"Dunno about ya mates, but imma havin' a fine cool beer, granted there's a pub 'round 'ere."
Mylon buys a week's worth of rations, and several sheets of parchment for making a map.
"Sounds like a plan, Rev."
Last Stand - The Oasis Tavern
After shopping, the group heads back to the Oasis Tavern, seems the best place to get a cold beer before what will be a long hot trudge through the Wastes for days on end.
The Oasis has entertainment tonight, of all things, a group of Hobgoblins from across the Wastes that play stringed instruments! They're not too bad either though their reception isn't exactly warm from the locals.
A waitress, an Android approaches, "What can I get for you folks? Say, aren't you the feller that shot someone dead jus' outside earlier today!?" She looks at Herman with a mix of fear and admiration.
"'Course 'e is! Ya see tha'n'is chest? Tha's tha hole 'e got in exchange! Mwahahaha!" Rob seems to find the fact quite hilarious by some unknown reason.
Hermans tips his hat to the waitress. "The good reverend is correct miss, all in a good days work keep this humble little town a bit safer. Now could I two stiff for the padre and I?"
leaning in close to Reverend Rob, he Whispers to him."Say padre, do you mind taking my confession right here? I do need to wash myself clean of something."
Rob looks alternatively up and to Herman. He seems concerned about the subject.
"God says I shun't, since I'm no ordained, but if ye have proper hurry, me should suffice. Yer confessing after Her, anyway."
"I didn't want to raise alarm, but I won't be joining you and the fine others. It's been a pleasure, but I'm needed elsewhere. I'm sure we will meet again friend."
Herman raises his glass,"A toast to a brighter future"
He downs his glass of whiskey, tips his hat and leaves the Oasis Tavern. leaving a handsome tip on the bar.
"God bless ya, friend!"
Alsande cocks his head. "So, I guess it was not his cup of tea. On the plus side, people will stop asking about that dead guy. So, are we riding out at dawn to hunt like in the best tales?"
The thin fingers of the Any-Tool reassemble the high-tech rifle and place it on the android's back. "I'll take cold water with salt and lemon, and a shot of the strongest liquor you have. Taste doesn't matter."
Samuel kicks his feet up onto the table. "I got word that the Technic League was riding out in the area we're heading into recently. They already got lynched proper so no need to worry about that. We should make our way towards one of the houses that ended up abandoned after the massacre. Be a good place to make camp."
Last Stand - The Oasis Tavern
The rest of the night is blessedly uneventful. Kiana who disappeared earlier in the day has yet to resurface. Herman has opted not to join in this "project".
Seems your numbers have thinned a bit. You each rent a room, I mean why not splurge, you'll not have a comfortable bed potentially for weeks if not months on end!
"O, Lord, thank ya for this. I'll be enjoyin' tha bed like nothin' else in this world. In thy infinite powerness and wisdomness, would it be too much tae ask fer a cucumber sammich?"
After saying his prayers, Rob catches a nice sleep, as can be confirmed by the snoring he produces, worth of a whole herd of pigs.
Last Stand - The Oasis Tavern
Dawn breaks the next day and the group, light a few members who have moved on or simply drifted away, wake to take in the last normal breaking of their fast they may have for a while.
As the Wanderers sit, a stranger enters the Tavern and makes a line for their table.
You bring with you, 100 rounds of ammo that can be split 5 ways, each the type that will best fit a PCs weapon. The ammo is all Cold Iron as it is needed out there to have a chance against the Mutants that often pop up.
A large barrel chested man walks through the door of The Oasis Tavern, he removes a piece of paper from his pocket and gives a quick read and scans through periodically looking at the group.
He crumbles the paper and walks towards the group.
"Are you group I go shooting with? The Good doctor that wants to map the wastes. He sends me to help and brings a gift."
The man throws a box on the table,"cold iron rounds, good to make mutants go night night. Name is Sergei Vladislavovich."
Mylon looks at the box with a grin, like a child gawking at his birthday present.
"I like you already, Sergei!"
"Ah, cold-forged iron. Famed for its disruptive properties against enchantments and fey magic. Likely not a bad idea."
"Another comrade joins the fray" says Samuel, rubbing his chin. "I suppose it's not our place to judge considering we're just hired help ourselves."
"What exactly are your skills?"
"Hi mate" Rob salutes, tipping his hat. "God told me we's gunna meet sum'un new, yeah. Nice ta meet ya."
Alsande's face is level, in either utter seriousness or cutting sarcasm. "Could you ask God the best silver-to-copper ratio for solenoidal spires? I'm getting tired of reforging. I'm the tinkerer here, by the way. If you need your equipment set up, I can help."
Last Stand - The Oasis Tavern
With the exploratory group settled, they venture out into the Last Stand and hopefully not for the last time.
Along with Sergei is also a fine set of horses, the group mounts up, some more gracefully than others and sets out.
The padre is not really dismissing living in a proper building, but rather he's not preoccupied about the conditions, After all, he's been sleeping under the stars for more than he can remember.
"I'll be havin' a look 'round, if ya don't mind."
"I say we should be heading towards that abandoned house first."
"I'd like to look around too."
The Wastelands - Wandering
The Wanderers on horseback ride through the scorched lands that were once the nation of Lastwall. Not a blade of grass nor stone as far as the ye can see. Certainly no trees. There are some cacti but often the water that can be found in them is putrid at best poisonous at worst.
Oases are known to be in existence but it is never easy or safe to reach them.
This part of the Waste is going to be... difficult to map. It is the buildings that will be the most likely markers to accomplish the task. To "clear" out the area will no doubt be a dangerous gambit as it will require you in some instances to attract foes you may not otherwise wish to encounter in this place.
You ride for several miles in a circuitous circuit but luckily, or unluckily, encounter nothing. You are west of Last Stand and still south of the abandoned "farm house" that the Dr. stated may be the one you would wish to use as a resting point. It is nearly noon and the sun is high, the weather is quite hot but not unbearable today.
Oi! We should be headin' for the farm, don't ye think? We need ta know if it's habitable."
"Yeah. Seems like there's a whole lotta nothin' out here."
Hidden beneath several layers of raggedy headscarves and ponchos, Alsande speaks lazily. "Yes. We need a base, or we will not last that much. Some work, and if we're lucky we might even get ourselves water. And tomorrow, we lay out a strategy for mapping, patrolling and setting traps."
"That's what I've been saying. Let's get moving."
The Wastelands - Wandering
The group makes their way to the farm house, luckily uneventfully.
As you approach the place seems eerily quiet, despite knowing it is abandoned the look of it is off putting nonetheless.
The barn is mostly burned down, though two of the walls remain intact. A small oasis is nearby but appears to be mostly dry, the signs of some plant life nearby it though shows that it has not completely been dried out.
Several posts to tether horses and empty troughs sit in front of the house proper. The house was painted red but weather sand the sun have faded the color significantly. All of the windows on the first floor are broken out.
There is a second floor with intact windows and the roof seems of good repair. The front porch has plenty of shade and the furniture on it, rather comfy looking chairs are in god repair if a bit stained with red paint.
With the exception of the wind and the neighing of your horses and jingling of saddle bags all is quiet.
Alsande
Mylon
Bob
Samuel
Nezaquetzual
Samuel hitches his horse and heads inside the house. He holsters his sword on his back.
"Looks functional. Take care that it's not occupied."
Mylon hitches his horse and follows close behind Samuel.
"At least it won't collapse on us while we sleep. Probably."