The town of Ant Hill Ease is a relatively new shanty town outside of a major ruins only a hundred kilometers from Core City.  It boasts a number of amenities and already has two major teams of relic hunters using the facilities as well as a number of independents.  Locations included below:

Namben's Tavern -->  Namben's Tavern is a converted warehouse at the center of own.  The ancient building is made of durast metal.  The main room is a restaurant with a central raised platform holding a number of tables for a large party.  There is a stage on the west wall across from the double door entrance to the east.  On the south side of the room is Namben's bar with nearly twenty stools.  On the north wall are two fire pits for cooking and keeping the room warm during the winter.  Behind the bar is a section of the warehouse refitted into rooms for Namben's family and another hall for itinerant wait staff.  Up the stairs and leading well back into the building are a series of rooms that will likely never be completely used.  Namben keeps those in the back sealed and only uses the first few down the three large hallways heading back west.

Adson's Emporium -->  Hance Adson is a retired relic hunter who opened up his Emporium after discovering the ruins.  Rather than do the work himself, he decided to get rich by trading with the relic hunters doing the spelunking.  His durast building may have been some kind of bank or technology company.  It has reinforced walls, few openings, and even a lining in the walls that protects from EMPs.  Hance has a grown daughter, Irin, who is an incredible beauty, but wants to be known for her mind.  She is a talented researcher and data analyst with some relic hunter skills of her own.  Hance will trade in any non-banned or slightly questionable tech brought up from the ruins, but will do nothing to challenge the Star God, Vexember.

Sheriff's Office -->  Sheriff Zick Yolte is the head law enforcement officer for Ant Hill Ease.  He is a kindly old man (usually) who wants peace and to retire with no major incidents in town.  He is well liked and has a crack team of deputies:

===>  Tila Whitestar is a tech specialist, sharp shooter, and data analyzer specializing in psychology.  She is a woman in a rugged environment in what is a male dominated career, which makes her occassionally overeager.

===>  Callis Urtanil is Yolte's second in command.  He is the muscle backup and typically doubles as a bouncer for drunk or unruly relic hunters at Namben's bar.  Callis is also intelligent with some decent relic hunter style skills, which he mostly uses to track criminal hunters.

==>  Arrison Ford is barely a deputy as he focuses on vehicle maintenance, equipment, gear, and whatnot for the sheriff's office.  He is young, handsome, tall, and a gentleman.  More than one of the local waitresses have done their best to gain his interest.  Arrison generally puts them off gently, but doesn't try to get close to any of the females or explain why he isn't interested.

Relic Hunter Barracks -->  At the edge of town is the barracks.  A square, single-story building with a large central room filled with amenities installed by the hunters themselves over the few years the town has been here.  Several hallways lead off the main room, each with room for one gang and then some, but usually each is claimed by one gang and no one else.

[Updates to this first post will be made as more parts of the town are fleshed out.]

The door chime to the Emporium dings as the door opens.  The man behind the counter, Hance Adson presumably, looks up from the device he is meticulously repairing.  "Welcome to Adson's Emporium.  I've not see you in here before.  I'm Hance.  What can I do for you?"

Django tips his wide brimmed hat. "Afternoon. M'names Django. Django Blint, of the Core Marshalls, Tracker 07th Class. I'm lookin' fer a man named Tump... and no, he ain't in trouble".

Hance continues to tinker witb the part.  "Django...Jango...heh.  You're the one that saved Stacia.  Allow me t' express my personal thanks for that.  My girl, Irin, and Stacia are friends."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:33, Wed 16 Nov 2016.

"I ain't one t'see women and children suffer, sir. Happens as a plus I didn't much care fer Dafe, so undoin' one'a his wrongs was a perk". As he speaks, Django watches Hance tinker away. "Say there, think ya could take a look'it this thang?" he says, referring to his anti-grav garness. "Pulled me clean out uv'a bind once already and it's bout outta juice".

Through the heavy door to the back, you can hear the muffled sound of several items clattering to the floor.

Django arches an eyebrow, keeping his attention to Hance.

Hance looks up at the harness and whistles low and appreciatively.  "Anti-grav harness.  You have a real expensive find there, Officer."  He comes around the counter and holds out a hand toward the gear.  "May I?"

"Sure thang". Django fumbles with the harness for a moment. "Err..uh.. we see thang is, I had a bit a help gettin' it on t'begin with... you mind?".

Hance waves off Django's efforts.  "No, no.  Just leave it on."  He flips a few switches, and pulls up a holographic display.  After some manipulation he turns the display off.  "You have about .04% power left.  I suspect you have no way to recharge it?"

He doesn't wait for an answer.  Instead, he heads into the back and turns right.  There is the clatter of moving thingamajigs as he searches.

Straight back there is a heavy door with some serious condensation on it.  There are two voices coming from it, low, but one is female the other male.  The female seems excited about something.

Django candidly takes a few steps to peer into the back of the shop.

As Django starts poking his nose around the back of the shop, the large heavy door in back swings open. Out steps a man wearing a heavily insulated coat over the typical relic hunter leathers. He is equipped with a modest number of gadgets, and a low hanging, wide brimmed hat covers much of his face.

Tump shakes the cold off and sees an unfamiliar face standing near the counter. He walks over and extends his hand. "You must be the tracker that helped out Stacia. I'd say that deserves a good handshake, even if you haven't already been told so."  He grabs Django's hand and shakes it firmly. A little too firm in fact. It's almost like a vice grip in that macho challenging sort of way.

"So, what brings you all the way out here?" He says, as eyes peer out from under his hat and lock with Django's.

Just as the challenge is issued, the beautiful Irin walks out of the back room as well.

Still holding Tump's handshake firmly, Django "I'm trackin' a murderer in th' area, an' I don't intend t'leave here without em'".

The sight of Irin gives Django pause, but only for a moment. His inner monologue loudly exlaims have mercy! in his head, though his outer demeanor doesn't show it.

He releases his end of the grip from Tump's hand, and says "However, I'm in th' market for a guide back down int'a the ruins".

Tump draws his hand back when Django releases his grip. "Murderer, eh? Can't say I keep company with any of those, but maybe the name might ring a bell."

He starts to wrangle the heavy coat off of him. "Who might you be looking for?"

"First thangs first. I was with the Voidchaser when I first went down huntin' Stacia. Two'a their own double crossed em', bout blew us all to pieces, and to my understandin', they're still stranded down there. I'd like t'see them found. I'm gone need testimonies from all of em' so I can get a solid warrant put out fer the two what set us all up. You game fer a search party, Mr. Tump?".
This message was last edited by the player at 01:19, Thu 17 Nov 2016.

Irin unzips her coat for the cold room and shrugs it off before hanging it on a peg.  It is rather distracting, but not intentionally so.  She puts her hands in her back pockets, probably to warm them.  "Based on what Stacia said, y'all were in the old bank in the lower levels.  That's where most of the relic hunters are focusing right now.  'Cause its a bank."  She laughs lightly and rolls her eyes at her own humor.

"Inarra knows her way around those parts."  Her tone ends the statement almost as a question, perhaps for Tump.

Tump smiles at Irin's comment.

"It's just Tump." He walks over and returns Hance's coat. "I'm familiar with the area you're talking about. I was down there around the same time y'all were. I don't suppose it would hurt taking another trip down there."

He wags a finger back at no one in particular. "Just so we're clear. I've got first dibs on whatever we find down there."

"Well then good news fer you, I'm interested in warm bodies, not trinkets".

Turning his attention to Irin. "I take it you must be Irin. Tila told me you's sharp as a needle point. It's nice t'meet'cha ma'am. I'm Django. Django Blint, of the Core Marshalls, Tracker 07th class".

"Irin."  She says cooly.  After a look from her father she smiles politely and holds out a hand for shaking.  "You might call me the town historian.  My father deals in hardware.  I trade in information, mostly about the ruins."

She turns to Tump.  "If you're going with him after Ruffin, I'll keep collating information on the falcon.  Let me know when you get back and we'll discuss anything that comes up between now and then."

Tump nods. "Can't argue with that." He looks over at the tracker. "Let me know what you're ready."

"Oh, I almost forgot." He spins back around to Irin. "You still have that disk I gave you?"

"Oh, yes."  She reaches into a pouch at her waist and hands over a small data storage device.  "I made a copy so I can keep working on it, if that's okay?"

"No problem. We can catch up later and see if you found anything new." He smiles, and Irin disappears into the back room again.

As Django gets his device fiddled with, Tump walks around the shop looking at the new items for sale.

"You reckon Hance can recharge this thang?" he asks Tump, regarding his anti-grav harness. "Saved my bacon once already, wouldn't mind bein' able to get some more use outta it".

He shrugs a little bit. "Hance has got the best run on supplies in town. Depends on the power source, but if anyone can get that harness up and running, it's him."

"Me...", he gestures to his boots, "Solar powered. Doesn't have as hefty a charge, but it's easy to power back up."

"Solar powered... hmm. Sounds handy on a clear day. T'answer yer question about leavin', soon as Hance tells me whether'er not he can juice this thang up, we can discuss rolling out. Yer gonna be the tour guide on this screw ball safari, so whatever you thanks best'll do. I am pressed hard fer time though".

"Last thing you wanna do is rush the ruins. Nothing'll make you more late for your date than being dead. What's the big rush? The ruins are going anywhere."

Hance comes back with a small belt with an array of pouches.  "Here ya go.  I only found one refill cartridge, but it has a capacitor on it that should hook to the relay on the harness.  The refill cartridge is a backup capacitor with the same capacity, charge, and discharge rating as the main one.  You can switch them out as needed and they'll charge at any outlet or standard power station."

He holds it out to Django.  "Care to try it out?"

While Hance and Irin aren't in the room, Django comes clean. "Truth is, that murderer? Vyctor Kerr. Ever heard of em'?".

Tump relaxes a little bit, almost looks relieved hearing the name.

"Vyctor Kerr?" He says, raising an eyebrow. "Just about everyone around here has heard of him. Can't say I've ever met him though. You'd probably have better luck finding Irin's ghost."

