With a sigh, Kasit said "Well, here is what we have learned. These smugglers have coin, given that they can sell something as valuable and rare as plants. They also have deep connections offworld. I believe that it would be best to approach before night and see if we can sell what we have. As much as I would like to take what they have by force, the chances of us dying are far too great. They likely are well armed."
Nodding in agreement, Borak, begins to stand, "Then we should reveal ourselves, so they do not think we are sneaking to attack."
Quickly taking to his feet, Borac crosses the crest of the dune they'd been hiding behind, moving towards the compound.
Are you all moving down.
With the others, Kasit went forward. He did not want to give off the impression of an ambush, and he lacked the range on his daggers to pull it off even if he wanted to.
Likewise Ghir followed whistling a jaunty tune, only slightly off key. He figured making a deliberately non stealthy approach was for the best like Borak said.
Once they approached the compound he called out, "Hello? We've come to trade."
Ghir strained his senses for any response.
As you make your way to the installation, you are meet by 5 village Freman. One holds up a hand for them to stop and says.
"Walkers on the sand, why have you come here?"
You relises the one talking has an off world accent.
The speaker has a smuggler accent.
Two mare are in the rock with rifles of some kind
As they move forwards, Borak keeps his hands out away from his body to show he's not armed. Watching and listening, he realizes the off-worlder speaking has a 'smugglers accent and that they have riflemen strategically placed around the 'camp.' Whispering to his companions, "Our smuggler friend has two shooters in the rocks watching us.'
Stopping as the man holds up his hand, Borac carefully considers his answer, " Shai-Hulud gifted us some unusual merchandise. A friend told us a man named Roshmu may be interested in purchasing the merchandise we acquired and that we could find him here."
"We come in peace." Kasit called out after his kinsman. "Purely to trade, both now and in the future."
He waves as him men asround you.
"Follow,"
Is all he says, as his men flank you, he walks you under a rock out crop with a rock table.
"so show me what you have to offer"
Ghir took the man's measure for a moment before following him to the table.
"We have a long range comps radio unit in good working order, hard to come by on Arrakis." says Ghir placing it on the table.
He watched the man closely, studying how he reacted.
He reaches out and turns over the off world kit.
His face hardly moves, he seems hard as they come.
But you read him, He is very happy with what you have brought, but is hiding it well.
You think you can leverage a stay here for a night as well as a good price
Trying not to scowl as they are surrounded, Borak as he follows along, knowing the location of their shooters, considers which of the smugglers he'd need to kill to get away the fastest. As Ghir pulls out the long-range comps radio unit, Borak decides to wait on producing the firearms, waiting to see what sort of reception the off-world equipment produces.
Unable to read the man, Kasit mentally sighed. Surrounded by firearms and talking to smugglers. It was a precarious position. He did not like being stuck out in the open, where his knives were of little use.
”Perhaps we could get out of the elements while we talk?” Kasit offered. ”We would be glad to show you our wares and to discuss a mutually profitable arrangement.”
A gin on his face says he has you just where he wants you, he dose not move.
"Why would I buy this weathless off world crap, but as you want to get out the sun so much, I will give you 1/2 deca-letta of water fro the lot"
He is bluffing, he wants this stuff bad, you get the feeling he wants this real bad.
Frowning, Borak though the offer was a little low. He looks around at the others, wondering if he might be mistaken.
Kasit glanced over at Ghir to see what he thought. It was hard to read the smuggler, and Kasit wanted to start haggling. He hoped that his kinsman would be able to give some insight before the bargaining began.
Ghir found the man inscrutable and when Kasit glanced at him, he shrugged slightly. But then he remembered the offworlder plants they saw and figured there might be exotic things here for trade so he replied, "Water is precious on Arrakis, but maybe one such as you has other things to offer in trade?"
"Indeed. We can see that you aren't interested in this item, which while it is saddening, I am sure that we can find someone else who puts more value into it. But as my kinsman has said, we have other items as well, and we are open to trade for goods in addition to water."
Not really sure what the value of the radio equipment is, Borak wondered if he should show the smuggler the weapons and see if he would offer more. Shaking his head, he really wanted some way to prove their worth. Finally adding, "We would also be willing to 'acquire' other equipment, if you had something specific in mind."
When you say you will take the off world radio back, in instivily places his hand on it, when when you talk of getting more like this. He perks at that.
"Acquire' other equipment, hummm, I May have got the price wrong for this basic and weathless stuff, if your willing to take on another task for me, well I could go as high as three deca-liters of water"
Now he is interested, very interested.
You can ask for more, not much more but you can, you could most likely ask to stay the night and he would agree just to tell you what the task is. More you could get twise the water for this radio
Ghir noticed the man's poker face slipping so when the man said he'd got the price wrong, Ghir smoothly replied "A radio such as this is valuable indeed, but us coming to an understanding could be even more - how did you put it - mutually profitable."
