”Okay, let’s cut our losses and try and deliver what we can. I’ll try and explain what happened to the other crates and see if I can persuade them to give us a bonus for hazard pay. We all know this was not our fault, it was clearly incompetence on somebody else’s part. Let’s make sure we keep somebody on guard down here in case we are not done here yet. Kaz, would you be kind enough to start with first watch?”
Opting to deliver what you can, the party completes the drop outside of monitored space. The drop off at the least goes without issue.
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”Gniz, this here is Aldo Cygnaurius. We are making delivery as promised. I want to let you know that three of the creatures awoke during transport and came out in the cargo hold to wreck havoc over our ship! I’m not sure who to talk to about compensation, but you need to know that we had nothing to do with the creatures waking up. Whoever put them in that state did a lousy job and we expected fair compensation for our delivery. Please reply and let us settle the matter quickly.”
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Gniz is clearly incensed. "I can't BELIEVE they'd try to pull a fast one on the Moonlighters! I'm so sorry. I've immediately delivered the remaining payment to your account. Also know that we will not do business with them again."
All in all, the trip back to Absalom station takes
"Thank you, Gniz. We are happy to work with you again. I appreciate your integrity. Do you have any further business that we can conduct with you? We are looking for some large jobs."
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Chip gives a lop-sided grin. GOOD NEWS everyone! We're still technically getting paid!
"I hear you're looking for something bigger! Well, I hope you don't mind turning around. Because I've got a message for you! This seems like it'll be profitable and fun! Here. I'll send it to your screens now."
The screen fills with an unlikely pair of a Pahtra and skittermander, “Greetings, proprietors of the Oliphaunt! I am Baron Karmalar Gravender, though my dearest confidants call me Karm. Most beloved among these companions is my partner, Adani Samor, humble matron of Skitterhaven Ranch: Home for the Found. Now, you might be thinking, to what do you owe this unexpected but pleasurable correspondence? Well, our rangelands have been ravaged by a mysterious predator! This week we found the remains of three prize monoux, maimed and devoured! And Gumbembo discovered our ruthig flock drained entirely of blood! I fear it won’t be long before whatever plagues us tires of feeding on animals and comes for the whelps!"
“Our only hope is to respond as any soldier loyal to High Despot Cahan would: with overwhelming and decisive force! We must acquire animals so belligerent, so pugnacious, that no carnivore would dare desecrate our—”
Adani sighs and interrupts. “Look, we need defrexes—a few adults to frighten off whatever’s killing our livestock. But if we’re gonna do this, I want to do it right: start a whole operation breaking defrexes as mounts, training them for live performances, festivals, even trivids. Maybe even breed ‘em when they mature. We need sixty head or so? I know you’re not professional defrex herders, but word is your crew is resourceful enough to make Niva Rovo crap her pants a little. That’s good enough for me.”
"Like I said, I hope you don't mind turning around. The message says they'll pay pretty well."
"Adani recommends you venture to Kahrudi Canyon to gather this many defrexes. The vast gorge, deep within the Yiti Preserve on Vesk-2, creates a natural barrier that isolates defrexes from other predators, protects their dens, and allows them to flourish."
"Also, they sent a little help. Adani sent along the infamous tell-all memoir, Taming the Herd: The Secrets of Kamazren Ranch], a book written by Tottarox Matrox, a skittermander who labored for years on Vesk-2’s largest defrex homestead, Kamazren Ranch. Tottarox reveals several techniques for herding and domesticating defrexes that he claims have been kept hidden as trade secrets."
Though melodramatic and at times even racy, Taming the Herd does provide useful advice. You can refer to the memoir at any time for guidance on what they need to herd defrexes and take care of them long enough to reach Skitterhaven Ranch.
”This seems like it'll be profitable and fun! Here. I'll send it to your screens now."
”Im glad you mentioned profitable first and fun second. I wouldn’t want the crew to have too much of a good thing.”
After hearing the job and perusing the book of ranching, Aldo comments with a grin, ”This ought to be grand as we all become cowboys!”
On the way to Vesk-2, the party checks out the infosphere. Skitterhaven Ranch is a 254-acre homestead 50 miles east of Morandomandrana, an ancient skittermander city. The ranch’s infosphere site proudly proclaims it a “Home for the Found”; the ranch specializes in giving displaced skittermanders, vesk, and other youths a home as well as being a place to learn discipline, collaboration, and the trade of livestock farming. Skitterhaven Ranch has been owned and operated by its proprietors, Karm and Adani, for nearly 15 years. Herding and domesticating defrexes remain big businesses on Vesk-2 and Vesk-3.
