would be a larger nuke snuffer so we can plant crops in the field nearby. After that... well if you have suggestions on what would be good to get printed I am all ears"

“I think irrigation pipes for the fields would be the first and best use of our materials , unless you want to try to make another run at the city and try to pull some out of the buildings. “

"Instead of the nuke snuffer? Or right after?" Jacob strokes his beard as he looks at the printers and weighs his options

"A nuke snuffer? We'd need a spike drive core for that. You're not getting one with...these!" he laughs. "I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you. You didn't know" (edited)

"That's good to know! Glad I brought you over... What about something that can help with the radiation in the soil? Or would that require spike-drive tech also? "

"Some kind of scrubber? We'd need chemicals like lye to properly scrub it, and it might make things problematic for some plants anyway, but we could make something to help spread the chemicals I suppose if we get the other raw materials to spread"

"Lye... as in like the stuff in soap? Hrmm... Is there another way you know of that could help scrub soil? If we do go with the lye option, is that all we need? Or other chemicals too?" (I know neither of us are soil-treatment experts so 'other various chemicals' is fine with me too)

(I know irl they talk about lye or chlorine)

12:36 PM

(we can say "other various chemicals" and i think the soil possibly becoming poorer is still something)

"Hrmm... What if we go a different route... What about hy-... hydra-... hyrdo-... Nu, you know what I mean the growing with the water in a building instead of out in a field! Is that something that we could manage better?"

"Hydroponics. Yes, we're back to using our resin for pipes, or saving it to try to loot some pipes from the city. We're also going to need some pumps for it, and we're going to need to dig into a well or creek of some kind for the water. Not challenges we cannot overcome, but we're going to need people on this "

"Hydroponics! Yes that's the word! So glad I came to you... Okay so we are going to need to print one thing and then scrounge for the other regardless it would seem... Well we are going to need some wooden palisades... hopefully we can find a nearby water source"

"The land here is not dry. We can gather from the rain, but there will be ground water. We just have to dig"

"That might be the safer choice... Easier to protect a well that is nearby than a stream that might be hundreds of meters from the camp. Would handheld survey scanners be able to detect a well of groundwater?"

"We would need a bioscanner. We can scan for concentrations of waterbourne microbes under the ground, try to find something that way. "

(Are those something that we have in the camp? or will have to go find?) "I think getting the pipes printed will be the first task then. I want to go out and get trees harvested for palisades. After will have to make another run to Traseus City for pumps... Have anything on your wishlist that would make your life easier here?"

(I think a bioscanner would be around since its just general adventuring gear)

"While you think about what things you could need from the city that would help life here, I am going to go nosh and then scrounge up a work party. Will identify a potential well site too." Jacob leaves the Tinker with the Printers and motions for Pharos and Trapper to come over. "Alright my chaverim. We have more work to do. Trapper I want you to putz around here and guard the printers. Pharos you and I are going to go scrounge up a work party to fell some trees and look for a potential site for well water." With Pharos in tow, Jacob looks for some burly folks who look like they might know how to swing an axe,

There are plenty of people in camp willing to do some work. Your proposed social order is spreading and polls show most people agree with it. You see a few tents being packed up here and there, but by in large it seems like the community is policing itself, and the trash is taking itself elsewhere.

Jacob recruits five strapping folk to come with him to cut down some trees and one driver. While they head to HaShem's Whip, Jacob looks around for a bioscanner and purchases it from someone who had an extra in the camp. (300 credits). Scanner in hand, he heads back to the gate where the Trucks are all parked and hops into the passenger seat. He tries to futz with the device to get it set to scan for water based microbes and has the driver go slow in the direction of the forest

(d10 for me buddy)

(6!)

Moving into the wilderness north of the settlement just a short ways the scanner begins warbling. There is water here and a large concentration of microbes, but the ground above it is firm, solid, and domed in rock.

"Feh! All that rock? Could take weeks to break through to the ground water... Alright will keep it in the back of our noggins... Let's keep heading towards the forest. Keep the speed, we might get lucky and find another source."

Heading closer to the forest, the scanner seems to warble again, diving you a divergent contact. There is a bubbling brook to the left but you're not sure what predatory animals might use the surface water to drink or stalk the prey that comes to drink. There is also a pond or lake, far deeper in the woods, where even the old maps marked the area as incredibly dangerous due to local wildlife.

