Inchoations / Opening Scene (Su)

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Daniel
Daniel (Lars)
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Inchoations / Opening Scene (Su)

Post by Daniel »


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Rifts Speed Tribes!

Inchoations & the Great Brouhaha
  • The start of a noisy confused disturbance in 68 P.A. (2354 A.D.)
  • 42 years prior to the creation of the Tomorrow Legion
  • Somewhere on old Highway 87 (Amarillo to Lubbock TX)

The cracked asphalt roadway wavered in the heat of the Texas badlands. On your (Hovercycle or Motorcycle) you cruise across the wastelands with purpose.

------


Texas was simpler before the Coalition States decided to claim the region in late 68 P.A. (has not happened yet in our game). A post, post apocalyptic wasteland where gangs raged and traded goods and fought off each other and more often monsters that emerged from Rifts in space and time.

The oldest Speed Tribes of the badlands of Lone Star, or Old Texas, were mostly racing up and down the paved remains of Highway 87 (north - south) and Highway 20 (east - west). The old American state was referred to as either Lone Star or more often, the Texas Freelands.

No CS from the mid west were in the area, Texas was a sort of unofficial no mans land. Gangs, Comanche, and ancient ruins often occupied by demons and monsters, it was simple enough: live or die, kill or be killed, pray for freedom and find a tribe for safety. Ride Fast. Fight Hard. Stay Alive.

The entire region would soon be transformed by a epic discovery. That story is still to be told... I digress.

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A few moths ago an up and coming mercenary leader, Captain Sabre Lasar, had the foresight to convince several mercs/tribes of wanderers to join forces and beat down some supernatural monstrosities he called the
The Splugorth are an evil Lovecraftian-like inter-dimensional race of conquerors in the Palladium Rifts Megaverse roleplaying universe. Beings whom are malevolent and sadistic, enslavers and manipulators.
. You found yourself hitching up with the charismatic Captain Lasar and another esoteric mercenary named Hudson Blackwell. Lieutenant Blackwell was one of three lieutenants who worked for Lasar in the retaliation on the invading and slaving Splugorth. For the month you were working with the Lasar Mercs, you were assigned to Blackwell's platoon. During the month with Blackwell defending Texas from slavers you learned the Lieutenant was in fact a rare Black Dragon, originating from a far off dimension. Hudson, as he insisted you call him, shook your hand and thanked you after the mercenaries defeated the slavers and separated into smaller tribes of mercs. One of the nice finds, loot, you picked up while working with Lasar and Hudson was the vehicle/mount you now have.

Raging across the badlands you have run a few small jobs on your own. Now, roughly six months after the gathering Lasar put together, you have been contacted by Hudson Blackwell. While racing across the badlands over cracked and ruff asphalt a "magic" pigeon swirled across your view and started circling you with unreal speed as you rode. Stopping and eyeing the bird warily it suddenly spoke in perfect American.

"Greeting my old friend! It is I, Hudson! I could use a mercenary of your caliber right about now, someone I know I can trust. I got a job. It pays well. If you can, meet me at the Snake Pit in Crossroads. I'll introduce you to our client, Erin. Semper Celeritas"

You have been to the city of Crossroads before and know it is less than a days ride from where you are.

------


Crossroads is a town with a regular population of just under 8000 and quite often up to another 2000 transient visitors at any given time. It is located near where pre-rifts Kernville used to be, and, for the Pecos Empire, is a relatively modern and safe community. The town gets its name for being in a geographical, center more or less, of the Pecos Empire.

Since it is relatively large, as empire towns go, and located centrally, it is a major trade center in the budding Empire.

Located in the Pecos Empire, the Lone Star State, the people of Texas have had very little contact with the East Coast including entities such as the Coalition States (CS), who most have heard of and most have never actually been in contact with. And absolutely no contact with the west which is cut off by the great barrier mountains with its dimensional anomalies.

