CHAPTER 11b: R&R at Hagalton IV

[Norjax]

Denslow listens to Po's offer for the Pigeon rifle. Too rich for my sap, says the plantient. I will have to rely on my branches and fruit for a while longer. Well, and my axe, he adds with a chortle.

"Well then," Po adds."Perhaps a revolver for 150gp might interest you?"

OOC: This is the same type revolver that Bruce has. It uses the same Pigmonn caliber ammunition.

[greyarea]

You are an excellent salesman, Po, says Denslow, but I care only about defending our positions at long range. Ammunition is too scarce to be using it on one such as me if my fruit will do. Good day, then.

[Norjax]

Hagalton; 339D/81 (Morning)

Silvestri’s returns to Artic Zong for the information on Motter.



“I wish you well on your venture into the Motter territory,” Artic says to Silvestri. “You are risking your life with extreme danger for the excitement of adventure. I don’t think your idea of a gift for Motter will garner any results.” She hands you an itemized list of information about Motter.

Motter's territory is centered on an old city complex known as Naveral, 50 miles inside the border. From there, she has expanded her realm to its current borders.

In proximity to Naveral are energy beings known as “Minders”. They apparently are confined to a certain distance from Naveral. They appear to be a type of leadership caste for the territory.

Out to the borders, two types of smart metal beings roam; “Workers” that collect organic beings and “Soldiers” that herd beings towards the workers for sorting and processing. It is not known exactly why organic beings are collected but the speculation is they are required to sustain Motter.

Artifacts from the ancients are strewn throughout the territory. The outlying areas contain the ordinary and mundane, but closer to and within Naveral lies the mysterious and bizarre objects.

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Point Rec.-341D]:

Denslow – 42/42 [13/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [14/14]
Kurot – 50/50 [6/15]
Bruce – 50/50 [5/12]

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"Thank you Artic, that is useful to know. Although, it is also concerning and I shall have to discuss tactics with my friends. Is that all the information you have, or do you think there is more if you were to spend more time searching?"

[Norjax]

Hagalton; 339D/81 (Morning)



“If you could make contact with the Ki-Ro-Tab Knights, they would prove to be useful allies," Artic replies to Silvestri.

***

Bruce has searched for a "high-voltage weapon" among the merchants and traders of Hagalton. Most have never seen a device as described by the synthetic.

Plod Jakee does recall the stun rod solicited by Kurot.



"Perhaps Yar might be able to hack the device to produce a larger jolt?" she speculates.

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Point Rec.-341D]:

Denslow – 42/42 [13/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [14/14]
Kurot – 50/50 [6/15]
Bruce – 50/50 [5/12]

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"Do you have any suggestions how to make contact with the knights? Which part of the zone do they inhabit?"

[Norjax]

Hagalton; 339D/81 (Morning)



"The Ki-Ro-Tab Knights are near the "yolk" of the Inner Gam'A Zone, west of Motters territory," she says.

Artic sketches a simple diagram of the Gam'A Zone.

OOC: The Barren North is where all of the Gam'A Zone encounters have occurred to this date.

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Point Rec.-341D]:

Denslow – 42/42 [13/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [14/14]
Kurot – 50/50 [6/15]
Bruce – 50/50 [5/12]

[Ardak2000]

Bruce has searched for a "high-voltage weapon" among the merchants and traders of Hagalton. Most have never seen a device as described by the synthetic.

Plod Jakee does recall the stun rod solicited by Kurot.



"Perhaps Yar might be able to hack the device to produce a larger jolt?" she speculates.

"Thank You Plod Jakee, that is an excellent idea!" offers Bruce

Making a case to the rest of the group to the benefits of increasing the output of the weapon, Bruce offers to have the modifications made.

[Norjax]

Hagalton; 339D/81 (Noon)

One of the travelers you met on the road back from the Vault of Ozkin has asked to join your group. His name is Max Case and he hails from the North.



OOC: Max is a second character played by greyarea.

After socializing with Max, you seek out the encampment of the expedition entering Motter’s realm. When reaching their base on the east side of Hagalton, Denslow, Silvestri and Kurot recognize three of the individuals organizing the trip.

The blue-skinned hulk, Tamah Nojaz, who speaks in a deep, booming voice.

The mysterious, floating individual known as Tikol, who communicates using squeaks and whistles.

Their hardened leader, Hiona Plateface, a former Zatox Ranger.

They met these individuals on the Long Route nearly three months ago. Last known, they were heading for the Eastern Sea to hunt a Cylopean Whale.

