"What sort of dangers? We had heard that the refugee camp in Ariz-29 was safe. Is that not true?" Archeron feigned concern in his voice.
"What sort of dangers? We had heard that the refugee camp in Ariz-29 was safe. Is that not true?" Archeron feigned concern in his voice.
"All roads around here lead up to Vegas, so we have to watch for bandits all along this next couple hundred miles here."
A URA patrol vehicle circles back around to Penny's and shines lights in to the wreckage.
Peggy/L337 says to von Junzt, "I'm supposed to keep this place open for an indeterminate period of time waiting for you to return. ... I've got a retirement to plan. ... What can you tell me about this mission so that I can get an idea of when you'll be back?"
"Well, L337, here's the deal... - von Junzt gets really close to the android - "I am more than willingly to exchange information about our mission - but what can you offer in return? And I want something I can't just get for free... I want information on you, perhaps our bosses, and I need to know how you can help me get out of this mess. The loony bin crowd" - he points outside - "they got me for this supposedly stealthy mission? It's already about to burst and we didn't even start. When this whole thing goes belly up, can I count on you?"
Gristlethorn is mostly quiet as he works on the second medium vehicle.
Continues his conversation while working on the vehicle and lasers.
"Well, I'm heading that way-I heard they could use medical help, and I don't really have a home. So that seemed like a useful goal.
Want to pool up for safety?
All together is more of a deterrent than alone. We didn't really have much trouble getting to this rest stop...but if the next hundreds of miles are extra dangerous. I'd be a bit happier in a larger convoy. Or if we have to camp with more eyes. "
"Well, von Junzt, here's the deal...," L337 gets really close to the witch, "I think I can tell you about the guy in the corner of one of that video that asshat bureaucrat from Roanoke* showed you."
"I can't be sure without taking another look at him, but if it is him, you deserve to know what you're walking into."
Continues his conversation while working on the vehicle and lasers.
"Well, I'm heading that way-I heard they could use medical help, and I don't really have a home. So that seemed like a useful goal.
Want to pool up for safety?
All together is more of a deterrent than alone. We didn't really have much trouble getting to this rest stop...but if the next hundreds of miles are extra dangerous. I'd be a bit happier in a larger convoy. Or if we have to camp with more eyes. "
The woman says something to the other worker and then jumps out of the vehicle. "Well, you do seem pretty handy ..." she says loudly as she walks over.
Her tone remains commanding, "I'm United Relief Agency Sergeant April Patel. You get that buggy working, and we could use another scouting vehicle. The cars are welcome to follow behind. If a truck in the convoy drops a red smoke marker, it means we've seen danger and the straycats should stay back."
She watches Zellgato and the others work for a while and says, "Interesting bunch. You look like you know what you're doing. Welcome to the convoy. If anyone gives you any trouble, give them my name--Sergeant April Rain Patel."
She heads back to the buggy and gets in.
Szreem nods at Sargeant Patel's instructions, having switched back to their original face. They have only a passing familiarity with vehicles and engineering, so he mostly hangs back and lets the members of the group more experienced in the field do their work. He helps out with a few basic tasks where needed.
A URA patrol vehicle circles back around to Penny's and shines lights in to the wreckage.
The heavy trench coated form quickly thrusts a froggy hand out to shield from the light. "HEY!" a croaky voice yells. "Have some respect! I don't go pokin' you in the eye! Keep your light to yourself!"
"Well, von Junzt, here's the deal...," L337 gets really close to the witch, "I think I can tell you about the guy in the corner of one of that video that asshat bureaucrat from Roanoke* showed you.""I can't be sure without taking another look at him, but if it is him, you deserve to know what you're walking into."
He maintains the distance between the two of them. "I just can't say no to a good deal, and you did call me pretty before... RAIN is having us infiltrate the refuge camp and spy into a cult called Children of Gaia. A couple of their real agents was apparently brainwashed while looking into the matter, so they decided to send some disposable rabble rousers this time. We are to discover what CoG is up to and if possible rescue their screw up couple - after that, we run back here” von Junzt smiles deeply at L337.
“Your turn. Tell me all that juicy gossip you have. And I’d be really interested in knowing if you have some insurance hidden out in the desert. We could get out of this mess later… together”.
