Iron Stars - nikora-zavalla

Nikroa awakens in their sometimes apartment, sometimes broadcasting studio in the underground city of Polychrome. It has been a few months since the council of corporations abandoned the planet, and in that time several movements for control of the city have come and gone, but one thing that was always a source of comfort in the neighborhood was your broadcast. Gone are the days of warning the locals about incoming Lucid Industries patrols through the warrens, or announcing where Everlife Industries left their most recent food drop to those it deemed unworthy to even do manual labor for their company. Still, things such as Stain seals failing, crimes in the surrounding areas, and the movements of the new authorities are all things the locals would want to know, and still depend on you for. This 'morning', or whatever passes for it in the day cycle of this underground collection of 14 million souls, the normal cheery red ON AIR light that appears on your analog board when sitting down to broadcast is no longer there. Resetting the machine several times does nothing to fix the problem, and on your most recent attempt to reboot the entire system, you hear a crackle and a faint ozone burned electronic smell emits from the device. No broadcast today it seems, not unless you manage to scrounge some replacement parts out there somewhere. It has been several days since you left, Giving the neighborhood a quick once over in person might not be such a bad idea.

12:53 PM

@Nikora Zavalla (just tagging you so you know where your thread is, no need to tag on a reply or anything, and no rush to respond either)

1

After muttering the many profanities in different languages she has collected over the years, those being the only words she seems to remember, she glances over the mess of wires, lights and knobs that she broadcasts from. A visual cacophony of scrounged electrical equipment. The original use of some parts would be unrecognizable to most. But to Nikora a beautiful work of art, her art, the art of taking something discarded and unwanted and finding it a new life. "It's alright girl, I'll get you mended" she says in a hushed voice. She grabs her tools, putting them in some of the various pockets of her jacket and pants. Checks her backpack, in it another tool, one she is not so handy with, or fond of a laser pistol. But in these times maybe she can find a buyer or trade, her fists do better work then pointing something at someone anyway. Selecting a suitable song on her datapad and putting on her headphones, she steps out of her front door. "Where to first?" She thinks to herself.

3

In the past there have been a few places where you can scrouge parts. There is a junk shop at the end of the street you have a friendly relationship with. There is also the scavenge bins outside the recycling plant, though there is new security in place last you heard and they might not be as forgiving. Finally, as a third option, you could leave this familiar section of city streets to venture to a discarded Lin Foundation site. Lin Foundation was responsible for much of what passed as art, culture, and advertising on Polychrome, and they might have left behind communications equipment you could use.

When was the last time I actually had a conversation" She thinks, "Junk Store it is, might have gotten some new stock". Checking her credits "I hope it's a lot less than 100 creds" She winces "Got to find a way to fix that".

You lock your apartment and head down to the lobby where a few of the elderly in the building are mingling. Each of them says hello to you on your way out and urges you to be careful on the streets. Outside, a battered looking drone with a spotlight on it is flying far overhead, occasionally flicking and flitting its beam to look at streets beyond. Things seem to be normal out on the street for this morning, but as with any day on Polychrome, that could change in an instant. A handful of people are out doing their errands for the day meaning nothing overly violent happened overnight- another good sign.

(Nikora walks down the street in the direction of the Junk Store)

(hey there! quick housekeeping note, we reserve (parenthesis) for OOC comments and questions. It helps keep things orderly to have a solid way to keep in-game separated from OOC. Thanks, I hope you are having fun so far!)

(lets get a notice/wis as we make our way down the street, and see what we can pick up on. If you need help with checks, let me know)

Nikora Zavalla

used /r

Nikora Zavalla Request: [2d6-1] Roll: [6, 6] Result: 11

3

(is that right I have +0 wisdom modifier and -1 Notice)

2

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt

(hey there! quick housekeeping note, we reserve (parenthesis) for OOC comments and questions. It helps keep things orderly to have a solid way to keep in-game separated from OOC. Thanks, I hope you are having fun so far!)

