Iron Stars - solace

It was a long road to Gudrun, and it was a road most people from Acastus decided not to take once the world was liberated from the clutches of The Still Lady. Most elected to stay behind, to try to build something of the world they lost, and then reclaimed. Based on the news reports that circulate to Galnet, it seems as though they've done what they set out to do under Greystar's leadership. Gudrun and the aegis of the UNW is a safe enough distance for someone wholesale given up to the Cult of the Still Lady, and though she no longer calls to the back of your mind, the emptiness that replaced her siren song is disquieting in other ways. None the less, the chance to see new horizons, and learn to make new teas has brought you to Gudrun, specifically Central, where most coming into the world set down. A train ride west will have you passing across the continent, to the cities held by the Taros- who are renouned masters of tea and ways of growing it. They have been reluctant to share most of what they know with the wider UNW, or those even outside their own race, and you hope there is something you can do, or show them, to change this.

Solace wakes to dawn light in his Academy dormitory and stretches over the floor. He shakes out his hair and crosses his legs, breathing in the way the master mushroom-Vowed nomads had taught him, inhaling and exhaling the fresh breeze from the window left open overnight. The last few months in Gudrun had kept him busy with purging the influences of the Still Lady from his mind and learning to channel his power into the techniques of Nullification. So busy that he had never had the opportunity to make any tea outside of the dining hall. The last of his special secret ingredients from Acastus had been used up and his pack's many small compartments were now empty. He hopes to learn the secrets of the Taros and expand his catalog of recipes, but he doesn't expect to walk in empty handed without the merest knowledge of Gudrun tea or Taros ways. Before embarking on a voyage to the Taros cities he decides to begin learning the local flora, stock up on ingredients, and do a bit of his own experimentation. His first goal will be to gather some local ingredients and make some teabags for his instructors as a graduation gift. Opening his eyes Solace pulls his compad off the mattress, which was never slept in and always covered with Academy noteslabs and dirty clothes. After reading up on the short list of described local flora and squinting at the Gudrun map Solace sets off toward the wilderness of the foothills. Shouldering his wooden frame pack he steps lightly down the stairs and across the courtyard. As he passes groups of students around the fountain, only the stray cats he stops to pet notice his presence. He reaches the treeline quickly and hikes northwest toward the mountains. A green insect reminds him of the local legends of radioactive dinosaurs roaming the southern swamps. He climbs over roots and crosses clearings, his footsteps barely making a sound on the forest floor, and the birds scarcely minding his passage.

(What direction from Central did we plan to wander then? I had something totally different worked up, I'm fine to do ths just help me pivot)

(Northwest)

Northwest has plains, before reaching the mountainous lowlands. With the years ago removal of the underhill collective, traveling across the plains is safer than ever now. Most of the large animals that would see humans as lower rungs of the food chain have moved off - unhappy with the constant activity in the area. Regular army patrols both on foot , and by air have also ensured anything problematic for those wandering out of central is taking care of, at least for the first dozen or so kilometers. Plains grasses glide over one another in the fall winds. Winter will be here soon, and as you pass the farmlands and a bar built into a barn called The Harvest Spirits, you can see the farmers here in Central are doing just that.

Solace stops at the Spirits to see if the Baron is in.

The Baron never seems to leave and is in his usual place behind the counter. A rendition of “Master of the House” played on an aging piano has just ended and the farmers inside quiet down, going back to their drinks and more private conversations

Never having been much for social gatherings, it's Solace's first time in the establishment, despite having heard plenty of the bar's hearty fare and rowdy nights. He orders a big breakfast and scouts the menu for tea. He's heard that the Baron often has information that can't be read on Galnet, so he is eager to ask a few questions.

The tea is black and not the best cup you’ve ever had. It might even be one of the worst. You get the sense it isn’t the kind of drink that the people who come in here normally want so not much thought has been given to it.

Solace sips the tea at the bar anyway and waits for the Baron to come around. "Good morning, you must be the Baron. What can you tell me about this tea?"

"Comes in a box, we get it from the distribution center in Central, more or less jsut that. I never really enjoyed that area of food and drink"

Solace's snowy eyebrows raise in momentary surprise. He takes a comfortable sip of the tepid brew before replying, "A friend once told me that for every mood there are two drinks to affect it, cold or hot; a spirit to draw it forth, or a tea to balance it." He pauses for another sip and soaks in the smells and sounds. His eyes wander over the bottles of every shape and color. "You carry a fine selection. Are these all local liquors and brews?"

“A few I was able to recreate from before The Scream, the rest come from local stocks and are my own design.

"Local stocks... How is the harvest this year?" Solace asks

“We have had better. The rains came late this year and we had to resort to leaving large sections of the fields to wither. Some came back. We will not starve but the store shelves will be underwhelming through the winter

"I know little of trade here, but why not import from the Taros? Have their crops withered as well?"

“Not for me to determine trade policy. I’m sure they’re handling it

Solace nods thoughtfully and finishes his breakfast peacefully. He scans his credchip at the counter. "May the moons shine brightly on your path." Re-energized by the food and new knowledge he shoulders his pack and sets off toward the mountains.

(I should have asked this beforehand but how long would you plan to be gone. I guess in character we would have planned accordingly preparations and provisions wise

(just 1 night, he's looking for a cave or a spring or a mountain stream which might hold some kind of special herb he can use for tea)

(he doesn't have any provisions or a survival kit or anything)

(Alright)

12:44 PM

Wandering north of Central you’re on land that’s been heavily passed through for almost five years now. Most of what you see are Lopes and the occasional distant form of the wolf beetles , now free of the former underHill masters. They tend to leave people alone unless they’re truly hungry

Solace gives the creatures plenty of space and continues on, passing up foraging for now in favor of making good time.

(survive/wis)

(8)

You're able to evade the creatures getting your scent and make your way to the border of a small spring. This is about as far as you can get from Central with the daylight you have left. Walking back in the dark entirely unsupplied is not something you relish the thought of doing. You can see a small grove of etherfruit on the other side of the spring, the first of their small melons poking out of the large overhanging protective leaves. It's a bit outside of its normal region of preferred growth- perhaps the seeds dropped here by a passing bird or the wind. (edited)

7:26 AM

https://www.worldanvil.com/w/iron-stars-nekosmash/a/etherfruit-article

Etherfruit

Solace squats by the spring to splash the dust from his face, relieved to find a plant of interest among the beaten paths. He sits in the grove for some time, admiring the shapes of the leaves, letting the sound of the spring guide his breathing. The plains had been picked over more than he'd imagined, and a proper expedition would require more foresight. Mind cleared, Solace gets down on his elbows and inspects the leaves, his main focus, for any barbs, stingers or oils. Then he lifts up some leaves with his laser pistol and wriggles underneath, searching for any harvest-ripe melons or fallen sundried blossoms.

There are both in abundance around the base of the plant. The melons themselves have a hollow top with nectar in them. No bugs are inside currently, but you'll have to be careful carrying it back if you cant separate it from the rind somehow.

Solace gathers plenty of the etherfruit blossoms and fills a compartment of his ingredients box. He does the same with the young leaves. Without a waterproof container he decides against carrying the fruit back, but as long as he's here... Selecting a medium sized specimen of perfect ripeness, he reaches for his standard-issue ceremonial knife before remembering he lost it somewhere in customs. He carefully twists the fruit off the stem and takes a hearty sip.

You feel warm, and a slightly heady sensation fills your senses. You're not going to be incapacitated off of a sip, but you can see why someone would enjoy drinking it.

Solace pours the rest of the juice into other pitchers and tears the melon into juicy chunks to eat. He does his best to wash the sweet smell off in the spring before the return journey.

The glitterwasps who normally are very interested in the stuff dont seem to have the scent , and you make your way back into the colony, passing The Harvest Spirits again just as the sun goes down. You're still a bit of a ways from home, but at least you're within a regularly patrolled area again

He orders dinner, something with plenty of local vegetables, tries an etherfruit wine, and listens to the local gossip.

**Level Up**
Level: 1
Focus: Gentle Way
Old HP: N/A
HP Roll: 6
New HP: 6
New Skills: Notice 0 from Physician, Heal 1 from Physician and hobby skill, Know 1 from Physician and Partial Vowed class, Nullification 0 from Partial Psychic class, Gentle Way 2 from focus
New Abilities: Incognito from Nullification 0, Martial Style, Unarmed Might, Unarmored Defense, and Unobtrusive Step from Vowed Arts 
Current AB: 0

11:58 AM

(if this formatting is incorrect let me know)

(Personal Goals added to Roll20)

(Shoulld be level 2, believe you get a focus pick as well)

1:50 PM

(also, you only get your hobby skill at character creation, did you not take it? )

(this post was for character creation, I haven't seen any xp yet)

(3xp, 5000 credits for what we did, got ahead of myself i guess)

2:14 PM

(i had something set up, and then we did this instead, so we will run with whatever you want to do)

(sorry for the unexpected freewheeling just wanted to start off at ground level, I'm almost ready to hop onto the literal and figurative railroad tracks)

2:20 PM

(If I may ask, what was your assumption?)

(Lets do the level up and ill generate some gossip)

**Level Up**
Level: 2
Focus: Psychic Training - Nullification 
Old HP: 6
HP Roll: 5
New HP: 7
New Skills: Nullification 1 from Psychic Training focus, Punch 0 for 1 SP, Sneak 0 for 1 SP
New techniques: Incognito 1 from Nullification core discipline, Void Pocket (Nullification-1) from improving Nullification, Fade (Nullification-1) from Psychic Training focus, Voided Mind (Nullification-1) for 1 SP, Brutal Counter from Vowed Art pick
Current AB: 1

(edited)

(Hp should be 7. )

(Fixed!)

(I guess before i just throw a bunch of random stuff out there, what do you find yourself interested in pursuing )

(Random stuff could be good! I added some goals to roll20 but the real focus for now could be trade and security related missions for the UNW, Taros, and UNW sub-factions.) (Later, if solace survives, I might like to become more involved in UNW trade and help pave the way to a tea production asset, but remain mission focused.) (Eventually I'd like to get into some increasingly-advanced stealth and security missions, and provide support to other PCs in combat, exploration, and anti-maltech/anti-psychic containment missions. I don't know how much of that is far-fetched or what your ideas are but I'm here for the ride)

The people of Parnika have rejected another overture by Billy Rigers to join the UNW. It appears arriving on a planet and telling them you can buy all of them if you want to is not a salient negotiation tactic. Another delegation with a softer tone is preparing to be dispatched and is short a few members

Solace submits his application to the pool. On the way back to the Academy he picks up a mortar and pestle and some of the UNW black tea mentioned by the Baron. His evening is spent boiling water and experimenting with different proportions of his three ingredients, as well as adjusting temperatures and steeping times, to create an Etherfruit Blossom Tea.

(I dont think i know enough about tea to make this meaningful right now, I will have to do some reading and we can circle back to that)

7:25 AM

You're still awake, measuring , boiling, tasting, and tweaking, when your compad beeps, showing your application has been accepted. The group is planning to leave in a few hours, and based on the replies in the group message you're invited to, the other members of the team had been selected hours earlier.

Solace leaves a tea bag with a thank-you note for each of his instructors, packs his meager belongings and several days rations from the dining hall, and hurries to the meeting location, stopping only to buy a survival kit at the general supply.

(just book cost for that, otherwise if thats all we're solid here)

(roll20 credits & inventory updated)

The shuttle meant to bring you to your destination is a workhorse model, and four other dignitary figures are waiting there, under the eyes of just as many security personnel who will be attached to the voyage. They seem tense, and eager to get underway. Several of them are in arguments with one another about what the best approach is, and how little they think their chances of success are in going there. (edited)

Their argument comes to a halt, as they see you. This sort of discussion in front of a new arrival makes the group look bad, and they have reputations to uphold. "Welcome to the team, it seems" says the leading dignitary. "Name's Renda. Pleased to meet you. "

"Pleased to meet you, Renda. I'm Solace. Is this our ship? If that's any measure of the polity's expectations for our mission I suppose I can relax and at least enjoy the trip." His voice is unremarkable, calming in its everyman ease. As the group boards and finds their seats he continues greeting the others and the security as well. By the time they arrive he will try to have their names and specialties down. He sits next to Renda and asks, "I've read about Billy Rigers' first attempt to gain the trust of Parnika. Could you tell me, why does the UNW want to include the planet? What would change?"

"They're a former Remnant held world. They've got a large agricultural and industrial base. You might have noticed that outside of Gudrun, and maybe Chloe, we don't have many planets that easily lend themselves to becoming bread-baskets. Its a vulnerability the UNW would like to amend. Why he decided money and money alone to a people who value their autonomy was the right course of action...." she can only shrug. "Don't misunderstand, we're not approaching anything like a food shortage, but the actions we take today, stave off or eliminate the problems of tomorrow. "

8:16 AM

"Strategically, the world is just a spike 1 jump from two of our developing frontier planets. Not knowing what is happening there is a large vulnerability"

"You speak of strategy. What will be our approach this time and what will my duties be?"