Before Django can respond, Hance enters the room.

~~~

Having his harness adjusted and refitted with the new cartridge, Django takes a few steps back. Adjusting the controls on the thing, he slowly lifts off of the floor a few inches and hovers for a moment. "Yeah, I'd say works purty good now. Wha'do'I owe ya?".

Tump scrunches up bit face a bit, kinda like he was impressed with the gear, but he tries to pull it off like he'd seen it before.

"Belt, capacitors, wiring altogether 750."

All righty. Thank ya sir".

Having paid for services rendered, Django brings his attention back to Tump. "You got anywhere we can discuss business sp'cifics?".

Tump nods. "The tavern is pretty quiet this time of day. Most folks are already working or at the ruins. There shouldn't be too many ears over there."

"Sounds good, Tump. Uh, Mr. Adson, thank ya again. I'll be in touch with ya if I have anymore questions".

Django turns to exit the Emporium with Tump and head to the tavern.

As Tump guessed, the tavern is relatively empty.  Namben, the tavern keeper comes over to Django wiping his hands on a towel before holding it out to shake.  "Drinks are on the house for as long as you stay in Ant Hill Ease, Mr. Blint.  What you did for Stacia...well, I can't thank you enough!"

Django shakes hands with Namben."Mighty kind of ya. Fer the time bein', I'll just have somethin' cold and wet. Waters fine".
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Fri 18 Nov 2016.

"Hello, Tump.  Rounds free for you, today, as well for your help."  As he bustles around behind the bar, Namben continues to talk.  "Never figured you two for working buddies.  Anything I can do for you...you know, besides th' drinks?  Odd time of day to have customers."

"Never too early to celebrate a good day, eh Namben?" He nods over at Django. "Just wanted to do this man a solid for helping out Stacia."

He looks around for a table in the corner. "Anything new on the menu?"

"No, nothing new today.  I need to send out Ped and Xeke to do some hunting."  He smiles at Django.  "I hear the serrataraptors are teaming in the upper levels.  They have salty meat."

Judging, which Namben is very good at doing, that the two of you wish privacy to talk, he sets your drinks down at a booth in the north-east corner of the room, far from the stage and stairs and bar.

He takes Tump's order for an early dinner then tucks the flimsy in his apron.  "Back with your food in a few.  If you need anything else, just let me know.  Wait staff will be back in half an hour to get ready for the supper rush."

Once the setting is private: "Now then, about Kerr. My reports show me he went in to hidin' in the ruins outside a' town after assassinatin' a group a' government folks. Somehow, some way, it says he managed to use the rains a' Vexember t' do it. When I was down there, I met a feller named Ky who claimed he lived there, and gave me a hand. I'm still tryin' t'get a bead on who he really is, but I have my suspicions. What I'm wantin' t'do is first an' foremost is find the Voidchasers and get them folks outta there, or at least set em' on a path fer exit. One a their folks got banged up purty bad and I don't know how long he's gone last without seein' a doc. Once that's done, I'd like to pay Ky a visit an' get down to business about who he really is, and about some stuff he told me. Rushed me off outta there after my first meetin' with him and I wasn't in no position to argue". Django takes a long drink of water. "Tell me somethin' though. I keep hearin' about this Irin's ghost or whatever they are. For one, I thought Irin was Hance's girl. Fer two, I know fer a fact it was this Ky feller what got Stacia the rest a' the way outta the ruins once I fell and went lights out".
This message was last edited by the player at 22:50, Fri 18 Nov 2016.

Their meals arrive and Tump casually listens to Django as he goes on about Kerr as he eats. Mention of Ky, however, give him pause. He stops chewing and just stares at Django until he is done speaking.

"That's a name you might want to keep under your breath. From what I understand, he takes great lengths to make sure he stays as anonymous as possible. I've yet to meet a man that's ever said they've laid eyes on him. A ghost at best if you catch my meaning. If I were to put two and two together, I'd say that's who is Irin is looking for. Who, as best as I know, is Hance's daughter. Not sure why you'd be wondering about that though." He adjusts himself in his seat. "By the way, how'd you manage to get out of there alive? Stacia said you took quite a fall. Three kilometers down."

"About finding Kerr, not really sure where to begin other than the ruins. A man could hide indefinitely down there."

He leans back in his chair. "Getting you down to the levels where you say the Voidchasers got stuck, that's not much of a problem. You've got a snowball's chance in hell of finding him. Likely he'll find you before you find him."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:26, Sat 19 Nov 2016.

Django adresses Tump's questions as they come.

In regards to Ky:
"I'll keep that in mind then. Aside from Tila, yer the first I mentioned it to. I can tell ya this though, I saw the man, plain as day. An' I know where he lives, though I doubt he's there often. Prolly has more than one hole to hide up in too. An' speakin' a hole, I don't know exactly th' distance I fell, but what I do know is where his house was, was accordin' to.."him", 6 kilometers below. Said he saved me from my fall with somethin' called a "grav-net", and then he went on to help Stacia get on up outta there. When I came to, he was standin' over me in 'is house. Then he started in on me about all sorts of philosophical mess about "countin' on me t' be the bad guy" and what have ya. I 'spect it has to do with my job. I ain't exactly easy on criminals, and truth be told, I don't take well to injustices and such, regardless a' the source.. I know what he said should jes be chalked up to rhetoric, but fer some reason, he got in my head a bit.". Django sighs and takes another sip of his water. "He gave me this anti-grav harness I'm wearin' now, and it took me straight up a hole back to the surface".

On Irin's Ghost:
"As far as Irin and Irin's ghost go, th' names were a bit confusin' tryin' to sort out who was who and what was what, on account of not bein' from round here and knowin' the full story".

On finding Ky again:
"Like I said, I know of at least one place he holes up in. Given what all he said t' me though, I reckon he'll expect me comin' back at some point or another...".

Django drains the rest of his water. "I should'a ordered somethin' stronger. I get the feelin' I'm in for a few more long days what with all this... I don't even know why I'm tellin' you half a' this. You kind'a remind me of a feller I used to work with. He's dead now, got gunned down chasin' after some spice runners a few years back. Great guy though. Great cop too. Anways... that's the gist of everythang. So now I ask you, you in fer some police work? I don't mean I'm gone deputize you and all that scrab, but it's becomin' pretty clear that I ain't equipped to go solo on this one. I ain't doin' nobody no good if I'm dead, and heck, that's almost been the case about 3 times now in the last day or so. I need somebody with th' stones t' have my back like I have theirs. You in?".

"Yeah, alright." He says, trying to sound as if he is reluctantly giving in. "I've got a few things I need to collect in there. I suppose it won't hurt to have an extra gun at my side."

He stands up and heads over to the main counter. "Thanks for the meal, Namben. You have anything prepared for traveling? Not exactly sure how long I'll be out this time."

Namben nods and makes his way back to the kitchen area. "Oh, and throw in some for the law man too."

While Namben is wrapping up their to-go meals, Tump throws in more conversation. "This business about you being the 'bad guy', as a man of the law and all, makes me wonder what he's up to. Maybe he is looking to start an uprising. A rebellion, if you will. Seems like something that may not sit well with one such as yourself."

"I been wonderin' on that exact scenario. If he's lookin' fer a pawn fer some kinda outlaw business, he's barkin' up the wrong tree. Wouldn' be the first time somebody thought they's gone get a crooked cop in their pocket though. I s'pose I suffer from a rare disease called "morality" in that respect".
This message was last edited by the player at 16:29, Sat 19 Nov 2016.

"Lots of questions poppin' up lately. I have a feeling we'll know who the real pawns are sooner rather than later."

Namben comes back out with a couple wrapped up parcels and sets them on the counter. "Thanks, as usual, Namben." He settles the check and looks at Django. "Ready?"

Django graciously takes the packed meal and stows it away, adjusts the straps on his packs, and runs a finger down his ammo bandoliers taking a quick count.

"Ready as I'm gone get".

"Alright, let's see where fate takes us, shall we?"

He heads out of the tavern and leads Django over to the main entrance to the ruins. There, they find Inarra, still hard at work with her team. "If you haven't already met, that's Inarra. She and her team, they're alright. They won't mess with ya, unless you start causing trouble. Not like the Voidchasers, who would as soon just stab you in the back as look at ya."

Inarra locks down the last of her equipment then gives some instructions to her team.  After she finishes, she walks in your direction.  "Tump.  Hang on a second!"

Tump stops and turns around. "What's up?"

"Are you heading down?  Mind if I tag along?"

Tump nods. "Fine by me, but it's up to El Hefe here. This is his roller coaster ride."

"If you're vouchin' fer the lady, that's fine by me then".

Django extends a hand in Inarra's direction. "Django Blint, Tracker of the Core Marshalls. Pleased t' meet'cha".

Inarra goes a bit white.  She looks at Tump with incredulity written plain across her face.  Then, in a supreme effort of will, she masters herself and takes Django's hand.  "Inarra, of the Sabersplice relic hunters.  Thanks for letting me tag along.  I won't get in the way of your...hunt."

"Well, if by vouching you mean, won't shoot you in the back." He gives Inarra a wink. "Then yeah, she's good."

"How's the job out here coming?"

When Inarra's attention is back on Tump, Django fights to keep his bearing and suppresses the corner of his mouth from forming smirk.

"We're at an impasse.  Something is actively jamming our communication below underlevel 10.  That's why I'm wanting to go down with you.  I want to look around in a more unorthodox manner than the team is willing to do to see if I can find the source of what's jamming us."  She pulls out a fancy looking sensor device.  "I don't think it's targeting Sabersplice specifically, or really even Ant Hill Ease.  Whatever this is, it's passive, but it covers the whole ruins."

She leans in and whispers her next words with a glance at the sky.  "I would lay even odds that Vexember'll have a hard time hearing what goes on through the screen."

Tump raises an eyebrow. "What exactly do you mean by unorthodox? Besides, if whatever is jamming communications over some as large as the ruins, you can bet there'll be countermeasures to protect it."

"What kinda counter-measures you reckon? We talking yer standard trip mines and other stuff what goes boom".
This message was last edited by the player at 01:33, Wed 23 Nov 2016.

"Something like that wouldn't surprise me, but I've seen others that can be a bit more debilitating over time. Like long term stasis fields. The can keep ya stunned long enough for the environment to pick ya off."

Inarra taps her foot while the two of you talk.  Finally, she rolls her eyes.  "Are we going or not?  Talk on the way.  Men!"  She strides off ahead, her short legs somehow managing to eat up the ground anyway.

Tump looks over to Djano, then back to Inarra. "Women...", he says under his breath.

He taps the slugthrower on his hip. "You know, one little tranq and problem solved. No?" He chuckles.