(I kind of mixed up in my mind if that was like an ooc comment or something that was being roleplayed. I think I understand the () better now)

(right, so 2d6 -1 since the 0 doesn't help or hurt, and the -1 is a penalty )

8:25 AM

There's a new face on the corner across the street from the junk store. You don't remember seeing this person in the neighborhood before, and they are not wearing any gang colors you're familiar with. You do notice the silhouette of a pistol in their waistband, but they seem content just to sit on the corner for now, and don't look to be paying you any extra special attention.

Nikora decides it's probably best to continue on with her current errand. A gun in this neighbourhood is almost a necessity and she has learnt it's better to mind your own business, unless it becomes your business. She continues towards the front door of the Junk Store, keeping the stranger in her peripheral vision.

They still don't seem to move as you enter. The junk collector is sitting behind the counter of the small store. You can see several half taken apart electronics on shelves behind him, and some intact pieces of kit in a glass display case. He is also armed most likely, on himself and under the counter if you had to guess. There are also a few aisles with bins of more standard scraps and spare parts for the DIYer to pick through, most of it is organized. "Good morning Nikora" he says as you enter the shop. A small belt makes a pleasant chime as the door opens. "Another day on this side of pavement for both of us. Off to a good start"

Nikora smiles at the collector, it's always a nice reminder that there is a little kindness left in this world. "Morning, friend". She slightly gestures her head towards the door. "Some strange guy hanging out over the road, never seen him around here before, no local colours, armed though".

"Saw him too, not sure what's he's doing out here, or who he

8:01 AM

is with, but he hasn't done anything yet, so I guess we watch and wait. What's new with you? " he asks, shifting from being somewhat tense at someone new coming in, to trying to be helpful to a customer.

"Boards fried itself again, this consumer grade stuff we find just doesn't last, if only some military tech would trickle down here" Nikora replies sifting through one of the bins. "I guess we just gotta make do with what we got". "Anything new come in? Something to get the old girl casting again". She says walking over to the collector. "Also you heard of any work going that requires my particular skills, credits are running a little light at the moment". (I added some goals, I was a hard pressed to think of 5 like it says too. I think I need a bit more time to get a sense of the world and Nikora. Also should I be asking for more things that require skill checks?)

(SWN isn't a system where spamming skill checks is really a thing, even a 0 in a skill means you're not taking checks for routine uses of the skill,- for example a 0 in pilot means you're not taking a check to land, take off, in good weather, and do basic flight operations ect. We don't need to worry about how many we're rolling, and if we do need something rolled based on what you're doing I will ask for it, You're also free to pitch another skill if you can think of a reason it might apply but as with any game with a GM it's my final call on if your pitch will work or not. Right now we're just setting some basic scenes, and getting a feel for the neighborhood- we've only made a handful of posts each, so a little exposition is a good thing in my opinion You can add new goals any time you want to. Most people don't have any or only start with a couple, and add more as they get some additional playing time in and figure out where they want the character to go. Hope that helps! . )

(That's cool I was just making sure I was playing along correctly, I like the exposition, finding out what the neighbourhood looks and feels like.)

"I heard there's a new group that set up inside the Glass Tower, call themselves the CFR. From what I hear though, they've got to recruit you. Gotta do something to get their attention, but maybe getting your station on the air again might help you contact them. Got nothing to help your transmitter, but I

9:03 AM

have a salvage run to make myself. Was thinking about hitting that Lin Foundation office a couple blocks over and poking around. You fancy coming with? I can close the place for a few hours"

"I've been meaning to have a look around there, but you know, going alone seemed like a bad idea". Turning slightly to show her backpack. "Plus I came prepared and maybe a veteran scrapper like yourself can show me a few tricks".

