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In Val Preszar.

Posted by GMFor group 0
GM
GM, 39 posts
Mon 5 Mar 2012
at 08:58
  • msg #1

In Val Preszar

345-1107
1000 Hours
Mirayn/Jungleblut
Startown Bar

Mirayn was a large planet, orbiting closest to the system's sun. It was cloaked in perpetual cloud. These clouds, of unusual composition, allowed in sufficient light to support a rich biosphere but deflected just enough to avoid overheating the planet. Abundant vegetation in the form of vast forests and swamps also regulated heat and the atmosphere to avoid a runaway greenhouse effect.

Outside the bar, the usual fine mist that permeated most of Mirayn most of the time showered gently down. At these latitudes it was cool and damp, the ever-present clouds a dark grey.

"So, will you help me?"

Lorain Messandi was a young woman with dark eyes, dark curly hair and eyeglasses. She was there at the head of an expedition from the Institute for System Studies on Alzenai (the League of Suns capitol), looking for her father... and the legendary Sky Raiders.

For the most part, the group that met regularly in Linus' bar was down on it's luck, desperate for a reason to get off Mirayn by any means necessary. Lorqain promised basically working passage on the Institute expedition and then passage on the lab ship, plus some credits (if any were left over in the budget).

She was looking for skilled personnel to help plan the expedition, plus provide security. Luckily, she ran into an old friend of her father's, and he knew some offworlders that needed a break. Both could help each other out.


GM Note: Please see the "Job Offer" handout in GM Reference. I am assuming that the PCs are going to be reacting more or less along those lines.

link to a message in this game
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:30, Fri 08 June 2012.
Linus Spruance
player, 6 posts
Ex-Navy Starman
9986A7
Mon 5 Mar 2012
at 09:27
  • msg #2

Re: In Val Preszar

Linus served the group, but unusually brought a bottle for himself and perched at the end of the table.

"Look, Lorain... if you are dead set on this, I'm coming with you. I owe it to your father to keep you safe."
Thomas Walker
player, 8 posts
Hunter
896786
Mon 5 Mar 2012
at 14:26
  • msg #3

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg #2):

Thomas picked up his gin and tonic and sipped appreciatively.  Just having a drink with ice in it was a step up in this miserable place.  It reminded him of Congo, a jungle planet with not much to recommend it, aside from the pharmaceuticals they could grow there.

"Hush, Linus.  This is just a little hunting trip to see if we can find the girl's father.  I'm in, if for no other reason than to get a shot at getting off this mudball.  How long's your father been missing?  Do you have any idea of what direction he headed off in?  Where was he last seen?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:57, Mon 05 Mar 2012.
Ken Jenkins
player, 13 posts
Ex-Marine Captain
67C889
Mon 5 Mar 2012
at 23:07
  • msg #4

Re: In Val Preszar

Ken looked at the others and then back at the pretty if naive young woman.  He would have taken just about any job to get off planet and this one actually looked halfway decent.  Although the girl had never led a field expedition before she seemed reasonable and willing to take advice.  "We'd be glad to sign up Lorain.  Between the lot of us we can handle the security and logistics.  Have you made any other arrangements for travel and equipment?  Do you have any idea of where to head?"

<ooc> I don't recall a mention of her father being missing or did I miss it? </ooc>
Lorain Messandi
NPC, 1 post
Scientist
69ABA8
Tue 6 Mar 2012
at 00:51
  • msg #5

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg #3):

"The search for my father's party was called off a year and a half ago. I've been in contact with them over the last year but the authorities refuse to re-open the case.

"He left from the city of Val Preszar, over in Momande. Val Preszar is called the "Gateway to the Outback" as that's where more expeditions and tours depart from. I have some idea as to where he might have gone, but I'd prefer not to share that information right now. My father had enemies who'd like to see him fail or worse, take credit for his discoveries, so I'm sorry for being so circumspect. I guess I'm rather like my father in that respect.

"Val Preszar is where we'll start our expedition. An advance party of some friends are already there and they've made preliminary arrangements."

"I've chartered a passenger hydrofoil to take us across to Momande. There's little air travel on this world. Something about atmospheric interference with radars and radio due to the charged particles hitting the planetary magnetic field. It's limited industrial and even agricultural development here on Mirayn."



