Rising she grimaced at the familiar pain thruout her body and looked over the room where the main fight took place. "Hmmm, If we take over this building then we will have to here to defend it from other scavengers, do we have enough people to defend and prowl around the ruins also?."

"Well, Socket here says he can get the warbot back online."

Bedlam levels a concerned look at the badder. "Can't say he'd make a good frontman to welcome guests while we're out delving."

The giant shifts his gaze to the screens. "How tight can you lock this place up while we're out and about, Socket? The back door was a hefty deterrent, and the roof would have been rough without your help."

"So the question is the front door," Bedlam turns to Flora. "And we'll just have to be extra considerate about whatever we store here."

"Yep.  Really it's about getting that 'bot back on line.  That thing was a pretty effective deterrent."

"We'd better take you to have a look before you promise anything, though, Socket.  We had to wreck it to stop it killing us all."

"We should also take a look around the rest of this place while we've got the chance."

Tom would like the chance to work over the salvage here but if they were to stay it was more important to get the building to a defensible state as quickly as possible.

"There's a five centimeter thick bast door we can close at the front. The Cook usually kept it open. He liked having guests over to eat" answers Socket with a shudder. "Let's go and check out Butch then we can get started on the back door" he continues, evidently speaking about the robot.

"A blast door?" Tom asks, incredulous, "What was this place?  Surely the cook can't have set up all these defences himself."

"Still, let's check out...Butch" Tom raises one stony eyebrow at the warbot's nickname.  "We don't know how much time we've got until the first visitors arrive."

Under Socket's direction you work until the building is secure. Just before dawn your work is complete and you grab a few hours of much needed sleep. No-one seems inclined to visit; evidently the Cook inspired a great deal of fear. But the peace and quiet surely cannot last for long...

OK the robot has to be repaired outside. With reference to the combat map, tell me how you will be set up to defend your tech. Remember, in Socket's office there are feeds from security cameras, some a few blocks away...)

"This is nice," Bedlam says, pulling an ancient metal disk from under a kitchen cabinet. "Got a good weight and balance to it..."

The disk, fashioned of solid iron, is almost one meter in diameter and ten centimeters thick with two small holes near opposite edges.

"Mmmet Row See Wer," the giant carefully sounds out the ancient text. "What do you suppose that means?"

"Guess it doesn't really matter," he says, hooking it onto his belt where it clangs noisily against his armor.
OOC: This is Bedlam's new masterwork, two-handed, heavy, ranged weapon:
Accuracy +4
Damage 2d8+2
Range: 10 squares

"Rufus," he pulls the dwarf down from his shoulder. "Got a new job for you. This is Socket. He's going to need some assistance watching the shop when the rest of us are out and about. And you're going to help him."

He cocks an eyebrow at his erstwhile missile weapon. "Should be a little safer than having me toss you around, but just as important."

Roach drops fromthe ceiling aas quietly as...well a cockroach and moves over tothe others "Well is there anything you want me to do.... seems as you saved my hide its only fare I repay the service done to me"

OOC: So the building is secure, we've had some sleep, and you want to know how we are set up while repairing the robot?



"Sure," Bedlam replies, giving up his search for breakfast possibilities in the old dining room. "Why don't you help Tom with the repairs until Socket has a chance to show me how to work the security feeds. Keep your weapons nearby."

"Flora, you have guard duty - stay within range of my thoughts, in case something comes up. You can help them move the heavy parts if they need it, but your primary focus needs to be on anyone coming to pay a visit."

"Ordus, scout around some more - not too far. It would be nice to locate a steady water supply. Be careful - we want you back in one... well, we want all of you back."

"Socket, give me a quick rundown on the control center," he says, nodding the dabber toward the basement stairs. "Then we'll get you back up here to work on Butch."

OOC: This puts Tom and Roach in the vicinity of Butch, say H10 and I10.

Flora is somewhere on the south side of the courtyard, say N17. Either standing guard, or patrolling.