"The way I see it, given your background, we've got two approaches. You're more than welcome as part of the negotiating team with me. An approach with fresh eyes might be exactly what we need. It's going to be reactionary. We don't know what kind of a state Mr. Rigers left them in. I'm expecting at best, cold, at worst, just short of shooting on sight. Alternatively , we plan to covertly split off a small team upon arrival to get some samples. Soil , water, air quality, perhaps useful plants in the area. It needs to be quick, but the results of this are going to let us know exactly how much value we should place on bringing them in. Giving away a prize horse sum for a draft mare is not something the UNW can afford right now, especially with the Exchange of Light draining the galaxy's coffers. thank the gods we're not important enough to have lost our savings" she chuckles (edited)

Solace considers this for a while. He's heard of the Exchange as an ancient financial institution and the news has been full of the outrage over the invalidation of large portions of faction finances. The UNW needs Parnika as a verified source of income. He thinks about where that value comes from: the work of the farmers, the land area, the plants, the energy of the star. He doesn't quite trust these diplomats to bring a significantly different offer to the Parnikans than Billy without good reason. Most of all, he decides, he needs to learn more about the planet and its people. Whether the negotiations improve relations or degrade them, he doubts Parnika will decide to join the UNW on this trip, so there may be chances later on to assist with more direct diplomacy. "I'll join the covert sampling team while the negotiations hold the attention of the town. If anything should go wrong we can return immediately to assist."

"Alright, I'll make sure the mission logs get updated. Hopefully we won't need to withdraw under fire. That said, you capable of defending yourself if we do?"

"I've never had to shoot anyone; I'll certainly try to avoid any serious injuries."

"Do you think you could, if you had to?"

Solace frowns and thinks about it. "I could certainly throw a better punch than I could take. You certainly seem prepared for that scenario. If a real offer is waiting on the analysis of these samples, what are your goals for the negotiations?"

“To calm the tensions for a start. Then to actually learn about the culture here , and to see what it would take to bring them on. We will compare it to what you find and what is within the UNW ability to deliver “

“So hopefully that answers your questions. That’s about all I can really promise ahead of time and we see how things happen. We are reacting rather than acting and that puts us at a disadvantage”

Solace considers this. "Thanks for the heads up. I'll do my best to keep a low profile with the sampling." (edited)

(the trip will be 10 days for downtime purposes. As far as if you wanted to do anything else on the way I am open for it. Whatever your preference is)

Solace spends the trip reading up on the Taros. During meals he enjoys the diplomats' and security team's stories, and after meals he stays to listen to their concerns. He asks the most seasoned of the security team about the start of the Taros rifle trade, hoping to learn more about what the Taros wanted from the deal.

Taros rifles are not traded lightly, and therefore there is no commodification of their trademark weapon to anyone outside those of the actual Taros city states. A handful of them have been awarded to those who have gone above and beyond for the United Nations of Worlds, as it also keeps the Taros States safe. Making their coveted rifle a mass market good destroys the honor meant by the conveyance of the gift, which they value most of all, as do the recipients of them

Solace thanks the spacer for this insight and spends his quiet time reading more about Taros cultural values and customs.

https://www.worldanvil.com/w/iron-stars-nekosmash/a/parnika-location?preview=true

Parnika

8:13 PM

Upon arriving in the system, the ship makes a direct burn for the planet, heading to a space just outside Parnika city where the other landing parties have been met. There is a forest just north of it, where you can get the readings youve been charged with collecting, as well as anything else that presents itself as an opportunity. Per your selection, others will handle the grit of the actual proposed negotiations.

Rather than greet the Parnikan dignitaries Solace plans to slip away before his presence is detected. He relays this plan to Renda. As the ship lands he surveys the area below for security, bystanders, and a path to the forest. Either before the delegation arrives or after they leave he will try to nonchalantly slip out of sight and head for the sampling site.

(sneak/dex, and I'll tie this all together)

(sneak/dex result: 11)

The ship sets down and once the ramp drops you see little else of it. Off into the plains grasses with two others, you are gone before anyone is aware that the ship has set down. Distantly you can see a vehicle approaching but you’re moving in the opposite direction and will be gone before they can do anything or even see you. Loose trees are ahead that compact into a denser woodland. Everyone seems eager to make it at least that far before taking a breath

On the crouched run through the tall grass Solace half expects gunfire from the welcoming party to start any moment. He stays quiet as the team continues through the woods.

You don't hear any. It seems like any fighting is being done with words, for now. Everyone is re-setting their packs, and taking in the view. A brilliant spring forest stretches out before you. Bugs move lazily through the scrub flowers, small rodents crash through the undergrowth, and larger creatures flee from the humans in their midst into their more distant dens and warrens.

Solace inhales the scents of the forest deeply and remains alert for anything notable. He looks for signs that this land was once farmland that has now become wild, such as agricultural crop remnants, or evidence that it has never been touched, like the pits and mounds of many generations of rotting tree stumps.

This was once crop land. There are mounds here and some of the top most layer of soil has the last remains of a long ago harvest. It was once green, now is the grey black of dried remains and decomposition

You can also see the remains of a large stump here. It’s been broken up in a few spots and grass is pushing up in the cracks.

Going over to the stump, Solace looks for clues such as plow marks that would indicate whether it was growing in an active field or grew after. He studies the stump estimating its age until the others are ready

It was growing. In an active field and the old farmers just moved around it. It is about 20 years old. Cracks of branches announce the others are coming in hot on your heels. There is no gunfire in the distance but you can hear some shouting

Crouching, Solace collects plenty of the dried material and the soil beneath it and bioscans a few plants for the database. He feels at home here and more relaxed than in the city, despite the tension of the mission. Samples taken, he straightens and begins stepping deeper into the forest interior. "There may be something better to sample ahead. We should move quickly."

As he runs lightly over the historic furrows, thinking of the futility of selling sweeping agricultural development to those to whom land is life and not just a way of life, he doubts things would have been any different had he been a part of the negotiators. Not to mention that he might get shot at. Getting shot at was one of Solace's least favorite things, and he avoided it whenever possible.

Passing into the woods you’re given more and more clues by the lay of the land that this used to be a homestead in the past. Stacked rocks covered in moss , about knee high are all that is left of a small homestead wall. Ahead, the overgrown ruins of a small farmhouse also made of stone sit shrouded by trees , 50m from the wall ruins

As the others take samples of soils and surviving crops, Solace wanders toward the farmhouse. What a shame it would be, he thinks, for all of this harmony to become a monoculture of metawheat, tended by bots and lived in by no one? He begins to question his quest to expand trade of the Taros tea as well. His talk with the enforcer told him that the Taros regulate the trade of their unique goods for an important reason. Without this regulation the cultural significance of these meaningful items would be watered down, their traditional value stripped leaving only utilitarian standards. Perhaps Parnika is the same, he speculates. He wants to meet the people here and learn what makes the land so much more important to them than money, and how they would cultivate it differently. As he approaches he looks for signs the farmhouse is still lived in, but either way knocks on the door and waits for a reply before entering. He can't imagine why such an idyllic place would be abandoned.

The door falls inward and the interior of the home is dark. It’s been abandoned for some time and the woods have claimed the building as their own. It is in the late stage of returning to nature. Shelves with glass bottles, stacked wooden cutlery and bowls , a thick metal cauldron and a kettle over the hearth round out this very rustic home, far removed from the convenience of this modern age. In addition to the items needed to actually live a life removed from the city there is a small desk where writing materials have been scattered

"Hello? I love your aesthetic..." Solace avoids disturbing the dust and looks for signs of a struggle or rushed departure. Perhaps the former owners simply perished of old age and the farm was forgotten? It would be good, he thinks, to speak with the local government, in case they wish to preserve the property as a working farm or historic site or restore it to nature, for in any of these cases there is much work to be done... he supposes the Parnikans may have other greater concerns, though he cannot imagine what they might be. He looks over the desk for any sort of note or clue to have stood the test of time, which might be valuable for locating the rightful owners. Or for the mission. The yelling is a bit more distant now and he has to remind himself that he might be forced to return at any moment to senseless combat and needless rushing about. He wishes now he had tried harder to dissuade Renda from such a reckless approach, but he had known too many stubbornly beaurocratic dignitaries on Acastus to believe he could suddenly change objectives and approaches their superiors had commanded.

There is a small red leather book laying out on the desk. It is closed but ink smudges on the ends of the pages tell that it was used 'recently' and were some of the things last touched when people lived here. The cover is more brown than red now,but the pages within have been spared attention by moths and vermin so far.

Taking a seat at the desk Solace gently picks up the book to take a closer look.

The book is a journal. The farmer here was not a dutiful writer. Months pass between entries but it still seems to contain all the major happenings around the homestead until its last entry, January 1, 2665, the date of The Scream. The entries before tihs one detail the comings and goings of farm members and the relentless expansion of the people living in the city. There was some especially serious dismay close to The Scream when thousands of people all at once were brought down from orbit and the deforestation and commercial farming of the continent, as well as the rest of the planet was called "Decimation" THe morning of the scream the farmer wrote about strange storm clouds on the horizon and lots of problems within the city- namely shooting and other more serious explosions. He and the family hoped to hunker down here and wait things out. There are no further entries and there was no signs of violence on the homestead.

"Decimation..." Solace looks around, thinking this would be the ideal place to survive such an event. Taking the journal, he leaves the farmhouse and helps gather the soil and plant samples and scans.

As they are analyzed it becomes abundantly clear that this land is very fertile and could be home to all manner of crops. You had visions of bots tending endless fields of metawheat and destroying the natural beauty of the world. The soil here can support all manner of animals and plants here. Crop diversity could be immense and mass farming would utterly destroy all this world is capable of

The thought makes Solace frown and rub his forehead. Trying to put himself in the farmer's shoes, he muses to himself how he would have managed such a farm. The idea of owning land usually struck him as pompous. In the city one had to be careful to avoid disturbing anything because it belonged to someone, and in the wilds one ought to do the same because it belonged to everyone. He had never thought about how he might change the landscape if it were his. The thought bothers him so he pushes it aside. "We have the data, is everyone ready to return?"

"Do we want to?" one of them jokes. It has been quiet over at the landing craft for some time. There are no gunshots, and more importantly, no shouting.

Solace considers the question seriously. He doesn't particularly want to go back, in fact he would like to see more of the planet. "Let us return by a different way. If there is a path to peaceful compromise I'm sure Ronda's team will find it. In the meantime we must make the most xof the time they have bought us."

"looks like there might be some kind of pond a couple kilometers south of here, we could hook west after that and come by the landing site that way. Looks like good scrub land and plenty of concealment until we're almost right on top of them"

"perfect, here we go." The team hikes to the pond to continue their survey

The pond is covered with ferns on its edges. The local variant of duck floats on its surface with six of its small ducklings. Something ripples the surface that looks suspiciously like a fish rising from the depths to eat a bug

Solace imagines a lazy afternoon fishing the pond and napping in the shade under the trees. The silence from the starport and the mystery of the abandoned farm scratch at his mind, pulling his attention away from the daydream. Still, the scene is too peaceful not to stop and admire. Solace calls the team to a halt and breaks out some ration packs. After everyone is full and hydrated he leads the way back to the starport, approaching from a different direction and maintaining a silent approach. He looks for activity around the ship, hoping, but now for some reason almost dreading, to see signs that Ronda's team have successfully completed their peace talks and are ready to lift off.

Renda and her team are shouting something after the locals when you and your team slink out of the bushes. Nobody has a weapon drawn, whatever happened did not become as violent as some members of the expedition were prepared for.

7:52 PM

"What did you find out there?" she asks as you approach, without turning around

"A model for the sustainable production of a wide variety of high-value crops, if the delicate soil ecosystem can be preserved. What progress did you make in your negotiations?"

“They accused us of being here to buy them off. They’re very protective of their land and now I can see why. I just wish we had a way to show them that we can provide for them without them thinking it’s all lip service”

"There may be a way," Solace shrugs deferentially. "There is an abandoned farmstead not far from here. With the permission of the Parnikans it could be rebuilt as a model farm. That could prove to UNW investors and Parnikan landowners that profitability and sustainability aren't mutually exclusive. At the same time, the UNW could work with the Parnikans to establish some sort of directed fund with credits to research traditional and new farming methods, to help preserve wilderness and important historic sites, and to subsidize sustainable methods for Parnikan farmers. Then nobody can claim they're being bought." "There is one caveat... this plan hinges on everyone not shouting at each other, at least not the entire time." (edited)

"How do you feel about presenting it to them? THey're to return tomorrow for a final session and this might be the thing that keeps them on the hook"

Solace had been quick to reply with the plan which had been naturally crystallizing in his mind all day. He was glad Renda had immediately appreciated the value of the survey, but this development might drag him even further from his tea crafting. Nevertheless, this job was his ticket to other planets, and Renda was looking at him expectantly. "Very well, but don't expect me to shout over anyone." While he hoped the leaders would be reasonable, he doubted the day's conflict had been entirely due to Renda's approach. Thoughts of once again being scoffed and shouted down by government officials flooded him with weariness. "I'll need some time to prepare. Could you send transcripts or recordings of today's negotiations, and do you think it would be possible to visit the nearest town tonight?"