Ghir made a show of looking around before saying, "I am interested to hear your proposal, but surely we can find a more civilized place to discuss such matters..."
The off world smuggler nods.
"The sun dips, soon it will be cold, come let is spend the night somewhere warm"
He indicates to two of his men, and they take the off world radio and tools off you. You get handed a water sack with 3 Deca-lites in it.
And other waves and the two village freman in the rocks stand and also move into the compound.
He walks ahead of you.
"Call me Mellic, the boss is not here right now, But I'm his right hand. SO what I say goes."
You enter two large air tight doors, and as you all move in, they close Behind you. Water discipline is relaxed and you see the band is a mix of village freman smugglers and off worlders. Men woman, they are greeted by family and even kids. Its like a mini sieach. He takes you to a dining area a smaller area off what looks like an Imperial structure. Sitting as Food is bright, Sand Quail eggs, Sand Centipede on sticks and spice bread. Along with some kind of off world paset he spreads on the bread.
"Arr something you have never had before my friends. This is Kilt, its made of fish, yes fish and sea salt, A rare gift from the boss."
You know he is not keeping this gift to himself, as others come in they all get a small plate of the past. This is the freman way, the trib shares all. He is a lot more native than he looks.
"Eat then we talk"
Seeing the man's eyes sparkle, Borak realizes he's more interested in the equipment than he's letting on, especially if it means they will do a 'job' for him. Nodding in agreement with Ghir, Borak stands, accepting the water payment as the men take the equipment away.
As they move into the compound, Borak makes a mental not that his is the smugglers right hand man, not the offworlder nobleman they'd been told about. Not wanting to seem inhospitable, he answers, "I am Borak, and these are my brothers, Ghir and Kasit. We will honor your words as though they are his."
As they move through the 'mini-siech, Borak removes his head covering, observing the folks who live here and noting it seemed to be a permanent resident, not just a smugglers hidey-hole. Pausing as they enter the room, Borak tried not to look surprised at the wealth, both in furniture and food, displayed.
Removing his pack and setting it against the wall, he sits at the table. Raising an eyebrow at the idea of eating something that lived in water. He watched as their host portioned a small amount of 'sea creature' on the bread. Following suite, he took the small knife and spread some of the smelly paste on a piece of spice bread. Taking a bite, the strong bitter flavor was very odd. Not the best thing he'd tasted, but certainly not the worst.
Chewing slowly, he pointed the partially eaten piece of bread towards their host. Asking, "I'm curious Mellic, how long have you served Roshmu ?"
There seems to be a mix of village freman outcasts, and older smuggler off worlders. A rag-tag bunch. And no they dont seem to carry weapons.
One thing that dose strike you is that this has been here for some time.
Yet it has not been raided by the one of the three houses. So one of them must be protecting it in some way.
He smile as you eat,
"I have been Roshmu's vasul for 35 years now. He found me left for dead by the my suggler band. But out the share and left for Worm food, yet he took me in. Back then it was just me and him. But as you see we have grown. We do the tasks he asks us and we keep a good home."
As he talks you see past the dinning area opening, the 4 smuggler come village Freman carrying your radio kit through a much heavier door. As it opens you can see past it to a much bigger work space beyond, it seems full of off world tech, But then the door closes.
"But let us talk of what I need form you. Eat and I shall explain."
He holds up a hand and every person but you and him leaves.
Then he takes and objet and object of unimaginable work activates.
A cone of silence drops down around you.
"Have no fear, no one can see our lips and none now can eevees drop. I need you to retrieve some cargo that was stolen form Roshmu. An off world comms unit, better than the one you sold me. An Ixion one, It was taken from our last smuggled shipment. Buy someone at the warehouse in The village of Northic. Skimming what was not theirs. I want that comms unit back. I do not care what becomes of the ones that took it. But if you agree, I will pay handsomely in refined spice. What say you."
The village of Northic, is right on the edge of the shild wall planes. No house can be bothered to oversee it, so its a dean of thieves, outcasts and criminals. Run down and bleek.
Some say that smugglers use it to ship things, now that has been confirmed. They must pay the local off world house militia a heft price to keep away.
There are two main gangs that run Smuggling in The village of Northic.
The Baratiba faction and the Mip Faction.
You know someone called Vill in the The Baratiba faction they may have some more info on what may have happoned.
He slips you a spice scroll, on which is the location of the Village and the datas the shipment came to them missing the comms unit. Three weeks ago.
