Olivius takes the info and returns to his group.
I have your explosives, but retrieving them might be a job in itself. I'll explain somewhere less public.
Dambreth quits his window shopping when Olivius returns to the group. "Should we retire to the skyskipper? With the doors closed it seems like it would be a safe place to have a discussion."
Yeah sure Bolus grunts.
On the way back he pulls Olivius aside a bit You've got a nose for the shadier side of everything Olivius. Now I'm not a stickler for staying in the lines but you go right to the other side like they don't even exist. You and Yala... I've never seen you two do different but you keep the shady stuff and the light fingers aimed at the guys who try to destroy and burn and not at innocents... you understand where I'm coming from?
Olivius frowns. It's a noble sentiment. Lucky for you, I have been commanded to be Noble. So fine, I'll limit my activities on one condition. You must realize, law-boy, that your lines are only there when they need to be, which I'm about to prove.
They arrive at the skipper and the doors are closed. He makes it short and sweet.
To take out drakes, we're going to need heavy arms. Lots of them. Thankfully, I was able to acquire a certain map of a supply of explosives and arms headed to the city from the mountains. It should contain grenades (which I assume are explosives), 'skipper fuel, stun rods, hand cannons (he shrugs at that one) and some kind of armor.
The catch is that I just have the map, and this supply will be on the move soon. If we want it, we're going to have to take it.
Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about stealing something of this nature. In fact, I'm not even sure what half the target cargo is. Any light youall can share on this would be helpful.
The guy said this was an independent scav convoy right? We never know how much stuff they've managed to dig up from the old ruins. Why not just intercept 'em and buy a portion of what they're delivering? They'll get cash, we'll get supplies, and Terminus will get most of what they're delivering without being any wiser.
We need it more. And it isn't scavengers. Olivius replies flatly.
You've had to deal with scavengers numerous times before. Usually though, the only ones who tried to sell to Guardians, the bastions of law and order, were the ones who had nowhere else to turn. It was typically difficult to convince them to talk; most other Guardians of your unit wore attitudes toward scavengers that ranged from mistrustful to outright hostile.
These people are desperate and they only deal with Guardians because they have to, not because they like us any. They'd much rather deal with people outside the law... which is exactly what we are... We make sure they know we ain't Guardians. We pay them a good price for what we need and we make sure they don't try to rob everything back from us after the deal happens and we go blow up that damn beacon. We got enough fighting coming to us. No need to look for any more.
Grah, my patrols never went this route. These places are just spots on a map for me. Prof, you know these areas?
Bolus. I said they Aren't scavengers.
That's what I overheard. What are they then?
Olivius graduates for half a beat before deciding that bandages ate better ripped off.
Guardians.
Olivius graduates for half a beat before deciding that bandages ate better ripped off.
Guardians.
Hmm...that's not really surprising I guess. We have to have supplies and if they are not likely to give them to us then we have to take them.
Hmm...that's not really surprising I guess. We have to have supplies and if they are not likely to give them to us then we have to take them.Olivius graduates for half a beat before deciding that bandages ate better ripped off.
Guardians.
The cloaked masked creature finally speaks up after he rejoins with the party
"These Guardians, do we wish them to join the Wraithlands?"
Before going through the door Bolus asks for a moment and drops to a knee and brings his dog tags up to his brow. Figure that I know all I'm going to understand about what the hell is going on here. The way forward is clear enough though. Grant me the strength to succeed where I've failed before and destroy this damn beacon as it threatens Terminus and, hell, everything else as well.
Changing Quest to Destroy The Beacon. Asking for Boons
* Unwavering sense of direction to beacon
* Senses that pierce lies
* Invulnerability to fire
"There's a weapons shipment coming down from yonder mountains tonight, it'll have all the explosives you'll need. The vendors are independents, scavengers hauling gear taken from ruined cities miles from here. They're being brought to the Guardians for use." He smiles.
Yala speaks up. "How do you know all this?"
The man glances at her, the brim of his hat turning slightly. Then he reaches inside his shirt. Yala tenses up, but he only produces the dog tags of a Guardian. "That's how I know. Now you want the shipping route or not? I have others I can sell this information to. 25 gold and it's yours."
Olivius graduates for half a beat before deciding that bandages ate better ripped off.