"Alright... let's go then."

As Django steps off he mutters to Tump "I don't thank tri-clorix rounds gone simmer that one down". Letting his two "guides" lead the way, he remains in the back of the group as they begin their initial steps down.

Ultimately, Inarra lets Tump take the lead since this is technically not her descent.  Her main purpose was to get the two of you motivated.

After Django describes the location where the explosion blocked the halls and where he ascended being chased by the serrataraptors, Tump is able to triangulate a couple of possible routes.  Looking at the known areas of the enormous building, what used to be the top floors, it appears that the Voidchasers should have made it out already.  It leaves only one conclusion...

...something has happened to them.

About two hours into the search, there is kind of an explanation.  The scenes of a recent battle against a mid-sized denizen are evident in a larger arboretum.  The sanctuary is out on a terrace that would have been out in the open air and sun in ancient times.  Now it hangs in darkness out over a 6km drop to almost certain death.

In the center of the arboretum is a vast hole, large enough to drive a transport truck through.  However, it's not just an empty drop.  It looks like some thought went into the explosions that cause it because only three sides of the platform detached.  The fourth remains intact, though it twisted the back portion of the platform up.  The missing floor forms a ramp down to a narrow balcony four floors below.  A door is missing, blown inward.  There are no bodies.

The most concerning thing is, whatever they were fighting, it would have been too big to go through that door and might still be around, hiding.

"Down it is, I suppose. Lest we want to find out what the others were fighting."  He looks around for any sign of movement. "Inarra, this path ought to put us well below 10. Keep your eyes peeled for whatever it is you're looking for."

Tump descends cautiously.

Django waits for Innara to descend after Tump, as he cautiously begins down after her. He draws both six shooters, and takes careful and deliberate steps to minimize the sound he makes, so as to better hear his surroundings.

At the bottom of the ramp, there is a pool of blood.  Any human that shed that much would not just be dead, they'd be a mummified corpse.  The blood most likely came from the beast.  That leaves two options:  it's dead, or its really, really angry.

The small hole in the door is completely dark.  It is impossible to see what lies beyond without focusing gear or tossing in a light.

Django holsters his pistols and produces his bullseye lantern, and using his fusion igniter, lights the lantern and adjust the hood to produce a forward beam towards the hole.

Something moves in the light on the far side of a large room.  It's furry and about the size of a multi-person transport.

Django over looks at Tump. "Uhhh... after you?" he says, rapidly retrieving a pistol for his main hand.

Tump lowers his visor and switches it to low-light mode, then slowly draws his weapon. "But look at how fluffy it is. It can't be that bad, right? A huge, fluffy, angry, critter the size of my apartment."

Inarra ignores the two of you and starts off around the open-air walkway around the side of the building.  It has a chest high rail to keep people from falling, but there are wide gaps all along it as far as the lantern light carries.  She has her sensor device out and doesn't seem to be paying any mind to anything else.

"You two go play with your new pet.  I'm going to check this out."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:39, Thu 24 Nov 2016.

Django, still looking at Tump: "I thank the lady is on t' somethin' a bit more preferable. I'd rather not tangle with fuzzy armored cars if I can help it".

"Lucky for us, it doesn't feel like playing right now." He keeps his weapon trained on the furry critters, but shifts more of his attention in the direction Inarra is going.

"Slow it down a bit would ya? This ain't a race. Running around with yer nose buried in that thing is a good way to set off traps."

Inarra continues until she gets to a large hole in the wall which leads into the interior of the building.  "I've got it!"

At that moment, a large rodent - right at the gaping hole - opens its mouth wide enough to swallow Inarra and screeches.  [Fort. DC 15 or be shaken for 1d4 rounds, automatic loss of initiative. (-2 on all rolls).]

Inarra opens her mouth, but if she screams, it cannot be heard over the rodent.  She has dropped her device on the ledge and both her hands are over her ears.

Whether she screams or not becomes irrelevant as the beast's head explodes in a horrific fashion.
"What the..." Ronan Bunderslaw's curse is muted by the falling of the beast's carcass.  "... are you people doing out here?"  Ronan put a modified, yet surprisingly small grenade launcher back beneath his jacket.
"Those things a a pain to take down,"  Ronan said.  "I've run into them before and frankly small caliber doesn't do the job.  Modified armor piercing grenade launcher.  Doesn't explode until the narrowed polymer shell penetrates it's target.  Then kaboom!," he said as he made a gesture with his hand designed to imply an explosion.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:07, Fri 25 Nov 2016.

After his heart finally stops trying to escape from his chest, Django whistles loudly. "I got to get me one'a them thangs" he says, marveling at the destruction. He takes a few steps forward and extends a hand. "Django Blint, Tracker for the Core Marshalls. I b'lieve we owe ya one with that save. An' t' answer yer question, we're down here fer a whole slew a reasons. Primarily huntin' fer some relic hunters who've gone MIA. Seen any groups a' folks down here tryin' to make it out?".

"Honestly, not lately," Ronan said.  "But that doesn't mean I'm surprised."
"Your friends wouldn't be the first group to disappear around here,"  He adds.
For the larger man who is as stoic and imposing looking as anyone the group has seen in awhile he glances down with both a somber and saddened look.
"I've lost some people close to me around here on more than one occassion,"  Ronan said.  "If you need help finding your friends I would be happy to help. Just do a better job of watching out for critters," he says with a wry smile.
Ronan was essentially out relaxing after scoring a big arms deal that would exceed his personal budget for month.  Usually someone who's not that friendly, the group caught him on what was an unusually somber day.  For a man who carries a modified grenade launcher as well as a slew of other weapons readily available, that's saying a lot.

Inarra picks up her scanning device and looks over at Ronan.  "Thanks for the save.  I'm Inarra."  She seems slightly shaken, but reverts almost immediately back to business mode.

Tump relaxes and puts his weapon away. "Couldn't agree more with being more careful." He glances over at Inarra. "I've seen men lose their heads, literally, just because they weren't paying attention."

"Folks call me Tump. Good to meet ya."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:21, Fri 25 Nov 2016.

Django eyes the darkness around them warily, never being too sure it's safe to keep his back turned in any direction for long. "This place gives me th' creeps. Y'all mind if we walk an' talk? I don't much care t' be here when the scavengers come fer th' scent a' blood".

Tump nods. "Let's keep moving. At a less break-neck speed this time, shall we?" He pulls ahead of the group in order to keep an eye out for tripwires, hazards, or other traps.

There is a screeching noise as of something large scraping across the metal floor.  It comes from within the gap.  Muted blaster fire, from farther away, follows.  In the brief glow of the energy weapon discharge, two more of the giant rodent creatures can be seen trying to work their way into a barricaded position beneath a partially collapsed ceiling.

"Well there goes the slow approach I reckon". Django ties his lantern to his belt, and raises the hood so as to let its light flow in more of an arc around him rather than in a beam. "I hope you go more'them explosives bud, looks like we're gone need em'".

Django draws both of his six shooters. "Mr. Tump, if you would please".

Tump lowers his visor and flips a switch. "After you, marshall."

He follows in behind Django and activates something on his belt. A distortion field surrounds him, making it a little harder to detect him.

Ronan senses the unease in this newly found group and is quick to both his sidearms.  Small caliber and large.  "Could someone please explain to me what you folks are doing here!," he exclaims in more of a command than a question.

A bit of a jeer comes from the hazy blur that used to be Tump. "Would you mind repeating that a little louder? I don't think those critters down there heard ya. I think we can all shake hands and trade business cards once the threat down there has been dealt with."

Tump pulls his weapon and maneuvers himself closer to the edge of the gap to see what sort of situation they are dealing with.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:07, Tue 29 Nov 2016.

Whether Tump is a prophet or just filled with common sense, the rodents turn as he speaks.  One shrugs off a blaster bolt to the face from the other side with a horrible screech.  They slowly make their way over toward the gap, stopping every few steps to sniff the air.

Django hisses in a low voice "Look alive folks, they know we're here. I got explosive rounds in my rifle, once I open up on em, Innara, you start blastin'. New feller, work your magic with that grenade launcher, and be careful with yer shots, we got people down there on th' other side a them rats. Once we got their attention, Tump, you flank em'. Don't bunch up, them thangs could bite two of'us in half at once". Django whips out his repeater rifle and cycles a round in the chamber. "Move out".

Tump wastes no time getting out of sight and moves just shy of being on the opposite side of the others, being mindful of crossfire.

Inarra kneels on the ground and fishes something round and low out of her pack.  After a few taps on a blinking control panel, the disk whirs and shoots away from her toward one of the giant rodents.

Django moves to the edge of a chunk of debris takes a knee behind it. The rodents continue to creep closer, and are getting near. "Wait for it... hold... one more step...". Django sucks in a sharp breath. "Now" he whispers.

Django fires at the nearest rat, taking 10 (+5 on his ranged BaB) = 15
22:25, Today: Django Blint rolled 12 using 2d6+2d8. Damaged reduced to 8: Enemy is DR4

The explosion, while not nearly as grand or messy as Ronan's, send a small shock wave out as it detonates and is quite loud.

Tump takes the explosion as his cue. With the rat-beast distracted, he pops off a round in its flank. Its thick hide deflects some of the shot, but enough gets through to draw blood... and make it mad.


22:03, Today: Tump rolled 22 using 1d20+7.  Attack roll, +2 for flanking.
22:05, Today: Tump rolled 10 using 2d4,d6.  Damage to rat-beast.

The giant rodents screech and charge.  As the first one reaches the 5m mark from Django and Inarra, the disk below it crackles and shoots out who knows how many amperes of electricity into the rodent's body.  It crashes to the ground, twitching, while smoke rises from its head and claws.

The other dances well around, which makes it take longer to arrive, allowing all interested parties to get off another round of shots.

Django fires another explosive round, this time at the second giant rat.

Takes 10+5 to attack
18:28, Today: Django Blint rolled 13 using 2d6+2d8+1.  Repeater rifle shot - explosive round - point blank shot feat. Damage reduced to 9 for DR4 creature
This message was last edited by the player at 23:32, Tue 29 Nov 2016.

Inarra pulls out a small slug thrower and lets off a couple of rounds.  The rodent Django just hit barely acknowledges the impact.  Inarra curses at the ineffectiveness of her weapon.