"Suppose we can team up. I did offer. You armed?" he asks, taking an extra few seconds to elaborate "Not gonna be a problem if you are. It's Polychrome. Just wanna know if you need something. If you're watching my back, I want you watching it"

Nikora opens her backpack and pulls out her pistol, placing it in one of the inside pockets of her jacket. “You know I can’t hit much with this, I’m better at the old one, two”. She says throwing some punches into the air. “We get in any trouble I’ve got yours if you got mine, us warren scroungers gotta look after our own”. She adjusts the straps on her backpack. “Let's see if those Lin Foundation folk left us some going away presents”. (edited)

"We'll have to be quiet on the way there, we don't want to draw attention to ourselves. Lets be off" (sneak/dex)

Nikora Zavalla

used /r

Nikora Zavalla Request: [2d6-1] Roll: [4, 3] Result: 6

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2d6-1] Roll: [2, 1] Result: 2

You don't think you're spotted on the way over to the site. The Lin Foundation building has been heavily tagged by vandals and gang artists ,and much of the original corporate iconography has been covered up. the front doors of the office building have been previously smashed in. Bent metal spars and a constellation of broken glass fragments catching the outside light litters the ground, coming to rest before what remains of a reception desk that looks as though it has been shot to pieces. The building has enough power to keep its emergency lights on, and one of its two elevators looks to be working. There is also a stairwell.

"I wonder if this place has already been picked clean" Nikora kicks at a ripped out light fitting lying on the ground. "Not too sure I feel like getting stuck or jumped in an elevator, let's try the stairs, I haven't had much exercise recently anyway".

8:21 AM

(We'll be emerging from the southern stairs into room 1)

Nekosmash pinned a message to this channel. 11/24/2022 8:21 AM

THe second floor of the building is dark. The scrapper cracks a glowbug and hands it to you, and you feel the bottom has an adhesive on it so it can be stuck to your clothing or weapon. The cell looks full, you should get several hours out of this. This bullpen like office is abandoned and the desks and chairs look to have been scattered slightly from their original placements. The large angled desk has been pushed on its side and looks to have been cover for a firefight in this room in the recent past.

"Looks like someone found some trouble here" Nikora says in a hushed voice looking at the desk. (I'd like to have a look in room 5 seems like a meeting room, maybe they had coms for conference calls)

Room 5 is similarly dark. The conference room table has a few burns from laser shots in its surface but it looks like the computer system in the northwestern corner is largely intact aside from the actual display screen- also caught by a stray round.

Nikora walks over to the computer and inspects it. "Any useful parts in this?" She wonders to herself, out loud.

(Fix/int)

Nikora Zavalla

used /r

Nikora Zavalla Request: [2d6] Roll: [5, 4] Result: 9

You manage to find a third of the parts you need from scrapping this machine. Two of the boards look good, as do some of the connecting pieces of ribbon cable.

"Score!" Nikora pumps her fist into the air. "Let's see what else we can find". (Sorry bit late on this one, been training at my new job. I think next we will have a look at room 7)

(no worries! life comes first!)

8:16 AM

The door to room 7 is closed but you can see from the small gap under the door that there are lights on inside. Something shifts and settles on the other side as you approach the door.

Raising her hand in a fist to signal to the scrapper to stop, Nikora slowly backs away from the door. Not knowing what trouble might lay behind it. "I'm going to check a different room, can you stay outside of it and keep an eye on that door?" She asks the scrapper. (If he is o.k to do that I'll back up to where the doors are to room 3 and 4 are and see if they are open, maybe he can be behind that desk and use it as cover, just incase)

Shotgun ready, the scrap merchant keeps a watchful eye on the door you were about to enter. If there are any surprises on the other side, they are going to get one of their own if they try to rush you.

8:15 AM

(and yes, we can arrange that, I don't think that would be difficult to set up and we won't need a check for it unless you're trying to be extra quiet about it )

(Not being extra quiet, I'm kind of assuming that who ever is behind the door already knows we are there. Edited my poor typing) (edited)

The fighting position is set up, and whatever is on the other side of the door, it does not choose now as the time to come out swinging. The junk dealer looks to you, following your plan so far, and wanting to know what you want done next.

