The group heads down the ramp after all their purchases, the guards giving the party courteous nods. Kaplan's door is open and the windows letting more of the smell out.
Opting for the noodles, Vi pays for her meal which she enjoys as they walk along.
Kaplan walks out of the shop, wiping his hands with a rag. "Ah, mornin'. I see you didn't want to keep me waitin'...or is it somethin' else?"
Nye doesn't take much in of his surrounding as he relishes the amazing taste in his mouth… On seeing Kaplan
"Mmf, mmnch, mnff… [swallows hurriedly with a slight grin] Well we did run into some gangers last night - [asks his friends] what were they called again….? Anyway, apart from that, I guess we are looking for work?"
"They were called The Rifters if I remember right, not a nice bunch of fellows." Said Alton as he continued to toss an apple in the air.
Kaplan stuffs an unlit cigar in his mouth. "Rifters, eh? I guess that makes you lucky. It could have been worse."
He pulls a couple of notes from the bulletin board. "As for jobs, I have two. This one here is for a fellow named Eston, who needs some help getting a story for his rag. The other is to help defend an oasis pump from some nasty critters."
"Hmm, I don't know. Critters or story. Which one?" she says while looking at the other.
"Please say critters. Please say critters. Please say critters. Please say critters. Please say critters. Please say critters. Please say critters. Please say critters." she hopes the others want critters. Did I mention critters?
"I wouldn't mind helping Eston, It'll be nice to see what passes for journalism around here." Alton took a large bite of his apple enjoying the taste as it filled his mouth.
She looks at Kappy for a moment, "Yeah...they didn't seem too keen on me pulling ol' Bessie here on em' and tellin em' to get the hell lost. Something about, whaa you'll be sorry...whaa we're gonna tell." She makes a "ppfftt" sound as she rolls her eyes, "We'll do these jobs, but at some point we're gonna have to see about getting rid of that gang too. I'm thinkin.....a bullet to the head of their leader might do it....but we'd have to bide our time for that one. I just hope they leave Emily and her boss alone at the Copper Kettle...otherwise I might be forced to do something sooner rather than later."
She thinks for a few minutes, "Well....seeing as how I'm not really the inquisitive type and stories really aren't my bag, I'd have to lean towards the critters myself, but it's up to everyone and we'll go with whatever the majority decides."
She smiles down at Mara, already knowing what her friend would prefer to do.
"What's our goal?" Eleanor asks.
"In regards to what?" Kaplan asks right back.
"Sorry. I mean us. What is it we want to do here in this City now that we're here? Are we simply earning money to get by or do we have a goal to reach for?" Eleanor clarifies, speaking to the rest of her friends.
Rosa thinks for a bit, "Well....I would like to think that eventually we will be able to move beyond this place....but, for now...is pretty much survival while trying to make this at least somewhat a little better of a place to live in. I have to be honest and say that I haven't thought much past our present needs which is money for our food, equipment, and lodgings." She looks at Elle for a moment, "Is there something specific you're wishing to get outta this experience Ells?" There is genuine concern and respect for her friend in her voice, her question quite real.
"I'd say that our first move is to get steady employment. That provides stability. Food, clothing, shelter, all things we need. From there we can plot what we want to do for our goals. First order of business, survival." Amara says in an insightful manner.
Eleanor shrugs. "I was just curious what everyone was thinking now that we're free. Right now I'm content with 3 meals a day and fiddling with as much tek as I can get my hands on."
Vi considers the offers. "While I find the idea of obtaining a story fascination, after last night I also think there are a lot of people that need protecting in this city. Any idea what the story would be about?"
"Eston likes writing up stories on corruption in Oldenburg, thinks he can make a difference by getting the truth to the people," Kaplan says. "I guarantee that it's probably not going to be a walk in the park. He has a few enemies but the higher-ups just consider him a crackpot and a nuisance."
Rosa shrugs. "I can deal with either. What does everyone want to do?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"I guess I would go with Eston. He'd be a valuable source of information even if he's crazy. The water pump isn't going anywhere and can always be repaired." Eleanor says.
"Then again. There are six of us. We could always try both."