Tump takes aim and fires off another round into the flank of the rat-beast. It flinches a bit, but clearly seems to be angered more by Django's blast.

Take 10 + 7 to attack.
17:59, Today: Tump rolled 10 using 2d4,d6.  Damage to rat-beast #2.

The big man steps between Django and Inarra, an oversized hammer resting on his shoulder.  As the angered beast charges blindly in its rage, Ronan casually swings the hammer around into the thing's head.  There is a secondary thump that follows the meaty connection of the hammer to the monster and the rodent is flung around to face the other way.  It slumps and lies still.

"Honestly, I think I just finished it off.  You three did most the work."  Without pause, he steps over to the first rodent, still twitching from Inarra's bot, and brings his hammer down on it's head.  With a meaty thunk and a sploosh of blood, the thing dies.

The man turns to face Django and Inarra.  "My name is Ronan.  Now, who can tell me what is going on down here?"  His voice is a forced politeness, not that he is angry, but that he seems to be coming down off he adrenaline of battle.

"To give you the short an' skinny version, I'm huntin' a fugitive a' the law, an' we're also trackin' down a lost group a' relic hunters called The Voidchasers. I'm hopin' that's them up ahead what was shootin' at these rats. Mr. Tump here and Miss Innara were both kind enough to lend me a hand, cause' fer one, I ain't no relic hunter. Done bout died down here once already. Fer two... well, they got their own reasons I s'pose".

Tump just grins. "I suppose we're all down here looking for something. A place like this... there's always something for everyone."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:31, Sat 03 Dec 2016.

"Well happy to help anyway I can,"  Ronan said.  "Frankly, we have too many fugitives around this area.  And none too many of them pay any attention to the law in this area."
Ronan said that last phrase as he cocked his smaller weapon and readied himself to proceed with the rest of the group.

Behind the door and remnants of a wall to what is probably one of the countless redundant office rooms, a voice calls out.  "Who's there?  We need help!"

"Is'Django. Ruffin, that you?" he calls back.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:40, Sat 03 Dec 2016.

"It's Polerin.  We got separated."

The door jiggles a bit, but does not open.

[Roll listen.]

Django doesn't hear anything but his stomach growling.

21:32, Today: Django Blint rolled 5 using 1d20+4.  Listen Check.

Tump hears Django's stomach growl. He reaches into his pocket and hands him some jerky.

20:44, Today: Tump rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Listen check.

Inarra goes over to the first rodent and makes sure its dead with a laser tool across the throat.  It doesn't move, indicating that it was already dead.  Inarra puts her tools away and shoves on the thing a couple of times, unsuccessful in her attempt to move it.  "Give me a hand?"

Tump walks over and tugs futilely at one of the creature's legs. "I think we're going to need a little more muscle here."

He looks over at Ronan. "Got a free hand, big guy?"

Ronan tucks away his grenade launcher on his back and walks over to the rodent.  With two hands, he grips the skin of its belly, and lifts.  With a grunt he tosses it a few feet back.  "That what you need?"

Inarra scrambles to retrieve her bot.  "Yes, thank you."  She immerses herself in checking it over for damage.

[Roll Listen]

The sound of all movement in the room confounds Tump's ability to hear anything of importance. Instead, he takes a few shallow steps into the dark void beyond the gap in the wall. Using the night vision setting on his visor, he scans the area.

19:08, Today: Tump rolled 7 using 1d20+5.  Listen check, take 2.

This message was last edited by the player at 01:30, Mon 05 Dec 2016.

The jerky does little to combat Django's rampant hunger and stomach growling.

06:29, Today: Django Blint rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  Listen Check.

"Got anymore a' that stuff?".

Almost like he's moving in slow motion, Tump's backside slowly reappears from the gap as he gingerly takes tiny steps backward.

He whispers quietly. "Nobody make any sudden moves or noises. I think those thing's mother is inside there, and she doesn't look too happy."

Django whispers "When you say mother, how big you talkin' bout?".

"Let's just say that Ronan there would be a one bite snack."

A deafening screech punctuates Tump's words.

"I'm nobody's lunch." Ronan draws his launcher to emphasize the point.

"Innara, if you know Polerin's channel frequency, would you kindly ask him to clear away from that there door?". Without waiting for an answer, Django shoulders his rifle and fires.

Take 10 + 5 = 15 on attack.
21:37, Today: Django Blint rolled 10 using 2d6+2d8.  Repeater rifle shot - explosive round.

Several rounds whiz by Tump's ear as he quickly vacates the area to fall back and regroup.

Inarra drops down behind the wall outside the gaping hole.  "Polerin, this is Inarra.  Do you read?"

She pauses for a few moments, then interrupts whatever Polerin was saying.  "I know.  Move away from the door.  We...we've got a plan."  She almost kept the question mark out of that last word.

Polerin can be heard yelling from her receiver and from behind the door, before Inarra shuts him out.  She yells out to Django.  "They're clear!"

"Let's shed a little light on things."  There is a thump from Ronan's launcher, and a huge orange flare ignites as it arcs across the huge room.  It reaches the top of the ceiling about eight stories above and hovers there, revealing the monster sitting atop the office building.

The whole layout is hard to catch in a glance, but it looks like some kind of arboretum.  It may have had walkways every story to the ceiling at one time, but those have all fallen long ago.  Now it looks more like a warehouse with glass panes for walls and ceiling, with almost all the glass gone.

Sitting atop the office, rearing to its full five story height, is the large rodent monster.  It has two writhing tails with 'o' shaped bumps as big as a fist all along them.  Two pair of eyes, one in front of the other, sit on either side of an arrow-like head.  Two incisors in the front are overshadowed by two shovel-like tusks jutting out beside them.  It's black claws each have six fingers, including two opposable thumbs, which would indicate it is very good at climbing.

It does not seem to like the flare and takes a swat at it.  It misses, being that the light is too high even for it.

OOC:  Alright, folks, I'm going to try this by the books.  Looking at the initiatives and speeds of everyone, posting order will go something like this:

Phase 1  - Django and Tump [have already gone].
Phase 2  - Inarra and Ronan [just went].
Phase 3  - None
Phase 4  - None
Phase 5  - Django and Tump
Phase 6  - Ronan and Octorat
Phase 7  - None
Phase 8  - Inarra
Phase 9  - Django and Tump
Phase 10 - Ronan
Phase 11 - None
Phase 12 - Octorat

That means Django and Tump are up.

Django cycles another round in the chamber and fires.

Take 10 + 5 = 15
23:15, Today: Django Blint rolled 18 using 2d6+2d8.  Repeater rifle shot - explosive round.

The light source on the beast seems to improve his lethality by a hair.

Give his retreat, Tump is no longer in a flanking position. He pulls out a medium sized canister and shouts over the gunfire "Watch your eyes!"

He lobs the canister toward the giant rat beast and tips his hat to shield his eyes. A deep thwump goes off accompanied by an intense flash of light.

The rat needs to made a couple saves.
Fort save vs DC 18 or be deafened for 2d4 phases;
Reflex save vs DC 19 or be blinded for 2d4 phases

Ronan drops the launcher and draws a strange looking crossbow.  He pulls the trigger and energy lances out and slams into the giant rodent.  [12 energy DMG]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:55, Tue 06 Dec 2016.

The rodent flails about, screeching from the various attacks.  It reels from Ronan's attack, then swings its head about, looking for targets.  Eyes blinking rapidly, it staggers off the office building like it had one too many kegs of the local brew.  Apparently Tump's tactic worked spectacularly.

Inarra stays hunkered down, talking into the com.  However, she also drops her bot and types in a few commands on her datapad.  The bot shoots off toward the rodent and will be there in a few seconds.

Tump grins as the creature flails around without most of its senses. Rather than firing off another shot, he spends all of his action circling around to get into a better flanking position.

Seeing Tump skirt off to flank the beast, Django continues pressing down on the giant rat with heavy fire power to keep it distracted.

Take 10 + 5 = 15
13:26, Today: Django Blint rolled 24 using 2d6+2d8.  Repeater rifle shot - explosive round.

The constant fire gives the rodent a direction to look, to move.  Ronan, either bravely or ignorantly, stands firm and lets loose with another blast, drawing the creature's attention to him when it hits.  [8 energy DMG]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:55, Tue 06 Dec 2016.

The rat slams into the ground in front of the office and charges toward Ronan, attempting to knock him over.  Somehow, the gigantic rodent homes directly in on Ronan and slams into him hard [Critical Attack!]  Ronan is thrown through the gap and over the balcony into the open space beyond.

About that time, Inarra's bot goes off again, sending electricity through the giant creature.  The creature screeches and slams a foot down [AoO] on the bot, crushing it.  It just seems angrier for the jolt.

Now in position, Tump pops off a shot with his own explosive rounds aiming for its hind quarters.

Take 10 + 5 = 15
19:11, Today: Tump rolled 23 using 2d4,d6,2d8.  Explosive, sneak attack slug thrower damage.


After the explosion goes off and settles, he shouts out. "Hey Inarra, can those bots be triggered remotely? Like, inside a bag of explosive rounds inside a giant rat's belly?"

The question becomes moot as Polerin and Mayne come charging through the door, energy blasters blazing.  Both score direct hits near Tump's last shot causing major damage.

The octorat screeches in blind terror and barrels forward again, trying to escape its tormentors.  It brushes Django, sending him spinning, flings Inarra over the rail, and then dives headlong after Ronan into the dark abyss.

Django picks himself up off the ground, trying to shake the haze from his vision after being barreled over. "Where...where'd it go?".

"It either ran off or when after the big guy to finish him off." He points off into this distance. "That way."

Django groan a little as he rotates his shoulder a few times to work out the kinks. "I'll go find big'un, you get... wait. Dangit did it get Inarra too??".

"A little help..."  Inarra's voice comes from over by the rail.

Django shuffles over to the railing and peers over to see Inarra hanging. He takes a knee to stabilize himself, leans over, and grabs both of her wrists to hoist her up. "There we go now. I gotcha".

Inarra drops to all fours once she is safely away from the edge.  There she unloads whatever her last meal was.  When her stomach settles, she wipes her mouth on a sleeve and stands.  "Thanks, Blint."

Polerin walks up wound like an old fashioned metal coil.  He tries for patience, but his accent slips into full Tyrene.  "'Ello, my friends.  Yor arrival is quite timely.  'Tis a pleasure to know that you, Master Blint, are our savior.  We feared the worst for you and Nerra after we separated and the two of you did not return."

Mayne grunts, and the mannered Polerin nods.  "Ah, yes.  We are in rather dire straits at the moment.  Kidas and Caeldaar are both dead.  Ruffin hangs by a thread of life yet, but we've no way to get him to the surface in his condition.  If we move him, he will bleed out.  Come, we will show you."