Crossroads is a thriving community of artists and craftsmen. In addition to stage performances, primarily comedies and song and dance, and musical events, there is a full-time movie theater that offers a good selection of pre, and post rifts films. There are two dozen pawn shops, large and small, plus a handful of Shoppes that specialize in artifacts both pre, and post rift, and even alien artifacts. In addition to pottery, various knickknacks, customers can purchase and or commission objects of art such as paintings and sculptures or specialty items. Custom made saddles, saddlebags, boots with ornate unique designs, gang insignia etc. are in high demand among the Pecos bandits in the region. Over a dozen tattoo parlors also thrive in town.

A large Carnival has set up shop in the town of crossroads. There are gambling halls and sporting arenas that can seat up to 8000 people. Besides gambling, these halls provide a variety of entertainment in which the same manner as a saloon halls of the old wild west ones did.

There are even some red light districts with brothels, cockfighting and dogfighting and drug dens, houses of illusion, psychic experiences and a host of unique pastimes for a reasonable price. The local law-enforcement is mostly made up of a militia or basically a large gang well outfitted with weapons and armor. They are referred to as the City Guard.

Hover vehicle racing is a common occurrence and there are Juicer games. About the only thing that Crossroads draws a line at is actual blood sports, they are forbidden within city limits. All in all this could be considered a Las Vegas of the Pecos Empire.

The town is run by a board of commissioners. The Guard, or militia is made up of citizens and full-time freelance military forces. One perk of signing up with the militia is after two years you are given citizenship and a license to work in the city and have your own shop. It is illegal for unlicensed persons to set up businesses within the city, this does not in anyway affect independent mercenaries working in the area.

Roughly 30% of the population is human, another 8% are augmented humans such as cyborgs, juicers and crazies. The majority of Crossroads is made up of roughly 62% dimensional beings (D-Bee's). The commissioners for the city of Crossroads are currently starting a new project of building a wall around the city, although this may take several decades to complete.

One of the more famous bars within Crossroads is known as: the Snake Pit.


------


Now you find yourself sitting at a table located in the seedy bar, the Snake Pit, waiting. A few drinks later the double doors to the bar swing open and you recognize your old Lieutenant.

Image


Literally the piano players stops playing, as everyone eyes the newcomer, then the music starts back up and murmurs and conversations carry on. Dressed in black leather pants, biker jacket and cap, Hudson grins and you recognize the dragons large golden dragon ring on his right hand. The evening darkens outside, silhouetted behind Hudson as he walks deeper into the bar after eyeing you. With night, the hot day starts to cool off. As the black dragon settles haphazardly into the seat across from you he smiles and before he can say anything a D-Bee bar maid, Harriette, an easy to look at mole-like humanoid female bustles up to the table and asks Hudson what his pleasure is.

"A refill for my mate and I'll have what he is having. Lace mine if you please."

Returning his attention to you, Hudson continues:

"It has been a second hasn't it mate. By the Dragon Kings of Tolkeen, so many stories to tell and we were only together a ... what five weeks or less!"


------


PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS

To start out, you can recant (like an Interlude) a story of the time you spent being a mercenary working with Hudson and Captain Lasar fighting Splugorth and defending Texas from slavers! Feel free to embellish and make it a truly worthy of being a bar story tale.

After your post I will carry on with more narrative. Thanks and enjoy.
Agents of Titan Robotics Industries (AoT)
The Agents (Players)
• Jim - Sparkmort Zipwidget: Male Tinker Gnome Power Armor Ace
• Derrick - Caiden: Male Human, Momano Headhunter
• Steve (Hans) - Berk: Male Simvan Psi-Druid Monster Tamer/Rider
• Murp - Rupetta Martin: Female Human MARS Merc Soldier (X-CS)
• Freemage - Lance: Male Dog Boy Techno-Warrior (Cyber[netic] Knight)
• CSC - Ozy “Oz”: Dragon

