As you crest the low rise north of Compton, you see the Sprawl filling the valley in front of you until the view is lost in the heat haze. You can just about make out the huge, ruined skyscrapers in the centre of the city and the blue ribbon of the South River. Following your map, you strike out into the suburbs, and soon you are deep within that maze of ruined, bombed out streets, houses and gutted developments.

After all the build-up, your first day is somewhat of an anticlimax. You discover no salvage, no water, and no enemies. None of you suffer the pangs of alpha flux, and at the end of the day your map contains few additions. As night falls you identify a suitable camp site, some sort of civic building now little more than an empty shell. But it is easy to defend with space for all of you, even the possum.

Bedlam nods his head in approval. Even with his limited knowledge of survival skills he recognizes the advantages of the ancient building as a campsite.

"Looks good, sis," he says, stashing his mapping gear. "Ordus, S'kaar, spread out and watch the perimeter while we set up. Stay within range of my thoughts. Merlot, why don't you and the Roach do another check of those dark interior corners - make sure we didn't miss anything."

The giant moves over to the opossum and begins unloading. With a massive armful of gear he turns back to Flora, grinning. "Well, sis, do what you do best. Tell me where you want this stuff."

OOC: Never mind about staying within telepathic range - that's only 50'
This message was last edited by the player at 17:39, Tue 08 Feb 2011.

In reply to Bedlam Jones (msg #2):

Multi-Roache's duplicates did all the work. They would appear and set up camp. He would spend most of his time looking over the map and checking his equipment. Every now and again the duplicate roaches would complain...and he would ignore them for the most part.

"Stop complaining! You should be lucky I willed you into existence in the first place! Ungrateful jerks!" He snipped at...himself.

Flora points to several spots, each with a position for a defense of the place in mind if it came to that.

"I want you and me on opposite sides, no sense having a flank if we get jumped. The others can spread out in the center how they want. I just want to make sure we are as circular as possible. We have six, so we will pair up for watches, with three hour shifts. Other than that, make sure the water and food are in the middle so they can't be swiped and we will see where to go from there."

After speaking with Bedlam, she quickly goes to work shoring up and holes in the defenses that are not the two exits she has told Bedlam about.

"Of course," the Rat Collective agrees with Bedlam, scurrying off into the darkness for a bit to patrol the perimeter.

"Just save us some supper, yes?  And the middle watch, please."

You pass an uneasy, but ultimately uneventful night holed up in the old building. The evening air is full of chirping insects, distant roars and howls and the occasional round of gunfire, but nothing too close to your camp. The next morning, Ordus' many sensitive ears pick up the roar of motors. Investigating, you discover there is some sort of stronghold perhaps half a kilometer away is a wide low basin that conceals it from casual view, although it is visible from the shattered roof of your shelter.

The stronghold is surrounded in high corrugated iron walls and is a wide oval shape around 400mn long. There are several watchtowers dotted around its length. The sound of motors is just about audible from inside when the wind is right. In between your position and the stronghold are the usual ruined building and rubble-chocked roads, so you estimate it will take an hour or two to approach with care.

Merlot had kept a low profile the first day, spending most of it searching the campsite building for something missed. The discovery of the stronghold captured his interest, though, especially with the idea of adding more parts to his truck.

"Seems worth checking out," he says as he steps out of the shadows.

"A little reconnaissance in force would appear to be most appropriate," the Rat Collective declares, with a few dissenting voices chiming in under the general agreement.  "Alas, there are too few blind spots that will give us a safe approach, so we must do this the slow way and then remain as alert as we can."

They pause.

"And perhaps we should make certain to be inside before it gets dark?  Surely even the blindest of sentries can notice the burning glory that is our person!"

In reply to Ordus F. Rattus (msg #8):

"Good idea! We need a scout!"  He snaps his fingers, and sure enough one of his duplicates appear. "Volunteer says what?" He says suddenly to the new him.

"What?"