Ordus is somewhere off the map - an opportunity for his character to disappear if his player doesn't show up.

Bedlam and Socket are in the basement, watching the monitors. Bedlam is not the sharpest tool in the shed. It might take a while for him to catch on, or he might miss something significant after Socket heads back up.

Everyone should feel free to adjust their character's action / position as desired.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:42, Sun 29 June 2014.

You set up your defences and socket gets to work on the robot. Just before midday you spot a trio of dabbers nervously approaching the Soup Kitchen. They look like the ones that were trailing you from Compton, and the big tail you spoke to is gingerly waving a grubby white handkerchief...
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:22, Tue 06 Aug 2013.

Roach was just cleaning his greasy hands, all four of them, after helping with the robot repairs when he spotted the three dabbers approaching. Chucking the cloth down he picked up his nearby crossbow, made sure the bolt was loaded ten he quickly scuttled up the wall and hid in the shadows observing the approaching figures
This message was last edited by the player at 07:25, Tue 06 Aug 2013.

OOC: Those were dabbers, not badders. Big difference, like between thieving halflings and blood-thirsty goblins :)

~Keep a sharp eye - they may not be alone,~ Bedlam's thoughts enter the minds of the crew even before he ducks his head to emerge from the Soup Kitchen. ~Socket, get down to the control room and let us know if anyone else is coming.~

"Greetings, Big Tail," the giant grins broadly at the approaching dabbers. "I did not expect to see you until we returned to Compton."

"You wish to negotiate further." he says, indicating the handkerchief. "What brings you so far from the collective?"

Socket gets inside as the dabbers cautiously emerge into the plaza. The lead dabber gives Bedlam a tight smile. "So someone finally took out the Cook. Good job! You've done us all a big favour so in return we're not going to ambush you on the way back to Compton and collect the bounty on your head from the porkers. But some free advice, watch out, 'cos as soon as they hear about you taking over the Soup Kitchen they'll be here in force"

The grin fades from Bedlam's face as the dabbers mention the impending porker conflict.

"I thank you for this information," the giant nods slowly. "The cook was a subtle and dangerous opponent. And for all the unpleasantness of his activities, the kitchen has many positive features."

"But you must share in some of our victory," he gestures magnanimously, pulling a sack from his belt. Opening it, he shakes out the remains of two security droids. The various plastic and metal parts sparkle in the midday sunlight. One of the shells, with wires dangling, bobs in the air, suspended a few inches off the ground.

"These still have some good bits," he notes. "Floater even works on that one."

With a large hand he sweeps the swag back into the sack and delivers it respectfully to the Big Tail.

Looking around at the plaza, he continues. "We are considering the possibility of setting up residence here, maybe a small trading post."

"Assuming," he looks back at the dabbers. "The neighbors are not opposed."

"The porkers, of course, will eventually have to be dealt with. But the longer we can avoid that confrontation, the better. If you do not have any pressing duties, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on the matter."

"Flora," he smiles at the giant plant. "Sis, could you bring some chairs for our guests? Yes, I think over here in the shade would be nice."

"I apologize for not inviting you inside," he turns back to the dabbers. "The dining room is not yet presentable after our discussions with the cook. May I offer you a glass of water? It's quite good - no glow."

 A few of her leaves seemed to rise off of her body as Bedlam told her to bring the bandits some chairs to sit on. She glanced over to him and snorted softly and looked back at the dabbers.

 "They can sit on the ground if they need to. Till we get some kind of business sit up i dont want any near or inside the place as we change things around some."

 It was kinda hard for her plant face to show any great emotion but the hard stare she gives the raiders/ambushers would suffice.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:49, Wed 07 Aug 2013.

The dabber smiles his thanks but does not try any water. The lessons of the Soup Kitchen have obviously sunk in. "Appreciate the offer, but we must get back and report. Good luck to you, you'll need it. If you're still here in a week we'll send a trade delegation. Oh, by the way" continues the big tail, trying a little too hard to look casual "did you by any chance come across one of our kin, a little runt called Socket? The Cook took him as tribute and we'd really like to have him back with us."