(how far would the brook be from the camp roughly?) Jacob makes note of the brook as potentially the first site of choice. They will have to work on securing the area from large predators. "Pharos, remind me to come out with Trapper so we can yenta some of the predators in the area. Maybe we can drive them off, nu?" Jacob instructs the driver to make for the forest edge now that they have three possible sites for their fresh water, "I hope you mensch are ready to work! Got a long day of cutting trees down!"

(5km or so, close enough to not be a major public works but far enough away where it wil still kinda be)

1

Arriving at the forest edge, Jacob is the first to dismount, "Pharos, cover me on the gun. I'm going to scout around before we get to work. Keep the engine running!" With his mag pistol and hammer at the ready, Jacob begins heading into the forest to check the surroundings. He tries to keep an eye out for any signs of predators or people that might in the area. (Notice/wis 5 if you need it)

The animals that normally live here are not present , scared off by the truck or by the sudden presence of humans. They will be back before long. The Forrest is quiet right now and dense. The dark of the woods and the wet pine needles underfoot crunch as your boot brushes against them

"Hopefully the wood chopping will make any animals think twice..." Jacob thinks to himself. He lingers a moment longer before heading back towards the trucks, finishing his wide arc near their truck. Coming back to the truck, Jacob signals to dismount, "Alright Menschs, let's get to work! Pharos and <Driver>, keep a solid eye out!" Jacob spends the time patrolling around, taking care of small tasks needed by the loggers, and grabbing food and water from the truck for everyone.

(so in my mind we're clearing a path to the brook, and then running pipes from it to the fields. We on the same page here? )

(Yup! Want to cut down trees to make palisades for the camp. And the pipes would be running from the brook to the future Hydroponics, but otherwise yeah)

(work/con)

(6)

2:21 PM

(unless that could be done with the NPC bonus, then it would be 9)

(No I meant for you. So 6?)

(yes 6)

The day passes as dozens of logs are loaded onto the truck. You’ve got a clear path now and come tomorrow you should be able to begin laying the pipe work

Jacob congratulate the workers on a hard day of labor. He ensures everyone is back on the truck before giving the signal to head back to camp and he starts saying the blessing for the traveler as the truck lurches forward.

(How did we want to use the materials $

(the wood i was thinking would be a palisade paired with a trench to be dug around the camp. To prevent vehicles from just driving through the fence)

(Works for me. Those who stay behind can work on it if you want to continue putting effort in elsewhere )

(yeah that works. I think we still need pumps right? What else would we need for a hydro garden?) (edited)

(We need pumps, the rest of the stuff can be printed here)

9:32 AM

(oh and some seedlings too)

(So would seem another trip to the city might be in order?)

(or trying to find a homestead or something else out here with hopefully no people at it)

(Alright lets try that first) After they return from their logging adventure, Jacob thanks the loggers for their hard work and tells them to get some rest. He instructs them to split the logs in the morning so they can be honed down into a palisade for added protection. He tells them to leave the trees in the truck for the night and decides to turn in himself. The next morning after saying his morning blessings as well as washing up, Jacob first sets out to find some strong backs to help with the next of the work details. Finding the smartest among the bunch he instructs him to have a 1.5 by 1 meter deep trench dug all the way around the camp. Once they were all set to work and the questions had been answered, Jacob once again says the blessing for the traveler. With Pharos and Trapper in tow, Jacob grabs HaShem's Whip and heads east along the coast in search of a hopefully abandoned homestead. (edited)

The coast is a place where many farms once existed, taking water in as it trickled from the lowlands before finally being released into the sea at this last part of the water cycle. There were rumors in camp of a series of farms stretching down the coast that used to supply the inland cities with food, but the roads and ways of getting there are overgrown and ill maintained now. Pathfinding is required as you head south, following the sandy coast. Three dark leviathan like shapes occupy the beach 250m ahead, and a host of scavenging sea birds circle them.

Jacob instructs the driver to approach to 150 meters and then wait to see if there is any change in the scene playing out before them.

Three whales have been beached here and look to be dead, and look like they have been dead for some time. The feasting birds are perhaps a bit more skittish at your presence here, but the tears and cuts taken out of the beast have allowed gasses to vent.

"Well... looks like we interrupted those birdies noshin' time. We can keep moving on, maybe harvest some of the bones on our way back. Keep on drivin' Trapper!"