Gristlethorn is listening with half an ear as he works on the car.
"This thing is a piece of scrap," he mutters to himself, "But it's not so bad that it should have been left here."
A URA patrol vehicle circles back around to Penny's and shines lights in to the wreckage.The heavy trench coated form quickly thrusts a froggy hand out to shield from the light. "HEY!" a croaky voice yells. "Have some respect! I don't go pokin' you in the eye! Keep your light to yourself!"
The patrol vehicle reverses suddenly when IX sticks out a froggy hand. It only moves a few feet back, but the driver was apparently startled.
It clicks off the light. By the time it departs there are a couple of other people curious about IX and watching IX emerge from the building.
The parking lot is filling up. The convoy is rolling into pylons 1 through 6. A jeep drove over the crumbling barriers on the side of the road to get to pylon 7 faster. The PCs are on pylon 8.
The smaller vehicles get charged up relatively fast, unless something goes wrong, and a lot of things do, especially among the refugees' vehicles. These vehicles were made to last, and most of them have lasted for decades thanks to regular repair. Vehicles break down and tempers flare up.
A young girl walks over the PCs from pylon 7 and says to Gristlethorn, "You're a bear."
She looks about 11 or 12. It doesn't sound like an accusation, just something she felt worth remarking on. "My parents need help with their battery. It's only charging to 10%. That won't be enough. Could you help?"
He maintains the distance between the two of them. "I just can't say no to a good deal, and you did call me pretty before... RAIN is having us infiltrate the refuge camp and spy into a cult called Children of Gaia. A couple of their real agents was apparently brainwashed while looking into the matter, so they decided to send some disposable rabble rousers this time. We are to discover what CoG is up to and if possible rescue their screw up couple - after that, we run back here” von Junzt smiles deeply at L337.
"Off-the-books is what they told me too ... a little extra work to ease their guilt about shoving me to the side, you know?"
“Your turn. Tell me all that juicy gossip you have.
"I saw a face I recognized in the footage. A chemist and a dealer who went by the name Ryder. I was doing undercover work for RAIN, posing as an android terrorist looking to dose a large urban area with a neurotoxin. He had no qualms about cooking up what I wanted. RAIN botched the grab and he got away. My cover was blown. They never even got a good shot of his face and I haven't seen it again until now. I'd swear on my saintly mother's grave that was him," says L337 with a very sincere expression.
And I’d be really interested in knowing if you have some insurance hidden out in the desert. We could get out of this mess later… together”.
"I'm getting off-world after this job. Earth's no place for androids anymore."
Gristlethorn gives the girl a friendly look. "I would be happy to. Which vehicle is it?"
Being careful to approach slowly so as not to scare anyone, Gristlethorn approaches the vehicle. "Howdy folks. I hear you're having some battery problems?
Seeing the child talking to Gristlethorn, Zellgato calls out to his new beariful friend. "Gris- I can charge your vehicle if you want to go help out. If anyones hurt, give me a ring. There's enough of us that we can manage the charging station rotation if folks need help."
Gristlethorn gets people's attention. Everybody here has heard of the Uplifted but most haven't seen one up close.
The girl introduces herself as 'Genius.' "I'm Genius Meadows. I named myself before I was born, because I heard my mommy think that word and like it so I told her that was my name, but then I forgot about that for a while. My parents don't know how to fix batteries." She takes Gristlethorn over to her vehicle, which is holding up the line at the recharge pylon. There are a group of three adults standing around staring at it and none of them have the tools that would fix a battery problem. It's not clear which of the three are Genius's parents. Gristlethorn easily fixes the battery and the line begins to move again.
Leaving the charging to one of the others still on stanby in the area. Zellgato will wonder off and find the person he talked to before-and ask if they happened to need any medical care while preperations are being made. Healthier folks, make for better travel time, and less hazards on the way.
Archeron worked on recharging the vehicles, efficiently moving from one to another.
Szreem is hardly a trained professional, but being around as long as they have, has picked up a few things about medicine, and puts them to work helping some refugees around the convoy.