Rosa thinks for a moment then shakes her head, "Nah, I don't like the idea of splitting up. We are still in unfamiliar territory and think it's better that we stick together for now. Besides, Kappy said this guy has enemies so......we can deal with the pump later."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Eston, then?" Kappy says, handing the note to Eleanor. "He sets up shop a little further in. You can't miss it, it's called 'A Simple Truth'."
He points down an alleyway across from his shop.
"Eston, then?" Kappy says, handing the note to Eleanor. "He sets up shop a little further in. You can't miss it, it's called 'A Simple Truth'."
He points down an alleyway across from his shop.
Rosa nods at Kappy, "Alright then, we'll go check it out. Ready to go guys?" She waits to make sure everyone is ready to go before walking towards Eston's place.
"Yup!"
"Sure" Vi says gathering her gear.
A small shack with a clapboard sign sits off to the side a quarter mile down the alleyway. Looking in the windows, the group just sees darkness. On the door, painted in crude letters, is "A Simple Truth".
Rosa knocks on the door.
You hear rattling coming from inside. "Who...who's there?!"
"Friends of Kaplan. If you want individual names you'll have to come outside." Said Alton.
The door opens a crack and you see a disheveled man looking back at you. "There are things outside..."
Rosa smiles, "Well...right now the only things out here are us, and we aren't going to hurt you. We heard you had a story that you needed help with. Kappy sent us to help you."
"Or more precisely to help you with the ..things that might get in youyr way." Vi says look at the man.
Amara's tail is doing this while she watches the man speak.
"Ah, yes, my story," the man says, opening the door. The smell of old food and dirty clothes wafts out of the shack. Eston is a wiry man with thick brown and grey hair. His eyes dart back and forth over the group. "Well, there's a steampump engineer named Huston down in section 3. He's a bigwig down there and I've been hearing of strange happenings there. Apparently, he's been sabotaging the pump every so often to make more work for himself to rake in cash. Normally, I wouldn't give a lick about it since I don't live in the area...but he's hurting some innocent folks, if that's what he's up to."
He clears his throat and wrings his hands together. "I want to expose him and maybe get him and his cronies fired. Hire some decent people who care and want to actually work."
"Makes sense to me."
"I'm sure if he were aware of this he'd use...coersion to try to stop you writing about this, is that the case?"
Eston nods. "A lot of people with secrets to bury decide to use the gangs around here for 'coercion'. The Rifters are a popular choice, since they work cheap. If Huston's got something to hide, I'm sure you'll run up against some of 'em working 'protection'."
"Are these Rifters particularly organized? Or are they just a loose group of thugs? Also, what weapons do they have and how many? Do they patrol very often?" she asks inquisitively.
"Nah, just a bunch of toughs, usually friends, who get together and call themselves The Rifters. Group A may call themselves that, but have nothing to do with Group B who also call themselves that," Eston explains with a shrug. "So, you never know when you piss off a guy from one group or another...A few of 'em have guns, surprising how you can't just get rid of those things. Trickle down effect, I guess. Otherwise, they have bats and chains and other junk they scavenge."
He sniffs. "They're as active as they want to be. Seeing how things are tough around here and new people show up every week...they make the rounds quite often. There used to be an original Rifters gang, but I don't know much about that...something kept under wraps by the officials."
Nye is more interested in locating the critters, but he tags along to "The Simple Truth".
Rosa nods, "Well then...it looks like we might be able to help you with your problem, while dealing with one of our own as well. We need to send these street punks a message. We'll start with your guy, and work on it from there."
Eston smiles. "Alright then...section 3 is about two miles toward the Registration Center. Then just find yourself an underground access tunnel, you can't go wrong. They all go to the same place. Well, there are Hells goblins..."
Rosa raises an eyebrow, "So....is that like another gang?"
"Officials are involved? That says one thing: corruption. Using their power to keep the people down. That reminds me of Lohne and their hatred of free will. People who just want power. They controlled so many people and killed others. They tried to control me and failed."
Amara's demeanor suddenly changes. The excitement shown just moments before is gone. What remains is a deadly, smoldering look in her eyes. Her tail has stopped moving as well.
"We'll take care of them. The Rifters and any other gang that opposes us." she says in a quiet voice.
"And are they actual goblins? I've read about those but never actually seen one." Vi says with a tinge of excitement.