“Oil and tallow for fuel too. Lots to collect that might not be good when we come back”

7:08 PM

Pharos is looking at the beached animals with wonder , appreciating the scale of them for the first time

"That's a yiddisher kohp! Good looking out, Pharos! Can some of the skin be fashioned into a bag of sorts? Carry what we can? I didn't think to bring containers on this trip..." Jacob makes a mental note for next time to bring canisters and other storage devices. He then sets out with the help of Trapper to collect what they are able to from the gargantuan sea creatures

(survive/wis 5 if you want it)

(this never lit up for me i dont know why)

3:13 PM

(7 with the help of the trapper)

(oh it was 5 with the trapper bonus lmao. that's with my Authority bonus too. I rolled snake eyes

) (edited)

Four large sheets of skin are cut free but you're not able to capture any of the oil or fats in a way that you can contain it for transport. You can see how it would be flammable and would be a good temporary source of fuel for the camp , but you are not equipped to do anything about it with what is on hand.

"I know we just left, my chaverim, but this is just too good to pass up! Let's go back and grab some gas cans or the like from camp then we can collect as much oil as possible on our way out again." Jacob has Trapper turn the truck around and head back to the camp so they can pick up storage containers that would be suitable for fuel

Any with containers come forward. A few actual metal barrels are produced along with gas cans, large stew pots and so on. Most of this is irregular but anything you gather is a few more days of generator power , a scavenging run that can be put off, a few more days of life for those destined to be killed in the dangerous countryside trying to keep the settlement going.

Jacob eagerly thanks the volunteers. He gives each of them a priestly blessing enthusiastically. He makes sure to grab a few lengths of hose as well to aid their endeavor. With the truck loaded with a variety of containers, they head back towards the beached whales. Approaching the massive figures, Jacob gives thanks to HaShem as well as the poor creatures that lost their life in such a terrible way. "Thank you HaShem for the beautiful bounty of your creation. May their memory be for a blessing." With the help of Trapper, the two of them get to work while Pharos keeps watch on the truck's heavy weapon

(lmk if you want another roll)

(Yeah we should since it’s wasn’t a pass the first time

(10 this time!)

this time the oils and fats are recovered, set to be rendered down into weeks of bio-fuel for the camp. Even the trucks you have can run on it if power cells are not available. For a few weeks, scavenign teams can breathe a bit easy due to this opportunistic find.

After as much of the oil is collected as they can manage, Jacob closes up the last container, "Alright, Yasher Koach, my friends. This will hopefully let others focus on tasks that don't revolve around scavenging for fuel. For a time at least, nu. Let's get on the road and hopefully find a homestead!" Jacob hops into the passenger seat and has Trapper continue on their path down the coast looking for more resources to bring back to camp.

(d10)

(8)

1:22 PM

The homestead is ahead and you can see some signs of habitation here. There is thin smoke from a cook fire heading skyward and you hear a single gunshot as a swarm of ducks begin flying off from a pond

"Hrm... Let's hope they are friendly, nu?" Jacob sighs heavily, he was hoping for abandoned homestead. Straightening his armor he makes sure his weapon is holstered and his hammer hanging from his belt "Hang back, but keep the engine running. I am hoping they will be willing to talk or possibly trade. But if I come back making a ruckus, be best time to make ourselves scarce..." Jacob has Trapper stay down the road a little bit before dismounting. He walks towards the Homestead singing one of the many songs of his childhood. He hopes that his singing will alert whoever is around and will bring them to talking rather than shooting

You’re met at the gate of the property by what looks to be the leader or the owner of the land. You can’t tell what or if the difference is even one that matters. He waves hello but you can see he does have a hunting rifle on his back.

"Shalom! Peace be upon you, friend. My name is Jacob, a traveler from up the coast a bit. We hope you have been well in these hard times for Danae. Might you be interested in trade?" Jacob waves one hand and the other he keeps out to the side. His palms are open and facing the man.

"Trade? Perhaps! What do you have in that truck of yours?"

"With us, we have some oil and fats from a whale that could be rendered down and used for bio-fuel. Back at our camp we have other supplies and can make a few things. We are in desperate need of water pumps or the parts to make them."

"Ah I might be able to help you. Please, bring your truck in through the gate. We have some old pumps in the barn from when we used to maintain a third field, but we let the animals graze there now. We might be willing to take some fuel for them, if you're willing to trade"

"Baruch HaShem. You are a kind soul indeed! Yes let us talk further!" Jacob turns around and motions for Trapper to bring the truck in towards the gate. "It's just myself and my two companions. Trapper and Pharos." Once the truck pulls up through the gate, Jacob takes the man and shows him some of the containers of Whale blubber that they had found, "Unfortunately these beautiful creatures washed up on shore. We managed to get to them just as the scavenger birds found them."