Django nods to Polerin, and looks back to Inarra and Tump. "You two mind fetchin' Ronan? I uh.. I got some news to break t' these folks".

Django follows Polerin towards the office building. "Since yer someone of authority in the Voidchasers, I'm jes gone go on and tell ya this, you can break it to yer team how ya see fit. Nerra and Dafe, well they ain't what they seem to be. They set yall up with that blast, met up, dumped Stacia on my hands, and split. I ain't got a clue why, but they did".

Tump straggles in from the side where Inarra is still composing herself. He places a hand on her back. "You ok?"

Inarra nods slowly and Tump helps her get back up on her feet.

"You got a light or something to shine down there?" He asks as he walks over to the balcony. He peers over the edge and sees nothing but a void. "Where do you suppose that leads?"

He pulls out his datapad and starts looking through various schematics and blueprints he acquired while in the ruins with Irin. "Maybe one of these will show us a path down there."

"It's 6k down, Tump. We're standing on the outside of the Bank.  Getting down there without a chute, flying, or anti-grav harness means walking lots and lots of stairs.  None of the lifts work any more, least not this far down."

She looks over at Polerin and Django.  "Aren't we here to save them or something?  Why are you worried about the Depths?  It's death for hunters.  An abyss that leads directly to Hell."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:58, Wed 07 Dec 2016.

"It's actually kinda cozy down there at the bottom. Got some big critters though"
This message was undeleted by the player at 15:48, Wed 07 Dec 2016.

Polerin narrows his eyes in thought.

Mayne grunts and says something that sounds like 'figures' and clomps off to the office again.

"That is...unfortunate.  I think I understand, though, and it makes a number of things I puzzled over make sense.  Please, come this way.  We need to see to the others."  As he walks toward the office, he converses over his shoulder.  "Did they tell you anything at all about their goals?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:50, Wed 07 Dec 2016.

"Well, I've heard Hell is nice this time of year. Data I've collected suggests there is some salvage I need down there. I just don't know how I'm going to get to it yet. Speaking of the bank, remind me to show you something before we head back up. I'd wager you and your team would be interesting in seeing something I stumbled on."

Tump glances over at Django. "Surviving that fall once I would consider lucky, but twice is just begging for trouble. I don't think we've got the means to get all the way down there and back unless you have a direct line to that mysterious benefactor of yours."

As Django walks away he glances back at Tump and pats the anti-grav harness he's wearing.

Addressing Polerin: "Naw, they wouldn't tell me what theys up to. Rightfully so I suppose, they coulda kilt me. Instead they chose t' leave me in the dark with a distressed girl and a whole mess a' serrataraptors. Rest assured though, this ain't over with them two. Core Trackers'll be getting a write up to haul em' in".

Mayne, followed by Polerin, then Django walk through the remains of the door into the office.
This message was last updated by the player at 18:21, Wed 07 Dec 2016.

Django slowly raises his hands and a smirk spreads across his lips as he chuckles. "Heh. That's a awful lot a' fire power fer jes one Tracker".

[Since at this point everyone knows.  Thanks Nate.]

"When did you start working with Dafe, Blint?  We were betrayed and you went off and left after leading us into a trap with your allegedly less than practiced skills at finding traps.  We were thinking that you managed to come out unscathed while the rest of us needed patching up.  Your story about Nerra and whatnot doesn't quite add up."

Django let's the smile fade. "Look here. The bit about Nerra and Dafe? That's the Vexember's honest truth. Them two played y'all like an electro-fiddle. My less than sterlin' trap findin'? Well that's true too". Django looks Ruffin in the eye. "I made myself perfectly clear that sniffin' weren't my line a' work from the get go. You didn't have to bring me along".

Django sighs. "The only thang I ain't been honest about, is who I really am. My name really is Django Blint. I ain't some wannabe relic hunter or drifter lookin' fer work. I'm with the Core Marshall's, and I'm a Tracker. I'm after a fugitive who was last reported bein' seen here in the ruins. The whole ordeal with Dafe, that was just convenient on my end for finding a group to go down with. Weren't by no design a' mine that scrab-head went off an' kidnapped that girl. Made fer a good reason t' get on with a crew none the less, so I rolled th' dice. The only thing that banshee of a woman Nerra did say, was that Dafe kidnappin' Stacia was meant as a distraction, especially fer Ruffin. They let me an' her live on account we remained clueless as t' what they was doin'. She was especially sore at him though fer not killin' none a' y'all in the blast... right before she started lockin' lips with Dafe".

"I'll give you one thing, you sound awfully convincing."  Nerra walks out from behind a tangled piece of scrap.  She is limping and has several bandages on her arms.  "That night Dafe had his run in with Stacia in the inn, you followed him outside.  You had a little conversation out there, planning how to betray us so we couldn't get to the vault before you.  It was probably you who masterminded the whole thing.  Dafe isn't that intelligent."  She scowls and spits in your direction as she finds a broken piece of office equipment to sit on, but none are sturdy enough.  Instead, she hobbles over to stand in front of you.

"You got him to kidnap Stacia, then used that as an excuse to join up with us going down.  A convenient way to get us to go through Dafe's little gauntlet.  You almost killed the lot of us.  You left me to the Serrataraptors and I barely escaped with my life, you piece of poodoo!"  Nerra takes a swing at you, but her injuries cause her to drop to her knees instead.  She cries out and no less than three of the men: Mayne, Polerin, and even Ruffin, dip their guns to help her, momentarily distracted.

The instant the guns dip and all eyes aren't on him, Django snatches towards Polerin with one hand, simultaneously drawing a six shooter with the other.

18:27, Today: Django Blint rolled 23 using 1d20+7.  Grapple check (+3 w/ stats and +4 surprise bonus).

Polerin doesn't even have time to yelp before Django has him jerked up and spun around facing the group. Polerin feels the cold steel of Django's revolver press against his temple, as he now finds himself playing a human shield.

Django's voice is loud and commanding. "Aight now, nobody moves! Y'all wanna play hardball with the lawman? Well then we fit'na play a whole helluva lot harder than y'all bargained for. If anyone so much as points a weapon, a toe, or hair in my direction, Mr. Polerin here's gone find himself the lucky winner of a brand new holla' point t' the dome. Now then, Mr. Polerin, if you'll kindly folla my lead, we gone dance on out that door behind me". Django begins slowly backing towards the door, half dragging Polerin along in a one armed choke hold.

He kicks back against the door to widen his exit route and hopefully alert his party with the sound. "Y'all don't wanna listen t' reason, that's on y'all, but ain't nobody bout to drag ol' Django into their drama and pin some scrab like that on me. Y'all gimme a holler when ya start thinkin' with the head you got upstairs. Oh, and Nerra dear, it's gone be fun to bring you in. Yer word against mine honey. Sit on that fer a bit".

"Well, that escalated quickly."  She draws a slender pistol and prepares to defend herself.  It is unclear if this means she will support Django or just stay out of the way.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:11, Thu 08 Dec 2016.

While Tump and Inarra are jabbering away about nothing in particular, what's left of the office door bursts open and falls off its hinges. As a natural reflex, Tump draws his weapon and aims it at the men exiting.

As Django continues to back away from the door he quietly speaks to Polerin telling him to keep the muzzle of his weapon pointed at the ground. Without taking his eyes off the door he calls back to Tump and Innara "Miss Inarra, if you'd be so kind as to send a bot or two my way to ensure our friends behind that door don't get no ideas, and Mr. Tump, would you kindly come and relieve my bargaining chip here of his gun?". He goes back to speaking quietly to Polerin. "I don't wanna kill ya, but I ain't above it. Far as I'm concerned you threatened my life and I'm well within my rights to play amateur surgeon on th' side a yer skull. How this ends is all up to you bud".
This message was last edited by the player at 02:20, Thu 08 Dec 2016.

Polerin drops his gun and slowly raises his hands.  "Jart's in your field now, chap."

Inarra hesitates to act, still unsure of the situation.  It gives Mayne, Ruffin, and the others time to exit the office.  They do so slowly, guns lowered toward Polerin and Django.

"You gotta lotta nerve, Blint.  I almost believed you in there, but this?  This is the action of a guilty man."  He barks a mirthless laugh.  "You ain't no lawman."

Gun at eye level, now pointed at the new targets exiting the office, Tump slowly walks over and kicks the gun back towards Inarra.

"Friends of yours, I see, marshall."

Nerra limps from the room and leans heavily against the wall.  She winces with the movement.  If she's acting, she earns top awards.  "You are outnumbered, Django.  Five to one.  Tump and Inarra are smart enough not to cross the Voidchasers.  They have no stake in this, no gain to be had.  It's just you."

She scowls a warning at Tump when he kicks the gun away.  Then her voice turns sultry, inviting.  "C'mon, Tump.  Let us handle this.  No need to get involved.  You saved us from being octorat dinner.  Maybe we can cut you in?  Everyone's been hunting the vault.  We know where it is."

Several other members of the Voidchasers frown at Nerra's promise to cut Tump in.

"Nerra.  You talk too much."  He turns to Tump.  "Stay out of it, Tump.  This is Voidchaser business.  You have our thanks for the save.  Take Inarra and move on."

"How the heck do y'all even survive down here with smarts like these? You honestly thank a lawman just happened to show up to steal some stupid vault from ya? Does the name Vyktor Kerr mean anything to ya?".

Several of the Voidchasers look uneasy at that name.  Ruffin narrows his eyes and looks up and around at the big room.  "You're working with Kerr?"  His gun lowers a bit, doubt on his face.  The rest of his team are looking back and forth between each other and Ruffin, not sure what to do.

Tump smirks at the seduction attempt. "I got no interest in your vault. Don't need all that attention, but also I don't welsh on a job and Django here is under my watch. What kind of rep would that earn me if I just let y'all kill him?"

Clearly getting agitated, Django responds. "Working with? What about this ain't you gettin' man? I. AM. A. LAW MAN. Vyktorr Kerr is'a fugitive. He killed folks. He's a wanted man. I'm here tracking him. Ya know? To arrest em'? Dead or alive? Bring em' in t' justice? How is this so hard fer you t' figure out? You got set up by yer little hussy over there, and now she's puttin' on the big doe eyes and innocent girl routine. You think I just happened to be hangin' out with Tila when we approached you? I was werkin', helpin yer local law try and clean up the mess Dafe went on an made. And yeah, as a matter a fact, I did follow Dafe out the bar that night. Because he looked like the kind a' scum suckin' low life that would know where I could find Kerr. So I pressed em' fer info. Said you'd put him on latrine duty fer even sayin' anything about the name. On top'a all that, Stacia saw and heard the whole exchange between Dafe and Nerra before the two skirted off. Tila's done been told everythang as well. And tell me this, if I did set you up, why, WHY would I come all the way back down here to try and help save yer sorry hides from that octorat? You think I just came across y'all by chance? Last I saw, yer own "friends" went and tried to kill ya. If that was me, if I was after yer vault or whatever, why would I risk payin' ya a second visit? Y'all can be mad at me all ya want for not being truthful about why I volunteered to come down here, but if you think settin' up a bunch a treasure hunters is even remotely worth a' minute a' my time, yall'd be better off jes gettin' ate and spare me the headache of even dealin' with ya".