“They’ve made it clear that we should return to orbit but they Never saw you. Hiding in the woods and sneaking out after dark might work. There’s not much settlement outside the major city here as you’ve seen from the surface map”

"I'll be here at first light tomorrow to go over our plans before the meeting." Any patch of grass would be better than sleeping on a ship, he thinks. Setting a buzzer for after dark, he curls up comfortably in a dark mossy clump surrounded by brambles. On waking he will enter the city to look for open establishments.

You can see many lights on in town and there is a tavern near the edge of the city where it seems people are gathering now that the days labors are finished.

Solace wanders into the tavern and slips into a dim booth. Drawing out the journal he reads it comprehensively to understand the farmer's methods and difficulties. Every now and then he takes a sip from a drink that seemed popular and listens for some local gossip.

The envoy meeting is on everyone's thoughts. They plan to send the UNW packing but not violently.

Solace takes another swig and heads for the restroom. While washing his hands he nods to one of the laborers. "Pardon me, I've been living in the woods for a very long time... it seems like everyone is talking about getting the UNW to leave. Why is that? Should I be worried about them?"

“They want to buy up the whole world. Turn it into a bread basket for their empire. That’s how it sounds anyway. These new delegates probably think they’re telling the truth or are doing good work. We can’t be sure. They wanted to make us indentured slaves the first time they talked to us. I don’t think that need went away”

8:32 AM

“If you’ve got property away from the curt you should do everything you can to stay hidden and make sure you can make everything you need there

"Thanks..." Solace watches himself in the bathroom mirror. He imagines the UNW perpetrating a second Decimation, each soldier feeling justified in the cause of feeding everyone. His mouth starts to feel a bit dry as he remembers Renda calling the planet a "vulnerability." She was strategic, but was she utilitarian enough to look for a casus belli for a hostile takeover? Perhaps not intentionally... "Maybe I can help get them to leave peacefully. Who should I talk to about tomorrow's protest?"

"Town hall, the government here is encouraging it. "

10:10 AM

"You might be able to get some details there. I'm sure they'll be out in the morning"

So much for a quiet night. "Thanks, take care." Solace is used to being where he doesn't belong, but the last thing he wants is to assume any rights over someone else's land. After the farmer's warning he worries that proposing to return the land to farming could offend the Parnikans or start a panic. Back at his table Solace digs out his compad and tries to trace the ownership of the abandoned farm, and learn what local laws apply to property rights.

(Admin/int)

(or i can do it for you if you need, i know roll20 can be hard to access when you're as mobile irl as you are)

(haha it's been a struggle, that would be appreciated until I get my roll20 sorted out)

(should be a 10, rolled with wrong attribute) The owners of the parcels are listed as tax delinquent and possibly deceased, but auditors were never sent out to the property. Assuming its tax burden of 5,000 credits will make you on the property, and an address to send the payment to has been provided as part of the chain of paperwork the city has regarding the farm.

Solace wishes he had sold a bit more tea or bought a few less gadgets- but no matter. He jots the address on a napkin, leaves some money on the table, and skims back over the grass, returning to the ship before sunrise to review the plan with Renda. "The town is stirred up. They intend to make a peaceful protest until our departure, though they may make a show of force. What is your contingency if every offer we make is refused?"

“We have to leave. We don’t have a way to force them to do anything. This was a diplomatic mission, my remit in that case is to ensure everyone makes it home and is still breathing”

"I'm relieved to hear that. I also have some good news, there is an abandoned property close to here that would be a nice location for the research station. It will serve as a foothold in the community and help build trust as we learn more about what motivates the people here. Ultimately it could lead to a more informed and better-received third attempt to bring Parnika into the UNW. "If there is one thing those I've met respect, it seems to be individual property ownership. I could assume the taxes for the property myself as a model for local landowners, if that might help."

“They haven’t seen you directly in our company either. That’s a thought. How do you feel about assuming that kind of risk?”

"It's going to be incredibly dangerous if your cover is blown and we may not b e able to get you out safely, or without the loss of life- but it also sounds as though you might be able to get through to these people somehow"

"sounds like my cup of tea," Solace says, brushing some twigs from his hair. "I'll join the mob in a few moments. Give me an opening during the meeting and I'll accept your offer as a skeptical local landowner. For this plan to even have a chance, I'll need a five thousand credit loan from the UNW to get my name on the property, plus some cash to start hiring help. Even such a small investment should be enough to prove Parnika's profitability. If you can make that happen, I think there could be a path through to the people here"

"I have a discretionary fund of 20,000 for this, We're betting the house on you, literally. Get this done" Renda says, pressing the credit chit into your hands. "I can cable the UNW for more but the situation is going to get away from us if we wait that long. This is going to have to be enough for now"

"It will help for you to be resistant to leaving the planet without some sort of concession, this will frame my offer as the best way to get the UNW off the planet. We'll be walking a very thin line, and we'll have to trust one another's acting. That said I'm ready to put this into motion. I need to reach the gathering protesters before anything starts"

"Alright, I'll do my part. You handle yours. We have that meeting in the morning and we'll need to see w hat happens but I have faith in you to get them on our side. I don't think we're going to be planting the flag tomorrow. but I hope over the following few months you can help us find some ways to win over the locals so we can- and our commitment to them won't end after the UNW symbolically takes over, either"

"Thank you, Renda. See you out there." Solace completes the transaction. 15,000 credits remain on the chip. He takes a circuitous path to avoid detection. On the way he rubs some dirt into his hair to darken it. He appears at the edge of the crowd as just another disgruntled landowner in nondescript clothes. Nonchalantly eyeing the other protestors, he seeks out their organizer.

9:08 PM

(my laptop is still in the shop and our forest closed due to fires nearby so it's been a scramble, thanks for waiting)

(Just stay safe!)

8:45 AM

The organizer is easy to find, informally "holding court" with some of the largest and oldest landowners here. They all look like they have seen their share of field work themselves and are not the fattened gentry of landowners you would expect on a world like this. Everyone is armed in some way, be it a small handgun or the family hunting rifle, but no one seems to be in a hurry to draw weapons unless they feel it as the only way out.

Solace notes the weapons. A glance at his own laser pistol confirms it hangs visible from his hip. Adopting the same healthy self-possessed step as the other landowners, he casually drifts toward the edge of the circle and finds a place to listen in on the proceedings.

Opinion seems to be split. Half the landowners think a deal that allows them to keep their lands but modernize things with UNW technology in exchange for self rule and a small crop share is something they would consider taking , others are entirely opposed to any UNW presence here at all, fearing to allow a drop or a root is to eventually allow and infestation

Solace listens intently, memorizing the names and faces of landowners as they address one another. I need to reach these smallholders. He studies the hard-but-kindly face of the organizer. Maybe there is a way to bridge the gap here and create a special niche for Parnika in the process. When there is an opportunity, Solace steps forward. "I heard you're going to be giving the UNW the boot at today's meeting. Came to see how I could help. I've dealt with them before." The organizer's squint seems to ask, And just who might you be? Solace answers before the question can be asked aloud. "Name's Solace. My uncle's folks were on the old Serenity 'stead, out by Mistwood pond... I was fishing when everything went to shit; I never saw them again." Solace frowns, imagining the scene. "Looking for any way to keep the farm, I found a flyer for the Acastus war for independence. I was killing terrorists for the UNW when I heard about their plans for Parnika. I've been trying to get back to the farm ever since. I fought in their war and now the UNW are trying to bring us back to Decimation. Not if I have anything to say about it. If there's anyone with beef against those pricks, it's me. What can I do?"

"Handy with a weapon then? We might need it if they decide not to go peacefully. Tomorrow we're planning a demonstration to show them we want our land and our rights, and not to become some giant farm field for their endless hungers. If you know what you're doing with the business end of a weapon we could use you as a lookout, or a concealed shooter in the event they try something foolish"

6:57 PM

"Sorry to hear about the family, too. Traded with your kin a few times, always found a way to make me feel like one of the family when I'd come to visit"

Solace feels a tinge of guilt from the deception. These people don't seem to deserve it, nor is his survival at stake as it was on Acastus. I've been living lies to survive my entire life, he reflects, and now I don't know another way to live. He pushes the thought aside before anything shows on his face. There will be time to think about that later if this goes well. "To be honest, I don't like using this thing." Solace flicks the butt of his pistol. At the touch, a scene from the Still Lady's Academy skitters across his mind like a black spider. Solace puts up his fists and gives his best grinning impression of a rough and ready merc. "I'd rather stand close where I can see their faces and reach them with my fists if they try anything. Before this important demonstration, I'd be happy to teach the folks marching a few fighting tricks I picked up on Acastus, if they're willing to learn."

"It might help. Anything we can do to make sure we're ready for them, or what might come after. What would you be teaching them?"

"What I wish to teach them, and every Parnikan, are tactics the locals of Acastus used to outwit the cultist army. Their underground network was often more successful at infiltrating the Still Lady's ranks than the UNW's attempts. While I was there fighting for Acastus's freedom I learned one of the local fighting styles, the Gentle Way. This technique trades lethality for defense. While I do not expect your fighters to become masters overnight, the general principles may help prevent fatalities on either side in tomorrow's march." "I can also tell a few things about the UNW: what actions they will tolerate and what might provoke conflict. There is a thin line to walk to keep Parnika free. Too little aggression, or too much, and the UNW are prepared to steal that freedom from us. I know where that line is and I can show you where it lies."

You can see based on the demeanor of the conversation that they'd be willing and interested to hear what those lines are, so they can judge how to proceed for themselves.

Now that the group seem interested Solace continues. "If we just drive them away tomorrow the UNW will continue returning to demand more, with more force. Based on their determination so far, their delegation must be obligated to get some sort of concession here before they can leave. Now, from my experience, their enforcers will be under strict orders to limit casualties, but they will use force to defend themselves if attacked. Any gunfire would immediately escalate the situation and should be avoided at all costs. Their goal for the moment is to improve relations, so it's unlikely they would fire first. The key will be to increase the tension to the point where retreat is their best option. That means surrounding them with the possibility of violence while leaving them a safe path of retreat to their ship." "At that point, when tension is highest, we could drive them off straight away... or we could offer them a deal for our future independence. I'd even stake my own farm on it as a trial. In return for quitting their attempts to buy us out, bet them we can produce a better value per acre than they can grow on Gudrun. Give it a fancy enough name and they might decide they've done enough and leave. Parnikan soil is richer than anything I saw on Gudrun or Acastus. We can grow quantities of specialized crops they never thought possible without destructive processes and gengineering. We don't need the UNW here for anything but buying our crops and selling us gear." Solace shrugs. "Anyway that's all I've got to say, do what you like with it. I'm ready to start the training unless you have questions."

THe plan seems solid enough and it is evident that you know the situation best, and are the brightest here. "We're going to address the people, and we're going to name you Marshall. It's a title that confers authority and the farmers will respect anyone we give the title to. It's only given out in times of emergency and this qualifies as one if ever I heard. What do you think? Will you agree?"

Solace's heart is pounding but he's bluffed his way through much worse on Acastus. He nods respectfully. "Very well, I'm honored. Once this is over it will be my turn to rely on your advice to get the old farm running again. Let's do this"

(Did we want to skip ahead to meeting with Renda/the negotiation team? or did you have anything else you wanted to do beforehand)

Solace stands nervously as he is sworn in as Marshall, then asks all who wish to march to join him for training. He reiterates the importance of standing their ground without taking actions that could cause a reflex retaliation or be considered a violent attack. In the few hours he has to train the fighters, he shows them some defensive techniques: blocking, dodging, and strong footing stances, and spars good-naturedly with a few of them. (Let's do it!)

Renda and her small team have assembled in the usual place, about a kilometer or so from the city and are spread out near the ramp of her ship. Behind you, 200 farmers, their family members, and cityfolk concerned enough about recent events to put it on the line and march with you are following you out of the city, towards the group. There are no threats, chanted slogans, or overt broadcasts of danger, simply a large group of moderately armed men and women with stake in their land that they fear will vanish. Weapons are unloaded and shouldered, but there for effect if needed. The intricacy and intent of your plan was told to all when you were appointed and they're at least willing to see how things begin before acting on their own accord.

Solace leads the protest down Main Street and along the road to the starport. On approach the group naturally spreads wider into the trees lining the avenue, forming a loose semicircle around the ramp so everyone can hear. Solace holds up his hands for peace. He doesn't know what to say next. "People of the UNW," he starts off. "I and my neighbors all wish to know the same thing. You have already heard our answer: we will never sell our land to become your metawheat plantation. The days of the Decimation are behind us and we will bow to no one. Why have you returned?"