"You were lucky you did. Better to be used than see it all go to waste. We don't have a vehicle so we wouldn't be able to bring this back ourselves. Well I tell you what, we've got an underground fuel tank here, you empty what you've got, we give you enough pumps for an entire crop field, and I'll clean them up for you before you go. You can take these, and refill at the creatures, and then really come home like heroes, what do you think?"

(Do I get the sense that this is a fair deal?) (edited)

(Yeah, scavenging other small engines, let alone working ones means another trip to the city, so while the actual value of the items might be a bit more in his favor, the safety to you and your camp followers has some intangible value here, plus, you can try to scavenge more blubber so you might come home with a pretty big net positive. They don't have a vehicle to get their own)

Jacob turns around to look at the filled cannisters and back to the farmer. He then extends a hand, "If you through in a few starter seeds of some various vegetables you got yourself a deal, chaver [friend]!"

“Alright. Little bit of everything. You’ve got a deal.” In the end you are given the pumps, some seeds to start a few bumper crops, and as a bonus they provide some home milled flour so the camp can enjoy some simple bread when food stocks dip below what is comfortable.

"I am glad that our paths have crossed. Are there things that you might be on the lookout for? Should we come across them or the means to make them, I would surely like to keep you in mind for future trade..." Jacob says as he finishes securing the last of the bags of flour before loading the empty canisters and containers. (edited)

1

“The woods are dangerous places. We are doing what we can to get a warning system for ourselves but it’s a long process and uses a lot of materials. This is home though. We can’t leave it “

"Wouldn't even bother asking. You have a nice place. If we find them we will be sure to share the wealth. These pumps are going to save a great many people. Be well!" Jacob bows his head before climbing back into the passenger seat of the truck. He has Trapper head back towards the beach, but to still be cautious. Jacob doubts that they are the first people to happen upon the homesteader. As they start to pull away and head towards the whale remains, Jacob sings softly the blessing for the traveler. "Y'hi ratzon milfanekha A-donai E-loheinu..." (edited)

The beach is full of birds and the first wave of scavenging crabs when you arrive

10:46 AM

Though you do not see signs of people

Jacob has Trapper drive right up to the carcasses, hoping to scare some of the birds away. "Shoo! Get!" Jacob waves his hammer at some of the birds and nudges some crabs back towards the ocean. Knowing that will likely be an effort in futility, he decides that working quickly to take what they can will be the best idea. He helps Trapper gather what oil and fat remains while Pharos covers them on the machine gun

Well versed now from a resounding success and a failure you’re able to collect more to render back at home. The camp is richer than they were at the start of this long day and you make it back jsut after dark with a truck full of supplies , opportunity seized

8:42 PM

(3xp, 5000 credits )

1

(yay! Would you say getting the pumps set up and pipes laid another adventure? Or could Jacob delegate that to a work party?)

(I don't think that is going to be an especially complicated thing to do, and there are people here who know what they're doing, so if you're interested in it, you can do it, but if you dont want to its not going to fall apart without you)

1

(Cool. Definitely will detail that out to a work party. Question: How much of an armory did we raid from the bandits? like could I upgrade to a CFU?)

(Yeah there are some CFU's around)

(Awesome! Will pick up one of those! Deducting 1000 credits) Jacob spends some time walking through the camp as he eats some of the Manna gifted by HaShem. He will stop and talk with anyone who looks like they need to bend his ear. Eventually he finds himself at his own dwelling and turns in for the night. Saying his usual lineup of prayers and blessings, he lays down to dream about the days to come. About what must get done and how they are even going to manage such a monumental task. The next morning Jacob looks for his camp guards as well as some basic construction workers and a technician. He gives them the instructions to get the pumps and any pipes that have been printed thus far into one of the trucks they liberated from the bandits. He marks on their map the brook on the edge of the forest and asks them to get the pumps and pipes set us so the hydroponic garden can get its much needed supply of fresh water. Once all the questions have been asked and answers given, Jacob ushers them onto their task, "Nu, the pipes won't set themselves up! Be good folk and keep your heads on a swivel!" After the nudniks are on their way to get their task done, Jacob heads over to find the Tinker, "Boker Tov, my friend! Have you had breakfast? No? Here take some manna to nosh! I wanted to talk to you about the next thing we will need for the camp... Power. Have any thoughts on how we can get some reliable power generation here?"