Polerin seems to relax a bit.  "Ruffin, I think this chap's making sense.  Perhaps before we go an potentially shoot a Tracker...we should at least confirm his story with Yolte?"

"Well now, I'd be feeling mighty silly if I were on the other end of that tongue lashing. How 'bout you put those guns away so we can be all friends again, and walk away without anybody getting filled with holes."

Tump smiles wryly at Nerra and gives her a little wink. "Sounds like a peach of a plan to me, wouldn't you say?"

Ruffin grimaces, then lowers his gun.  "Alright...lawman.  Polerin has good instincts.  We'll confirm with Tila at the top."  He turns on Nerra, who is fuming.  "That means we're going to have a conversation, too."

Ruffin holsters his gun and motions for the others to do the same.

Nerra stands and takes a deep breath.  "Talk all you like, Ruffin.  Lawman or not, he's in with Dafe.  Don't turn your back on him."

Tump relaxes a bit and lowers his bead on Ruffin. "What about that big guy. Ronan. He one of yours too?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:03, Thu 08 Dec 2016.

Slowly and careful, Django removes the gun from Polerin's head, and removes his grip from around his neck. He maintains hold of his weapon, pointing it up in the air as Polerin steps away from him, and isn't quick to holster it until he see's the all clear.

22:59, Today: Django Blint rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  Sense Motive (bonus +2 against humanoids)".

Django can't get a read on a single face or ounce of body language. He slowly holsters his weapon, ready to snatch both pistols out if need be.

He nods to Ruffin.

"Ronan?  Who's Ronan?"  Ruffin looks around, confused again.

"That's what I'm asking. Big guy, grenade launcher, pops up outta nowhere, attacks the rat with us, then gets booted into the chasm of death."

He shakes his head. "So you don't know him? If I didn't think the poor man to be dead, I'd be laughing right now. These ruins are turning into a circus."

Django grumbles "You ain't lyin'".

Cueing off Django, Tump holsters his weapon and mutters, "Suddenly, I am reminded of why I prefer to work alone."

"You done here, marshall?"

He looks over to Inarra. "How 'bout you?"

"Ain't but one set a' feathers I'm here t' ruffle, and t' the best a' my knowledge, he ain't here. Let's go".

Inarra looks around and then down at her datapad.  "I'm not.  I still can't pinpoint the source of this interference.  It's from further down.  That's all I know."

She looks over at the Voidchasers.  "Also, I'm not down for all their drama.  I may..." she looks over at the dead corpses.  "I may just stay here by myself.  I think we took out the local trouble.  I should be fine."

Django nods and grunts in Inarra's direction. He turns his attention back to Nerra. Pulling out his PDS, he begins punching in a few numbers and selecting several menus. He holds the PDS up in front of his face, and speaks to it. "Officer Django Blint, Tracker 7th class. Location, ruins beneath Ant Hill Ease. I have a person a' interest in a crime unrelated to current case. Detaining P.O.I. for questionin' with local law enforcement. End of report. Send". He takes the PDS and places it back in his pack, and fishes out his electro-shock manacles. "Now then, Nerra, if you'd be so kind as to present them little wrists a' yers, I got a nice set of bracelets for em' until we get things sorted out topside. This is purely detainment though. You ain't under arrest, yet". Django looks around, "Unless anyone here has somethin' else t' say an' make this even more complicated than it has t' be?".

"No."  Ruffin puts a hand on his gun but doesn't draw.  "Nerra is part of my team and right now, she's innocent.  She'll come with us and cause no trouble," he glances at her meaningfully.  For her part, she nods.  "But not in binders."  Before Django can object, he explains.  "It's dangerous down here.  Binding an individual is possibly a death sentence.  We should work together to get topside, then sort this out."

[Roll Sense Motive]

Django eyes Nerra, then Ruffin.

12:21, Today: Django Blint rolled 23 using 1d20+6.  Sense Motive."

"I don't mean fer her to walk through these ruins. I mean fer the flight me, you, an' hers fixin'a take outta here".

Django fishes out a 50 foot rope from his pack and then pats the anti-grav harness he wearing. "I hope you know how t' tie a harness" Django says with a smirk.

Ruffin doesn't even consider the suggestion.  "No.  I won't leave the others down here.  We've survived together.  We'll return together.  Unless you can lift us all, we're walking."

In reply to Ruffin (msg # 184):

"So much fer conflict resolution eh?". Django pulls out a cigarette and lights it. "Look here chief, you wanna unmuddy this water, then we do thangs the Django way, with a quickness. Otherwise y'all can carry yerselves up topside and find out from Tila without me. I got bigger fish t' fry than tryin' to clear my name with you all. An' don't thank about tryin' to muscle me along either, unless you want a whole lot more Trackers pokin' around town huntin' you all down fer crimes against law enforcement. We tend to take those folks back in body bags". Django takes a long draw from his cigarette, and exhales slowly. "Balls in yer court now my friend. Choose wisely".

Ruffin thinks it through then nods.  "I feel more comfortable making our way alone.  You took out that octorat whivh accosted us just as we returned to familiar territory.  For that, I will credit you with a small amount of trust.  We will not follow or try to hinder you.  I will speak with Tila when we get topside."

He looks over at the gap.  "One last freebie...lawman.  Avoid Vyctor Kerr.  He'll kill you faster than that octorat could seallow a man whole.  A man that can successfully defy the Star God for fifteen years is beyond the likes of you."

Django nods and tips his hat. He turns his attention back to Tump and Inarra. "Mr. Tump, if you'd kindly continue on with leading the way fer our affairs, I'd much appreciate it. All the rats around her are startin' t' smell somethin' awful".

For the most part, Tump just watches the dialog exchange and prepares himself to part ways until Django appears to extend the contract. "There someone else you need to find down here? I figured you were through with this place, seeing how you found the group you were looking for."

He nods over to Inarra. "I was planning to keep her some company while she tracks down her quarry as well. Who knows, I may just stumble across what I'm looking for too. You're welcome to tag along, I suppose, just leave the drama behind." The last statement, spoken with a fair amount of annoyance in his voice.

Once the tension has dropped enough, Tump will walk over and pick up the weapon Polerin dropped. He'll keep it unless someone asks for it back.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Fri 09 Dec 2016.

"There's still th' matter a' findin' Mr. Kerr down here. I'll do my best t' prevent another hostage si'tiation" he says with a smirk.

"That one seems like a fool's errand more than anything. If he wants to be found, he'll just appear, but I guess it won't hurt to keep our eyes peeled. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while."

He looks over to Inarra. "Ready when you are."

Inarra holsters her gun, collects her bots, and checks her pad.  After a moment, she frowns.  "If this is right, we need to go down."  To emphasize her point, she looks over the rail right next to where the big man went down.

"Umm, like a couple levels, right?"

"Um, more like a couple of klicks."  She raises an eyebrow at Tump in challenge.

Tump tries to stifle a laugh but fails miserably. "You ever have those days where you just knew you should have stayed in bed?"

He looks down into the void and steels his expression stoically. "I don't."

"Got any parachute bots in that bag?"

"I'm covered fer gettin down there, but I don't know bout how much good this anti-grav harness would be tryin' to halt three people at once. I know it can carry a purty hefty load a short ways, but th' technical specs of the thang are a little above me".

"You think it's got enough power to make two trips? One for Inarra, then one for me?"

"Maybe, but to put it frankly, th' ride downs gone suck. T' conserve enough juice to get back up an' then make a second trip, I'm thinkin' we's gone have to free fall down and then try t' arrest the fall bout a hundred feet above the bottom or so. An' I get th' pleasure a doin it twice, unless... unless you got a way to hook up this here spare capacitor fer it and recharge it".

Inarra ignores the two of you and heads back inside the large room.  Once inside, she turns left, and enters a hallway opposite the one Ruffin and the others took to return to the surface.

"I thank that's are cue that are bad idea makins over"

He starts to walk forward, and a few words from an earlier conversation suddenly stick out in his mind. He curiously pulls his pack off, and kneels down to fish around inside of it.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:12, Sat 10 Dec 2016.

"Oh, I'm full of bad ideas." He turns and attempts to follow Inarra, but almost trips over Django's sudden move to the floor.

"What the..."

"Sorry bout that. I jes need a sec".

"You might want to hurry. You leave Inarra alone long enough, she'll find a few more rats to shoot up."

He steps around Django and follows behind Inarra. "You find a way down?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:13, Sat 10 Dec 2016.

"Sabersplice has been here a lot longer than Voidchasers.  We don't share information with the likes of them.  You," she turns to Tump. "You are different.  Will you keep what I am about to show you to yourself?"

Tump shrugs. "I got no one to tell." Inarra crosses her arms and smirks at him, waiting for a better answer.

"Alright, alright. My lips are sealed, but just in case, I've got a little collateral for ya." He taps on the datapad stowed away in his vest. "You know that thing I said I'd show ya on the way outta here. I got the location and security codes to get in. It's a big haul, but more than I can manage all on my lonesome."

While Tump and Innara are discussing get rich quick schemes, Django gets done fishing in his pack and comes up with a smirk on his face. He removes one of his pistols taking care to unload it first, putting it away in his pack and replaces it with one a bit more high tech, along with three spare magazines into one of his front belt pouches.

He then pulls out a small cylinder and puzzles over it for a moment, before plugging an audio cable into a port on the side, and fiddling with a button.

Inarra leads the two of you through a series of corridors through the middle of the vast building.  The halls, and offices, and larger open spaces are all in various states of decay and disarray, though many still stand with little in the way of actual destruction.

A light glows behind Inarra and Tump as Django views some strange 3d holographic video.  There is no sound, so listening in is pointless.  However, it does provide a small amount of additional light to navigate by.


