[Desolation] Chapter 1: Digging In
- Thread starter WlfSamurai
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WlfSamurai
Maelstrom Engineer
Ryoma
Absolutely! The compound walls and guard towers manned by Graves' men, shanty roofs, merchant stalls. You have a few of options there. Great idea. Where would you like to go?
Also, how do you know Theo, the hoodie wearing young kid that's talking to Hooper holding a pump-action shotgun?
Hooper
"Name's Theo," he says putting out a hand for you to shake. "Not a fan of gang-ups. Figured you could use the help. And you're name is ... ?"
Absolutely! The compound walls and guard towers manned by Graves' men, shanty roofs, merchant stalls. You have a few of options there. Great idea. Where would you like to go?
Also, how do you know Theo, the hoodie wearing young kid that's talking to Hooper holding a pump-action shotgun?
Hooper
"Name's Theo," he says putting out a hand for you to shake. "Not a fan of gang-ups. Figured you could use the help. And you're name is ... ?"
Theo. She vaguely recalls the name. She first met him when she arrived here, on a caravaner's cart; he had just started standing guard at the gates, clutching that selfsame shotgun. She only traded words with him once:
"Everyone pays the toll," he said.
"So they do." We all pay our tolls, in the end.
In the present, she gives a cryptic smile to Hooper before vaulting up onto a shanty's roof. Skags, Skags, Skags... where will your new-found dharma take you?
"Everyone pays the toll," he said.
"So they do." We all pay our tolls, in the end.
In the present, she gives a cryptic smile to Hooper before vaulting up onto a shanty's roof. Skags, Skags, Skags... where will your new-found dharma take you?
Teh Frixz
That lady robot
Hooper
She stares at the hand and back at him. She grabs it, neither shaking or letting go. "Hooper. I won't kill you"
Something inside her stone heart jumps at the smile.
She stares at the hand and back at him. She grabs it, neither shaking or letting go. "Hooper. I won't kill you"
Something inside her stone heart jumps at the smile.
WlfSamurai
Maelstrom Engineer
Ryoma
Awesome.
Up on the shanty's roof, you have a great view of the market below. Do you want to read the sitch or open your brain (love saying that)?
Hooper
Theo grins. "I know. I wasn't worried. You gotta teach me some of that kung-fu shit you just did someday. Pretty badass." He rests his pump-shotty on his shoulder. "Whelp, it's my shift. Time to climb the wall. Catch ya later, Hoops. Look me up sometime. I'll buy you a drink." He saunters off.
What do you do?
(Never seen a faceless in a game until now. What a beast in combat. That was badass.)
Ryoma, Graves, & Hooper
With the commotion finished, the markets come alive again and people go back to their everyday lives. Fights aren't that strange, just poorly timed to most.
Awesome.
Up on the shanty's roof, you have a great view of the market below. Do you want to read the sitch or open your brain (love saying that)?
Hooper
Theo grins. "I know. I wasn't worried. You gotta teach me some of that kung-fu shit you just did someday. Pretty badass." He rests his pump-shotty on his shoulder. "Whelp, it's my shift. Time to climb the wall. Catch ya later, Hoops. Look me up sometime. I'll buy you a drink." He saunters off.
What do you do?
(Never seen a faceless in a game until now. What a beast in combat. That was badass.)
Ryoma, Graves, & Hooper
With the commotion finished, the markets come alive again and people go back to their everyday lives. Fights aren't that strange, just poorly timed to most.
Reading sitch. Sharp still +1.
Edit: Nothin'. Well, damn. Skags seems to have slipped away. If she takes a stroll through the market, perhaps she might hear the ratta-tat-tat of his SMG. Perhaps cross in front of a certain garage, perhaps not. All's in the hands of fate... or an invisible authority figure. Who truly knows?
Edit: Nothin'. Well, damn. Skags seems to have slipped away. If she takes a stroll through the market, perhaps she might hear the ratta-tat-tat of his SMG. Perhaps cross in front of a certain garage, perhaps not. All's in the hands of fate... or an invisible authority figure. Who truly knows?
WlfSamurai
Maelstrom Engineer
Ryoma
It's too busy in the market now, tough to pick out one person, unless they're Hooper.