"Windmills, the sun, maybe something with the water you are going to be pumping into the hydro garden since we will have a current. Depends on what we can find, and the materials"

"Hmmm... Well... Water and Sun might become a problem once winter sets in... Perhaps a windmill would be for the best until the Confederation gets off their tuchus and do something for once..." "So what kind of parts would you need for a windmill? What can you print and what would we need to scrounge up?" (edited)

"We're not going to be able to copy wires with the printers. We can make the fan blades and can probably scavenge enough metal from around the camp for the frame , but the alternator and charger, along with the wires...not sure we can make it ourselves here"

"Feh!" Jacob rubs his beard anxiously, "Sounds like a trip to the city... That place is going to be the end of us, Tinker... Not mad at you my Friend. I know you are not forcing us into doing something... Messenger and all that..." Jacob turns to look out at the camp, clearly pensive. After a long silent moment he turns back to the Tinker, "Hopefully HaShem is still walking with us... Thank you for the knowledge, my Friend. Be well." Jacob then heads to find Pharos and Trapper, "Well Chaverim... Ready for another adventure? We need parts for our future windmills... Alternator, charger, wires... I hate to say it, but nu, I think we need to go into the city again... Unless either of you know of a better place to find those things?"

“City it is. Remember those trucks in the parking structure ? We can take those from the engines. Wires…maybe knock down some power lines?”

"If I remember correctly, there was a taxi company next door as well... Hopefully between the two we won't come back with bupkes [nothing]." Jacob starts walking back towards his own dwelling to gather his things, "Alright grab some supplies. We will head out in HaShem's Whip in an hour. Plan to be gone for two to three days."

(if I could scrounge up a toolkit and two fixit mooks, that would be good. LMK if you want me to take Henchkeeper at 5. I try to keep them to non-combat and purely just do the one thing and thats it)

(I think for right now since they're not permanent followers so to speak, we don't need to worry about it. The other two have only been coming along because you need them to help you get what they need to do their jobs, whichwill eventually take them away from you)

1

Jacob finds his dwellings and begins packing his meagre belongings for the journey to the city once again. While he inscribes some blessings of protection into his combat field uniform, he sings softly to himself. Just humming daily prayers. He finishes his uniform off with a painted Star of David directly in the center of the chest plate. The blue of the star is hard to make out against the gray of the armor, but when the light catches it, it can be seen easily. An hour later he walks up to HaShem's Whip to find Pharos, Trapper, and two technical nudniks waiting for him patiently. He gives a brief rundown of the plan for the next two days. He tells the technicians to stay down and out of their way if the guns start going off. Once he is satisfied that everyone is ready, they load up and begin the journey back to Traseus City (Same plan as the first time, approach and camp the night, then hit the city first thing in the morning.) (edited)

(No trouble on the route since its well patrolled)

(Awesome! deducting 5 rations from the truck, 59 in total remain) Jacob wakes up early after a quiet night. It would seem that the forests around the town are not nearly as populated as the city itself still. After washing and saying his morning brakhot [blessings], Jacob gets everyone ready for the day and packs the truck with their tents. Once everyone is settled back into the truck, he directs Trapper between the bank and the antiques store and to head towards the Taxi Company first. While they dry by, they keep an eye out for any standing telephone poles that have cables running from them

There are many cables running across buildings and dragged through the street. It seems as though most of the settlement had been degrading when the disaster first occurred- people driving into the poles, other ones falling from lack of repair, industrious citizens felling them for firewood or cheap metal, none the less you're able to find a few on entering the city from the south tanged over one of the city busses like the tentacles of some sky kraken.

Jacob has trapper pull up next to the bus before turning to the technicians, "Alright menschs! Lets get out there and schlep those wires into the truck! First check to see if they are live before cutting into one, okay? Pharos and I will keep you covered, if we work quickly we can be in and out before someone comes to check!" Jacob dismounts with the technicians and keeps his mag pistol at the ready as he constantly scans their surroundings for anyone who might be taking an interest in their presence

You notice the glint from the roof of the building behind the 3D fabrication plant again. Whatever is up there was evidently not killed by the shots fired in its direction last time. Or perhaps something else had taken it’s place. Whatever it is. It csn see you and has seen you but has chosen not to fire.