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Point Rec.-341D]:

Denslow – 42/42 [13/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [14/14]
Kurot – 50/50 [6/15]
Bruce – 50/50 [5/12]
Max - 28/28 [15/15]

[shaidar]

Silvestri

Silvestri welcomes Max to the group and during their socialising enquires about the man's history and skills.

Later, when they recognise the three from their earlier travels, Silvestri will approach and speak "Well met, again. How did your trip to hunt the whales go? My friends and I are interested in the Motter lands, if you'll have us?"

[greyarea]

Denslow fills in Max about the group we are meeting.

[greyarea]

Max scrunches his nose at Denslow. He's chewing some sort of leaf and he spits a green glob into the dust.

You went to dig some hole rather than go back and get tech from the caves with the rail-things? You don't know what valuable, he says, speaking around his cud. You norms don't know piss about what's real and what ain't. See, we neuronauts know that things ain't what they seem on the surface. Instead of fighting big potatoes and such, you shoulda been finding the secrets of the ancients, and that's found in their old cities and their stuff. Not tramping 'round the wastes digging up garbage for circus ringleaders. Nope, you got to go where the action is, like Motter. I'm tellin' you boy... uh, tree, I'm telling you.

I know, he says, tapping his temple with a grimy finger and raising an eyebrow meaningfully, cause I'm plugged in. You get yourself plugged in and you can see too. A miasma of information under... through, whatever, all stuff. His eyes get all big and glassy as he focuses on something in the air that isn't there. It'll all be clear when we get to the Motter lands. Yep, it'll all be clear then.

[Norjax]

Hagalton; 339D/81 (Noon)

Hiona removes her helmet and greets Silvestri. “The journey turned out to be a fool’s errand,” Hiona begins.



“The captain was a masterful con artist. Our passage fees were used to bet against the success of hunt. Those of us who could be seated were made to help row the galley, under salted whips. When a beast was spotted, the crew was unprepared for the enormity and danger of the cylopean whale. The galley was tossed about, and we lost many hands including two of our companions. The ship barely escaped destruction and we limped back to Nuv Vano without sails and half our oars. Once docked, the crew tried to keep our gear as compensation for the unsuccessful hunt. We had to fight our way off the ship, out of Nuv Vano and across Lantica. We are now fugitives and I suspect bounty hunters will seek us out.”



“It was during the journey back that we decided to press our luck and venture into Motter’s territory of the Gam’A Zone,” Tamah adds with deep booms.



“Few dare risk entry into the ‘smart metal’ realm, but we have become cynical of fate and wish to test our resolve. Motter’s fortress is said to be a labyrinth constructed from various ancient structures, with artifacts of old reputed to be maintained by her legion of workers.”

“We welcome any who wish to join us,” Tamah adds.

---

Kurot hands the stun rod to Bruce, who seeks our Yar Burnblack.

Yar greets the android and examines the artifact.



“Well, me tin-man ... I’m sorry goop-man,” Yar says with wandering eyes. “What have ya here? Ah, an ancient constable baton; effective against insubordinate organics!”

Bruce explains his desire to boost the energy discharge for adversaries other than organic.

“That,” Yar responds, “will have a price. Such a boost will deplete the power source at a rapid rate but jolt the target with a lightning bolt.”

“I can make the modification for 120 coin (GP)”

OOC: The usage die starts at 1d5 and inflicts 3d8 electrical damage.

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Point Rec.-341D]:

Denslow – 42/42 [13/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [14/14]
Kurot – 50/50 [6/15]
Bruce – 50/50 [5/12]
Max - 28/28 [15/15]

[shaidar]

Silvestri grimaces and Hiona and Tamah recount their story.

"I am sorry for the companions you lost on the trip. It has been suggested by one who is knowledgable that we seek out the Ki-Ro-Tab Knights, that they would be useful allies. I am driven by a desire to learn of the artefacts of the ancients and how they work, so I accept the risk this journey entails."

[greyarea]

Max begins wringing his hands together as Tamah mentions the smart metal and ancient artifacts. Yes, this might serve well, yes, he mutters. UKUR will be very pleased. Very pleased indeed. Yes. To Motter's realm.

He speaks up, saying, I would like to join you on to Motter's realm. I believe that I may be of some service.

[greyarea]

Denslow's limbs droop like a willow as he hears Hiona's tale of deception and loss.

Your loss is ours, the tree says, his branches creaking. If those bounty hunters attack you when we are together, they will have fruit to pay. I will chop them to kindling.

I believe we are all willing to join you, Tamah. I know little of the ancient ones' ways, but even the deepest foundations yield to strong roots. Perhaps we can all profit by this venture.

[Ardak2000]

Bruce

"Excellent!" he responds to Yar and evenly measures out the required 120gp payment. "How much time do you need?"