Kasit pulled out knife free and raised it in victory, only to be thrown off of his feet by the explosions. He pushed himself up, his ears ringing and the world spinning.
”Are they retreating?” He called out, his hearing slowly returning. Suddenly, the battle seemed much less enjoyable than it was before.
Standing on the edge of the of the roof of the sandcrawler Borak shifts out of the way of the 'rocket launcher' throwing himself off balance as the smuggler fires. The unavoidable shock and blast throw him prone and daze him momentarily.
Having picked himself up, Ghir opened his eyes a crack and peered out into the cloud of sand and spice looking for an enemy. There! That smudge of darkness must be a man, Ghir's dagger flashed out as he raced towards the fleeing enemy.
Shaking his head, Borak hopes he's not suffering from a concussion as he stands back up on the roof of the sandcrawler. Squinting his eyes he peers at the smuggler holding the rocket launcher. Realizing the fellow was still right in front of him, Borak slashes at the smuggler with his fathers Crysknife.
His head pounding and his ears ringing, Kasit got to his feet and pulled out a dagger. Seeing a foe he threw it…very poorly. It appeared as if though the blast had left its mark on him.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
You drop your targets and as you move through the blast as other join you from the base, and soon all the attackers are dead, and the bodies are being carried off. A tall thin man walks awards you, he has on a Wild fremen stillsuit. He has a smile on his face, as he looks at the three of you.
"Just in time, good, you did well. I have been told about you three, come we are going back in, come, while the wounded are dealt with and the dead taken for water."
he turns and talks towards another grope where Mellic is now, and talks to them a moment then they all head in.
This looks like the boss of this place.
You can ether follow or head to the sand truck, or loot the bodies around you.
The wild fremen stillsuit immediately got Ghir's attention. He wasn't sure who this guy was, but clearly they needed to find out and going with him seemed the logical thing to do. Ghir gave Kasit and Bork a questioning glance, hesitating slightly before following.
As the fellow with the rocket launcher fell, Borak realizes the battle was ending. Returning his Crysknives to their wrist sheaths, he watches the tall thin man approach. Thinking to himself 'This is the fellow in charge.' As the man invites the three of them to join him, Borak makes eye contact with Ghir. Nodding Borak reaches over and picks up the rocket launcher.
As he jumps off the sand truck, he rests the new weapon on his shoulder, whispering to the others. "I think this is the fellow in charge." as he begins to follow the man inside.
”If you say so.” Kasit said, trusting his kinsman’s assessment. Glancing back at the bodies and the accumulated wealth that was bleeding away, he resisted the urge to rush over to the bodies to patch them up.
You follow and enter the base, you can see a Carrier thopter as you do.
This must be what bright the leader here. Workers seem to off loading plants of all things.
They seem to be grasses of some kind, all look off world.
You enter a large room, and go to stand with Mellic. Other also make small groups. You seem to be whats left of Mellics men.
The leader stands by a large stone table, there are no seats.
He address you all.
"I am sorry we were late, it seems some of the smugglers we paid to deliver goods, felt they could take them and take what was here. Well luckily for me."
He indicates to Mellic and his men,
"The attack was stalled until we could arrive. I know we have lost a some of out small band, but they died with Honor and shall live on in the great future we are all working towards."
The way he talks, he must be an imperial noble.
He activates the table and a holo-image comes into being. Its of Arrakis. But not as you know it, this Arrakis is green and blue, water seas and plant covered land. But its not all green, here and there you see the yellow of Deserts
"IS THIS WHAT YOU SEEK!"
He shouts and there is a loud shout back.
"BY SHAI HULUD!!!BY SHAI HULUD!!!BY SHAI HULUD!!!"
Comes the answer form everyone in the room,
"GOOD THEN I, PARDOT KYNES, Swear that those who died this day will not be forgotten. Those of you emiserys from seches and chosen men stay, others please leave us."
Pardot Kynes is the new mperial planetologist, he came to Dune 5 years ago. But what is he doing here you have no idea.
Mellic indicates for you to leave but says as you do,
"Do not leave, I still need you to take care of that warehouse. But today you earned a place here. If you wish what our world to change, Then there is a place for your here."
He slaps you on your backs.