OOC: Good point, it wasn't in the background but her father's disappearance is something that would definitely come up as a reason for the expedition. She worries about him and wouldn't be focused on proving his theories over rescuing him, or at least locating his body.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Tue 06 Mar 2012.
Ken Jenkins
player, 14 posts
Ex-Marine Captain
67C889
Tue 6 Mar 2012
at 04:31
  • msg #6

Re: In Val Preszar

Ken shakes his head sadly.  "I'm sorry to hear about your father Lorain.  I can also understand your secrecy.  I've read your father's book and followed a bit of the controversy.  And this place is full of vultures, thieves and vultures.  We'll be better off in Val Preszar."
Linus Spruance
player, 7 posts
Ex-Navy Starman
9986A7
Tue 6 Mar 2012
at 09:20
  • msg #7

Re: In Val Preszar

"He called in here fleetingly, stopped in town just the one night and was keeping his cards close to his chest about what he was doing... something about rivals. He wasn't forthcoming and the bar was busy... I didn't have enough time to talk with him properly."

Linus got up and made a circuit, checking that all was in order and that the wait staff were keeping everyone supplied, before returning to the group's table.

"Anyone need a refill?"
Thomas Walker
player, 9 posts
Hunter
896786
Tue 6 Mar 2012
at 13:22
  • msg #8

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg #7):

"Thank you, but no.  I'm all set.  It seems to me that the trail has gone cold.  I just have one question, when do we leave?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:41, Tue 06 Mar 2012.
Ken Jenkins
player, 15 posts
Ex-Marine Captain
67C889
Tue 6 Mar 2012
at 19:52
  • msg #9

Re: In Val Preszar

Ken smiled at Linus.  He'd spent enough time in the Marines to never pass up the offer of a drink.  "Another beer if you would Linus."

"If it's been a year and a half, the trail and everything else on it is likely stone cold."
  He looked to the girl; "Best to go sooner than later."
Neva Alexovna Morozova
player, 15 posts
Ex-Other Rogue
A89982
Wed 7 Mar 2012
at 03:20
  • msg #10

Re: In Val Preszar

Neva looked around at the table and wondered if she should have another drink or not. She didn't have much money and she had a tendency to keep what she could for she always seemed to lose it again.  Although it was a good thing to get along with ones shipmates at the beginning of any way.

"Another drink?  I'll take you up on that offer.  Just one more can't hurt me correct?"
Ken Jenkins
player, 16 posts
Ex-Marine Captain
67C889
Wed 7 Mar 2012
at 04:54
  • msg #11

Re: In Val Preszar

Ken smiled at the tough street girl next to him.  Her gritty determination had allowed the rag tag group of off worlders to stay ahead of the law while they scrabbled to get off planet.  "Enjoy it now."
Lorain Messandi
NPC, 2 posts
Scientist
69ABA8
Wed 7 Mar 2012
at 08:24
  • msg #12

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg #11):

She replied to the offer of a drink, "I'll have one for the road. Irish coffee."

"As for leaving, there is a transport of some kind down at the hoverport with some gear (more is available in Val Preszar). We can't even take a jet for long-distance travel, some kind crazy atmospheric effect."

"We take off in two hours. Enough time to pack."


Lorain looked around Linus's bar, the Bar Code. "Nice decor!"
Linus Spruance
player, 8 posts
Ex-Navy Starman
9986A7
Wed 7 Mar 2012
at 09:04
  • msg #13

Re: In Val Preszar

"Thanks... Two hours? Yes, I can manage that... just about. I'll see what I can raid from the kitchen."