Guardians.
Bolus, you have senses that can pierce lies from your Vow. You can sense that Olivius is lying to you.
Olivius watches the groups reactions. He wasn't sure why he felt that he needed to do this, to lie. Perhaps because scavengers were really just ordinary people trying to get by. If it was the Government, namely Guardians, then you weren't really stealing from ordinary folks. It was easier on everyone this way. And if the truth came out later... well, not all his information was correct.
What're you playing at Olivius? Bolus says with eyes narrowed distrubed at how easily everyone else has agreed to attack the only force keeping Terminus safe Guardians don't travel with scav packs. They come to us and barter. We.. I mean they... the soldier gets flustered as he realizes that since going AWOL he can't be considered a member of his order any more. The Guardians he continues are too busy patrolling the Wastes or holding the wall to scavenge or travel with scavengers. Why would you lie about something like this?
Because it makes me feel better. Stealing from the government is better than stealing from poor scavengers.
And I was checking. So, you're one of Those, not just a warrior. I hate paladins. At least this one isn't too annoying. The ones in my time were all shining armor and dragon carcasses.
"Meaningless things" the Eldar mused loudly.
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We ain't stealing from anyone if we don't need to. Scavs look to sell and probably want to trade with someone who ain't the Guardians. Sound good?
Professor Hardworthy speaks up. "The sentiment is noble, Bolus...just make sure THEY know your intentions are to trade. The Wastes are dangerous, as you well know. Tends to inspire itchy trigger fingers." He leans back in the pilot's chair of the 'skipper. "They may decide to shoot first, and ask questions later. All I'm saying is, I'll be parking the 'skipper a safe distance away from wherever you decide to have this little rendezvous."
He smiles. "On the bright side, you never reported losing anybody this early on in any of the past communiques. So unless we screw up something royally, this should be in the bag!"
Prof you know anything about these places where the convoy will be open for approach?
Harrigan's Rise,
or the Kill-Devil Falls.
Hardworthy spins around in his pilot's chair, tapping a few keys on the navigational controls of the skyskipper. A hologram map of the mountains surrounding Terminus City - called the Stonespire Mountain range - pops up in the center of the skyskipper between all of you, and using a small stylus he highlights three locations on the map. Grabneck Gorge is furthest up in the mountains, meaning you'd need to get there fastest because that's where they're coming from. Harrigan's Rise is closer to Terminus than Grabneck, and Kill-Devil Falls are closer to Terminus still.
"Grabneck Gorge is a maze, so high up in the mountains that you can see for miles when you're out. But getting out of the gorge isn't easy. There's chokers, living ooze, and transformed magical beasts. It'd be easy to get the drop on them, but you'd have to watch your back."
"Harrigan's Rise," he says, gesturing to it with his stylus, "Is a butte that rises out of the Stonespire Mountain foothills. It's also one of the entry points to access the World Beneath, so it's heavily guarded by the dwarves. They've been growing more and more paranoid lately, so I'd watch out for dwarf technology. Often outdoes what we can make here in Terminus."
"And last but not least, the Kill-Devil falls. There's a network of waterfalls that descend one after another at the base of the foothills between Terminus and the mountains. It'd give us the most time for an ambush, but they'll be moving fast by that point. Elementals and the like have been twisted by the ambient chaos magic and attack travelers on sight."
We're not tryin' to ambush them so I'd say Harrigan's Rise. What do the rest of you think? Bah I wish I knew more about the dwarves. They keep to themselves and were never willing to talk when Terminus tried to open relations
I leave the tactics of working in this area to your judgement, Bolus
I leave the tactics of working in this area to your judgement, Bolus
Professor Hardworthy looks around at everyone else in the small 'skipper, glancing especially between Bolus and Olivius. "Hmmm." is his only comment at first, then, "Everyone else good with that?"
Olivius just gives a thumbs up.
"Very well. We shall support this endeavor"
With that, Hardworthy turns his pilot seat around. "Better strap in," he comments as he punches in some commands to the flight computer as the engine begins to hum. "That guard we left behind probably reported our vehicle information to the Guardians by now. They're a whole different ball game to the Enforcer chuckleheads we dealt with previously."