"You are true fighters, go get food, rest I will see you later"
And you find yourself outside. The base is busy, you can still head to the site of the fight and look around or you can talk to some of the men who came with Pardot. As you walk around you see others looking at you, you seem to have been accepted into their ranks.
As Borak and his cousins enter back into the base, he notices the plant being offloaded. Discreetly turning toward the others, he whispers, "That grass looks off world."
As the speaker addresses them and indicates Mellic's men Borak realizes they are what's left. Impressed that the off worlder honored the dead, he watches as the holo-image is activated. Raising an eyebrow as he realizes the planet they were looking at was Arrakis, and it was covered with water and plants. When the man asks if it was what they seek Borak nods, almost to himself. As the other fremen begins to chant, he joins in softly, "Shai Hulud, Shai Hulud, Shai Hulud." Pounding his fist into his palm.
Making a mental note that the man's name was Prdot Kynes, Borak begins to follow the others out, making eye contact with Mellic as he pats their back and tells them to eat and rest. As they move through the building he nods towards the others who are looking at them, Borak gestures toward the combat zone, asking "Shall we head back out, see if they need help cleaning up." He pauses and smiles, "or if any of the loot has been missed?"
Kasit joined in the call, pounding his fist into his palm and saying ”"Shai Hulud, Shai Hulud, Shai Hulud." Blood had been spilled and shed together. And the only way to truly ensure that this continued on the same side was for such affirmations of mutual loyalty.
Smiling at Borak, he agreed. ”Yes, far too much blood is being lost to the sand. Let us secure our dues, and then we will eat.”
Ghir recognized the new imperial planetologist, planetologist. What he was doing here, in wild fremen garb was anyone's guess. Still those words, against his better judgement Ghir found his heart swelling.
Caught up in the moment he cried "Ibn Qirtaiba! SHAI HULUD!!! SHAI HULUD!!!"
"If you wish what our world to change, Then there is a place for your here."
"Later I think perhaps we should talk..." replied Ghir.
When the others talked about helping with the clean up, Ghir nodded.
You head out to the fight sight, the bodies are all gone for water reclamation. But there is kit all over the place, the sand bakes and truck is still there. Two of the techs are looking over the vehicles. As you come up the nod to you but pay you know heed.
Seeing the two techs near the vehicles, Borak heads that way, keeping a keen eye out.
Noting all the debris and bodies, Ghir starts methodically checking over the battlefield to see what's there.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Having went out looking for bodies, Kasit instead joined Ghir. Two sets of eyes were better than one, afterall.
@Børak looks over the truck and finds under a back set, an off world Survival back pack, its well made, but the real find is the long lasting off world food rations, a weeks worth. With a simple rehydrator.
@Ghir, looks around where one of the Smuggler bodies was, and find a small device, its a simple motion detector range you find is around 120'
@Kasit finds mouthing but wet blood socked sand.
Soom tach come and take the vehicles away. It seem all large loot and bodies are being pooled.
Mellic comes and finds you.
"The deads water you will see soon. Come I have a room for you, later I want to you come with me to a meeting."
He shows you to a small rooms, 4 beds and places for your things.
You settle in and wait. Eat if you want to, then he comes and calls you to a meeting. You head down deep into the lowest part of the Base. And fund yourselfs in a large space. A deep freshily laz cut hole is in front of you. But what shocks you is what is in the hole, WATER, 100s of deckaleatters of water, and something more, a dripping sound.
As you see this Pardot comes in with three other wild freeman, all armed.
"This is our water cash, what do you think. With this and many more like it we will change the face of Arakus. I wanted you to see this. Mellic are you sore they can do whats needed?"
"I am"
"good"
Then Mellic leads you out. Back in you room he says whats needed.
"We are fiiting out the sand crailler, so you can use it. I want you to drive it to where the warehouse is, present these papers and callet a shipment of lazcutters. If they dont agree, kill everyone there and take the cutters, nothing more just the cutters understood. Yiu leave toniught. Any questions."
Collecting the of world survival pack, Borak crawls out of the 'truck'. As he gathers with the others, he holds up one of the food rations smiling, "Off world rations, weeks' worth."