But, from up here, you can hear the din of gunfire from over the wall, out in the wastes.
What do you do?
It's too busy in the market now, tough to pick out one person, unless they're Hooper.
But, from up here, you can hear the din of gunfire from over the wall, out in the wastes.
What do you do?
WlfSamurai
Maelstrom Engineer
Ryoma
Ah! Desert. I didn't know we were in the desert. That's good to know, thanks!
So, what do you do?
Ah! Desert. I didn't know we were in the desert. That's good to know, thanks!
So, what do you do?
Teh Frixz
That lady robot
Hooper
Her errands effectively run, Hooper mills about. She should go see what Graves was talking about earlier. Stepping down on the corpse of the old man, she hears the crunch and saunters off towards this supposed raider fight.
Her errands effectively run, Hooper mills about. She should go see what Graves was talking about earlier. Stepping down on the corpse of the old man, she hears the crunch and saunters off towards this supposed raider fight.
WlfSamurai
Maelstrom Engineer
Ryoma & Hooper
Do you guys bump into each other since you're heading out in the same direction? Hooper, you're going beyond the wall too, right?
Do you guys bump into each other since you're heading out in the same direction? Hooper, you're going beyond the wall too, right?
Teh Frixz
That lady robot
No, I'm inside the walls for now. Possibly following Theo and looking for the fight Graves had mentioned. Also looking for someone who wants bullets. And Ryoma too. She's always nice to look at.
solyrflair
Have Towel - Will travel
The Maelstrom is a constant storm of rage, hard as steel and sharp as razors. It collects piercing screams and crystal sharp images, some reflections of what has passed and some are images of the current, but some are dreams of what might come to be. There are millions of these, all thrown at you at the same time, like buffeting winds in a driving rainfall. They will push you about and get you lost if you don't know how to move in the storm.
For Red Bean, the anger, pain, and sorrow that makes up the raging maelstrom is at the far edges of her world, she has learned to keep her distance from that barrier that tears so many minds to pieces. The images move against her as a mixture of sound and touch and taste and sight. Most are unfamiliar, but she sometimes catches a glimpse of something familiar and she can focus on that for a moment. Sometimes she can trace it to something close to that image, a friend or neighbour associated with the first, and step through the images buffeting her mind until she finds something she can focus on.
Red Bean assumes these are the dreams of the ghosts and spirits trapped on this side of the maelstrom, those who can't cross. She is seeing what they see in a strange sense, hearing what they hear. O sometimes it is something from long ago, a memory. And others it is a dream of what they wish to come. It is hard to tell, there is just too much of it to focus on anything too long, like trying to move with the gusts of wind that move you violently and then move elsewhere.
When she opens to the maelstrom, her muscles become rigid and will sometimes twitch slightly. Her head tilts upward, her eyes open wide, her mouth opens as if to call out but no sound comes. Her eyelids flicker over her eyes. Her hands will ball into fists, then spasm open as her fingers splay wide. She has seen a ghost watching her, so she knows the sight is strange to look at. She is vaguely aware of what is happening around her, but there is too much else that she is seeing, and hearing, and tasting, and feeling, to focus on her own body.
For Red Bean, the anger, pain, and sorrow that makes up the raging maelstrom is at the far edges of her world, she has learned to keep her distance from that barrier that tears so many minds to pieces. The images move against her as a mixture of sound and touch and taste and sight. Most are unfamiliar, but she sometimes catches a glimpse of something familiar and she can focus on that for a moment. Sometimes she can trace it to something close to that image, a friend or neighbour associated with the first, and step through the images buffeting her mind until she finds something she can focus on.
Red Bean assumes these are the dreams of the ghosts and spirits trapped on this side of the maelstrom, those who can't cross. She is seeing what they see in a strange sense, hearing what they hear. O sometimes it is something from long ago, a memory. And others it is a dream of what they wish to come. It is hard to tell, there is just too much of it to focus on anything too long, like trying to move with the gusts of wind that move you violently and then move elsewhere.