Jacob squints at the reflection of the light off the scope. Grateful that they did not shoot for whatever reason, Jacob places a hand across his heart and bows his head slightly. Hoping that the person is still looking, he holsters his mag pistol. Points to his watch on his wrist and then holds up both hands with fingers extended. Then he makes a motion of driving and pointing to the glint of light. Jacob hopes he is not making a mistake in his judgement. Only time will tell, "Nu, how we doing, Menschs?"

“Couple hours. Everything is a mess. We have to test to see if it’s a dead circuit but conductive before we cut everything too. We get shocked and you can’t help this far from home. “

(would i be risking a lot to leave them to finish the work with Trapper and Pharos guarding to go meet up with this sniper?)

(I don't think so, you haven't seen anything especially more dangerous so far)

"Makes sense to me. Our number one mission is to come back alive and healthy, so if that means we come up with bupkes. So be it, take your time..." Jacob looks back at the the rooftop from where the glint came and sighs, "Chaverim... I am going to go check something out... If I am not back before you finish, or if you get into a firefight, I want you to leave for the safety of the forest. I can try and meet up with you there by tomorrow. If I am not at the campsite by tomorrow, leave for home, nu?" Jacob smiles and tries to reassure them that they will all be fine. With a hammer in one hand and a mag pistol in the other, Jacob takes off down the street headed towards the sniper. He stops at corners to watch and listen for a moment before crossing any open areas. He tries to move from cover to cover whenever possible.

As you exit the garage you see a rope ladder to the roof has been thrown down for you to climb, the slack sitting in a neat roll at street level. It seems they took your meaning to heart, as intended.

"These kinderlekh got a good head on their shoulders... Hopefully..." Jacob takes a look around before quickly before putting away his hammer and pistol. He then tries to ascend the ladder as quickly as he is able

Arriving on the roof you see a battered looking woman with a fresh bandage around her midsection. The blood there was red once , but has faded to purple since it was applied. A rifle with a flash guard over the scope and canvas on some of the reflective surfaces is propped up against the rim of the buildings roof. “Your man is a good shot”

"Drek! [shit] Are you alright chaverah? [friend] We saw that yenta scope of yours... Couldn't take any chances with our mission... Todah Robah [thank you very much] for not taking me down on the street back there. Name's Jacob, may peace be upon you." Jacob says with a bit of guilt in his voice

"I did shoot your man. I used to own that building across the street there, always had dreams of getting back inside, seeing if i could save anything to help my family over here, but I'm the only one left now"

"May their memory be for a blessing... What happened to them? Were they lost when the slavers came?" While waiting for the answer, Jacob sits down on the roof of the building so as not to be within eyesight of anyone on the ground

"Yes. Carried off into the stars and I'll never see them again. I almost ended it, but if they're alive somewhere out there, I owe it to them to stay alive too. I thought maybe you'd done the job for me and thought about letting this bleed. I'm still not sure why I patched myself up"

"I think you answered your own question... Their memory and the possibility of their survival is why. Plus bleeding out from your gut is not a pleasant way to go I would imagine..." "Can... Can I ask you something?" Jacob doesn't wait for a response and immediately starts his question anyway, "Why didn't you shoot me? Anyone else would have loved the opportunity for revenge..."

"You weren;t the one that shot me. There is revenge, and then there is murder. There are lines and I will not cross them, even with my grief"

"You seem to be the outlier in the city... We were shot at two other times... Both times we did not shoot first." Jacob sighs as he bows his head in thanks for the woman not being a murderer. "Can you tell me what has happened here in the months since the slavers? I am from a shtetl [farming village] to the south near the coast and have been disconnected for quite some time..." (edited)

"society has broken down. Gangs rule the streets , resources dwindle, anything someone builds is torn down by the others. I watch them down in the streets all day long, scurrying like ants."

"Oy gevalt... That would mean then that Greystar has not come here either... What mishegas [insanity]! Well my chaverah, we have a nice little place to the south... We work together and it almost resembles something normal... Almost... If you would like, you could come live with us for a time. And we could use another great shot like yourself..."

“Oh yeah? Tell me about this place. Convince me to leave this kingdom of shit” she laughs before wincing at the pain of her wound

"Hah! ..." he adjusts the chest plate of his combat uniform as he rests against the wall. "At least in our kingdom, there are friends to help you sew the shit field! Haha." Jacob points to the wound, "Could probably get someone to care for that too. You would be able to rest and recover." he smiles warmly.