My Accounts:
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  • Jackal - IC (Neural Intelligence) - 7th SET
  • Vi - Space Pirate - Stars Without Numbers
  • Henry Grimes - CS Commando - Rumble in the Jungle

Not Active
  • Hondo - Wild Psi Stalker
  • Burn - Mega Juicer - Juicer Uprising (On Hold)
  • Blackfish - Ogre Combat Mage - 12th SET (On Hold)
  • Setrakian - Dragon Juicer - FoM Jungles (Retired)

NPC Accounts
  • Lord Coake - NPC
  • Valentine - NPC
  • Erin Tarn - NPC
  • James T - NPC
  • Hagen Lonovich - NPC

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Sulannus
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Re: Inchoations / Opening Scene (Su)

Post by Sulannus »

By the time Hudson had reached her table, Sulannus had relaxed after her initial tension at his entrance. She lifted her hand from the hilt of the sword at her side and used it instead to finish off her drink before the refill arrived.

"It has been some time, Blackwell...but you and I well know time is measured not by quantity, but by quality. A few weeks can last centuries or more, if they are the right weeks."

The elf set her glass on the table with fingers that looked delicate, but had all the strength of a trained archer's. Her steely emerald-green eyes met his across the table. Few individuals in this wretched, anarchic world could command her respect. He was one such.

It had only been a season ago or so, she reckoned, when she had answered the call for armed help. As much as it had been a blemish on her pride to adopt a 'mercenary' lifestyle, she'd had little choice. The name of Phaedran commanded no recognition here, no respect, and the path away from this world was a difficult one. Sulannus didn't have the magic power to open one of the dimensional rifts that plagued the world...and she didn't have what she'd need to barter for someone else to do it. Surviving wasn't terribly hard, but Siloin was growing restless on her diet of small game. She longed for more meaningful prey...and truth be told, so did Sulannus.

So she'd met this 'Captain Lasar,' and Hudson Blackwell, and accepted their offer of employment. Sulannus had managed to adequately master the altered controls of her captured vehicle, and she'd gained enough supplies and equipment that she felt she could fight. It was...optimistic of her, as she learned later.

Strange invaders were moving in force inland from the coast. In the past they had contented themselves with small raids on fishing communities and other remote spots. It seemed that they were unsatisfied with the quality of the takings there though...and now they were sweeping across the countryside in their floating barges, kidnapping and enslaving everyone in their path.

It's fair to say that Sulannus did not feel kinship with this world, nor was she overly concerned with its problems...but slavery was a particular sticking point for her. An abomination not to be tolerated in this, or any other, universe.

The next month was a nightmare of blood and horror. The Splugorth monsters were powerful, but the worst of all was their use of slaves and minions...poor people who fought tooth and nail for the approval of their 'masters,' and offered no quarter. Bringing down even one barge was done only at a great cost...and there were dozens. In some places hundreds. The saving grace was that the bizarre creatures did not seem especially inclined to help one another often. Oh they would all attack, but rarely bothered to coordinate. It was scant comfort, but Sulannus would take whatever she could get.

She'd been there, along with the rest of Hudson's unit, when the last push had come...a massive vehicle made from the same technology as the slaver barges, but fully enclosed and armed to the teeth...sailed towards the main bulk of the mercenaries with surreal silence. Acting on instinct, Sulannus bided her time, refusing to swear a binding Oath immediately...knowing that this wasn't all their cards. Sure enough, the enormous craft had crashed through their front line, then lowered to the ground and opened up, releasing a true terror of mutated teeth, claws, and dozens of other implements of horrific destruction. Sulannus swore her Oath then, and flew at the creature under magical time dilation, firing arrow after arrow of magical force at anything she could see that looked like a vulnerable spot.

For almost a minute she managed to convince it to chase her instead of attacking the rest of the force. A moment of bliss that her insane plan was working...a moment of abject terror that she wouldn't be able to stay ahead of it. Her hovercycle whining and whirring as it moved from side to side to escape the monster's absurdedly long tentacles, with Sulannus twisted around in the seat to keep raining arrows at it...occasionally sparing a glance over her shoulder to make sure she wasn't about to hit something.