He got up to replenish drinks as requested.
Lorain Messandi
NPC, 3 posts
Scientist
69ABA8
Wed 7 Mar 2012
at 09:45
  • msg #14

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg #13):

She looked apologetic. "It's the best I could do in terms of booking. Otherwise, it'd be too expensive. We can meet back here, in an hour and a half, then take a cab down to the hoverport?"
Thomas Walker
player, 10 posts
Hunter
896786
Wed 7 Mar 2012
at 17:24
  • msg #15

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Lorain Messandi (msg #12):

"OK, meet you at the port in no more than two hours?"
Neva Alexovna Morozova
player, 16 posts
Ex-Other Rogue
A89982
Wed 7 Mar 2012
at 17:45
  • msg #16

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Lorain Messandi (msg #14):

Neva wondering what to do to while away the time.  She couldn't make one drink last that long but perhaps she'd just tag along with the others to see if they got into trouble or not.  Knowing some of them it was more of a question of "when" and not if.  Still it was better than trying to eek out an existence on your own when you were out of work.  Sometimes the jobs came too few and far between.

When the drinks arrived, Neva was quiet and sipped slowly.  She remembered coming into bars like this. Sometimes it was to bust somebody but sometimes it was just to tail them.  She thought is was a good job and at the time and considering where she was now it was.  She had forgotten one rule...keep your guard up.  She really wanted to trust people though.  Trust brought a contentment that meant you didn't constantly have to watch your own back.  She thought she had that once but as it turned out her trust had been misplaced and they set her up.  Now she was back in the same type of bars looking for whatever work she could get.  Perhaps this time her luck would change...stranger things had happened before.
Lorain Messandi
NPC, 4 posts
Scientist
69ABA8
Wed 7 Mar 2012
at 22:09
  • msg #17

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg #15):

She checked her notes on her hand computer.

"Sounds good. Meet you at slip, ah, 44A. Trans-Oceans Charters."

"Again, sorry for the short notice. I was running around like a madwoman. Organising things is a lot tougher than I realised! More expensive, too."

This message was last edited by the player at 22:11, Wed 07 Mar 2012.
Thomas Walker
player, 11 posts
Hunter
896786
Wed 7 Mar 2012
at 22:25
  • msg #18

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Lorain Messandi (msg #17):

"No problem.  Slip 44A, Trans Ocean Charters."

Thomas shook her hand and headed back to the coffin hotel he rented.  Close and cramped, he was looking forward to the chance to be out in the bush.

Opening his locker, he found that nothing had been disturbed.  He grabbed his pack and stuffed his jacket into it, along with the rest of his kit, closing the door on the empty locker.  He slung his pack over one shoulder, heavy with ammunition and camping supplies.  At his coffin, he opened the hatch with his thumb print, and pulled out his gun case.  Unzipping it, he quickly ascertained that his weapons were still inside, and he closed it.  This he took in his right hand, and with his pack over his right shoulder, made his way to the hotel desk.

"I'll be checking out," he said to the man behind the counter.  The man grunted and said

"That will be $25Cr."  Thomas handed him the last of his cash, and headed out into the street, headed for the docks for Trans Ocean Charters.
Ken Jenkins
player, 17 posts
Ex-Marine Captain
67C889
Wed 7 Mar 2012
at 23:29
  • msg #19

Re: In Val Preszar

Ken nodded back to Lorain.  "I'll be back here in about 90 minutes to meet for the trip down to the docks."  He chuckles at her comment about cost;  "Well, we can help you with the organization at least and leave you free to handle the science stuff."

Turning to Neva Ken smiled.  "Hey there, I'm Ken.  I've seen you around but never caught your name.  Can I buy the next drink and maybe a last dinner?  I've got so little kit up in the room it will take no time to pack."
GM
GM, 43 posts
Game
Master
Thu 8 Mar 2012
at 00:15
  • msg #20

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg #18):

Outside was a cold drizzle from the perpetually gray skies. A wheezing and rusty taxi picked him up, waited at the entrance to the moulding flea-bag in Startown where his meagre possessions were stored. After paying off François at the desk, they trundled down to the harbour and the hoverport.

They passed forests of cargo derricks clawing the gray skies, dilapidated warehouses, banks of grain elevators, rusting freighters tied off to wharves. Around them rose hills terraced for farming, most of the surrounding temperate evergreen rain forest having been cleared long ago.

Here at the seaport were the few "gogs" Thomas had seen on this world. They disliked the "freezing" northern continent of Grenven and possessed little land there. Grenven it was largely the sole province of the ruling landowning caste and agricultural combines. Still, they needed someone for the back-breaking work of loading and unloading the ships and watercraft that sailed the oceans of this massive worlds, so there were many 4-eyed gog Stevedors, dockworkers and longshoremen (although the foremen were almost exclusively human).