"Congrats! You just volunteered to scout for us. Go on now...that way..." He points.

"Son of a...you rotten...jerk!" His duplicate storms off to start scouting ahead.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:04, Tue 15 Feb 2011.

"Agreed, the place is interesting. I am not the stealthiest nor the smallest of people."

"Indeed, an interesting development," Bedlam consults the map to see if there is any reference to such a compound.

"Since it is situated below the surrounding ruins, we should consider other high observation points between here and there. Perhaps one of those buildings," the giant points out a few decrepit structures which manage to rise above the general collapse. "Of course, those are also likely points for their own scouts."

"And if those are automotive engines," he pauses when the wind brings the sound. "There may also be a clear roadway leading to the compound."

"Good!" he puts away the map as one of the Roaches begins scouting. "Since it's not too far away, and the day is young, what do you think of leaving our camp here so that we can approach the compound unburdened?"

"Good idea," the rat collective that forms S'kaar squeeks.

"We concur with our cousins," Ordo nodded.  "A secure spot to camp would be of great use.  And then...well, we already have a scout on the way, poor fellow!"

Bedlam grins broadly at his companions. "Right! We're losing daylight."

Speaking over his shoulder giant strides back toward the remains of the staircase leading down from the building's roof. "Ok, everybody pack a day's worth of food and water. Grab yer weapons and tech. Anything else that might be useful for scavenging, exploring, fighting and talking."

"Sis, we'll want to make it as unlikely as possible for anyone to wander into our camp while we're out visiting. And if they do wander in, we won't want them to find anything."

OOC: Shadow, does the map give any indication of who or what is in the direction of the engine-rumbling compound?

Multi-roaches reluctant duplicate scouts off ahead, and gets quite far before popping into oblivion. This might be a good way of proceeding, but the roaches have the same stealthiness as their creator... not much.

Let me know if you want to try the multi-scout approach, although you are still some ways from the stronghold. Which is close to but not marked on the roach's map. I will make another game post tomorrow.

Leaving your camp as secure as you can make it, you head on down towards the iron-walled compound, keeping in cover all the while. The sound of engines grows louder as you approach.

Bedlam's theory is proved correct when, after thirty minutes careful progress, you peer over a half collapsed wall and see a wide highway leading towards the structure that has evidently be cleared for vehicles. The road lies at the bottom of a wide trench, perhaps 10m wide by 3m deep. One hundred metres to your right (towards the stronghold) the road enters a tunnel and dips underground.

Take the road or stick to the ruins?

"Guys, I don't know if we can take these all these guys out in a fight... so should we approach openly?" S'kaar asks, quietly.

"A few to stay in hiding while others go to make an appearance."

"Decisions, decisions!  Better to keep to the shadows and be careful, and if we are wrong forgiveness may be sought as well as permission."

The Collective Rodent lapses into parliamentary muttering for a while.

"We sneak as best we can.  Just walking in will guarantee a fight, if they are hostile."

Bedlam crouches down behind the wall so he is hidden from the roadway, signaling the others that they should do likewise.

"S'kaar, leave a scout or two on the wall. I'm curious how much traffic this road gets, or if all the noise is coming from within the compound."

"Let's wait for a bit while I get things caught up," the giant pulls out the map and begins making some updates. "Everyone keep an eye out for their sentries and watchposts - a compound this large and noisy won't be unguarded. And I'd rather spot them before they spot us."

"Gives us a chance to judge the best approach," he winks.

OOC: It's still fairly early in the day; let's wait 30min or so to see what comes down the road, update the map, and check the immediate area.

Everyone should feel free to suggest a different course of action - Bedlam likes to talk :)

Is the trench of ancient design or just the result of rearranging debris?
From what direction does the road come - river, Compton, outside the suburbs?

In reply to The Shadow (msg #15):

The giant roach had stayed alive this long by using his duplicates for all the risk. The insect had done it all its life, and will keep doing it-despite complaints from himself...

(OOC-Still sending scout ahead)