When she opens to the maelstrom, her muscles become rigid and will sometimes twitch slightly. Her head tilts upward, her eyes open wide, her mouth opens as if to call out but no sound comes. Her eyelids flicker over her eyes. Her hands will ball into fists, then spasm open as her fingers splay wide. She has seen a ghost watching her, so she knows the sight is strange to look at. She is vaguely aware of what is happening around her, but there is too much else that she is seeing, and hearing, and tasting, and feeling, to focus on her own body.
Grey
Dialectical Hermeticist
Graves.
"Hurm."
He sucks his teeth.
"I'm going to want that explained later. Now, where the fuck the are these raiders?"
"Hurm."
He sucks his teeth.
"I'm going to want that explained later. Now, where the fuck the are these raiders?"
WlfSamurai
Maelstrom Engineer
Ryoma, Hooper, & Graves
Ryoma, I assume there's no toll to leave the complex. It's coming back in. We'll get to that later. For now, you walk out the two main gates. They're setup like an open barbican where one isn't opened until the other is closed.
Hooper, you head up the wall and look over out into the desert.
Gaves, you step up next to Hooper on the wall. Also, you still have a question from reading the sitch if you'd like to ask it.
All of you see a massive cloud of dust out in the desert about one mile West. A small motorcycle gang rides circles around a trading caravan. You can hear gunfire and yelling. It looks like they are slaughtering the caravaners.
What do you do?
Red Bean
Awesome.
Okay, so what are you going for with the maelstrom? Is there a question you wan to ask or some subject you want to know about?
Ryoma, I assume there's no toll to leave the complex. It's coming back in. We'll get to that later. For now, you walk out the two main gates. They're setup like an open barbican where one isn't opened until the other is closed.
Hooper, you head up the wall and look over out into the desert.
Gaves, you step up next to Hooper on the wall. Also, you still have a question from reading the sitch if you'd like to ask it.
All of you see a massive cloud of dust out in the desert about one mile West. A small motorcycle gang rides circles around a trading caravan. You can hear gunfire and yelling. It looks like they are slaughtering the caravaners.
What do you do?
Red Bean
Awesome.
Okay, so what are you going for with the maelstrom? Is there a question you wan to ask or some subject you want to know about?
Teh Frixz
That lady robot
Hooper
Chop, chop, chop
Choppers. Stupid things for those that can't walk through the waste. One mistake and they die. They aren't like her, like her face.
Hooper stares long and hard at Graves. Grunting she grabs some discarded rebar, three or four lengths and drops over the side of the wall. She impacts with a thud, not bothering to brace for the fall. She stands up and starts walking toward the dust cloud.
Chop, chop, chop
Choppers. Stupid things for those that can't walk through the waste. One mistake and they die. They aren't like her, like her face.
Hooper stares long and hard at Graves. Grunting she grabs some discarded rebar, three or four lengths and drops over the side of the wall. She impacts with a thud, not bothering to brace for the fall. She stands up and starts walking toward the dust cloud.
solyrflair
Have Towel - Will travel
I reach out into the maelstrom looking for something about Balls. Something different. Something that will change his emotions. Something to tip him the other way. Maybe something sad, or embarrassing, or shameful, that he would recall. Voices can tell you a lot of things. Maybe one is his mother reminding him to be good and not like his father. Or maybe he remembers when his dog got shot and how he cried watching the blood pump from its chest.
Voices can say a lot. Maybe they know his plan to betray his new gang leader, or that he plans to shoot his cover watch in the leg to get away. Or maybe they know that he can't drive, so his plan is doomed to fail anyway.
Voices can say a lot. Maybe they know his plan to betray his new gang leader, or that he plans to shoot his cover watch in the leg to get away. Or maybe they know that he can't drive, so his plan is doomed to fail anyway.
WlfSamurai
Maelstrom Engineer
Ryoma & Hooper
You both head out into the thick of things. Hooper, you're behind Ryoma as you both walk. It takes a bit, but you both now stand about 100 yards from the maelstrom of action. The bikers are weaving in and around three junk filled pickup tricks and two jury-rigged RVs. They laugh like hyenas. Up this close, you can see their flags and paint jobs on their bikes are of Red Skulls.
You see one biker dragging someone behind him by a chain. There're bodies shot or stabbed lying all over the sand.
One of the Red Skulls spots you both almost immediately as you walk up (thanks to Ryoma's roll). He slides his bike around and tears off toward you both.