It managed to strike her vehicle then, sending it spinning out of control; forcing her to jump clear. Sulannus was grateful now that it hadn't exploded or even suffered a lot of damage...after it drifted to a halt the cycle simply hovered there. Su herself had watched the monster bear down at her, and was reaching for her sword to end herself before giving it the satisfaction of killing her, when the rest of the unit caught up and launched a savage attack that distracted the beast.

What felt like hours later, the Splugorth siege beast was dead, and Sulannus felt Siloin luxuriate in the savage thrill of an Oath fulfilled. The rest of the mercenaries had managed to deal with the containment barge, and...through the ragtag airforce Lazar had recruited...were mopping up the barges. The battle had been won.

Definitely the right weeks.

"So, Blackwell," said the elf with the ghost of a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Your bird was vague. Tell me about this job...and this client."
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Daniel
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Re: Inchoations / Opening Scene (Su)

Post by Daniel »

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Max, fun opening post! Su has earned a bennie for that post.


Sounds of patrons drinking and eating in the bar, the Snake Pit, mingled with live industrial band called Psychic Playground that played in the background. “The drums went SMACK, there was no use turning back. 'Cause I just had to see, was a banshee watching me? In the mist the fate twists. Was all this just swell, or just some kind of hell?”

"So, Blackwell," said the elf with the ghost of a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Your bird was vague. Tell me about this job...and this client."

Leaning back in the chair Hudson glances around the Snake Pit before answering Su. It was still late. Most of rowdy crowd in the bar was drunk and getting louder by the minute.

”In a few days at noon, we are meeting a bloke by the name of Desmond Bradford. He says some of his contractors were captured and he wants them back. Sounds like his men are working for the Coalition States. Says he was contracted to search for oil here in Texas and some bandits snagged a few of his men when they were traveling. He’s going to give us details and instructions. Claims he knows who has them and where they are, but doesn’t want to send in his mercs or ask the CS for help. Seems to think that would piss off his employers. Says these captured fellas have some vital company info on them. He’s offering 100k for the info and 20k per man rescued.”

Letting that soak in a moment Hudson goes on after a sip of his laced drink. Burps. Laughs and looks, a little pale.

”I’ve got several of our old squad back together. It’ll be like old times, but better. Now here is the fun part. Next appointment, after the contractor is with Erin Tarn, she’s the one who wrote that underground book the CS hates. Yeah. She’s in town. Wants to write another book. More of a first hand experience book. So she and some Lazlo dudes stroll into Texas and come across a group of guys claiming they have fled from the CS and a contractor company after finding something amazing. Some relic. They steal the details saying where it is and try to set up a buy. But it goes badly. Erin’s group try to save these blokes from some tribe of mercs but only Erin escapes the firefight. The guys with the details are captured and her Lazlo escort all killed. She contacted me, I met her few years ago, and wants to hire us to find these poor captured fellas and then rescue them. She’s interested in the information too but actually seems more worried about the dudes. We are meeting her at 2 in the afternoon, same day as Desmond.”

Grinning Hudson nods.

”One leads to the other. Now. Here’s how I wanna do this. We tell the guy Bradford we are down. No problem. Then we chat with Ms. Tarn and tell her we are down. We rescued the blokes and see what the relic is before deciding on how we play that. Lazlo has fronted 200 k for taking out the tribe, dead or alive and rescue of the men. I don’t know what tribe of mercs it is yet. But we will figure it. We collect on that then maybe collect with Bradford too. I for one am not keen on a CS presence in Texas though. Unless the relic is too juicy to let go.”

Raising his glass up as a toast to Su, Hudson says, ”Whatcha think?”