The tall, stocky figure stands in the rubble causing dust and small pebbles to rain down around them. The trench coat that was previously buttoned is now unbuttoned and opens wide to reveal the entirety that is this creature(?). They stand about six and a half feet tall on cat-like legs. The legs meet the torso into a thicker, heavier coat of fur, like that of a bear. Behind, a hairless tail hangs limply down to the ground. The frog-like arms start at the shoulder with a disturbing transition. Its neck and head were the same glossy, hairless fog-esk, save the strange donkey-like ears set on each side of the squat head.
The creature lowers its head and and waves it's fingers together in a 'come' motion. "Let's get it over with," it croaks expectantly.
"I saw a face I recognized in the footage. A chemist and a dealer who went by the name Ryder. I was doing undercover work for RAIN, posing as an android terrorist looking to dose a large urban area with a neurotoxin. He had no qualms about cooking up what I wanted. RAIN botched the grab and he got away. My cover was blown. They never even got a good shot of his face and I haven't seen it again until now. I'd swear on my saintly mother's grave that was him," says L337 with a very sincere expression.
Von Juntz looks pensive. "So, RAIN is either incompetent enough to be infiltrated by a terrorist supplier, or corrupt enough to have recruited him - and since he has a interest in this mission, we can assume he might be pulling strings. But what would his end game be... is he behind CoG? Or getting rid of the competition? And does it matter?"
"I don't suppose you'd be up to telling all this to mister television, huh? Well, I'll try to make good use of this intel. You're very sweet, L337."
"I'm getting off-world after this job. Earth's no place for androids anymore."
"Save me a seat on that ride! I'm pretty much done out here, and the leash is starting to chaffe my neck. You won't regret it, I promisse".
"It was nice to meet you Genius. My name is Gristlethorn, I was named after the best part of a meal, and then they added the throrn so I would sound tougher."
The tall, stocky figure stands in the rubble causing dust and small pebbles to rain down around them. The trench coat that was previously buttoned is now unbuttoned and opens wide to reveal the entirety that is this creature(?). They stand about six and a half feet tall on cat-like legs. The legs meet the torso into a thicker, heavier coat of fur, like that of a bear. Behind, a hairless tail hangs limply down to the ground. The frog-like arms start at the shoulder with a disturbing transition. Its neck and head were the same glossy, hairless fog-esk, save the strange donkey-like ears set on each side of the squat head.
The creature lowers its head and and waves it's fingers together in a 'come' motion. "Let's get it over with," it croaks expectantly.
The refugees gathered around are taken back by this sight, but relatively fearless. While a couple of them cower, the one who seems to be in the lead steps forward. He looks nervous but determined, "Sorry for disturbing you, but we need 4 centimeter flex-tubing for the cooling panel in the portable kitchen truck. Did you see any around the stove in there?"
Von Juntz looks pensive. "So, RAIN is either incompetent enough to be infiltrated by a terrorist supplier, or corrupt enough to have recruited him - and since he has a interest in this mission, we can assume he might be pulling strings. But what would his end game be... is he behind CoG? Or getting rid of the competition? And does it matter?"
"Well, I was undercover. He was supposed to think he was selling to the android separatist. Anyway, he got away. Three months later a slum in Vegas was gassed with exactly the kind of thing he said he would be able to sell me. I have no proof it was him, but ... It seemed like he killed a few hundred just to punish RAIN for trying to catch him."
L337 cannot hide how much this bothers him, and doesn't try.
"RAIN isn't corrupt ... yet. But they still scare me. They've got big dreams. I've heard talk about uniting all the Regional Authorities and Mexico and making North America a country again ... maybe letting the corporations keep their city states, but unite everything around them. Dreamers scare me, but this guy Ryder scares me more. I hope you don't have orders to take him alive."
"It was nice to meet you Genius. My name is Gristlethorn, I was named after the best part of a meal, and then they added the throrn so I would sound tougher."
The girl smiles at Gristlethorn, "The gristle isn't the best part of a meal. It's only the second best part." She hands him a warm mason jar pulled from her pocket and full of blueberries, unscrewing the lid as she passes it to him.
Leaving the charging to one of the others still on stanby in the area. Zellgato will wonder off and find the person he talked to before-and ask if they happened to need any medical care while preperations are being made. Healthier folks, make for better travel time, and less hazards on the way.