"We have been given a mission to negotiate with you. We have returned, making ourselves available to negotiate. Parnika could benefit from a partnership with us, and from membership in the UNW. You are throwing away an opportunity"

"You're all making a huge mistake not aligning with us. We are offering you so much! and we only want a little in return"

Solace takes one step forward, making a sweeping gesture at the crowd around him. "Everyone has gathered here because we will not give up our land or freedom at any price. What do you think you can offer Parnika that the Remnant did not? And what do you want from Parnika in the long term if not our land and governing authority?"

“We don’t want to take anything from you. We want to give you technology , tools, training and money , in exchange for the wonderful food your world grows! Your land is not something we want to steal from you, we need you to work the land only you know best and we intend to be fair about how you’re paid for doing it!” Renda looks exhausted as she says the words, beating herself against a mental and cultural wall no tools seem to be able to bring down. (edited)

10:25 AM

The mood of the crowd is softening a little but for some people these are things the Remnant had also said, and things almost turned out much different here

Solace tries to voice the concerns of the landowners around him and ask the questions on everyone's minds. "We already have fair exchange under our trade agreement. You're free to sell and buy here. Now it sounds as if you offer fancy gadgets and unbalanced gengineering in return for our freedom to use our land how we want. These subsidies and programs sound too much like what the Remnant offered my forefathers. If that's the extent of your plan, gradually any landowner who isn't maximizing their yield could face rising financial and social pressures until they are forced to intensively grow metawheat or sell to someone who will. Assuming we will keep our lands and rights, what else will change when Parnika joins the United Nation of Worlds?"

“Access to the wider galaxy , development of resources to be shared and worked by the people, a return to space travel, defense from outside threats and a strong set of social programs meant to be a safety net should any of you have challenging years.

“That’s all we can offer without any map to partnership. We have been entirely rebuffed by your delegations”

(going to archive for now since its been almost a month, if you end up stopping back in let me know )

(that's ok, I'm swamped with field work right now. Our final push before everything is covered in snow)

(sounds good, when you're done and are ready/want to, post up here and we'll keep on going!)

Solace considers his next words carefully. "Right now, we enjoy our peaceful life here. We are not ignorant, many of us here simply have no interest in events offworld. We are content with what we have and honestly I'm worried about what politics and battles we would be dragged into by taking your side. But from my travels I know there are hungry powers out there. Some day a polity less patient might try to take our land by force. Please, could you explain what you mean by outside threats?"

(Welcome back! let me get everything fixed up for ya!)

12:20 PM

"We;ve recently come into contact with a group known as the Chimeran Ascendency. Information about them is still coming in but the fact they are brutal masters who make slaves of the planets and people they control is known. They feast while those who work the fields die. We also know about the Northern Free State Singularity, a group that fancies themselves as heirs to the old Tenebrian Empire . They think we're a bunch of dirty colonials and one of these days it might be them you're dealing with, not us, not people who also struggle like you do. We want to ensure Parnika is safely being supported, has the infrastructure it needs, and can provide for its defense. With our help, you can have all this. The UNW only demands 2 credits a month per citizen, and makes no other demands of you. Your farms remain yours. Your labor is your own. Markets will follow and you will have connections across this entire frontier to sell the amazing things your land is capable of growing. "

12:20 PM

"You have a chance to show the entire galaxy that Parnikan people grow the best food . All you need to do is keep doing what you're naturally skilled at. The money and resources will follow. The hand at the crank of society might change, but as the machine continues moving, you will see your daily lives will change very little"

(Thanks. Field season drags on but I've got a sliver of cell signal here!) "Planet slavers..." Solace lets the idea sink in with the crowd. "And two of these Free States are only a jump or two away. Perhaps it is better to choose a strong ally now than to be independent and unable to defend our lands. A flat tax? Self governance, provision for our self defence, market access. What you offer does sound appealing. We know better than anyone what our land is worth, what we are capable of. I came here today here today to get your ship to leave. Now I wonder how long it will be before the States, and these Chimeran slavers, send parties with less graceful offers. Your deal is appealing. However the choice is not mine alone to make. "While I still have my concerns about the limits of your involvement... I will volunteer my own farm as a testing grounds for this partnership. Parnika will remain an independent planet until we can be sure of your trustworthiness, and see that the changes you plan to bring are a real improvement. I and my hands will pay your taxes and use your markets and support. In time we may be ready to discuss widening this pertnership to other farms and then to the world. Be warned, I will be the chief skeptic, the first to cry foul if we are mistreated or taken advantage of."

You can see some visible relief in Renda's face as things begin to calm here. "A test bed and chief skeptic we shall be. We will return in a week with a proposal, and we will deliver some equipment to you. Be well, all of you. Think about what we discussed here today"

1:39 PM

(3xp, 5000 credits)

**Level Up**
Level: 3
Focus: Tempter's Hand martial art
Old HP: 11
HP Roll: 11
New HP: 12
New Skills: Survive-0, Talk-0, +1 Punch Hit Bonus (Vowed), 1 SP Banked for Psychic Skills, Tempter's Hand 0-2
Current AB: 1

Desperate to get away from the attention, Solace slips into the woods while the eyes of the crowd are fixed on the ascending ship. He walks circuitously, finding peace in the soft rustle of grass under his feet, arriving at last at the pond via some subconscious compass. He lingers a few minutes, enjoying the ripples the wind casts over the surface. Not wishing to fall asleep or dirty this place with business, Solace moves on, finding the road to town. He heads to the town hall, unsure what the townspeople might think of him now, and anxious to learn their opinions.

Most everyone seems to be dispersing. They've been up since last night learning how to fight, and learning what the UNW might want from them. They're tired, and are beginning to go home for the day so they can finally rest. No one has said anything negative to you. Judging by what you know of this planet, You;ve offered up your farm, and your land to the UNW, whatever happens is between the two of you- though they will no doubt be watching.

Solace is exhausted as well, but still too anxious to think of sleep. He finds the cozy tavern once more and pages through the old journal once more. When his tea is empty he orders another. Despite its lack of flavor the hot beverage soothes his jangly nerves. In the morning, he'll have to make some purchases, and look for hired help. And there is so much to plan... Only on the walk back to the farmstead does he remember the advanced stage of decay his new home is in. Now the full weight of the day is sinking in. Solace blearily scavenges some moth-eaten blankets and gets as cozy as possible in a mossy corner. Sleep hits him like a bag of bricks.

(I'll grab that shopping list from you and anything else we need to arrange. Way ahead seems like its going to be developing the farm and whatnot)

"If I really want to show what Parnikan labor and Parnikan soil can do, I won't just rely on robotics and gengineered fertilizer. We'll do things the hard way..." Personal Equipment

TL4 Backpack - 50
Low-light goggles - 200 
TL4 Binocs - 200
Parnika Survival Guide - 10 
Flop Rifle - 300
Sleep Grenade X1 - 100 
Metatool - 200 
Total personal gear: 1060

Farm Equipment

Postech Building Materials to rebuild the farmhouse into suitable Living Quarters - 10000 (based on Sanctum price)
Perimeter Alarm - 250
Solar Recharger to keep the alarm powered - 500 
Wayfinder Beacon for a weather station! It "maintains a weather log of its surroundings" - 250
Dataslab for weather, crop, and labor tracking - 300 
Chains & Rope, 100m each - 200 
Portable Ladder - 100 
Mag Chain Cutter - 250 (This thing looks sick)
Rechargeable B-cell batteries X10 - 1000 
Wildlife Repellant Bomb X4 - 100 
Toolkit, Postech - 300
Field radio for communications - 200
Medkit - 100
Survey Scanner - 250 
Hand Tools: Shovels, picks, hoes, rakes, loppers, axe, weed torch, electric tiller, buckets, soil blocker for starting seeds before outplanting, seed trays, seed start mix - 400 (Obtained tool prices based on melee weapons. Large/medium sizes and primitive/advanced types used to determine cost)
Clothing: Sturdy leather gloves, tough pants and shirt, muck boots, wide brim hat - 300 (Secure Clothing)
Additional Postech Building Materials for construction - 500 
Total: 15000 from UNW credchip

(Not ordering vehicles or seeds, yet) (I'll post again soon! Next will be an exploration of the farm, then hiring some help)

10:07 PM

(I double-checked with the Availability sheet but do let me know if any of the equipment looks off)

Edit: Additional 4,250 from personal account

)looks good to me , you’ve got face for the flop rifle and everything else is standard gear. If you wanted to save yourself the money and condense all those hand tools onto the post tech tool kit, I think those things or their rough approximations would be in it since they’re large hand held tools)

(Sounds good! Just updated roll20) The sun stabs through the rotten ceiling boards of the old farmhouse into its cracks and corners, feeding the moss and ferns creeping along the baseboards. The shafts illuminate an empty pile of rags and a growing pile of packing peanuts. Empty boxes are stacked along the wall. Solace opens the last box. "ah. Here it is!" Carefully drawing out the shiny new hat, he admires its sturdy construction and wide brim and jams it squarely on his head.

8:33 PM

8:38 PM

"Time to find out what I'm working with." Solace drains the last drop of his morning tea and steps into the sun. He starts walking whatever direction opposite the glare of the rising sun toward the border of the property, checking the tax page on his compad to locate the boundaries, and begins exploring.

(I think we've been here before, but we have a large 5 acre property , mostly overgrown with young trees now, there is a stone fence around the property that's about knee height now since its well crumbled, and the farmhouse is two floors with a few rooms each, and a root cellar, all needing some serious TLC. There is a rusting tractor, and the barn has collapsed) )

The metric ton of building materials arrives on a flatbed. Carefully balancing a full cup of hot tea, Solace ducks one of the thing's rusted arms as it lowers a pallet of two-by-fours. He picks his way through the ruins of the barn, aiming to inspect the tractor for missing and damaged parts, but realizes he doesn't have the first clue what a tractor is supposed to look like. He scrounges for a key in the visor and tries to get the machine started.

A simple push button seems to do the trick. The engine siezes almost immediately , rusted upon rusted from within. You also see the socket for a type b power cell is occupied by a dead one that has corroded into it.

"oh my" Solace scrambles off the tractor to avoid breaking the contraption further. Sipping his tea, he looks around at the growing piles of materials, the scraggy weeds gripping his pants legs, the sun climbing higher in the sky. "Okay how to farm... Let's see..." In the mushroom forests of Acastus where Solace learned teamaking, the herbs and extracts mostly grew wild or could be traded for. There had been some subsistence farming, mostly mushrooms and metawheat, and of course the widespread cacao plantations. The Still Lady's forces had been practically carnivorous; not much to draw from there. Solace decides to start with some fast-growing herbs. He knows how they grow, they take little space, and they should fetch a high price for their weight. Solace chooses an old animal pen behind the ruined farmhouse for the herb garden. The space is partly shaded from the house and a crumbling stone wall but gets some good morning sun, perfect, Solace imagines, for a few dozen beds of herbs. He searches for as many herbs as he can find: chives, oregano, basil, chamomile, rosemary, thyme, parsley, oregano, several mints, dill, sage, mustard, lemongrass, ginger, catnip, sorrel, marjoram, tarragon, anise, fennel, saffron crocus, and several rosebushes, to plant along the wall. (I, along with this bumbler, have no idea if even half of these are available, whether they're already widely grown, or how expensive the seeds are)

(I'd say almost all of this would need to be traded for or found somewhere, old earth crops that haven't been genegineered for more adaptability would be very hard to find and very expensive if found. Not impossible, but not something to just be handed over )

(ah I see!) Solace checks out what other local farmers are selling.

The electronic grid here is spotty. You're able to pull up a slow page showing a local variant of wheat, a local modified earth melon, and mint that is close enough to pass as earth standard are being sold here, but almost all of what you tried to get your hands on would need expensive modification, or have been lost in exchange for easier and cheaper to grow local crops.

This is terrific news. Solace realizes that if he can somehow locate some of these old Earth crops, Parnika may be the ideal place to grow them with little modification, providing the farm with a truly unique product. He decides to begin the search as soon as the mint is planted and the farm is organized. Solace follows a few links and finds an old scientific paper on the development of the mint (1). Now for some math. A fresh leaf yield of 9154 kg per hectare, essential oil content of 0.63%, and average fresh leaf weight per plant of 164.78 g. That comes out to 22,482 plants and 4.084 tons per acre, so 90,000 seeds in this quarter-acre plot should be just right. He wants to order enough mint seed to grow just over 1 ton of the stuff in the plot behind the house. He would love to plant more, but the rest of the 5 acres are clogged with weeds, trees, and unknown obstacles that will require more time.

1. Degu B, S Amano and B Mengesha, 2017. Growth, yield and yield components of Spanish mint 
(Menthaspicata ‘Spanish Pointed’) as influenced by  environment and  Harvesting  cycle. Inter J Agri Biosci, 6(2): 125-
128. www.ijagbio.com (:copyright:2017 IJAB. All rights reserved) 
Inter J Agri Biosci, 2017, 6(2): 125-128.