What do you both do?
Red Bean
Something about Balls ... let's see. All right.
Images, sounds, feelings flood your mind. Joy and pain mix and cancel, then mix again. Everything is like an abstract painting, shapes and colors collide.
Black.
Through the black, you hear a whisper. As this whisper speaks, it chills your bones and stops your heart cold. At first, the whispers are inconceivable, as if billions of voices speak at the same time. Then, you hear a single word whispered:
"Hooper."
The black fades to a cement room. A young girl, 19 or 20, is caged, naked, and alone. She holds her knees to her chest as a man enters the room. It's Balls holding a bat. He drags the girl out of the cage, beats her twice with the bat, then stands her up and drags her off.
Somehow, you know they're gone a long time. A bit later, he drags her back in, she's bruised and beaten. You're not sure how, but you know that who ever Balls presented her to for sale refused her.
The whisper again: "Hooper."
You snap back to reality. I'm guessing Hooper didn't remember Balls or didn't live here when he did. If she knew, she'd probably hunt him down and do a lot of really nasty stuff to him.
What do you do?
You both head out into the thick of things. Hooper, you're behind Ryoma as you both walk. It takes a bit, but you both now stand about 100 yards from the maelstrom of action. The bikers are weaving in and around three junk filled pickup tricks and two jury-rigged RVs. They laugh like hyenas. Up this close, you can see their flags and paint jobs on their bikes are of Red Skulls.
You see one biker dragging someone behind him by a chain. There're bodies shot or stabbed lying all over the sand.
One of the Red Skulls spots you both almost immediately as you walk up (thanks to Ryoma's roll). He slides his bike around and tears off toward you both.
What do you both do?
Red Bean
Something about Balls ... let's see. All right.
Images, sounds, feelings flood your mind. Joy and pain mix and cancel, then mix again. Everything is like an abstract painting, shapes and colors collide.
Black.
Through the black, you hear a whisper. As this whisper speaks, it chills your bones and stops your heart cold. At first, the whispers are inconceivable, as if billions of voices speak at the same time. Then, you hear a single word whispered:
"Hooper."
The black fades to a cement room. A young girl, 19 or 20, is caged, naked, and alone. She holds her knees to her chest as a man enters the room. It's Balls holding a bat. He drags the girl out of the cage, beats her twice with the bat, then stands her up and drags her off.
Somehow, you know they're gone a long time. A bit later, he drags her back in, she's bruised and beaten. You're not sure how, but you know that who ever Balls presented her to for sale refused her.
The whisper again: "Hooper."
You snap back to reality. I'm guessing Hooper didn't remember Balls or didn't live here when he did. If she knew, she'd probably hunt him down and do a lot of really nasty stuff to him.
What do you do?
As he comes close, Ryoma steps forward, draws her Saber, and raises it at neck level to clothesline him. In the same fluid movement she loosens her sash, dropping the robe away and revealing hell for all to see.
If he hits the breaks, it'll only prolong his agony as he guts himself on the blade.
If he hits the breaks, it'll only prolong his agony as he guts himself on the blade.
Teh Frixz
That lady robot
Hooper
"Aim lower for choppers. They pull up the front tire"
Hooper yells over to Ryoma, not a hint of emotion just louder than normal.
Like the monk, Hooper takes her own stance. Standing tall, her machete is outstretched and her hand full of rebar is pointed forward.
Just like before. Chopper flips, neck cracks, cut off head. Her face whispers words of encouragement.
"Aim lower for choppers. They pull up the front tire"
Hooper yells over to Ryoma, not a hint of emotion just louder than normal.
Like the monk, Hooper takes her own stance. Standing tall, her machete is outstretched and her hand full of rebar is pointed forward.
Just like before. Chopper flips, neck cracks, cut off head. Her face whispers words of encouragement.
WlfSamurai
Maelstrom Engineer
Ryoma & Hooper
Awesome. That sounds like Ryoma is seizing by force with Hooper helping. Sound right? If so, what are you trying to seize, Ryoma?
Awesome. That sounds like Ryoma is seizing by force with Hooper helping. Sound right? If so, what are you trying to seize, Ryoma?
Teh Frixz
That lady robot
And I'm assisting. Providing distraction maybe?