Watching the smuggler as he tells his tale, Borak realizes Mellic, has served Roshmu longer than he's been alive. As Mellic comments about the fine home, Borak looks around again, also noting the four village fremen carrying the equipment into the larger room. As he helps himself to a Sand Centipede on stick he realizes, Mellic is not just repaying a life debt to his lord but truly enjoys what they have here.
Watching as the others leave, Brak raises an eyebrow as the lieutenant produces the sound muffling object. Realizing that not all information was open to everyone, Borak listens carefully, nodding and smiling. This was a job they could do, Northic was a den of thieves, so unprotected buy any of the great houses and could be infiltrated.
Reaching out and accepting the spice scroll, "We're familiar with Northic, do you happen to kw which house militia they have bribed to turn the other way?" He shrugs, "Not that it matters."
Helping himself to another sand centipede on a stick he considers the pistols he hides in his pack and the rifles he'd seen in the rocks. Looking towards the others, asks, "Are we satisfied with the weapons we have, or do we need more?"
Kasit nodded along, quite pleased with the way that things were progressing. ”And for this work.” The healer said, as he ate. ”Do you have an idea on their numbers. Or the timeline that you want this retrieved by.” His answers would mean much, for he was already leaning towards seeking work with the thieves, followed by stealing or murdering them. Whichever seemed safest.
Ghir greatly enjoyed the food which made a welcome change to trail rations. He didn't say much but as he ate he listened deeply to several conversations and several things clicked in his mind.
When Mellic sent the others out, Ghir watched and listened very closely indeed. He considered the offer, it was undoubtedly risky but the potential for profit was assuredly there. After Borak and Kasit spoke, Ghir asked a question of his own, "Which faction runs this warehouse? Is it the Baratiba or the Mip?"
"House Jarrlo I suspect where paid off. And the Mip faction currently that has control of the where house"
Realizing the conversation was coming to an end, Borak reached back to his pack. "One other thing." As he pulls the pistols out he sets them on the table. "We acquired these the same time as the radio equipment. While we three are comfortable with blades I believe it would be smart to have a weapon with more range than either our knives or these pistols may offer. Would you be willing to trade rifles to us?" He pushes the guns forwards, "We have other wealth as well depending on the cost." He smiles wolfishly, "Oh, and we would purchase throwing daggers as well."
He picks one up and looks it over.
"They are not that bad, but you will have to pay more. Go see Mist-Lil
in the basement, she has a lot of old and odd goods, you may fine what you need there. Tell her I sent you."
He points to some sand stone steps lading down, just off from the eating area.
"Down there and trun left, follow the hall way to the end and the door with the copper ring is the one you want."
He says, turning off the cone of silence device.
"I Think we have a deal, you can sleep in the open space just past that yellow drape. There will be others thire but your under may protection, so worry not"
He gets up, eat trade and tomorrow head out.
He spits on the table before you.
waiting.
You know the deal is cealed if you spit back, sharing water
Ghir nods and spits on the table, "Bi-la Kaifa."
After the group leaves he says softly, "Lets see this Mist-Lil. A rifle could be useful, but long term I'm thinking we'll want heavy weaponry. To obtain such things we will need contacts, likely among the spacing guild or their intermediaries. Maybe if we make a good impression we can find out where she get her supplies from."
Nodding his approval, Borak returns the two pistols to his pack. Standing with the others, he nods back the way they came, "Yes let's go see Mist-Lil." He smiles at Ghir's idea, "Or even possibly sell things we collect in Northic to her as well."
Finding his way down the hall to the door with the copper ring, Borak opens the door, calling out, "Mist-Lil, Mellic told us to come see you. We would like to trade with you."
And old wild Frewoamn comes opens the door. Looks you up and down then shows you in. The room is large and floor to roof full of junk.
She goes and stands behind a table and where you can put you stuff to swop. This seems to be a jumping ground for eveything not used or not worth fixing.
"Don't ask me whats here, I don't know full, search and we will bartor, I want water as well and junk"
Acknowledging the womans explanation with a nod, Borak decides to look around. Figuring if anyone finds anything they like he'll offers up the pistols, but better the wrong ranged weapons than no ranged weapons at all.
Moving about from pile to pile, occasionally stopping and lifting an item up to get a better look at it and what's under it.
Kasit walked through the store, looking to find a knife better than his own. He had heard tales of knives made of exotic materials, or which incorporated advanced technology into their design.
Ghir was surprised by Mist-Lil's words, clearly she didn't have a full inventory which raised several questions and he shared a meaningful glance with his cousins. Firstly how come? There assuredly was a story there. It also occurred to him that if she didn't know then it might be possible to steal, although Ghir immediately dismissed that idea but he wondered if theft has been a problem.
He walked through the aisles, perhaps something would catch his eye. A rifle or perhaps a particularly well made offworlder knife.