---------------
Having rested a bit in the small room Borak follows Mellic to the meeting. Following their new leader to the lowest part of the base, he hears the dripping just as he sees the pool of water. Staring at the wealth hidden in the darkness, he realizes Pardot and others are approaching. As the off worlder explains these sort of 'catches' could change the face of Arakus, Borak lets the information sink in.
Still stunned by the idea, Borak follows Mellic back to the other room. As Mellic gives the instructions, Borak imagines the sand crawler, hoping they left the rocket launcher on top. Nodding as instructions are to present papers and collect the lazcutters or to kill everyone and take the cutters, Borak does pause and ask. "When you say take nothing but the cutters, I assume this is a storehouse of sorts. We will leave the other shipments alone, but may we take the personal effects and water of those we kill?"
The physician stood in awe of what they were seeing. While he did not truly believe that this would change the planet, it was so tantalizingly close to his dreams that he could hardly believe what he was seeing. This was a practical change, and it was one he could follow. For the first time, he felt the stirring inside of him of fighting for something besides family and personal profit.
Borak had taken the question right out of Kasit's mouth. Nodding as his kinsman talked, he awaited the answer.
Ghir showed Borak and Kasit his find, "Under that fighter there, the one with the arm off I found this. I think it's a motion detector. Could come in handy, especially at night."
When Mellic took them to some rooms, Ghir's mind was elsewhere thinking of the battle and how that rocket launcher could have been really nasty for them. He was shocked out of his reverie when they where shown a large space containing more water than he'd ever seen in his life, much more.
After a double take he murmured in amazement, "So much..." He wasn't sure whether to be angry or awed, this much water was enough for thousands to live comfortably yet the reality of daily life was a struggle.
Urgently he asked Pardot, "You say there's more! Where did it all come from?!"
When Mellic asked about the lazcutters Ghir nodded in a distracted way, letting Borak speak for them at first.
In response.
"Are that is a question"
He points up at the ceiling, and you see water droplets are collecting and falling.
"Old Science, from before mankind traveled to the stars, and the great Butlerian Jihad. Permaculture the means to capture water within a bio-system and redirect it for the greater good."
Then water masters come in and pour water from the dead into the pool.
"I am developing a prototype water catchment system here. this is one pool of three. Each using a slightly different approach. Testing each so that, one day, in hundreds of years time this world will be lush with green life once more."
He waves a hand at the water entering the pool
"Even the dead have a part to play in this. Have not fear its not all the water given this day, just a 4/5sth of it. A tive so that we can carry on the work."
He then looks at you with his own blue within blue eyes.
"You are Freman, as I am now, My Freman wife ask if I could chance a world. And I said I could. How she asked. And I said, not with Science but with commitment. The commitment of a hole race. A commitment and will to change the face of Dune. Do you have that commitment?"
And the look tells you all you need to know. Here is the test, here the blade of life where on one side is Safety the other risk. But what dose a fireman know of Safety every moment of life in the great Sands is risk.
=====
Later your taken too the Sand truck and its been dressed up like a Freeman village one. No weapons on it at all.
"Get in, a carry thopter is coming to take you into the Shield wall basin, Here are your travel documents and root map. You will have to pass a check point but you should be fine, Go with the sun my brothers."
Mellic comes then checks all is right.
"If you get into a fight do not be taken alive. We must protect this place even with our lives. My you walks without rhythm"
And soon the Thopture comes and your hooked up to it.
As your flown in the dark you spot the shield wall and then a flashing light, the thouper singles back. and your lowered to the sand. The Hucks come lose and soon its just you and the truck, on the bason sands.
A head some way off your see the lights of the Village your need to get to
Driving roll please DC12
Also where are you in the truck, there is front back and up top
Pondering Mellic's comment about not being taken alive, Borak climbs in the back of the truck, listening as the thopture hooks up.
Having never flown before, Borak feels his ears pop and begins to get used to the swinging motion as they see the lights from the shield wall shine below them.
As the vehicle unhooks and they begin to head towards the village, he realizes they are well and truly on their own.
Right. I can do this. I can do this. Kasit told himself, as he sat in the driver's seat. He had never done anything like this before, but that was no excuse for not taking the first step. It seemed easy enough. There was a wheel. You turned it, and the vehicle went in that direction. One pedal to go faster, one to go slower. And...many, many buttons and the like. But he'd figure that out later. "We should take turns with this. So we all learn how this-" The vehicle lurched forward as he hit the gas. Quickly hitting the breaks, he gave a nervous smile. "Just getting a feel for it, that's all." Putting his foot on the gas, he slowly pushed it down. Feeling both anxious and relieved, he started to drive.