Bedlam shrugs with an embarrassed grin as his attempts at hospitality are rejected by both the crew and the guests. He does a fairly good job of concealing his relief when the dabbers indicate the visit is coming to an end.

"Another dabber?" Bedlam pauses, searching his memory, apparently unsuccessfully. "Should be easy enough to recognize. If we see him, we'll let him know you're looking for him."

"Tribute, huh?" the giant ponders the significance of this revelation. "Any idea what the cook's relationship was with the porkers?"

The dabber looks piercingly at Bedlam for a brief moment, then relaxes. "Same as ours, a lot of foot soldiers under his thumb. What can I say, the Cook made good soup. Also he didn't push it, a few favours once in awhile but mostly he stayed out of your business. The porkers will owe you for killing him, but not enough to stop 'em killing you. They'll probably make it quick, mind"

The dabbers take their leave and the crew resume their assigned roles. Later on that morning a trio of new travelers arrive in the plaza...

OK news player, a brief description of your new characters would be good.

Crinkles ambles into the plaza with a confidence that comes with routine.  He is a yeti, and even for a typically large creature, this one seems stocky and healthy.  A light haze of purple-black sparks seem to flicker around the entire body of this creature.  Strapped to the chest of the Yeti is the hood of a truck, on his back is the hood of that very same truck.  His shoulders bear the wheel wells of it, the bumpers are twisted and crunched to form a make shift belt.  On his back is a beaten up parking meter and an autocannon.

He makes his way into the kitchen, expecting to see the cook...

Tom tried his best to help, really, but there wasn't much he could do with the warbot; mechanics wasn't really his thing, let alone robotic engineering.  So when Socket finished giving Bedlam a tour of the surveillance facilities, Tom was happy to switch to guard duty.

When the dabbers showed up, Tom stayed in the background.  It seemed unlikely that they would try anything but Tom was glad to see both Bedlam and Flora exercising a degree of caution.

When he got the chance for a break Tom took his own tour of their new quarters and was pleased to discover a heavy sledgehammer in a workshop area and a long knife in the kitchen, both made of good steel.

Late morning finds Tom in the front room, contemplating a selection of materials for a new set of armour while re-binding the handle on the sledge.

As Crinkles ambles into the plaza he does not find things in the routine condition he expects. The first thing he probably notices is five meters of heavily armed robot blocking the approach to the Soup Kitchen door. Next he might notice some movement off to the side in a tall green shrubbery. (When did that grow? Is it holding a giant club?) Then there's the shifting rubble, which is also strangely anthropomorphic and carrying a sledgehammer.

Needless to say, he pauses slightly before stepping out into the middle of the plaza. About this time a very large man (easily on the same scale as Crinkles) ducks his head to emerge from the interior of the kitchen.

"Soup Kitchen is under new management," the giant keeps an eye on the new comer. "Afraid it's closed while we make some renovations."

"Cookie is gone? Gone gone or left some place else?" For the second and third gone, Crinkles draws his thumb across his throat twice in a quick motion. His face is held in a grimace. Life was so fleeting afterall.

Just after the new arrival finishes asking his question a large red humanoid insect like creature in a trench coat drops down to the left of him from the shadows of an overhang on the building.

Lightly cradled in his hands is a formidable looking cross bow with what looks like an iron bound club strapped to his waist.

"Gone as in is no more ...... gone as in to meet his maker..... gone as in....oh you get the picture" said the guy with a smile spreading across his not un-handsome but weird face.

Bedlam shrugs sheepishly after Roach Coach answers the yeti.

"Sorry if you were a friend of his," the giant says. "Doesn't seem like he had many ... willing ... friends. And we weren't willing."

Crinkles jumped at the arrival of the roach. But calmed himself before he inadvertently escalated the issue.  He looks to both occupants. "He made good food, made me feel relaxed."