(assuming the mint seed is available for local farmers to purchase, how do you want to do the credit cost? based on the first seed catalog I found, Solace needs half an ounce of seeds, sold here for $32.60 USD) (https://www.johnnyseeds.com/herbs/mint/common-mint-herb-seed-831.html?cgid=mint#start=1)

Mint Seeds | 100% Guaranteed | Johnny's Selected Seeds

A zesty, versatile herb. Use to flavor salad mix, main dishes, ice cream, and drinks. Variety not stated since mint does not grow true-to-type from seed. ...

(there is no real agreed on credit to irl money conversion, but trade goods are 10 credits a unit, so we could say that's enough for a small patch) (edited)

(ok great!)

(I think even a ton is too much of a yield with the no work we've put into the place just yet. We need to be real careful with real life units and whatnot since most of this stuff is governed by suns of gold in terms of good quantities and the holdings that make them already. )

11:44 AM

(I'll see if distant lights has anything smaller in scale, but for right now 10 credits get us enough for a small tester patch, and we can do some stuff to clean the place up, explore the grounds, and try to prove to the locals this is a project worth backing)

(Ok I'll stop worrying about the numbers) Solace orders enough mint seed to grow his backyard test plot, hoping this will be enough to show some folks in town that he's serious about this enterprise. Next he digs out a shining shovel, tugs on his stiff new leather gloves, and breaks ground on the farm. He spends an hour turning over the soil, then exchanges the shovel for a hoe to rake it flat, preparing troughs for the seed. He breaks for lunch, dripping sweat, unable to fathom how anyone can toil like this every day. When the seeds arrive Solace carefully plants them into the prepared beds, covers them with the rich soil, and waters them with a rusty can. Straightening painfully, he admires the small patch and chuckles at the quantity of soil covering his clothes and face. Now Solace goes through the farmhouse, taking inventory of damages that will need repair and searching for anything that might have been missed on his initial visit.

(notice/wis)

(7)

The farmhouse needs a large amount of repair and improvement. You nearly miss a root cellar cleverly worked into the butchers block in the kitchen, the unit opening up to reveal a staircase leading down into a temperature controlled space.

11:10 PM

There is nothing being stored here now

"Hmm, this will save a great deal of digging." The rest of the day is spent organizing materials, the valuables hidden down in the cellar. The farmhouse and farm will take a great deal of time and labor to rebuild, and the next morning Solace sets himself to the task. With the help of plenty of Net tutorials he starts with the worst hazards, replacing rotten floorboards and vacuuming congealed gel out of the shower. He works methodically, learning processes of home repair step by step. Over the next weeks he replaces faulty wiring, fixes dozens of leaks in the plumbing, moves more than one nest of flying squirrels to the forest, evicts several colonies of moldlike and wasplike things, and patches the worst leaks in the roof. There are some things he can't fix himself, such as the tractor and barn, and there are still plenty of repairs to make on the farmhouse not to mention a few coats of fresh paint, but the place is now cozier and somewhat liveable. The fields will be an even greater undertaking. By the time the first baby mint leaves poke out of the soil in the backyard, Solace's leather gloves feel like a second skin. He sips a cup of the bland generic tea, imagining what the farm could be. He searches the net for sites that could hold heirloom seeds, landraces created more through careful hybridization than the cut and paste gengineering of the local wheat analogs, preferably tea ingredients.

There isn’t much of a unified network on Parnika. What you do manage to find is haphazard and out of date., and most important nobody who is actually on the net has what you’re looking for. Large tracts of the surface land have not been explored since the time of the scream and possibly even before. What you need could be out there but there’s no way to know with just passive indirect searching. You haven’t had contact with any of your neighbors in quite some time either. Nobody has come out to check on things since the UNW delegation left.

There could be some interesting crops gone wild right here on Parnika, Solace guesses. When he's certain the farmhouse isn't going to collapse or burn down in his absence, at least on its own, he wires up the perimeter alarm, setting it to notify him via compad if tripped, and makes his first trip to town since the protest.

Walking into town is the process of about an hour. You see few others on the road and most you do see are either in carts or on motorbikes, coming to and from the settlement on their own errands. The settlement itself seems quiet and going about the business of day to day life. For most people things haven't changed. They've gone back to their farms, guests from off world have not returned, and nothing noteworthy has come out of your lands yet to attract anyone's attention. You get a few curious stares as you enter the main toll gate into town, but no one says anything to you aside from scanning your ID and clearing you to enter.

Solace wanders the city looking for venues frequented by other local landowners, aside from the tavern.

(Connect /cha)

1:18 PM

(Not from here. Haven’t been in the city much. Gotta ask around )

(9)

There is a large swap meet at the fairground s here that is happening this afternoon. The town hall building usually also had a bit of a crowd due to the amount of functions the place fulfills for the locals. A large public park handles most of the recreation needs in the city and it’s common to find people there too

The fairground draws Solace's attention, but he decides to stop at the town hall first. He joins the line and addresses the person in front of him, "Good morning, I don't think we've met. I'm Solace"

“Hello Solace. How are things on the farm?“ he asks, waiting to be patted down and let inside the building. A few people are in front of him also waiting

"There is still plenty of rebuilding to do, and I could certainly use some help. Do you know any able hands looking for work?"

“I don’t. Everyone’s got their own farms and worries, not too much movement. The big farms seem to attract the most help, gotta have something to hook the field hands away from the gigs they’ve got now”

"Fair enough. Thanks anyway, you've given me an idea." Solace shrugs. It seems there isn't much to waste anyone's time with until he has something to show on the farm, so he takes a look around the swap meet.

(would you want to go on a mission into the woods after this with another UNW player? You're looking for plants, him for animals, so we have a rare moment where some goals align)

(yes that would be sweet)

Farmers are here getting rid of what amounts to being the trash in the trash in the back corners of their barns. You see all manner of salvage and garbage on display here and there’s a steady undercurrent of enjoying the negotiations as much as the process itself among those attending

"About all I have to trade is that broken-down tractor, but at least there's people to meet.." Solace tours the grounds, making small talk with the sellers and looking for anything particularly eye-catching

One of the farmers has some old machine pieces for sale and you Recognize a few of the tractor components , the same model as your own. On yours, those parts has seized up. These would make good replacements

Solace feigns disinterest but is soon haggling ferociously for the parts. "I've seen better catalyzers on a pencil sharpener"

“You don’t need to buy them then” the farmer says, Leaning forward and offering his undivided attention. The game has begun

"Nope, sure don't." Solace grins. "But I see I could do you a favor just helping you get rid of them. Look at these pipes. Prime nesting territory for all manner of small crop-eating rodents."

“Maybe but I think they got value. Maybe a little. What they worth for you?”

"I'm sure you want these to find a good home. I've got a tractor these might just fit. Of course I could find these just about anywhere, and they wouldn't be covered in rust. How about a favor? I hear labor's in short supply. Once I get the tractor running I'll take it over to your place for a day."

“A swap then? That might be good. I think if you disc the front 40 for me come autumn we can make that deal. I’ve got the attachment but if you do that I can get my back done earlier. I gotta ask, your UNW friends can’t send you the parts ? Was at the protest. Remember you talking and they said they were gonna help you”

"I'm sure they could, but I'd rather deal locally when I can. No need to ship those parts across the sector when we've got them right here. I want to keep my money here helping local folks, not padding the pockets of some beaurocratized megacorporation. "Besides, I don't know my neighbors too well yet, so I've got to start somewhere."

He seems to accept the explanation. As reasonable enough. “There’s value in a truthful answer. You take these as is and you come do my front 40 next month when you get the thing fixed. Deal?”

"Deal," Solace shakes the farmer's hand and packs up the parts. "Now I just have to figure out where these go." As soon as he gets back, Solace sets to work on the tractor, using whatever guides the dubious local net has to offer as well as some trial and error

(Fix/int)

(7)

Upon returning home you’re able to spend a day cleaning the parts and figuring out where they go. A test fire has the tractor shakily working again, not robust enough for heavy work but enough for now. (Did you want to explore the woods with Gurk and Thulee ? They’re both in the area and everyone has something they want out there )

(Yes absolutely, I wasn't sure how you wanted to tie solace in)

9:10 PM

Solace jumps around the ruined barn whooping and slapping his hat on things with joy

(The group mission looks to be done, so we can return here for whatever you want to get into next)

Solace continues the effort to rebuild the farm, starting by driving the tractor around with some rakes on the back to clear out the brambles and using the new chainsaw to clear larger brush, hauling it into piles to burn later. He leaves the larger trees to provide some shade and animal habitat. In the evenings he either visits town to rub shoulders at the local pub or works on drafting his proposal to the town. (my posting will be sporadic due to a family health issue so I don't want to join any missions for the moment)

(I didn’t see much coming up for now but I appreciate you telling me. Which of those two things did you want to do, since I’d be writing drastically different scenes depending on if you go to the bar or work)

5:50 PM

(Hope everything ends up okay)

(Let's go with the tavern then)

Heading back to town, the tavern looks to be busy once again. Most of the farmers seem to work to drink their troubles away, and nourish themselves so they're alive to complain about those troubles. Everything here feels caught in some sad pastoral cycle where greatness or at least stability is ever moving just barely out of reach.

7:35 AM

Many of the people living here are simply tired of trying to grasp .

Solace takes a seat at the bar. "Bring me something that hasn't passed through the guts of a starship, please. I'll open a tab."

it takes a few moments and the bartender returns with a draft of clear liquor that smells crisp and doesn't have the sediment endemic to some of the other drinks in the room.

"What, may I ask, is this?" Solace inquires, trying a sip

"Vodka. Made from local potatoes, never before been through the guts of anything but the machine we use to distill it. Can;t be helped" he says, shrugging.

"Well, pure as it is, I am finding it surprisingly drinkable tonight." Solace nods. "I had an encounter with a beast in the woods north of town, I am fairly certain it nearly tore out my throat."

“A beast? Any idea what kind ? All kinds of stuff out in the woods now” he says as he cleans the bar top near you.

Solace takes a drink and continues his story, loud enough for a few others to hear and join in. "I make no assumptions, but in the shadows of the forest I saw a flash of browny fur, sharp teeth, and claws stuck full of squirrel fur."

"Oh yeh? You got a name for it? One you gave it , I mean"

"I make no assumption what it was. All I know is what I saw: a mangy devil with bloody fangs like swords and fearsome cat-eyes. This saber-fiend, or whatever you want to call it, gobbled squirrels like a combine. After so many years away I know not what sorts of creatures are dangerous which were not so before. Has anyone else been troubled by beasts of late, or lost livestock by suspicious cause?"

“I don’t know about suspicious. The predators in the woods take a few from every herd or flock. Just the way it goes out here. Wish it wasn’t that way though , the loss of even one can put a family in the poor house

"Maybe it doesn't have to stay that way. We need some real weapons, proper combat training, and more crop types, so that the loss of one isn't devastating. If anyone sees wildlife prowling too close give me a call. I'd like to get back at the beasts for everything they've taken."

"some klnd of hunter now? Hows' getting that farm of yours up and running. You even got animals for the beasts to take? "

"I'm not much of a sportsman, that's true. Fighting cultists and their monstrosities on Acastus did teach me some skills that I'd like to use for good if I can. I don't have any animals, but there are pests that will pillage and ruin any crop. The old tractor is running again, the house doesn't leak so badly, and I've got seeds and sprouts to plant, so I'd say it's coming along well." Solace sips his drink. "Might just have to plant some potatoes, I certainly wouldn't mind more of this."

“One of the few things around here that hasn’t changed much since leaving Sol. The seedlings are the owners pride and joy , unlike the bar or the neighborhood

Solace lays some credits down. "Let's have a round for everything lost." But hope cannot be bought so easily, he thinks. "Do you have a name I can call you besides bartender? And are you the grower of such wonderful tubers or is there someone else I must thank?"

(If you think you’ll be back I’ll name him otherwise it’s the same as before, I tend not to)

(mainly interested in meeting the grower of the potatoes)

(He doesnt need a name then) He declines giving you his name but says the gardener Yuri lives on the north side of town and lives in something that looks like a cave.

He also cautions you that Yuri is a proud man, and is prone to fits of rage if he thinks he is being insulted.

"That is... Good to know. I guess I won't show up empty handed."

2:28 PM

The following morning Solace plants a patch of raspberries next to the mint, giving each chunk of rootstock plenty of space and a big drink of water. He decides to take the tractor over to the farmer who helped him get it running and plow the back 40.

Morning passes and he is thankful your deal is completed now. You're invited in for lunch as he gets his two sons to spray the vehicle down to cleanse it from the dust and mud. He assures you several times they'll be careful, and it'll be their hides if they aren't. (if you wanted to RP with him we can, otherwise we can move along, i dont want to trap you)

(yeah sure, Solace needs to learn how to talk to people without grifting them or slitting their throat)

3:03 PM

"What are you planning to plant here if you don't mind my asking?"