"We can do this." He said out loud, as much to himself as to his kinsmen. "Just work the map for me and tell me where to go."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Do you have that commitment?"
This is a dangerous man thought Ghir, one who speaks like a fedaykin of old and what a question. Did he have such conviction, in truth he didn't know. Still he found himself replying to Kynes, "If Shai Hulud wills it..." and to his surprise this answer felt right.
Ghir nodded to Mellic, if knowledge of the riches hidden within the seiche ever reached the wrong ears the Harkonnens would enraged beyond all reason and that would likely be the end of his people.
Nodding to Kasit, Ghir added "We have a message to deliver, we'd best not tarry. Hand that map to me, I show you the way."
You get to grips Drivng the sand truck and find maps showing the root. Chir, plotting a couse you soon at the Village come town and there ahead is the Checkpoint. Local village gaurds are manning it, with two HArkonnen trooping sitting off to one side, gamaling by the looks of it.
Can I have Seath rolls if you hiding
Diplmacity of you showing the fake papers
Intimidate {but be warned this may back fire] If you want to.
DCs are hidden.
Sitting in the back of the truck, Borak, looking out the window, notices the village guards and the Harkennen troops. Realizing they guards would probably want to speak with the driver, he taps Kasit on the shoulder. "Good luck cousin."
Meanwhile, wanting to be as unnoticed as possible, he scoots over, hoping the shadows would keep him out of the conversation.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Luck? What need I have of that when I have my rugged good looks." Kasit replied, trying to hide his nervousness. The chance of being shot in the face was a very real one. He took a moment to compose himself. To tell himself that this was normal. That he wasn't lying. That he was just showing some papers. He wasn't acting. This was a normal day. This was a normal day. This was-
He drove up to the guards, his face clearly visible. With one arm on the wheel, he had the other reached out with the papers in hand for them to inspect.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ghir decided to keep a low profile, but he was uncharacteristically lazy about it pretending to be asleep in the back. He trusted Kasit would be able to sweet talk the guards into lulling any suspicion.
Should anyone inspect the car, he pretends to be deeply asleep snoring peacefully.
One of the gate guards takes your docs and looks them over.
Then he lances at the two Harkonnen, then hands you back your docs, and waves you past.
You can tell he sees something if off, but he seems more worried about getting the Harkon troops involved that what ever it is your smuggling.
there is real fear in his face.
You drive into the small town and follow the root map now showing in the Dashboard oil Film display. Soon your close to the warehouse. Its getting to midnight. a few lights are on. As you park up.
See map.
You see only two Were house workers outside the main door. They look armed with Knives, and a little more than box movers.
tell me what you do?
Chuckling at Kasit's comment about 'good looks', Borak waits and watches, ready to draw his blades. As they pull away, he releases a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, adding, "One step closer."
As they approach the warehouse, he sees the villagers, looking more like dock workers than guards. As the 'truck' comes to a stop, he asks, "I doubt if they're in charge, but we should probably speak to them?"
"Not good." Kasit said, after they entered without any obvious issue. "Did you two feel that? It was off. The guard knew something was up, but he was afraid, and not by us." Looking around, he said "Perhaps we should get some information?"
Ghir nodded and replied softly, "The Harkonnens are probably up to something. Still we're here for the lazcutters let's not loose sight of that. I agree with Borak, lets talk to those coyos by the door."
As he spoke the eyed up the warehouse worker closest to the door, taking their measure.
One of the guard of the warehouse comes over to your Cab.
"You picking up or Dropping off?"
He asks, you can see his bald now.
As the fellow approaches the 'truck' Borak draws out the papers Mellic gave them. Handing the paperwork up to Kasit, he adds "Guess we should tell them we're Picking up."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
”Picking up.” Kasit said, before continuing to engage in small talk. With ease he began prying the men for information on the town and what was going on therein.
Ghir watches the man he marked closely to see how he'd react to this news. With luck this would all be entirely normal, but there was always a possibility things could go sideways and Ghir intended to be ready.