When it comes to herding them, there's a reason to ask people with combat experience. First, you'll need a license. Second, you're going to need to figure out how to do the herding:
"Folks I want all of you to do some research about Defrex herding. If we want some profit out of this gig, we need to lessen the likelihood of danger and figure out how to do this easily. Can you all jump on a computer and do some research. Let me know what you come up with!"
Chip studies the book carefully, hoping his slight knowledge of Life Sciences might give him something of an edge in handling the beasts.
The crew can purchase tools and aids to make herding easier; each tool interacts with the mechanics of Driving the Herd. The scent of blood attracts defrexes, and a single-use blood lure can be purchased at the preserve for 50 credits.
Kaz is pretty excited about this mission. He has had some experience with large animals. He eagerly reads the handbook with gusto.
May I propose that we rent an enercycle, which I will pilot, using a third of the funds from our previous job?
"Agreed. An enercycle is a good choice. Let's also plan to rent a flushing lizard. We can use that to move the defrexes."
and if I know Kaz, he's going to want to ride one.
and if I know Kaz, he's going to want to ride one.
The vesk looks over and gives a toothy grin.
The party sets down and jumps aboard bikes, but Kaz needs a beast.
Survival
The vesk knows the biggest mistake people have with animals is not being patient enough. Kaz tries to really take his time. He finally picks his moment to slowly try and approach/lure a defrex
Kaz actually struggles a bit to get a mount.
Chip does his best to help his friend...
...which is apparently not very much
"Those Defrexes look a little untame. Let's see if we can borrow one that responds well to a vesk."
Angel doesn't know much about meat beasts but she will do her best to help Kaz
Survival
After sometime passes, the vesk moves out again to approach a defrex. He offers a little bit of a treat. Which gets the beast close enough to start giving a sniff.
The rest of the group sits back patiently waiting to mount up on their enercycles if Kaz can pull this off.
Eventually Kaz finds a defrex that tolerates him. With everything in place, it's time to try your hand at herding!
Round 1 of 6
With a hoot and a hollar, the party sets off. Almost immediately a problem arises. A group of adolescent defrexes attempts to flee, heading straight into jagged rocks that jut from the ground.
The vesk’s head snaps around. Stragglers! Im on it. .
Survival
He kicks his defrex up into a gallumping gallop. He cuts around the juveniles. He hopes his adult defrex and his own imposing badassery should turn these foolish younglings back to the herd.
Aldo tries to steer the enercycle around the drefrexes.
Kaz breaks off like he was born to this. He quickly gets the defrexes back in the group!
Round 2 of 6
Successes: 1
A group of Veskarium agents on enercycles arrive to inspect the drive. They check your license. Thankfully you opted to actually buy a license, so this stop is quick.
Round 3 of 6
Successes: 2
Aldo inadvertently discover a a hidden spike pit left by poachers. Your enercycle drops out from under you!
[b]”Who in the pactworlds would leave a trap for these deference’s?!”
Kaz glances back and realizes Aldo has fallen into a hole. Is he ok? The vesk looks at the others, Are we sure he knows how to ride a bike?
Aldo leapt to safety, but got a bit banged up on the way . The problem is the bike is stuck. If you take too long to get it out, you'll start losing the herd.
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I was made for this. Literally.
Chip speeds over, and works on the bike--almost too quickly to be believed!
"Chip! You are amazing! Well done. Now let's go and get some Defrex!"
Although he is banged up, Aldo gets back on his bike as fast as he can.
Chip quickly throws something together with a little knowhow and gets the cycle back out for Aldo.
Round 4 of 6
Successes: 3
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The party is making good progress! Maybe you should be herders? Before everyone can celebrate though, a carnivorous plant lashes out with spur covered vines at an adolescent defrex!
Aldo keeps his eyes out for trouble.
Aldo spots the trouble before it's too late and steers the herd accordingly! This is going so well!
Round 5 of 6
Successes: 4
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A deadly scuffle breaks out within the herd!
Chip goes for it without hesitation, attempting to nudge the offending beasties aside with his Cycle.
Chip easily breaks it up! The party looks back, having secured the entire herd thus far, and you're almost there!
Round 6 of 6
Successes: 5
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One of the adult defrexes attempts to assert control of the herd at the last moment, charging forward at Angel!
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BOTTING FOR ANGEL
Angel pulls out the Drefex Call file and plays the everloving heck out of it!!
The call gets the herd through the last of it! All 100 defrexes are on their way!
As the herd funnels in you hear a strange cry... You hustle over to the source, and see a terrible thing: a trapped defrex mother and her pups!
A mother defrex has tumbled down a cliffside into a 15-foot-by-20-foot pool of scalding, bubbling mud. Though large enough for her head and claws to thrash above the surface of the mud, she can’t swim out. Trapped in the smoldering muck, the animal slowly burns to death while her nine pups cry out. Beyond the mud pit lie three large mounds riddled with strange holes belching gas.