[dice=Medicine Check-Have basic medkit, chemazlyzer and Medical Expert]1d20+12
No sooner has Zellgato made an offer of medical services than someone mentions an old woman having panic attacks. When he gets there, she's speaking Spanish and not fully aware of what's going on. She keeps saying the same words over and over again. When he tries to give her a minor sedative, she slams his hand away and he accidentally injects himself.
Szreem is hardly a trained professional, but being around as long as they have, has picked up a few things about medicine, and puts them to work helping some refugees around the convoy.
[dice=Medicine, Jack of All Trades]1d20+5
Only with Szreem's aid does the very calm Zellgato manage to provide medical assistance to several more people, including the old lady.
Gristlethorn accepts a few of the blueberries, just enough to be polite, and returns the rest. "Well, they say my 'Mother' had a fondness for blueberries, but Gristleberry just sounds silly doesn't it?"
Gristlethorn approaches slowly, as he does speak Spanish he will try to intervene to talk the old woman down.
I hope you don't have orders to take him alive."
"Would vengeance buy me a ticket out of this world with you? I can either take care of him there, or deliver him to you here. Name your price, I'm buying".
Von Junzt walks over to the window and looks at all the movement outside. "Take your time, think about it, plan it... and contact me when you are sure".
He pokes the glass. "Look at them, working together. Papa Bear even found a goldilocks. All the scheming and lying to these poor refugees. It's almost like we are a family." Von Junzt pretends to wipe a tear.
Gristlethorn accepts a few of the blueberries, just enough to be polite, and returns the rest. "Well, they say my 'Mother' had a fondness for blueberries, but Gristleberry just sounds silly doesn't it?"
** spoiler omitted **
"The best part of the meal is who you eat it with," says Genius as Gristlethorn walks over to the commotion.
The woman is talking about feathered serpents. Her daughter, also speaking Spanish, says she was upset by a tattoo of a skull with a snake weaving in and out of the mouth and eye sockets and that she's been a little disoriented lately.
The convoy trucks begin to line up on the road. The URA patrol cars begin to gather at the front.
The refugees--the straycats--are expected to follow the caravan. If the refugee vehicles were to get in front, they'd be a target for bandits who could shoot them to slow down the caravan. Bandits get little reward from attack refugees that follow the caravan.
Sergeant April Rain Patel drives around again and orders the two cars you have built to join the straycats at the back. The two-seater with the laser is invited to join them as a scout vehicle or to stay back and protect the refugees.
"Would vengeance buy me a ticket out of this world with you? I can either take care of him there, or deliver him to you here. Name your price, I'm buying".
"I don't know why you're in such a hurry to get off this rock. You're human with no unsightly mutations. You've got it made. This world is being rebuilt with people like you at the center."
Von Junzt walks over to the window and looks at all the movement outside. "Take your time, think about it, plan it... and contact me when you are sure".
"Bring Ryder's head back in a jar and I'll buy you the ticket to Jupiter myself."
He pokes the glass. "Look at them, working together. Papa Bear even found a goldilocks. All the scheming and lying to these poor refugees. It's almost like we are a family." Von Junzt pretends to wipe a tear.
"You know, some of these desperate ones will be second or third generation nomads? Things started to really fall apart around 2030. Those teenagers could be children of the children born in these camps. They're desperate enough to believe anything...to do anything... Try not to hit too many bystanders and good luck."
"I don't know why you're in such a hurry to get off this rock. You're human with no unsightly mutations. You've got it made. This world is being rebuilt with people like you at the center."
"I was flying so close to the top, so close. Then they tore my wings and kicked me down... I can't stand being here, in the ground. In the dirt. I want to go up again, but not back - higher, this time. If it is literally, that also works."
"Bring Ryder's head back in a jar and I'll buy you the ticket to Jupiter myself."
Von Junzt looks back from the window. "Keep my seat warm."
"You know, some of these desperate ones will be second or third generation nomads? Things started to really fall apart around 2030. Those teenagers could be children of the children born in these camps. They're desperate enough to believe anything...to do anything... Try not to hit too many bystanders and good luck."
"I never hurt anyone who doesn't stand in my way. See you real soon, L337!", and then he walks outside, rejoining the time flow of the other characters.
"Now let's see what Ryder offers for your head."
Von Junzt lights a cigarette and approaches his crew.