He lifts the skyskipper off its rooftop parking spot, kicking dust everywhere with the twin rotary blades. With a roar, you blast off from the market district, flying low as possible over the rooftops of Terminus. You fly over your home neighborhood as you fly toward the outer walls of the city. Hardworthy grips the flight stick tightly, leaning forward to glance upward through the skipper's windshield every so often. The flight toward the outer wall of the city takes about 15 minutes to allow for other skipper traffic...everyone just riding quietly?
Dambreth will sit next to Bolus and asks him to go through the operating instructions for his new stun gun and the emergency force field generator.
Olivius is now solidly against flying. He doesn't say much on the trip and declines looking out any windows.
Olivius should be relieved to learn that, due to paranoia about attracting attention from either Enforcers or Guardians, and also due to the fact that he's an old man, Professor Hardworthy is a very cautious flier. Thus, you reach the outer wall of Terminus City without incident. You can see the sprawling city, the last true hope of civilization, receding behind you, and the Stonespire Mountain Range looms ahead in the windshield.
After several minutes of silence beyond the quiet discussion of Bolus and Dambreth, Hardworthy taps a control on the console of the 'skipper and turns on modern music. You pass Kill-Devil Falls within the first hour after leaving Terminus, witnessing a startlingly high network of waterfalls all pouring into each other, running down over strangely-colored rocks in the riverbed. Hardworthy pulls back on the controls, tilting his 'skipper skyward. Yala rests her forehead against the glass windows of the skipper, her expression unreadable. You can see her eyes tracking back and forth over the landscape below as your engines generate an omnipresent background drone.
You're climbing higher after leaving the Kill-Devil Falls behind when you see flashing lights through the rear window. They're attached to another skyskipper, flashing the colors of the Guardians. Hardworthy curses, glancing over his shoulder at them, and then looks at all of you. "Damnit! What should we do?"
"Can you use the mists from the waterfalls to lose them? We'd do that all the time back home when the flying lizards chased us."
Well we can't fight them from this tub Bolus says grateful for the fact.
Hardworthy's hands grip the controls tightly, fear plain on his face. "I'm not a professional pilot! We'd never make it back to the Falls in time. Oh...those bastards are going to put me back under house arrest..." he mutters, staring straight ahead as he puts the cumbersome 'skipper into hover mode.
The other skipper is pulling up behind you now, only moments from being alongside.
If you choose something to be more specific about that you could realistically spout lore about, I'll allow you to use that roll.
"Can we not sabotage their craft? Maybe surge it with the stun gun you obtained?" Eldar asks in his usual montone whispy voice
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Spout lore... effective methods of grounding a magically flying wizard. Maybe something is applicable here?
Bolus peeks out at the pursuing ship to see if he can identify the identity of the Guardians pursuing them from the markings on the ship. We personalize the designs and decals on our vessels. he explains to the rest. Maybe this is someone who we can reason with. We're outgunned and no offense to the prof but he ain't exactly an ace scout pilot who could outfly them.
Olivius: You wrack your mind for options, but the best thing you can think of doing is leaping the gap using your jump boots, activating the Immovable Rod in their ship, and jumping back over to your ship. The Immovable Rod would tear a hole through their ship when they tried to pursue.
Then you remember that that would probably be suicidal, and Bolus wouldn't take too kindly to destroying a Guardian vessel. Still, it's an option. The alchemist bombs you created would also do some real damage to another skyskipper.
Bolus: Hardworthy nods when you comment on his piloting skills, not taking any offense. The other skipper pulls alongside and engages hover mode alongside you. Bolus, you don't recognize the skipper, which has a skull on it with a crown of thorns and a halo.
From the skyskipper comes a voice on a megaphone. "State your business."
Hardworthy glances around at everyone, and grabs a little PA attached to a cord on the dash. He holds it up with a helpless expression.
Bolus focuses on the skyskipper. What here is Evil? he mutters to himself.
Dambreth wracks his brain trying to remember if he's seen the symbol on the other skyskipper before, either in some of reading msterials that the professor had in his lab or maybe even in a dream from Gaia. Specifically, is the symbol a sign of danger or helpfulness.
Elder moves one hand to his sword. Ready to engage them if needed. A fight will not be the best choice. But if forced to engage, he will.
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