As if it was timed. No sooner had Hudson asked his question than the Snake Pit’s lights dimmed, the fluttered non stop, the industrial music belched out of speakers and there was no way anyone would be able to talk now that: “Sabbath Of Corruption! Blissful Depression! Hate. Death. Retaliationnnnn!” was pumping out at ear bleeding decibels.

Hudson rubbed his forehead and shrugged.

Standing up the dragon waved at Su to follow. Making his way to the the center of the small stage it suddenly became obvious what he was doing. Blackwell motions her closer. He mouths the words ‘dance with me’.

As the next few raging minutes pass a gathering of D-Bee’s, humans and others thrash in a sort of mosh pit as electric metal ripples out of speakers likely to catch on fire if it continues too much longer.

An elbow strikes Hudson in the mouth as another patron slams backwards into him, loosing balance the dragon, a brutish human Crazie and a female D’Norr crash to the floor.

As they stand back up a Lizard like D-Bee points and laughs. Su replays the last few seconds in her mind and realizes (as Hudson does) it was this man/beast that hit the dragon in the mouth.

Abruptly the song ends and the bass guitarist jumps down from the stage swinging his guitar at the lizard D-Bee.

“Fight!” Screams the singer.


Decide on the course of action and narrate it. Blackwell looks like he is about to jump into a good old fist fight bar brawl. A common occurrence in the Snake Pit that surprisingly is usually nightly and non fatal. Fists fly and heads get kicked and everyone nurses wounds over drinks afterwards.

Additionally carry on with conversation with Hudson if you like. (Before, during or after the possible fight or calming negotiation you attempt).

Agents of Titan Robotics Industries (AoT)
The Agents (Players)
• Jim - Sparkmort Zipwidget: Male Tinker Gnome Power Armor Ace
• Derrick - Caiden: Male Human, Momano Headhunter
• Steve (Hans) - Berk: Male Simvan Psi-Druid Monster Tamer/Rider
• Murp - Rupetta Martin: Female Human MARS Merc Soldier (X-CS)
• Freemage - Lance: Male Dog Boy Techno-Warrior (Cyber[netic] Knight)
• CSC - Ozy “Oz”: Dragon

My Accounts:
Active
  • Daniel - Admin/GM of AoT
  • Jackal - IC (Neural Intelligence) - 7th SET
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  • Henry Grimes - CS Commando - Rumble in the Jungle

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  • Hondo - Wild Psi Stalker
  • Burn - Mega Juicer - Juicer Uprising (On Hold)
  • Blackfish - Ogre Combat Mage - 12th SET (On Hold)
  • Setrakian - Dragon Juicer - FoM Jungles (Retired)

NPC Accounts
  • Lord Coake - NPC
  • Valentine - NPC
  • Erin Tarn - NPC
  • James T - NPC
  • Hagen Lonovich - NPC

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Sulannus
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Re: Inchoations / Opening Scene (Su)

Post by Sulannus »

"Respectfully," Sulannus began in her accented American, "from what I've heard of this Coalition, there's no relic valuable enough to convince me to aid their cause. In fact, I'd almost rather use this Bradford to track down the local Coalition command structure...maybe kick a few dents in their operation."

She had first suffered, then learned to tolerate, many indignities since arriving in this explosively inhospitable world...but through it all she still disliked misrepresenting herself. A knave's device, without honor...and though her own honor was not unstained, that didn't mean she was eager to trawl it through yet more mud.

Too late though the elf realized that her conspirator was vanishing into the crowd, beckoning her to follow. She did so, wondering what he was up to. When he invited her to dance she gave him a dry look that perfectly summed up her skeptical reaction. The room full of people were not so much dancing as engaging in the kind of myoclonic twitches that corpses subjected to electric current would. Random, lacking any kind of poise or grace.

A proper elven dance took years to learn, decades or more to master.

For a dragon, Hudson was spectacularly uncultured. Maybe one day Sulannus would have occasion to help change that.

Pandemonium erupted then as a series of collisions sent Hudson and several other 'dancers' sprawling to the floor...and then the inevitable cry rose up.