"Rad-Radishes and Hybrid Maize mostly for the hogs. All heavily modified earth crops to grow here, and not as tasty, but they're nutrient filled and theyu do the job. My iron-age pigs love em"

"Can't seem to get enough, but they might have to go without pretty soon. Growing anything here is only getting harder"

"Why is that? It seems to me there is nowhere with more arable land and such bountiful soil"

"Soil conditions getting worse, promised supplies not coming in, the woods getting more and more dangerous. It's almost like nature itself is fighting us sometimes"

"That's because we have opposed ourselves to nature's gale instead of using it to turn our turbines. But what's this about supplies? Doesn't the city government oversee trade?"

The UNW oversees planetary trade, sure, but what counts for more when vessel space is limited? basic parts to keep us running at the level we are? or incredibly valuable terra standard seeds, if they could even be found? That said, its the same for shipping in tons of small arms or sending landing parties who don't know the area into the thick of it. There is more harm than good to be done there. Everyone knows it. They're going to do what it takes to keep the wheel turning here, not what it takes to keep us comfortable. "

10:29 AM

"A private trade, or someone coming in to bring those goods on their own might make a world of difference here. "

"I see your point... I'd be happy to help if I had a ship. What if we assembled our own trade cooperative? With a joint-owned ship we could run shipments selected by farmers alone, space based on shares of the mortgage?" Solace shakes his head. "Hm, maybe that's too complicated for the moment. Plus the UNW might not appreciate such a move toward independence unless we plan it right. We could put out an advertisement to attract far traders. What do you think?"

"Sure, all good in theory. but you know how expensive ships are. No one is going to be able to raise that kind of money"

"Not yet maybe, but I've heard of individuals getting ships by their initiative before. I'll bring up the issue with the UNW the next time they visit and see what can be done. Maybe I can convince them that keeping us farmers happy is the way to keep the wheel turning." Solace frowns, something clearly bothering him about this line of thinking. He watches the farmer's sons laughing and chasing each other around the tractor with the hose. "The truth is, I'm obliged to say that. You're right, the UNW only care about production... I want to leave my past of subterfuge and maneuvering behind, so I have a confession to make... I just hope telling everyone won't get me mobbed off the planet."

"It can't be that bad. Everyone's done things here we're not happy about- trying to get through life on this planet. What could you have possibly done"

"Truth is, the UNW hired me to bring Parnika into their planetary alliance. The whole deal we made when I was marshal was a farce. I'm not actually related to anyone on this planet, at least not to my knowledge. There are reasons I'm telling you these things now and only now, but you have every right to be angry."

To   | Thulee Blue
From | Solace Sinensis, Parnika City, Parnika
Re   | Strangeness on Parnika

Thulee, good to hear from you. The raspberries we found seem to be growing quite well, and I have a small crop of mint coming along nicely. I hope Muskh is fully recovered from our last fight together. Please give them a scratch behind the ears from me!

This new woodland monster sounds like the stuff of tavern legend. The people here fear such ghosts as well. Perhaps we can dispel the myth and create real value for these people from the land they will no longer fear to tend. Though I must say from my experience on Acastus, if there is any truth behind these rumors, anything so old must be devilishly dangerous. I would be glad to lend you a hand though I do not know what force I will be able to muster. Give a time and place and I will be there. 

May the verdurous winds bless you. 

Your neighbor & friend,
Solace

4:02 PM

@Thulee Blue

He sighs , looking up at the sky and then looking back down to you and the scene of the children playing around the tractor. "Its naive to think we were going to be our own little world with the much larger neighbors around us. You, or the Protectorate, someone would come, and that someone would not bother do to things as carefully as you did. I've got to ask you though, is this just a job for you? or do you actually care? Give me the honest answer, the one you'd give a friend. "

"Well, that's a calmer reaction than I expected," Solace says, scratching his hair bashfully. He takes a sip of his drink and thinks before meeting his fellow farmer's eyes. "I'm telling you this specifically because I've been having second thoughts about my approach to this mission. When I first arrived I found the journal of a farmer who lost everything to the selfishness of a foreign state. The plight of the people here resonated with me and I really think I can help. Preventing the devastation from happening again has become more important to me than rushing to bring Parnika under UNW rule. If it's about feeding people I feel we can meet that need without selling our land or our freedom. The more we do on our own, the more we are worth to the UNW as an ally and any deals we make will be improved. These are the thoughts I'm planning to share with the Council tomorrow. I may be mobbed out of town but I have to take that chance. I can't keep operating under false pretenses after what I've seen here."

"And what have you seen friend? How does our world look to someone who's not from here?" He looks at the kids, smiling as the two younger ones have decisively cornered the older one

Solace sips his drink. "I grew up on Acastus, where farming was monopolized and the land and people dominated by the Still Lady. The cacao production was optimized. But the cost was the sacrifice of many people's free will and the suffering of untold others. When I lived in the mushroom forests an old man told me that land should be a community, not a commodity as the Still Lady had made it. Those old martial mushroom wizards had many sayings about the land that I'm only grasping after seeing them in play here on Parnika. In my short time here I have seen people rally together behind a common cause, push back an enemy much better armed, and wander open farmers markets we could never have imagined on Acastus. I have heard the passion for independence in people's words, and seen problems such as your supply chain that immediately joining the UNW might only aggravate. I have also seen a world that has largely healed from decimation. While others from the UNW might accuse Parnikans of laziness, I see a respect for the land so great that many have chosen not to farm their own land to avoid overexploitation. Most of all, I see a community that includes both people and land that is ready for a new period of growth and strengthening, and only needs the right tools and the right push to become something even more marvelous."

(I think for the most part, his reaction is positive, we need to see what the people do when you tell them, and I know Thulee wanted to meet up with you )

(Alright! A joint mission would be great if they are ready)

(Levelling up as well)

**Level Up**
Level: 4
Old HP: 12
New HP: 20
New Skills: Nullification level 2 (3 SP spent, 1 banked)
New Techniques: Vowed Punch Hit Bonus now +2, Vowed Art Hurling Throw, Nullification skill Into the Void. 
Current AB: +2 
Current AC: 15

( looks good to me)

10:00 AM

(It sounded like you and Thulee were splitting up, so I am good to pick up where you like)

(Is joining the UNW ship boarding operation an option? I'd be interested but I have ideas for Parnika if not)

(You certainly can)

(3xp, 5000 credits from UNW Listening Post Mission) (Will pick up here when I'm back from the mountains)

(Here are the next few items on the agenda) 1. Writeup on Solace's daily life and progress on the farm 2. RP Bringing the Reaper Stag tusk to the tavern the day after the hunt 3. RP Meeting with Yuri)

12:00 PM

Solace spends each morning crafting a new ratio of raspberry, berry leaf, and mint. He sips the tea over a drafting board where he pencils in new designs for the farm. Most of each day is spent in labor, either on the tractor or by hand. In the afternoon he wanders the farm with a sketchbook and teacup, pausing here and there to jot an idea or capture the likeness of an insect or wildflower. After a few more hours of work, Solace eats at the city tavern, enjoying the menu of locally grown meats and vegetables.

12:00 PM

After exchanging stories and weather predictions with fellow farmers and trading for any needed groceries and supplies Solace returns to the solitude of the farm. The evening is a time of meditation and training his martial skills. Each day leaves him exhausted, but each morning he wakes re-energized. He begins to notice his pale skin taking on a tan, and muscles in his once wiry arms and legs start to bulge from repeated efforts. His hands are now well-calloused and tough, and the roughness of the gloves and occasional raspberry scratches are no longer an annoyance. In the center of the property Solace digs a pond. Over many days of toil with tractor and shovel he scrapes a channel to a nearby stream to divert a part of the flow to the pond. The water drains through the farm, returning to the creek cleaner and clearer filtered by acres of fine plant roots. The irrigation stream winds slowly across the farm, banks lush with life. A simple bridge of shaved logs over the pond allows passage of the tractor to the back half of the acreage. Solace has left trees, snags, stumps and boulders on the property for wildlife habitat, as mint and raspberry both enjoy some partial shade, and allowed native wildflowers to seed themselves in these areas. The colorful flowers are constantly abuzz with pollinators. The days pass as Solace continues tending the small test plots around the renovated farmhouse. He gradually sows more acres of raspberries and mint along with native grasses and shrubs, and soon the ecosystem begins to grow more robust. Small mammals nibble the shrub tips, scurrying away as the tractor rumbles along the path. Twelve-winged phalanx needles dart about the bushes, hunting for mint-eating grubs to lay their eggs in. Every now and then a springtail cat lizard's tongue snaps out with a twoop, snatching a needle into its belly. Some kind of blue-winged owl perches on a fence post, eyeing the grass for young springtail cat lizards it can catch.

12:01 PM

(Let me know if any of these descriptions are overreaching or contradictory to your vision of Parnika! Then I'm ready for a scene with presenting the reaper tusk to the tavern and spreading word of Thulee and Solace's hunt)

(This is all fine. )

Solace stands outside the tavern and tries to focus on his breathing. He shifts his pack off of his back and hauls out the stag tusk that impaled him, its tip still needle sharp and covered in dried blood. He sighs tiredly. After a career hiding in shadows and practicing going unnoticed, a scene like this is close to his worst nightmare. Despite his nerves, jittery at the thought of having so many eyes on him, he grips the tusk and strides into the yellow light.

There is some conversation and the usual card games occuring tonight, along with the same few usually drunk faces, once again, now very drunk. The conversation begins to die off as you enter the building, as they one by one begin to notice what you have in your hands.

Solace breaks out in a cold sweat as the eyes find him. He holds the horn away from his body like something hot and blinding. Realizing that feigning nonchalance will be impossible but wishing to hide his anxiety, he grips his bandaged side, squeezing out blood, and groans from the pain. Staggering to the bartender, he heaves the horn onto the counter with his other hand. The mighty thud surely ends the last of the unrelated conversation in the tavern. "Some of Yuri's finest spirits, please." Solace drains the clear liquor hoping it will numb his mind for the part that comes next. "Another," he calls, and finishes the drink, feeling every eye burning into his back. Already he can feel the the alcohol loosening his jaw. "I heard about a wild animal killing people out there. But I never suspected that the rumors underestimated its true nature. A creature of nightmare. Eyes darker than imagining. A beast with breath like death itself. I'd be dead for sure if it wasn't for Thulee Blue and his caracal." He tells the rest of the story with grave tension, dramatizing the fight with wild gestures, meeting the eye of each patron, and finally slamming his hands on the horn. "Despite all this, we destroyed that beast, and felt its wicked presence disperse. Whatever sort of soul it had, human, inhuman, was finally put to rest. I present this to you as a symbol of Parnika's resolve to control our own future, and not let ourselves be swayed by phantasmal evil." He slides the horn across the bar with a few credchips. "And now, a round to celebrate! To freedom from fear and oppression!"

(I think this would gain you decent favor from the locals and some rounds of drinks you wouldn’t have to pay for , but I can’t think of anything else )

(Great, having word of this hunt spread was the goal! Next up is a visit to Yuri) Several days later Solace hikes out to find the grower of potatoes. He mainly wishes to meet the proud, short-tempered grower the townspeople have spoken of, hoping for what? A kindred spirit? Someone he can be honest with? He doesn't know. Regardless, having the farm producing the stock for such splendid vodka as part of a cooperative seems better than growing potatoes himself. Perhaps there is something about a farmer who grows roots for alcohol. Maybe he simply hopes to find conversation less draining than the endless talk in town of weather and gossip. He sets off to the north side of town, hiking further and further from the city in search of "something that looks like a cave." (edited)

(survive/wis)

(11)

You see something that looks like a cave and detect the glittering mushroom network trails in the soil as you get closer to the cave. You hear the sounds of a low song inside, one that sounds a mix of happy and sad.

Pausing, Solace leans against a tree to listen. He watches the first rays of sunlight crest the northern hills, until the light ignites the outlines of the forest in rainbow dewdrops. The mist begins to lift and creatures begin to rouse. Only then does Solace approach the cave entrance. "How does one knock with no door?" he smiles to himself at the old rebel proverb. Picking up a mossy stone, Solace raps it against the cave wall a few times, the Acastan code for "one friendly entering tunnel." While he doesn't expect Yuri to know the code, the pleasant rhythm's meaning is easy to interpret.

The song stops abruptly at the sound of the stone, and you see a shape beginning to coalesce at the entry of the cave. "Who's out there!" he shouts, trying to squint through his eyes becoming re-accustomed to the light outside the dark rock tunnel he was working in.

Solace bites back the urge to shout back with "Nobody," as felicitous as it feels for the setting. He doesn't know any good knock-knock jokes either. "Solace. An aficionado of only the finest potatoes and potato-based beverages." (Also Solace will be selling 1 Pretech Part to Gurk for 250k for their zoo cruiser project)

"Heh" he snorts. "You're in luck. Most of the stock is promised to the bar though. What you want 'em for?"

"What if I told you it was to shift the future of Parnika and this Sector? Though truly, you have been doing these potatoes justice, and what I truly need is not your potatoes. May I come inside?"