DC23[/dice]
XXX
He looks you over then checks your papers.
"Door 2, tell ROOT you here for the grain sakes"
You move the tuck and back up and drop the back door open.
I guy with one eye comes out,
"What you here for?"
This must be Rook.
You see past him into the warehouse and see two others sitting at a table playing cards and drinking hot tea.
One has a slug weapon, the other an Axe by a wall.
There are racks and racks of goods, boxes and Sacks.
As the back door opens, Borak slides out. Assuming the fellow asking the questions must be Root, he nods towards Kasit, "He's in charge."
Borak turns momentarily and looks past the speaker into the warehouse. Turning back to Root, he asks loud enough his cousins could hear him, "Will the two fellows playing cards be able to help load us up?"
The older guy looks at you,
"For a prices, raw spice, or Salorises just as good"
They dont seem to be that worried about water. And you see why, there is a large tank of water in the warehouse. The two stop playing card and look at you.
Kasit motioned to his kinsmen to go over to the sacks. ”Lets take a quick look, make sure that the goods are all there.” He said, flexing his impromptu leadership status. It seemed wise to make sure that they were getting what they came for.
The old guy holds up his hand as you try and go into the ware house.
"We will bring the Grain Sacks to you, and then you can go, You don't open them here or the Grain may spill"
He says with a smerck
Raising an eyebrow at the old guys smirk, Borak shakes his head. Looking towards Root, "Sorry, friend, we were sent after a very particular type of grain and will need to make sure it is the right kind before we leave." Nodding towards where the other man had spoken, he adds, "and don't worry, we'll take full responsibility for anything that gets spilt."
He looks at you realising the jig may be up. He nods at the two there as they both stand.
"After your last men did not show. Its take it or leave it."
You know this is a lie, men were sent they just vanished after.
You have asatined they did not take the Laz guns and run. As its clear that the las gubs were or are here.
what would you like to do. I am not going to make a map as you now all close to each other, 20' You to act they have no drawn weapons yet.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Come now." Kasit said, meeting the man's gaze evenly. "We are all here to do our jobs, are we not? And if we return with the wrong grain, then our lives are forfeit. So, it isn't like we can just walk away. This is a large warehouse, is it not? So long as we get what we came here for, then everyone will be able to leave happy." He said this, with his hand within easy reach of his daggers. The air would be full of them if they made the wrong move.
Ghir frowned momentarially, inwardly he willed Kasit's argument to hold sway, he'd prefer not to have to start killing but they'd promised to send a message and if push came to shove...
Focusing his attention on the old guy he tried to figure out if he realized he was in danger.
Finding him hard to read Ghir scanned the area, checking to see if anyone was lurking in the shadows, or was working their way around behind them. If any of these men had slug throwers things could get ugly real quick.
Of course if the warehouse people tried to fob them off then things would indeed get ugly. Ghir could be quite menacing if he wanted to, perhaps the old guy could be persuaded another way if Kasit's words failed.
The old guy looks turn, he understands but he seems powerless,
he makes up his mind and holds his hands up, relaxing he is in the middle of something not worth his life
'Look friend nothing I can do, what you want is not here any more"
The two behind the old guy are now reading weapons under there clothing.
Breathing a sign, Boark rolled his neck, popping his neck in an attempt to relax. He smiles slightly looking past the old guy to the two sitting at the table. "Exactly where is 'what we want'?"
The old man goes to tell you but next thing a knife is sticking out of his neck. Blood wells up into his mouth. A new large offworld figure is standing in a doorway.
Surprise round over
"What are you doing kill them!!"
The two standing now pull there blades and rush at you
BG1 HP14 TH+3 DMG 1d6+2 ATTACK
Crit check no crit
@ Børak
BG2 HP14 TH+3 DMG 1d6+2 ATTACK
@Ghir son of Dranor
BB1 HP28 TH+6 DMG 1d8+4 Pulls weapon and moves to close
@Kasit Gets a attack of opportunity as this one makes his way past the boxes and goods in the warehouse.
You go
In a heartbeat Ghir's knife was out and he was in a fighting stance. He switched his attention to the fighter in front of him, taking his measure before tentatively flicking his blade towards the man's eyes.