FIGHT!

Sulannus frowned slightly and her fingers twined and twisted, forming a series of incredibly complex shapes alongside one another. A bubble of glyphs momentarily shimmered around her, then was gone. As violence rippled out, she stood unconcernedly. The first fists that came her way struck something invisible and stopped in midair. Su gave the owner of those fists an unimpressed look, then started walking through the melee towards Hudson, ignoring the brawling crowd entirely. Her sword stayed sheathed, her bow in its case. She would not draw weapons against squabbling children, however large they might be.

Other attacks on her were made, at random...and several thrown chairs or drinks spattered harmlessly off of that shield spell as she closed the distance to where Hudson was gleefully hurling people around...though the elf realized immediately that he was being far more gentle about it than he had to be. Knocking some heads around rather than simply crushing them as he very easily could.

"I'll be at the bar waiting for you when you're done," she told him.

The dragon looked around at her and grinned, some sharpness showing in his teeth through his human disguise. "Come on, Sulannus! Live a little! Have some fun! Appreciate the good things in life!"

Her almond-shaped eyes, intensely green, shifted to look around at the chaos that had enveloped them, then focused on Hudson again. "I've seen a great many good things in life. None of them are in this room at the moment. I'll be over there. Please try not to take too long."

Then, encased in her island of enforced calm, Sulannus moved back through the crowd, ignoring whatever attacks came her way as they glanced off of her defenses, until she reached the bar and perched atop one of the stools.

"Something with fruit in it," she told the bartender.
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Daniel
Daniel (Lars)
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Re: Inchoations / Opening Scene (Su)

Post by Daniel »


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Hudson settles next to Sulannus and chuckles.

Leaning in closer to her, “Su. Your cool manner and quick thinking is why I need you on this. Trust that I plan on double crossing the CS every chance I get. I’ll collect any cash I can from them first. I want to build a force to reckoned with eventually. A Company of Free Mercs. Someday.”

Hudson extends his hand to shake with the Elf.

“I knew I could trust you. Thank you. Lets keep Texas free. Oh. Here. I picked this up from a rather interesting fella in my travels. Attach it to you cycle and hold on.”

Removing his hand from the shake a small cylinder device about the size of a energy clip is left in Sulannus hand.

Grinning, Hudson Blackwell the Nightstalker dragon walks with an unsteady gait towards the exit and waves. “See you at the meet and greet with Desmond.”

Attach to you Hovercycle or Motorcycle to increase speed by 80 Miles per hour (128 kilometers per hour).
You can post more here if you want. Or. Just hang in there a bit until we all join up to play as a group.
Agents of Titan Robotics Industries (AoT)
The Agents (Players)
• Jim - Sparkmort Zipwidget: Male Tinker Gnome Power Armor Ace
• Derrick - Caiden: Male Human, Momano Headhunter
• Steve (Hans) - Berk: Male Simvan Psi-Druid Monster Tamer/Rider
• Murp - Rupetta Martin: Female Human MARS Merc Soldier (X-CS)
• Freemage - Lance: Male Dog Boy Techno-Warrior (Cyber[netic] Knight)
• CSC - Ozy “Oz”: Dragon

My Accounts:
Active
  • Daniel - Admin/GM of AoT
  • Jackal - IC (Neural Intelligence) - 7th SET
  • Vi - Space Pirate - Stars Without Numbers
  • Henry Grimes - CS Commando - Rumble in the Jungle

Not Active
  • Hondo - Wild Psi Stalker
  • Burn - Mega Juicer - Juicer Uprising (On Hold)
  • Blackfish - Ogre Combat Mage - 12th SET (On Hold)
  • Setrakian - Dragon Juicer - FoM Jungles (Retired)

NPC Accounts
  • Lord Coake - NPC
  • Valentine - NPC
  • Erin Tarn - NPC
  • James T - NPC
  • Hagen Lonovich - NPC

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