He looks at you quizzically for a moment, before nodding once, gesturing you can come in to his cave- it does not have a door- he does not have much of a way to keep you out. "Shift over potatoes eh? Don't know if I believe that, but come in, I'll hear ye out"

"I appreciate it. I have a story you may not believe but may at least find entertaining." Solace ducks inside the entrance and looks about as his eyes adjust to the light.

He seems to be a man of few words, allowing you enter while he goes back to fixing a few of the small grow boxes hewn into the cave walls.

Admiring the careful construction of the boxes, Solace leans against the opposite wall and watches a glowing beetle navigate the bumpy ceiling. There is a timeless quality to life underground, an isolation from the cosmos most find stifling. Unlike so many, Solace feels most relaxed in a dim cave. When the overworld din fades away, one can notice and appreciate so much more. "Do you grow other crops besides the potatoes?"

"This is all I know. They never let me down, they're reliable, and I always end up going back for more and getting far more of a yield than I expected. The potatoes have been good to me, so I've never looked anywhere else"

Solace nods appreciatively. There must be something special about these caves, something Yuri may not even be aware of, giving the potatoes grown here their unique qualities, something that might not be replicable anywhere else - plus Yuri's special dedication to his craft. Making this alliance as important as Solace had hoped and feared. "I have been growing mint and raspberry myself, also with surprising success. Would you like any help on the other side of that box?"

"mint and rasberry? You some kind of jelly maker or something? " he asks, before gesturing that no, he is okay with the work right now and does not need help.

"Tea crafter. I collect plants with different flavors and properties, including some which have changed surprisingly little from Old Terra. I found the raspberries growing wild in the woods north of here, in the lair of a man-eating stag that nearly gutted me. Have such things been common to Parnika for a long time?"

"There's always talk of monsters in the woods . Had a lot of stories about them from my Ma growing up, used to tell them to me when I was bad,or when my brother and I fought too much and annoyed her"

"It felt like something out of a nightmare. Like there was something almost human trapped inside, corrupted by unnatural darkness. I haven't seen anything like that since we fought with the Still Lady on Acastus. It worries me." He shakes his head. "We fear our own woods as much as we fear the UNW. Do you ever worry about either of them down here?"

"I fear getting hurt , starving, and so on. Things like that. The UNW doesn't care much about a mushroom farmer in a cave, nor a tea farmer I suspect. There is always darkness at the heart of the woods, but its become almost something you can touch over the last five years"

"I have been thinking about what to do about that," Solace responds. "If enough of us smallholders banded together, providing unique products under the Parnikan brand of quality over quantity, I believe the UNW would send more trade ships and help us secure the forest edges. Fighting back the tides of evil is practically their specialty at this point."

"and the woods wouldn't know fear anymore. So you're here thinking my potatoes might be able to do something for a Parnika brand?" he asks, stopping what he was doing to entirely focus on the conversation.

"Yeah.. The UNW want Parnika as a breadbasket colony, buying out all the land and farmers to produce maximum yield of cheap metagrains to meet the Sector's nutrient quotas, with minimum regard to flavor, soil quality, tradition, craft, sustainability. My dream for this brand is for every farmer on Parnika to produce something as unique as your potatoes. Agriculture that Parnikan farmers care about. No combine hover-harvesters. No hydroponic cloning vats. Just natural products - teas, jams, meats, meals, and liquors - grown with care and real dirt, locally processed, with "Parnikan Agricultural Cooperative" and the farmer who grew it on the bottle. We will become known across space for both the best ration packs and for fine foods accessible to every spacer and soldier and miner." Solace meets Yuri's gaze with determined eyes. "Who ever wanted to die for metawheat? But if truly good vodka is at stake, yes, forces across space will leap to help us secure the forests, and we can negotiate any deal we want with the UNW or even stand on our own as an independent planet. That is how I think your potatoes can shift this sector."

(Talk/cha)

(8)

"I want a few things in return, but this should be easy for you if the UNW is someone who has an interest in you, as you're making it sound . I want to be left alone out here. I'll give my quota of potatoes, but I want to negotiate that with them directly, and I want something in writing saying that it can't increase without both of us agreeing to it. I also want a house. A proper one. They can send me the kit and I'll build it, and I want you to deliver it, not them. I don't want them knowing where my caves are"

"The UNW is only interested in feeding their troops and refugees. Farmers like ourselves need to stand united to prevent another Desolation. I will make sure you receive everything you have asked for, and keep your caves secret. Another delegation should be visiting soon and we will have a chance to negotiate. I'm truly excited to begin this cooperative with your potatoes," Solace grins. "I'll be in touch when I secure a meeting."

(3xp, 5000 credits)

7:46 AM

(I think unless you had other business we've done what we can for this conversation)

Leaving Yuri with a box of raspberry mint tea, Solace spends the rest of the day bringing in a new harvest of mint and sowing the new crop. The mint hangs from the rafters, filling the house with its clean scent. Solace wakes the next morning dreading the council meeting he knows he must eventually endure. Over his morning tea he considers how farming and construction have built his muscles but have done little for the reflexes compared with the hunt and his missions with the UNW. Perhaps there is something else he could offer the council? As the first shops open downtown, Clean-shaven for the occasion and wearing a clean set of work clothes and a synth leather jacket, Solace enters the town hall at the appointed time for the meeting, ambling in more confidently than he feels. The fate of his farm and his future on Parnika depend on this gamble. Looking at the tall doors to the council chamber he mentally reprimands himself again for lying out of habit. There's no way I can help a planet surpass its fear of demons and strangers if I'm too insecure to reveal my own identity, he decides, and determinedly pushes through to the meeting.

The UNW delegates, all three of them, arrive shortly after the townspeople have assembled and wait outside respectfully, allowing the doors to be closed so you have a moment to talk to everyone first.

"People of Parnika City, for the last three months, you made me your Marshal, treated me as a neighbor, and shared tall drinks and taller tales. I see in this crowd the faces of Parnikans whose fields I helped plow, people who know the horrors of the forest, friends who taught me how to fix a tractor..."

3:59 PM

"But as many of you have guessed and others know, I am not Parnikan. What I told you about my past was true except for the fact that I have no family connection to the Mistwood Pond farm. As soon as I had left the rebel forces on Acastus I was hired by the UNW to infiltrate Parnika, assess the land, and convince the government to join the alliance..."

3:59 PM

"You have every right to throw me out with the rest of the UNW, but please first hear what I have to say. In these last three months I have seen a world of natural abundance and pacific beauty, a people valiantly struggling against an ancient evil, and a land resilient enough to rebound from a devastation. These have changed me in a way the UNW cannot comprehend, but I know you understand. Sunburns, the smell of freshly cut mint, vodka as clean as mountain air - We knew nothing of these on Acastus. This land... taught me how to heal..."

4:00 PM

"I was trapped in a world of Acastan deceit and darkness that the sunlight of Parnika burned away. For the sake of the past we have shared and the future that could be, I beg your forgiveness and a fresh start..."

4:01 PM

"I ask the Council of Parnika City to make me a citizen of Parnika. I will now negotiate with the UNW only as a Parnikan farmer who happens to speak their jargon. You are free to refuse and I will depart this wonderful planet with the delegation just outside that door. If you would have me, I will remain your Marshal if you wish, but I will train every man and woman who wish to learn the arts of hand-to-hand defense against those who would threaten Parnika, from the sinister forests of home to the dark forests of space. If it is your wish I would even help you drive the UNW away from Parnika with the right amount of force to prevent retaliation..."

4:02 PM

Because I've realized this is a planet worth more than the UNW or anyone else could ever offer. Perhaps one day it may be time for Parnika to join with the UNW or another alliance. Right now Parnika can benefit from these factions without giving away a milligram of freedom or land. Instead of taking a crutch from these factions I believe Parnikans can use them as stepping stones into space! There is plenty Parnikans could do right now to secure not just a future in this galaxy, but a legacy. I would treasure being a part of that story more than anything. Thank you, everyone. I will now await any further questions and the decision of the council."

The council goes into an executive session for fifteen minutes after your speech, and you ,along with the rest of the public are required to wait outside. No one approaches, some cast daggery stairs between you and the UNW delegation. Others look hurt. A few look to understand, and feel something of pity or even comradeship at the story you have told. Only two people give you a pat on the shoulder or risk passing a kind word to you to keep your spirits up, as they know nerves must be tense at this time. The doors open again in fifteen minutes and everyone but the UNW is permitted to come inside. Solace will continue being Marshal of the people in recognition for services made, though the deceit has the council uncomfortable with awarding any position higher than this. The council will also agree to allow you to negotiate with the UNW on their behalf, but they must approve the agreement, and the majority public vote must also agree to it.

"Thank you. I want nothing more, and I invite any who still have a grievance to address me personally after the negotiations. I realize that trust, thus broken, may mar my record here forever; but I have accepted this. Fighting lies with lies, poison with poison, and death with death- this was the only way I knew. I pledge that even if I can never cast aside this darkness, I will continue to embrace truth and light." "Before the UNW enter, please let me share my plan for the negotiation for the Council's review. First they will be eager for news of progress toward Parnika's integration. I will tread carefully, assuring them of developments without raising their expectations too high." Solace glances to the crowd, many still glaring at him with scorn and betrayal. "Next I will need to inform the UNW of the restrictions necessary for me to continue working here." He turns to look out the window at the wall of the city, and beyond it, fields and forests spreading to the mountains. "There are some needs I have identified: trade capacity, perimeter security, marketing, and individual needs of smallcroppers. In return for these I plan to propose a farming cooperative, which will be a group of farmers selling a portion of their crop to the UNW under a shared name. No one has joined the cooperative yet, and it is a very modest, incremental step, but the beauty of this plan is that it allows farmers to keep their lands, opens a new market for selling their goods, and shows the UNW quantitative progress as farmers join the effort or increase their shares. Please tell me your thoughts or concerns."

"Who would negotiate the prices for the sharecropped goods? And how is payout going to be determined? " one of the ranchers from the back of the room asks, standing up to address you so you can hear her better.

Solace nods, grateful to hear someone interested. "The cooperative will sell the set amounts delivered by farmers to a single buyer, so our negotiating power will be based on demand in the UNW for products specifically under our brand." ((I'm guessing this would just be a basic trade roll, or if we're not there yet, whatever base market value would be)) "Each member will deliver their share of produce to the cooperative and together we can try to negotiate a better price than you currently sell for. The terms of the cooperative will allow individual farmers to negotiate their own prices with the UNW at set meetings like this if they prefer." "To your second question, shares of the cooperative will be based on value rather than weight sold, so quality and uniqueness stay top priority. Farmers will receive monthly profits after a commission for the cooperative's operating and marketing costs. I'd like to hold a planning meeting next week, and you and anyone else interested can help determine how the co-op's economy will work, such as what the commission will be, and what collective needs and services the co-op should invest in first."

(Basically they just wanted to see who stands to benefit the most)

9:31 AM

(We don't have to dive down the business rabbit hole on how exactly that will work, and I don't think its something we can reasonably incorporate into the far trade stuff anyway, but I think the idea is sound RP wise and the locals would agree)

(Ok great)

This all seems reasonable to the locals. There is still some feeling of betrayal and you suspect it might take weeks or months to truly fade away. For some, this might be for life, but your ideas thus far have made sense and seem to prioritize their own needs as opposed to some situation where your pockets might be filled.

Accepting his fate with newfound stoicism Solace welcomes the UNW party, explaining to Ronda that he has revealed his deception to the people of Parnika. He describes the successes of the farm, the locating of the raspberry, the dangerous wildlife plaguing the countryside, and makes his pitch for the farming cooperative. To get the cooperative running, Solace volunteers his farm as a temporary warehousing and packaging hub. Solace looks pained from all of these public humiliations and business dealings, eager to be out searching for more teas and throwing punches. But he perseveres for the sake of those in the crowd who might one day forgive his arriving under false pretenses. "I have one grower interested already who wishes to meet with you after these talks to discuss the terms of his agreement, prices and so on," he concludes.

"You've done well here. I think as a trial basis we can put these reforms into motion, and you look to have won the locals over. I know you're conflicted about it. Do you think maybe its time to leave with us, and explore some other places?" Renda asks.

"Yes. Parnika has shown me a glimpse of life beyond Acastus, the possibility for approaching even those who seem to be enemies with greater respect. As Marshal I will always be prepared to return to their aid, and when the farmers begin to increase their yields and expand into the forests I would gladly assist with those expeditions. For now my only wish is to see more of the UNW worlds. Where can the UNW use me?"

(did you have any ideas for anything? I've got plenty if not, but I want to prioritize your interest)

(thanks! nothing specific, I'm sure there will be things to punch and tea to craft wherever we go)

(If you're not tired of the food crisis angle, Phegus could use a hand)

(Ok to Phegus! I like that I've never heard of this planet so probably neither has Solace)

https://www.worldanvil.com/w/iron-stars-nekosmash/a/phegeus-article?preview=true

Phegeus

4:01 PM

(i just updated this reflecting our most recent events here, so the article is good )

(This looks very cool)

2:52 AM

"Renda, is there anything you can tell me about the local leadership on Phegus, their stance toward technology, and their stance toward the UNW?"