“Im thinking about it. I want to hear about how you guys do things though before I just give up my independence”

"We are nothing more than a small refugee camp, so no big government or anything like that mishegas. Everyone needs to work to help the community in some way. Work details is the most common right now. We are trying to get some hy... Hydra... Hydroponics Garden going!" "I guess I would be the leader... Huh when did that happen? Haha! My mishpokhe looks to me for guidance and I just try to do the best I can for them."

"how does the community handle disputes? and what happens if you're unable to work? I might be out of commission for a long time because of this" she says, patting her wound.

"We have not had any major disputes yet... something that I am sure will change eventually. As for those unable to work, it really depends on why you are unable to work. Injury or illness is not something we will punish but we can also try to find tasks that an injured person could help; lay-abouts and free loaders will be given fewer food rations as we do not have the resources to support those who choose to not contribute. Unfortunately we are not a city government with a full economy and a robust social safety net." "I do not suspect this system will last forever, really just until such a time where order has been restored to Danae and a better long term system can be established."

"good enough for me. If you're willing, I'll come with you, maybe teach some folks how to shoot"

"More than willing! We need to train up our guards as best we are able. Name's Jacob... And you are ... ?" "So... Any places nearby that would be good to scavenge for equipment? Perimeter alarms would be a blessing unlike any other."

“Annaliese, or Lise, for short. Either one. Scavenging. Well it’s going to be tough to find something not picked over. You’ve got guys taking those car parts though. Maybe we fashion something from the car alarms?”

"Peace be upon you, Lise." Jacob says with an earnest smile. "Ah! A smart nudnik aren't ya! Should be more than a few leftover... hopefully!" Jacob rubs his beard as he thinks. "Well! is the best way down the rope ladder? Do you have any things that you need me to carry? I travel pretty light as it is..."

"Ladder is it. I didn't expect to get down there anytime soon, so I didn't worry too much. I just have my rifle and my day bag. "

"There anything you wanted to get from the print shop? We managed to save some of them and they are back at the camp. But I don't know if you had any tchotchkes that you wanted to pick up, nu?" Jacob turns over into a kneeling position and looks up and down the street to see if its clear to descend to the street

Everything appears safe. Everyone is ready to make a move across the road back to the parking garage.

"Looks safe. I'll go down first..." Jacob swings a leg over the edge and begins climbing down the rope ladder to the street. Once at the bottom he pulls out his mag pistol and continues to scan their surroundings

(anyone who is in the area is spectacularly failing to notice what's going on, so things look good right now)

2

Down safely on the ground, Jacob nods in approval, "My chaverim working on trucks and wires said it will take a few hours to gather the wiring we need... Do you want to check out the print shop and see what is left? I don't know what would have been left after we exited in a hurry..."

“Me not shooting at you might make the search easier. Let’s see what you might be able to turn up”

Jacob hefts his Maccabean Hammer and nods to Annalise, he approaches the back door of the print shop. Sticking his head inside briefly, he tries to look and listen around to see if anyone has decided to pay the shop a visit. If he doesn't hear or see anything, he moves in to the structure to look around some more

The sniper or the threat of one has kept anyone from casually poking their head in. You can see the other machines within, as well as more spools of the resin needed to print things. She looks around the place and sighs, before moving to a spot in the middle of the floor and stamping down very hard. Some kind of hatch pops up, with a ring to allow it to be opened. "Do you mind? Bending over still hurts quite a bit"

"I am sorry that your shop is in such disarray. Like I said we did manage to rescue a lot of the printers, we can probably take one or two more and more of the resin this time around too!" Jacob walks over to where the hatch has popped up and puts his hammer and pistol away. He nods to Lise and reaches down he grabs the ring with both hands. Planting his feet, Jacob pulls on the ring to open the hidden door

(d100!)

(85!)

The machinery down in the basement is from the core worlds. You can see it will never work again. Some of the components needed to replace the damaged ones are impossible to create without psychically assisted manufacturing processes, but some of the machinery could be stripped for valuables.

Jacob lets out a low whistle "And here I thought the printers were the best find of this building... There is not much training on machines in Kabbalah... but if you show me what to pull out, Lise, I can do the heavy lifting."

"These were going to be frontier nano-fabs had the supplies from the core ever come in to get them going. Damaged in transport. I suppose we can strip them down though and get some good out of it"

"Can't imagine anything from the Core is coming this way any time soon..." With Lise's help, Jacob begins pulling parts and pieces from the damaged nano-fabs. "And this one is a what now? A Flux Combobulator? You science types sure come up with interesting names..."