After a good half hour - primarily because of one major crawling effort through a room with a collapsed ceiling, one which Inarra reveals is the normal access to this area for Sabersplice - she brings you to the opposite exterior side of the old financial building.  A connecting, covered walkway extends over to another building's top floor.  Though it doesn't look safe, Inarra assures you that it has been shored up by her team.  She encourages you not to step in the holes, but says the appearance of lack of integrity is to scare off all but the most determined relic hunters.  It is doing a great job of intimidation.

Once across, Inarra checks more thoroughly at each intersection.  She cautions you both to remain as quiet as possible.  Tump almost disappears into the air and darkness ], but Django seems somewhat distracted and bumps his head on a low hanging set of partially collapsed lighting.  Inarra freezes and looks murderously at Django.

When Inarra freezes, so does Tump. He takes the opportunity to listen if anything near by was alerted to their presence.

Django removes his earpiece, and otherwise freezes in place, halting all movement. He doesn't even breath. His eyes dart around the space.

At first, the sound is soft, like a gentle breeze blowing across an open field of flowers.  Then it grows, becoming a thunderous roar filled with hundreds of tiny screeches.  Revealed in the gloom of the artificial lights used by the three adventurers, hundreds of small, flying forms come swooping up from below.  The move together as a single mass and flow at a 90° angle to enter a window un the side of the room through which the three of you are moving.

[Phase 1]

Tump lays down flat and activates his personsal force screen projector.

Django draws his energy pistol while going prone, and readies a stun shot if the swarm descends on him.

[Phase 2]

Inarra screams and ducks as the creatures swarm toward her.  There is little cover in the hallway.  She draws a bot from her pack, but fumbles and drops it.  After scrambling after it she manages to get it back.

[Phase 4 -  Tump & Django]

Django whistles loudly and yells "Hyah! Over here! Hyah!".

If part of the swarm shifts and weaves in his direction he fires upwards at them in an effort to not hit Innara.

Take 10 on attack

Stun shot - FORT Save DC 20 vs Stun

Tump pulls another flash-bang canister from his pack and sets the timer for a slightly shorter duration. He shouts "Fire in the hole!", and launches out into the open space beyond the balcony.

Since the sound attracted them, the hope here is that the flash-bang will either pull in a new direction (away from us) or disable their senses enough for us to get away.

The combination of effort is enough to drive the creatures off.

Inarra rises and catches her breath.  Once she can speak, she tiptoes over to the two men and whipsers.  "Vytes.  One alone is nothing, but when they swarm, they can suck you dry of blood in minutes.  Let's keep going."  She looks sourly at Django.  "Quietly this time."

A few more minutes brings you to an old tube transport system.  There is nothing but an empty shaft that leads down into darkness forever.

"Here, Tump, hold this."  She hands you a cylindrical powercell that looks like it came from the ruins.  It's large and heavy, though can be held with one hand.  Once Tump has a firm grip on the device, she draws out two disks with prongs of various sizes protruding from one end of each disk.  These she screws on to the powercell at each end of the cylinder.

"Be right back."  She leaps across the nearest tube to the back of the shaft.  There is barely anything to hold to, but Inarra is practiced and balances with no difficulty.  She opens a panel then reaches out a hand across the shaft.  "Very carefully, because I only have one, hand me the powercell."

With one hand cradling the body of the power cell and the other gripping the base of the cylinder, Tump carefully and slowly extends his arms across the shaft.

Inarra takes the powercell with a sure hand and installs it into the compartment.  There is a soft hum and a few soft lights glow faintly around the tube as well as sporadically down the shaft into nothing.

Inarra seals the plate back on, turns to Tump and says, "basement."  After which, she lets go and summarily drops out of sight down the shaft.

Tump grins. "What a coincidence. Just where I need to go."

He tips his hat to Django and steps inside the tube. He says, "basement", and disappears out of site.

Django arches an eye brow. "The he-" he starts to say before the skitter and screech of vytes removes any reservations he may have. He quickly hops into the tube with a hurried "basement".

There is a rush of adrenaline as the free fall begins, a sensation each of you has felt once before for this extended period of time.  However, unlike before, the descent is controlled.  Some force, whether air pressure, magnetism, or something else, keeps you in the center of the tube.  Most of the way down is lit, but as time in the tube continues, the lights are more sporadic until they go out completely.

There are also parts of the trip where the equilibrium is absent, so that if you were to destabilize yourself, you would slam into the walls bouncing back and forth and surely be killed.  Only your inertia carries you through these lapses safely.

At one point, Tump is able to see Inarra far below.  Then she disappears into a dark area and is not seen again.  Not long after, Tump, and then Django enter this bright area.  The open doorway out of the tube on this level reveals, for only a moment, a factory for making robots.  It is fully lit, but the flash view makes it seem as if it was frozen in time, a flimsi pic.  Then all is darkness.

Outside the brilliant light, you are able to discern the bottom of the tube.  It comes up fast, but before you hit, the same force that kept you centered, now slows you and brings you to a gentle stop on a solid floor.  Inarra beckons Tump to hurry out of the tube to let Django land, but cautions utter silence.  When Django arrives, she scowls at him and emphasizes the silence.

Django nods and mimes zipping his lips.

Tump nods and quickly taps a bunch of notes into his data pad. When finished, he tries to compare his current location with the notes gathered from the intel he and Irin collected.

Inarra checks her datapad again and orients herself in a direction.

The area beyond the lift tube is wide open with a ceiling that cannot be seen above.  It must be there somewhere, however since the normal light filtered through the overgrowth above does not shine down.  Not that it would reach this far without open sky above, but you should see something.

Direction chosen, Inarra walks slowly, quietly in that direction.  It is along the right hand wall out of the lift tube.

[From this point on, I need a spot check and listen check with every post.]

Django quietly follows, guarding up the rear flank. His eyes are keen, but years of shooting guns without much regard for hearing protection takes its toll at the worst of times.

21:43, Today: Django Blint rolled 8 using 1d20+4.  Listen.

21:43, Today: Django Blint rolled 19 using 1d20+6.  spot.

Tump finishes mucking around on his data pad and puts it away. His distraction causes him to lag behind a little, but he quickly catches.

09:59, Today: Tump rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Listen check.
09:59, Today: Tump rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  spot check.

As Inarra continues to lead you through the massive room, you encounter various structures including what look like old one- and two-man starships in various states of disrepair.  None of them look like they would fly ever again, but it is a testament to how prevalent star travel used to be that there are so many casually parked in this one place.

"This way."  Inarra turns away from the wall and passes in and out of a number of the ships, some too tall to see past.  There is a single dim light ahead, one you could not see before because of the angle of the object the light emanates from.  Inarra is leading you directly toward the light.

Django marvels at the decaying star ships, and suppresses the urge when he almost slips up and whistles.

12:16, Today: Django Blint rolled 18 using 1d20+6.  Spot.

12:16, Today: Django Blint rolled 5 using 1d20+4.  Listen.

His hearing is probably in need of some sort of bio-implant. His tinnitus kicks in and he gets a slight ringing sensation in his right ear.

The sights are really quite impressive and given her numbness to the fact makes Tump wonder. He whispers in a low voice. "How long have you known about this place?"

11:38, Today: Tump rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  Listen check.
11:38, Today: Tump rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  spot check.

Clearly oblivious to anything other than the space ships, Tump doesn't notice much else.

Inarra looks back at Tump and scowls, but it is a brief look.  She sighs and lets the two men catch up to her before she speaks in a voice so soft it is half lip reading that helps you understand her.  "I've never been down here before.  The last three-man team we sent down here didn't return."

She turns back around and takes a few more steps.  She freezes, transfixed by something in front of her.

Tump glances over to Django as if to say, "Nice knowing ya...", and then stops abruptly trying not to bump into Inarra.

21:13, Today: Tump rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Listen check.
21:13, Today: Tump rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  spot check.

Seriously, 2 1's in a row on spot, but Tump can hear a mouse fart from a mile away....

Django freezes and narrows his eyes, searching in the dark ahead.

The ringing in his ear has stopped.

22:22, Today: Django Blint rolled 23 using 1d20+6.  Spot.

22:22, Today: Django Blint rolled 16 using 1d20+4.  Listen.

"I want it."  Apparently Inarra's caution at silence doesn't apply to her.  She darts forward toward a very large pile of junk, spacecraft parts all jumbled together in a heap.  However, at the bottom of the 'hill' is a small, one man craft.

The craft was no longer than ten meters with a wedge shape.  It's narrow vertical profile was broken by two oversized engines on the back.  One of the engines is surrounded by a diagonal stabilizer fin running from the back to the front of the engine, but the other has broken off.  There is also the remains of one cannon on one side of the sleek craft.  The other side is somewhat covered by the junk.  The canopy looks to be intact.  The horizontal profile from back to front tapers somewhat as it sweeps forward and there is a small split down the middle of the front section, roughly a meter long.

There is not much left of the blue paint that once colored the ship.  Now it is mostly a dull grey, pitted and scarred from who knows what battles of the ancient world.

"Inarra. Back away. Slowly" Django hisses with urgency in his voice. He pull out his energy pistol and readies an over-charge shot.

"Step back, Inarra. There is something else over there. Watching us."

Inarra freezes and looks around.  Then she takes a step back.

Inarra's movement draws the beast out, frustrated that it lost the easy kill.  It leaps from the pile of garbage and lands on the ground in front of the three of you.  The ground shakes mightily with its landing [Reflex Save vs. DC 16 or fall].  It roars its challenge with a wide, toothy maw capable of engulfing the upper torso of a human.

Inarra falls to the ground, which probably saves her life as the creature's tail sweeps around and cracks the air where her head was a second before.

[Phase 1]

Seeing the beast leap, Django bends his knees slightly and hops right before it hits the ground. As he lands, he opens fire.

16:34, Today: Django Blint rolled 26 using 1d20+6.  Reflex Save.
Extra shot this phase for crit save
Take 10 + (5-1[over-charge]) = 14

21:31, Today: Django Blint rolled 19 using 5d6+4.  Energy Pistol: Over-charge Shot.
21:31, Today: Django Blint rolled 21 using 5d6+4.  Energy Pistol: Over-charge Shot.

Total Damage: 40

The sudden movements of the beast caught Tump completely off guard and when it lands, Tump stumbles and falls prone, knocking the weapon from his hand. It skitters across the floor, past the beast.