He also considered Mist-Lil, it would be rude to pry without getting to know her, but he wondered has she been running this place long? Was she taking this job seriously?
Acknowledging the womans explanation with a nod, Borak decides to look around. Figuring if anyone finds anything they like he'll offers up the pistols, but better the wrong ranged weapons than no ranged weapons at all.
Moving about from pile to pile, occasionally stopping and lifting an item up to get a better look at it and what's under it.
[dice=survival]1d20+9
[dice=luck]1d6
Something catchers your eye, its a Harrconon made box with a headset of some kink, linked to it. Someone has removed its power unit, but as you look at the box you spot a hidden catch. flipping it a side opens to see a bay of three smakee reassess, two are empty but one has a vile in it, inside is a small insect like drone. Your looking at something deadly by the looks of it.
This is a hunter seeker, A one use remote kill drone that can get past a shield, a rel find.
Kasit walked through the store, looking to find a knife better than his own. He had heard tales of knives made of exotic materials, or which incorporated advanced technology into their design.
[dice=Heal to see what would cut best]1d20+13
[dice=Luck]1d6
you look in a large box, and find a broken long blade of off world make, its very shap when you test it, if you could find a work shop you think you could craft it a handle making it a very nice short sword.
Ghir was surprised by Mist-Lil's words, clearly she didn't have a full inventory which raised several questions and he shared a meaningful glance with his cousins. Firstly how come? There assuredly was a story there. It also occurred to him that if she didn't know then it might be possible to steal, although Ghir immediately dismissed that idea but he wondered if theft has been a problem.
He walked through the aisles, perhaps something would catch his eye. A rifle or perhaps a particularly well made offworlder knife.
[dice=Perception]1d20+7 [dice=Luck]1d6He also considered Mist-Lil, it would be rude to pry without getting to know her, but he wondered has she been running this place long? Was she taking this job seriously?
[dice=Sense Motive with studied target]1d20+7+1
soon it becomes apparent why she dose not, its mostly broken junk.
Broken bits of teck and trash. its a junk yard.As you look around you see a long barrel sticking out of a pile of rags. Pulling it out you find on half of a long barreled weapon. Its large, you hight. Looking around after a while you find another part, some kind of gas canister. Then the butt of the weapon. Looking at it you think it could be fixed if you could find a smith.
As you show each other what you have found the old wild frewoman looks at you working.
She is watching you closely, there is more going on, could she be a spy for the wild freman
Carefully opening the box he finds, Borak looks inside. Having been trained in poisons, he automatically assumes the holds just that and carefully closes the box. Holding it up he asks the others, "Anyone recognize this, has an insect drone and poison."
After he looks towards his friends, he turns towards the old fremen woman, making eye contact. But her face gives nothing away to the young rogue.
”Afraid not.” Kasit said, as he sighed and closed the box. The sword was tempting, but he was trained in the use of daggers. Anything larger than that and he’d be tripping over himself trying to use them. ”Though if anyone wants to reforge a blade into a short sword, this weapon looks to be incredibly sharp. It would make a fine weapon after given an artisan’s attention.”
"What have you found there Borak? I've never seen anything like it." replied Ghir.
Too engrossed with everyone's finds, Ghir is oblivious to Mist-Lil's scrutiny. He shows his cousins the barrel, gas canister and stock, saying "I reckon a gunsmith could repair this, and then we'd have a formidable rifle. Still got to find a gunsmith and ammunition first and no doubt the repair would be expensive."
To Mist-Lil he asks, "Don't suppose you know of any gunsmiths?"
She scrachers her head
"There is a smith on the second floor, Tirret. She can use a hamer"
Turning to the shop keeper, Borak nods, "Thank you for the information." Taking the box closer to where she's at, he sets it down near her, asking "Two questions, Mist-Lil, this seems to be a small drone that delivers poison, do you know any more about it?" He smiles, pulling the scar on his left cheek causing that eye to squint and water a little, "And how much do you want for it?"
Ghir nods, "My thanks. How much for this old rifle barrel, stock and gas canister?"
Her face darkens and she makes the sign of safe sand walking.
"Its an evil think, the outworlders use it to kill each other. There is a off world tech working in the hanger, he may know, they call him Brown boots. A letagen of water and them pistols you have there and you can take all off what you have."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Furrowing his brow, Borak looks from the broken sword and the broken rifle to the two functioning pistols. He sets the box with the poisonous drone down. "Two broken weapons we'll have to spend time and water to get fixed and a poison injector with one use, which we'll have to pay to figure out how it works, for two working pistols and a letagen of water?"
He shakes his head, "I'm not convinced the three broken items are worth the water, let alone two functioning pistols." Picking up the pistols, "How about half a letagen of water now and the other half letagen of water if and when the three items are repaired?"