Finally, they reached the hoverport, which was new. Glass and steel terminal buildings dominated the shore side, massive concrete slips and rampways jutted out in the open. Hovercraft and hydrofoils of different sizes darted in and out.

Tied off at the designated slip was a large odd-looking hybrid aircraft in blue-and-white "TRANS-OCEAN CHARTERS" livery that looked a little like a seaplane.


This message was last edited by the GM at 00:34, Thu 08 Mar 2012.
Thomas Walker
player, 12 posts
Hunter
896786
Thu 8 Mar 2012
at 00:31
  • msg #21

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to GM (msg #20):

Thomas looked around, and found a waiting area for 44A.
Ken Jenkins
player, 18 posts
Thu 8 Mar 2012
at 00:31
  • [deleted]
  • msg #22

Re: In Val Preszar

This message was deleted by the player at 16:48, Thu 08 Mar 2012.
Neva Alexovna Morozova
player, 17 posts
Ex-Other Rogue
A89982
Thu 8 Mar 2012
at 01:22
  • msg #23

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg #19):

Neva nodded to Ken and smiled.  "Hi.  I'm Neva.  How can I turn down a free dinner.  Yeah I don't have much either and was wondering what to do with my time until departure.  Thanks for saving me a headache in figuring out what to do."
Linus Spruance
player, 9 posts
Ex-Navy Starman
9986A7
Thu 8 Mar 2012
at 09:35
  • msg #24

Re: In Val Preszar

Linus found that the next hour flew past in a whirlwind of activity, arranging with the senior barman to run the place in his absence, gathering together some personal kit for the trip and rummaging through the kitchen for supplies (to the disgust of his chef!).

He took one last look around the bar, savouring its dark purple walls decorated with seemingly abstract black and white lines, based on the archaic labelling system that was, or so a book had told him, an early attempt at machine-readable labels for stock-control purposes. The name 'bar code' had just stuck in his mind, so when he had finally mustered out of the Navy and set up his own place, it seem appropriate, pleasantly obscure yet capable of a quick explanation for the curious.

He headed off to catch his ride before he changed his mind and stayed. Still, he felt an obligation to his old friend, not so much to hare off looking for him but to keep his girl safe if she chose to do so.
Ken Jenkins
player, 19 posts
Ex-Marine Captain
67C889
Thu 8 Mar 2012
at 16:47
  • msg #25

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg #19):

"Very good Neva, I always hate eating alone and if we're headed for the bush we'll not get a chance to eat too many good meals for a while."  He orders a pair of steak (or local analogue) dinners and a pitcher of beer.  "So, what brings you treasure seeking on Miryam?"

After dinner he heads up to his room (she can tag along if she likes) and gathers his gear.  Loading up in the cab he chatted with Neva on the ride over.  When they arrived Ken dismounted from the cab and looked about.  Picking up his gear he threw the pack over his shoulder and headed to the departure area.  He'd seen the natives before but never thought much of them as they were primitive and of not much consequence except as laborers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:32, Thu 08 Mar 2012.
Neva Alexovna Morozova
player, 19 posts
Ex-Other Rogue
A89982
Thu 8 Mar 2012
at 18:23
  • msg #26

Re: In Val Preszar

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg #25):

Neva enjoyed her steak and beer and ate it slowly as if savoring every single bite and chew of it.  She would have been happy with a burger and fries but this was more than acceptable.  During dinner she nodded at the appropriate times and when Ken asked about her reason for being there stopped to think on the answer.  Finally she settled on a shrug of the shoulders and the vague, "You know...in between jobs.  Things haven't been as steady as I'd like and thought I needed a change of pace."

She followed him up to his room and grabbed her stuff on the way out.  She looked around as the cab sped to their destination.  "Haven't been here long but I'm not too sure I'll miss it either."

As they all climbed out of the cab she picked up her belongings and followed Ken assessing him from the back and hid a smile.  She knew that she would be more friendly once she was in space.  Then she'd know that she had the job and could start to relax a bit.
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