"Keep an eye on that door, I'm going to check the next room". (Can I go into room 4)

Trying to get into the room the handle jiggles, the door appears to be locked with a simple mechanical entry lock.

"Well, well must be something worth locking up in here". She thinks to herself. "Let's see if we can convince you to open". (I have a Postech Toolkit and a Metatool at are either of those things able to pick or unlock a lock?)

(There's a number of different ways to go about trying to force a locked door, but with the metatool we can get a fix/int here for picking it)

Nikora Zavalla

used /r

Nikora Zavalla Request: [2d6] Roll: [4, 1] Result: 5

Trying to disassemble the lock goes poorly. You're not sure how to get it to come apart after spending several moments working on it.

"Stupid lock" she mutters to herself. "Guess your treasures will remain a mystery". (Let's try room 3 that roll was terrible)

The door to room 3 is open and inside this looks to be the remains of an office. There is a computer still bolted to the desk in this room, and a quick flick of the switch on its front brings up the screen. It has been unlocked, or was left this way.

"Well what have we got here?" (I assume there is a keyboard? Can I attempt to see if I can find any information on the computer?)

(There is a keyboard. Generally we get three questions from a database before anti-tampering measures keep you out. if something is password protected there might be a program check to get around it, I'll let you know if we need one)

(I'm a bit stuck thinking of questions, is there a menu or would a PC just type questions like: Can I have a list of all electronics and computers in the building?)

(The questions you're asking are OOC how looking for information in the database is organized, basically what you're searching for or doing while on the computer, or what questions you're trying to answer with the information within )

(What can I see on the screen?)

(it would look like a normal computer desk top)

7:10 AM

(here is an exampleof how this works)

7:10 AM

https://discord.com/channels/345912178072879106/859152819378061362/1050482197817204846

Nikora queries the computer, "What work was being done in this building?"

(Perfect!) The Lin Foundation coordinated most of their public address radio messages from this building. Messages to the district would be transmitted from here, and anything that needed to be broadcasted city wide from this district was sent through this office, and passed on to their headquarters closer to the center of the city.

"Is there a labelled floor plan of the whole building somewhere in the database?"

(there would be, I can make one, I didn't since I wasn't sure what we were gonna get into and it was a lot of work for something we might not use, especially since you found half of what you need in the second room we explored, but for purposes of this question, the computer has a floor plan)

(that's cool no need to make one. If I like looked through their files can I see anything that pops out as being useful information, like a company memo or something that seems like it would have information valuable to the right people?)

(the last question would need to be more specific than this)

"What was the last internal company message?"

The last message was circulated only among the company higher ups, with a list of the executives and families slated for "escape" on the captured Cooperative spike ship in the starport. This was sent almost a year ago now, and those executives have long since fled the planet. A deliberate choice to abandon 90% of the company staff on this world was made, and this confirms it

(Is it still possible to broadcast at least one transmission from this computer as though it was from the Lin Foundation?)

(That was our last piece of information we can get, so the network here is locking you out now)

"Well that wasn't very informative" Nikora thinks to herself. She switches the computer off and begins looking over it for parts.

It looks like you can get the rest of what you need from it. You come away with evidence of more powerful broadcasting equipment being located here elsewhere based on the information you’ve sifted, along with a map of the building.

Nikora walks out of the room. "I've got what I need". She says to the scrapper. "Is there anything else you need to do?"

"Lin had an impressive set up here. I can always come back to mark some places for scrap, but that basement level is interesting. Lots of security down there, and its drawing power. Worth coming back for, I think "

"Sounds like something I'd like to check out, I'd better get back and see if I can get my equipment fixed"

"Right, we've both overstayed our welcome. I think it's time for us to go" he says. "What do we want to do with the one in the store room over there?"

"Well they haven't come out, so let's leave them be, I've got what I needed, off home it is then".

(3xp, 5000 credits. We can handle the level up first and then we'll close this out!)

(gonna archive this for now, whenever you feel like comin back just lemme know! )