(Everything we know is in the article. It’s up to date )

(Gotcha so the answers to those things are unknown) Solace would spend the travel time reading UNW history, working out, and thinking about Parnika until their arrival on Phegus

(Right now they're leaning toward friendly with the UNW since Pax and Frewayne took out a big community threat, but one favor , even a big one, does not a loyal populace make)

(Copy, ready to drop in!)

It looks as though most of the locals have moved in near the cave village, and the plateau around the settlement looks to be rocky and arid. You see no evidence of sustainment activities happening here. The shuttle sets down outside the village on its western end, and you can see a few of the locals making their way over to the ramp.

"Thanks for bringing me all this way, Renda." Solace slings his pack over one shoulder and leads the way down the ramp without waiting for the guards. He turns back to meet the dignitary's eyes with a bashful grin and a wave. "I'll do my best not to dig myself into such a hole this time. Maybe after this mission we could fly together in silence again? I hope so..."

(If you wanted to RP with her on the flight we could have, most folks just are keen to get into their mission so I don't drag them through it unless its asked for)

(No, Solace spent the whole flight reading, enjoying the quiet company. His quip wasn't sarcastic) As the local party approaches Solace meets them, unarmed of course, and introduces himself. "I'm here on behalf of the United Nation of Worlds. After the Battle of Bregulan Tower, I understand there was some damage to local infrastructure. Hopefully I can help not just cleaning up but improving conditions in general. My skills, limited though they are are at your disposal."

"Are you a friend of Frewayne's?" one of them asks. The United Nations of Worlds has a good reputation here due to their investment and help in the local crisis. You can see that there simply have not been efforts made to try to grow anything here and most of the locals have no clue where to begin.

"Honestly I haven't been with the UNW long enough to meet many of the representatives. Though I would like to meet the Frewayne who fought at Bregulan, and I hope we could be friends. I'm hoping to stay for several weeks to months, as long as it takes to build a robust and diverse food supply. The first steps, I think, will be learning more about local history, and then an expedition to survey each of the local ecotypes for plants and growing suitability. Situationally we can consider livestock, animal feed, mushrooms of course, greenhouses, home gardens, and any specialty crops but that will all come later, after we know what soils, plants, and animals will work best."

(he's off doing some solo things right now since he was with Billy since like, IRL March or April of this year)

8:35 AM

(He might be back soon, but as of right now he's off world)

(I figured, but good to know, always up for some coop)

"not going to find many animals up here in the highlands I';m afraid. Combined chiefs are gonna want to talk to you if you're here"

"It would be an honor to meet the combined chiefs so soon. Please lead the way."

You are taken to a large building that reminds you of a palace, longhouse, and town hall all in one, made from wood and stone brought up from the canyon floor below on the elevator system. At first it looks like some kind of tour is going on, but after a moment it looks as though the chiefs are being shown the structure and are having its workings explained to them by what passes as an engineer here. The tour comes to a halt as the other runner accompanying you explains that you are here, and are looking to meet with them- and most importantly are from the United Nations of Worlds.

Curious, Solace thinks, eyeing the labor-intensive architecture on his way to the group. Noticing the wood he gives it a good sniff. The material is still alien to him, reminiscent of the luxury of cacaowood, nothing like the clay bricks and chitinboard of home. Many terrestrial planets would have some kind of tree maybe, to take advantage of the sunlight at the top of the canopy... Realizing his feet have carried him in front of the chiefs, he bows in greeting. "Solace Sinensis. This building looks like a strong start for the government. Sorry to interrupt your tour."

"From the UNW, right? Nice to meet you Solace. We have a lot of respect for the UNW and the things it has done for our planet, and you're here helping us again, We've got no shortage of problems unfortunately, and what we wouldn't do to make it some other way"

"Nice to meet you too. I'll help however I can. The UNW has briefed me on the need for long-term self-sufficiency. What are the specific challenges you're facing?"

"We're in for a lean winter, probably for the next few years if we don't figure the food situation out. We weren't able to get much from the forest this year with the psychics and their shadows on the loose, and it's too late in the season for most of what we depend on to still be there. We need something fast growing, or a way to stretch out what we do have, On top of that we shouldn't waste these winter months, we need to start preparing now for a growing season, so we'll need something to plant, and to identify a site we can use to grow. "

"The UNW should be able to provide the tools and maybe some seed. How about what's available in terms of current food stores, and labor? I'd also like to speak with someone knowledgeable about local crops or plants."

"We're still taking a census on the people that are moving here, we're going to have a housing crisis if we take too many away from building additional homes, especially with winter coming. We can't have families sleeping outside. There are some hunters from the plains at the foot of the mountain, and their raptor mounts, that have recently moved in. They'd be who to talk to regarding what conditions are like in the woods and grasslands right now. "

Raptor mounts? That could be interesting, Solace thinks. "Here's an initial plan to get started." He gestures to a bare open area between the town palace and where the foundations for houses are being marked out. "I'll mail-order what we need to get a crop of metawheat going with the help of whoever you can spare. This will serve several purposes; it will give us the chance to train a few future farmers, teach us more about how things grow here, and hopefully give the town a small crop before things get too cold. Once the seeds are in the ground I'll set off to look for land, crop plants, farmable animals and anything else of use. Before I get started, how comfortable are you and others of Phegus with modern technology? I might be able to requisition some autonomous equipment to speed things up, if that is something everyone here would be comfortable with."

"We can use it, we had a lot of it at one point, but we don't have the means to maintain it now, so we've regressed into what we can actually take care of"

Leaving the statesmen to their facilities, Solace collects a few soil samples from various places around town. He doesn't expect the soil here in town to be very fertile, but the scans should be useful to establish a baseline for the planet's geology, which future scans can be compared against. Finding a pile of masonry to sit on, he runs each sample through the bioscanner and survey scanner. (edited)

UNW Mail Order

Fall 
TL2 Farming Tools: Plowshares, tillers, scythes, hoes, shovels, etc - 1000 (estimated)
Metawheat seeds for 10 acres ---------------------------------------- 1000 (estimated)
Gravtruck ----------------------------------------------------------  30000
Hydrocarbon Fueling fitting ----------------------------------------- 1000
Tool Rack fitting --------------------------------------------------- 5000 
Pull-behind tiller, seeder, waterer, and harvester ------- 5000 x 4 = 20000 (estimated)

Fall Expedition Supplies 
Tent ---------------------------------------------------------------- 100
Security perimeter -------------------------------------------------- 250
Atmofilter ---------------------------------------------------------- 100
Gravsled/Floater Ruck ----------------------------------------------- 2000
Binoculars, TL4 ----------------------------------------------------- 200
Test tubes for seeds and samples ------------------------------------ 100 (estimated)
Navcomp ------------------------------------------------------------- 500 
Rations, 100 days --------------------------------------------------- 100
20 A Cells ---------------------------------------------------------- 200
A hundred pounds of Parnikan bacon for the memes -------------------- 770 (estimated)

Winter Research Greenhouse 
Building materials -------------------------------------------------- 5000 
Greenhouse propagation trays, planters, grow lamps, and fertilizer -- 1000 (estimated)
and extras for each house in town to have its own planter ----------- 1000 (estimated)

Total expenditure: 69,420 credits pending approval of estimated items

1:56 PM

(We can move on to some other areas of setting this up, I'll figure out what I can from this, and its going to take several dayss for the message to reach gudrun, get a reply back, and get the goods)

(sounds great) With the supplies ordered Solace wanders around town, always his preferred way of learning his way around, much preferable to memorizing maps and skulking under cover of night, until arriving wherever the hunters are.

The hunters are two kilometers outside the settlement. The large canyonside elevator begins moving you downwards, to the floor of large area the plateau settlement looks over. Rocks and stones give way to greenery and loose forest as the hunters field process their recent kills. The raptors look to be getting the lions share of the meat, and there are five hunters, with six mounts present.

Solace admires the view, but his gaze returns to the raptors, captivated by their enjoyment of the feast. At least some on Phegus are eating well. He approaches the butchery cautiously, raiding a hand to the hunters in greeting, careful to keep some distance between himself and the bloody-jawed raptors. "Hello, I am a representative from the UNW, here to help with the food supply."

"UNW? Like Frewayne? " one of them asks. Their hunting armor is more ornamented with fangs and fur talismans taken from animals the pack has brought down. "You've come to the right place. Don't be fooled by the end of the hunt here, this is the best we've managed in quite some time, and the woods are a long way toward being healed.

"Yes, my name is Solace." Cautiously picking his way around the raptors into the main camp, he dodges a few blood sprays and finds a more or less safe place to stand. "Can you speak more about the woods? Where I might find edible plants or rich soil, and the dangers out there?"

"Tell you...well, it might be better to show you, Solace. It might not look like it, but we're going to be setting out in a few moments here for an excursion in the woods, and lucky you, we've got a raptor that lost its hunter. The process of getting it to not think of you as food is a bit....unconventional, and you're going to get a bit gross. You okay with that, then you're okay with us. UNW helped us out quite a bit, and you sound like you're here to do that too"

"Oh right now?" Solace considers briefly. "I'm in. And, sorry for your loss." (We can put that order on hold for now)

(its only been an hour or so in scene, and the order is going to take a couple weeks to get to Gudrun, get assembled, and ship, or for you to get an answer back and have to discourse more, so we can just let that run if you want)

(ok that's fine) "It's not exactly my favorite thing, but I've been covered in gore and strange goop before. How is this supposed to work?" Solace asks, looking quizzically at the riderless raptor tearing into a hunk of meat.

"Goop is I guess a good word for it. We've found a blend of local plants and some other compounds disguise our scent from them- not so much disguise as they've learned to identify us as members of their own pack. It's similar to a hormone they give off themselves, but we cant exactly copy that. This works well enough for our own purposes"

"Okay, let's slather me in goop." This is going to dredge up some bad memories isn't it?

The paste is a gray color , reminding you of the side of a battleship, or the skies that were lit by what little "daylight" ever appeared on the surface of Acastus. It has a slight pine smell to it, not as unpleasant as you might think, but there is a slight tingle , then burn, then numbness that comes with the goop as it is put into your body. "you'll get used to it before long, skin is a bit sensitive if you've never done this before. Happened to all of us the first couple times" the hunt leader says, doing his best to be thorough, but comforting in his application of it.

Solace contains the urge to ask for every detail of the compound's ingredients. "Not to worry. On Acastus the rebel forces often used sewage tunnels to move throughout the city. This goop is fairly pleasant compared to that." Gooping complete, Solace inspects his arms. Is this what sunscreen feels like? "That wasn't so bad. I'm more anxious about the next part."

"You're one of the pack" the chief hunter says, straightening your posture as he applies some of the goop behind your ears and the back of your neck. "You belong here, to them, you are part of the family, and always have been because you smell like them. Walk into the pack with that attitude, and everything will be fine"

"Right," Solace replies, trying to find some of the confidence these hunters exude. Guess I don't need to ask what happens if I don't. He forces his muscles to relax as the chief hunter finishes with his gooping, and studies the raptors, trying to understand them a bit better.

The raptors are eating and the goop seems to be working. They do not take any special note of your approach , and continue their grisly feast of whatever cow like animal they prey on in the woods.

Solace takes note of the raptors' breathing and works to match it. He realizes these creatures must have an astounding lung capacity to sustain long sprints after prey. The new technique is difficult and his initial attempts are not up to the standards of his training, it does seem to help him find his way through the pack with less fear of getting monched. Approaching the riderless raptor he looks back to the hunters. "Cool... So, how many weeks of training should I anticipate, until I am ready to ride?"

"You ever ridden a horse, or anything else like that before? Or how about a bike?" He finishes putting his hunting tools back in a bag, made of dino hide though it does not look to have come from the raptors. The bag is durable, shaped and tanned by an expert, possibly his own hand. Tassels with opaque beads made from local stones dangle off it, making a pleasing rattliing sound as he closes the bone clasp around the twine stopper.

"Sure, I rode a gravcycle for scouting missions." But it didn't run in carnivorous packs. Noting the bag, Solace wonders what about Phegus makes the planet hospitable to giant reptilians. A human population that hasn't hunted them to extinction, most likely, at least not yet.

"If you could keep your balance on that, you can keep your balance on a raptor. The forward and back motion is almost like trying to keep the grav plates centered. As far as feeding it, we'll help you take care of that. you just walked off a plane and are coming to help us, we're not going to abandon you like that"

Solace grins sheepishly. "Alright then, I'll watch how it's done and try to follow along."

(lets get a D10, and we'll roll the end of this scene into us exploring)

(sounds good, excited for the exploring bit) (8)

Mounting the raptor you begin with a sweep of the immediate forest, and after an hour the pack comes to rest at the shore of an inland lake. The water here is a strange color, tinged with black on its surface instead of a dark blue, or even a light blue. There are no fish here from what you can see and there is an absence of waterfowl, or reeds growing within the inundated banks on its edge. The water has a smell that reminds you of judgement day.