Sergeant April Rain Patel drives around again and orders the two cars you have built to join the straycats at the back. The two-seater with the laser is invited to join them as a scout vehicle or to stay back and protect the refugees.
Zellgato finishes as Sgt Patel offers, in exchange Zellgato shares his communication linnk. Finishing up his last preparations for travel before settling into his buggy- Sharing his comms with his new crew, as well as asking them a few choice details.
"So, They've offered scouting with their main force--that seems like a good information source. The straycat's should still have some protection right? Should the buggy go up front-and maybe get some awareness, or stick back to help protect straycat groups? Does anyone want to come with-Or think they should be running the scout?"
The refugees gathered around are taken back by this sight, but relatively fearless. While a couple of them cower, the one who seems to be in the lead steps forward. He looks nervous but determined, "Sorry for disturbing you, but we need 4 centimeter flex-tubing for the cooling panel in the portable kitchen truck. Did you see any around the stove in there?"
IX narrows his odd eyes at the leader for a moment and then shrugs casually, "I dunno. Where ya'll headed?"
Crystal, can you please use facial recognition to see if any of these people are dangerous or there is anything that I should know about them.
“Schön.” Von Junzt casts Charming Veneer on himself and starts working on the stray cats. He wants to know who’s the leader, who are the bad apples, what are the unwritten rules of the group.
10 minutes later he starts working on the URA personnel, looking for agents who might be of help in the mission (probably the more easily corruptible ones).
"Ah, is there anything I can do to help?
"Ah, is there anything I can do to help?
You don't recognize it as a particular group identification symbol. The serpent could represent healing, but coming through the eye socket suggests it represents death, knowledge, and rebirth.
The daughter explains her mother is getting old and increasingly has moments where she seems very confused, but this last week she's been having them much more often. She's worried, but puts it down to old age and the stress of being on the road.
There are a number of different groups of refugees. Hugo Lee is the patriarch of a large group of refugees with about 3 vehicles between them. They seem stand-offish but look like they know what they are doing.
There's another band that seems very organized. They have about 7 cars between them. They said they are from San Bernardino People's Commune, which recently folded.
There is one truck bearing a sign that reads Farmers United. Behind it is a large 'biomatter recovery tank.' They talk about sustainable farming, durable greenhouses, and about how they plan to move into the badlands eventually. They will happily take any of your biowaste off your hands.
Genius Meadows' family appears to be a group of three adults, two males and a female with one child. They don't seem connected to any of the larger groups.
April Rain Patel is the friendliest of the lot and encourages you to contact her not "these jaded mother---rs." The other URA workers say Patel's been doing the "super-dangerous Monterrey to San Antonio coastal runs," which are often attacked by pirates. None of them have worked with her before, but they've heard of her.
Carl Patrick, one of the URA workers, uses more derogatory language with reference to the refugees and even the other URA workers seem offended by him. Despite this he spends more time with the refugees than others.
Gavin 7 is one of the earlier models of android. Carl describes him as a forklift with an annoying personality. The others seem to enjoy his attemps at humour.
'The Clones,' Jeoff and Jayson, are drivers of two of the vehicles. They say they are clones but people roll their eyes and suggest they are just regular twins.
Child 1, Andrew Parsons, seems to be the main preacher. He's a bit of a mystery. He came to ARIZ-29 about 6 months ago from Salt Lake City where he worked in security. He has no record of religious or criminal activity nor any demonstration of previous leadership abilities.
Child 2 is not the muscle for Andrew. He was previously the camp chef.
Child 3, was the Child 2's partner, but now manages the camp's operations.
Child 7 is the man L337 identified as Ryder. RAIN has nothing on him, not even that.
[ooc] Zellgato repaired the buggy. So it seems like no one else wanted that. So he'll drive it. Seats open if someone wants shotgun. (He is however willijng to drive the SUVs if someone wants the Buggy)
IX looks to the refugees skeptically. After a moment of silence, he speaks up gruffly, "Maybe I can help you find the hose."
With IX's help, the refugees find the tubing they were looking for. It's not hard to remove from the stove. They are surprisingly excited, but the day is beginning to weather will range from hot to very hot for the next week, so getting a cooler working is reason enough to be excited.