(2 units of pretech salvage. Lise knows how to take them apart so i dont think there's a way to mess up)

(hot dog!)

With the specialized components in hand, Jacob heads back up to the printer floor. He helps Lise climb back up before radioing over to Pharos and Trapper to check on their status, "Pharos... Trapp... How are we doing over there? Managed to get a new friend for our shtetl and some advanced components. There is some more resin over here at the print shop too."

“I think we are almost done. At least for now. Don’t want to stick around after how things went last time”

"Between the wires and the remaining resin. We are probably getting close to full... Just need to grab engine parts! Alarm, alternator, or charger! Whatever you can get quickly. I will get the stuff here ready to go!"

(Fix/int)

(9)

You’re able to get what you need and quickly now with the extra help and the bandits that inhabit the city don’t seem to notice - or if they do aren’t willing to go toe to toe with the machine gun again so soon

(Between car parts, printer, remaining resin, and the wire how much of the cargo storage is available on the Whip? Just looking for a rough%)

)I’d say we are full)

1

Jacob has HaShem's Whip meet up with them at the print shop. Jacob does the heavy lifting of getting the remaining equipment into the truck before they head off. "Pharos, Trapp, Gents... Meet Annalise. Annalise, meet Pharos, Trapper, Kevin and John. She's going to join our little Shtetl... We all set to go? Nu! Let's get outta here." With the truck laden down with the car parts, resin, printer and wiring they make their way out of town like a bat out of hell. Jacob once against asks HaShem for safe travels and recites the travelers blessing as they make their way to their camp site for the night.

You're not followed out of the city back to the camp area you've made a few in already. THe world seems quiet but as darkness falls over the city and the most well armed group around pulls out for the night, you hear occasional gunfire once more.

"Lise... Do you know how many different groups vie for control of the city? Not that I want to stick my foot in the muck, but I feel like it's only a matter of time until the issues of the city find us towards the coast."

"There are three big ones, and then there are just the people trying to stay out of the way"

"Are the big three located in certain areas? Or do they roam around city?"

“They tend to roam for the most part. I didn’t get too close. Figured let them have whatever rat nest they’re bedding down in”

"Pharoah's plagues on all of them... Feh! Might as well as try to convince Greystar to start fresh on the coast... Oy..." Jacob sits back, chewing on his cigar as he stares into the campfire light. "Seen any of those Greystar Klutzes around in the city?"

(boop)

“None. Not sure what they’re doing. Spending time in space mostly , I imagine “

"Figures... Might go have a word with them; give them a piece of my mind..." Jacob stretches before standing up, "Best get some rest. I'll take first watch, if we leave early enough we might make it home before dinner." Without waiting for acknowledgement, Jacob stalks off to make his rounds around their camp site

The night passes without incident and as the sun begins rising , the dewdrops begin to evaporate and create a thick fog

Jacob blinks his eyes open at the rising light. Yawning, he stretches out in the cab of the truck, having given up his own tent to Annalise. Jacob goes about his morning routine of morning brakhot [blessings], study and stretches. Out in the field he brings his small pocket Tanakh [bible] and goes over a few lines from this week's readings. This one is about the census and the importance of ensuring everyone is counted. Something to ponder on the drive home He allows himself a few minutes to think on the problems that Moses and Aaron must have gone through. All the time he could spare really. Gone are the days spent in study, for now at least. Jacob finishes with a light breakfast, "Hope you all slept well! Should be in for a smooth trip back." Jacob waits around to see if there are any questions before getting everyone and everything back in the truck (edited)

A truck full of cargo, a new friend in need of medical attention, and the other myriad threats in the countryside means anyone wanting to talk knows enough to do so on the way, and everyone quickly loads up- preparing to head out.

"Nu, then let's be off! Don't need any gestapo coming to question us!" Jacob hops back into the truck as they take off back for home. He does his best to keep Annalise comfortable on the drive back. "I know our shtetl tinker will greatly appreciate having someone around who has worked with the printers." (edited)

(3xp, 5000 credits, I think we got a good deal of what we needed for the foreseeable fiture from this last trip)

Level 5
HP 18->31
Sunblade Wielder +2->+3
Lead 1->2 (-3 SP)
Bank [1] SP
Focus - Die Hard (+Level*2 HP)

1