21:15, Today: Tump rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  reflex save.

[Phase 2]

Inarra falls to the ground as the beast hits.  Rather than scrambling to her feet, she digs for a bot and sets it loose.

Django's shots slam into the monstrous carnivore full force.  A blue glow appears momentarily each time and the shots bounce off into the dark before slamming into something a bit farther away.  There is explosive debris that can be hear to rain down in the background somewhere.

The creature takes another step forward and roars again.  It does not appear to be injured.

[Spot checks.

Phase 5]

Tump picks himself up off the ground and draws the energy pistol he picked up from Polerin.

23:36, Today: Tump rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  spot.

Django takes aim again and hesitates, trying to discern what just happened.

05:45, Today: Django Blint rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  Spot.

[There is some kind of device on the creature's back at the base of the neck.  It is flat and low.

+1 Spot XP for both.]

The monster rears up and makes a chuffing sound before it lowers its head, opens its maw, and spews forth a cone of flame.

[Reflex Saves]

The flames spew forth fast as Django scrambles to move out of the way, practically stumbling on his own feet.

08:49, Today: Django Blint rolled 9 using 1d20+6.  Reflex Save.

Tump, seeing the gout of flame heading straight for them, deftly jumps directly into it.


No amount of evasion is going to save this roll!
11:18, Today: Tump rolled 10 using 1d20+6 ((4)).

Inarra rolls to the side out of the flame's path.  She finds her feet behind a large rectangular object made of metal.

The blast of fire is not as large as adrenaline and fear in the depths of the ruins might have made it seem at first.  Tump and Django are singed a bit [1 DMG to your hats], but not on fire or anything.

There is a clanking sound as the monster tries to take a step forward, but can't.  Instead, it turns to the side and begins to pace.

Taking cover behind a pile of corroding equipment, Django manages to snuff out the singed edges of his hat with a frown. He peers around his cover to hear the clank and see the creature is apparently leashed to something. "A well guarded guard dawg eh? Tump, can ya see what's holdin' it back?".

"Good idea, I like it. You make like a nice juicy target, and I'll head around to the other side."

Tump winks then heads for cover to get a better angle on the device embedded on the fire breathing creature's back, giving wide berth.

Inarra takes a cue from Tump and heads around the other way, examining the threat at a safe distance.

As the interlopers cease their frontal assault, grow more cautious and split up, the monster quiets its roaring and stomping about.  It swings its head to the left and right trying to keep both Inarra and Tump in sight.

Django lights a cigarette. "Wut they got'chu chained up fer big fella?" he says while half peering from behind cover. It isn't clear if he's actually speaking to the monster or thinking out loud.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say this thing is chained up pretty solid by a giant leash. Whoever did it, made sure it wasn't gunna get loose anytime soon."

Tump holsters his weapon to try and reduce any sort of aggression to the creature. "Django, you think you might be able to calm that thing down? I'd likely only make it more angry."

"By now, most people with half a brain would have scrambled to retreat and not stayed behind to find out about a shield generator and chain."

Django turns his head around looking for the body that goes with the voice.

Tump chuckles under his breath. "Good thing we aren't burdened with that problem." He rubs the soot off the brim of his hat. "I was wondering if I was gunna run into you down here."

Ky walks around the corner from behind the mounds of junk.  He is near Inarra.  "Don't be afraid, Ms. Tills.  Neither I, nor Vex here will hurt you."  Ky unslings a carcass he'd been carrying over his shoulder, a small dongo-rat, and tosses it to 'Vex'.

Inarra circles opposite Ky wary, but not making any overt aggressive moves.

Ky rubs the creature's eye ridge as it eats.  It actually purrs.  "The relighast is a lot of bark, but they prefer to just be left alone.  Most won't hunt things that are half their size or bigger.  Too much trouble.  Once you show 'em who's in charge, well, they will either run and not return, or if you feed it, they might stick around.  Vex here, his training is almost done.  A few more days and I can unchain him, let him hunt in the area.  He'll not roam far so long as I keep him fed."

Ky turns to Tump.  "I only need him around for a few more weeks while I get my ship repaired.  He'll let me focus on that while he keeps away those I haven't invited."

Tump raises an eyebrow. "Your ship?" He glances around the area. "One of these I presume? How is that not going to catch the attention of 'you know who'?"

In the shadows of his own, unscorched wide-brimmed hat, Ky's smile quirks a little.  "It hasn't in ten years.  Mainly because I've deactivated the drives.  Vexember won't touch you if you don't have flight capability.  Course, I've got something now that prevents him from knowing when I get her space worthy again."

He walks over to Inarra and offers his hand.  "Would you join me, please?  You are all invited as I need your help."  He turns and walks back the way he came.  "I saw you admiring the..." his voice trails off and its too hard to catch what he says with the rip-snorting of the relighast eating the dongo-rat carcass.

Tump scurries to catch up and whistles appreciatively. "That's impressive. How did you manage to fly under the senators radar?" He glances over to Ky, anticipating his reaction.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:09, Tue 03 Jan 2017.

Django clears his throat. "Before we go an get all willy nilly with space voodoo, I got some thangs what need clarifyin'".

As Django catches up to the group, Ky explains to Toben and Inarra.  "The anomaly that Sabersplice is seeking is my doing.  It prevents communication unless you have a bypass, but that is just a side effect.  The main function of my shield is to keep Vexember from deep scanning the ruins and detecting anything.  He doesn't normally actively scan deep, and the ruins down this far are sparsely populated, so if nothing ever dings his passive sensors, he'll never looks this deep.  To actively monitor the deep places of the planet would just take too much time.  The odds that he would randomly select to active scan this ruin over other, more active spots in the world, are one hundred sixty four thousand to one."

As the three of you round the debris piles, the bottom of the large shaft both Django and Tump have traveled to the surface appears.  Ky smiles and leads you to his stilted home.  It looks like he's made a couple of modifications since either of you were here, including a round sensor/jammer array on the roof.

Django's insistence on answers, gives Ky pause at the ramp leading in.  "Would you like to talk out here or inside over drinks?"

Tump nods as he thinks back over the past few days experience. "Yeah, I think I could use a drink."

"Inside sittin' down sounds fine".

Ky leads the way up the ramp.  At the top of the ramp, Ky steps to the right and motions for everyone to turn to the left toward the large living area.  Behind him, the small doorway to your left is now open and a ladder is against the far wall leading to the roof and presumably back out of the house a different way.  Across from that, the larger hallway that was previously blocked with a makeshift metal door is now open.  The hallway has a rounded ceiling and several large leather chairs with sturdy full-torso restraints.

Ky insists that you move to the left, though, and into the living area.  Outside the bay windows that curve around the back quarter of the house, there is a large curved array that matches the curvature of the windows.  Perhaps some kind of shielding or other protective covering, though what it might be for down here is unknown.  Behind you, where there was a metal panel before, there is now a room that looks like some kind of engineering compartment for a vehicle.  Most of the stuff looks incomprehensible, but there is an open slot for a power converter.  To the left of that slot there is a huge, round device installed.  It blinks, but doesn't seem otherwise active.

Inarra takes a seat and Ky disappears into the room he is using as a kitchen area.  He returns in a few moments with steaming mugs of caf, which he distributes to everyone.  "Alright, Mr. Blint.  Ask your questions."

"Well I reckon I'm jes gone cut right t' the chase then. I know who you are Ky. I know where ya get the name Ky from as well. You ain't stupid, an' I know you know who I am. An' that means you know what I'm here fer. Naow, I ain't no fool. I know good an' well if I tried t' subdue ya right here an' now, I'd be deader than th' rat carcass you threw to yer.. "pet"... Even still, every instinct in mah body is tellin' me to draw on ya, despite me havin' a purty good idea of what's gone happen. But I can't exactly dismiss th' fact you saved my life. Saved Stacia's life. I came here with th' intent of stoppin' a cold blooded mad man. An' what I found instead is'a altruistic enigma. Don't make no sense to tell ya the truth. So, that's what I'm gone ask fer. The truth. How exactly did you become a wanted man, how is it ol' Vexember ain't got nothin' to do with you? An' why'd you let me live?".
This message was last updated by the player at 00:01, Thu 05 Jan 2017.

As the questions spew forth, Tump's eyes dart back and forth between Ky and Django and he takes a long pull from his drink. Perhaps a little too loudly.

"Dissimulation at this point serves no purpose."  'Ky' takes his hat off and sets it aside.  Then he removes his duster. The shadows around his eyes are not shadows at all, but tattoos of some kind of old computer code.  The hint of some kind of stylized bird peeks above the low cut t-shirt.

"I am Vyctor Kerr.  Kydor was my father."

Inarra watches the drama unfold like an avid fan watching her favorite vid drama.  She does not seemed all that surprised at Vyctor's revelation, but seems more interested in Django's reaction.

She is quite literally on the edge of her seat, both hands wrapped intensely around her caf mugh, the drink inside untouched.

Django takes a sip of his caf and then looks at the mug. "S'good". He turns back to Vyctor. "Please, contin'yuh.".

Vyctor sits in a comfortable chair over near a work bench, all of it attached to the floor and wall of the house respectively.  He sits in a relaxed position, completely unworried about the explicit threat glaring at him across the room.

"Vexember and the others like him are not 'gods' in any sense of the word.  I call them the Star Demons, because that's what they act like.  They control the worlds and prevent any race, human or otherwise, from advancing too far technologically.  They are the murderers.  They and their stooges that I am accused of murdering."  As he speaks, he looks around at each of his three guests.  However, his gaze bores into Django at this point.  "I know you hear this a lot, lawman, but I didn't actually kill those government officials.  I even warned them about their impending deaths, but they were so zealous for their 'god' that they refused to listen.  They had discovered something wonderful, something awesome, and in their zeal took it right to Vexember.  He killed them just for knowing it."

He shakes his head and puts his right hand to his forehead to rub out the frustration.  "Fool.  I got blamed for it because Vexember caught wind of me when I tried to help them.  Your bounty was placed by the Demon himself.  Thankfully, I have publicly and truthfully cut all ties with my family long ago in order to protect them.  When I knew this would be my path, I told them to denounce me, to hate me even, if that's what it took to truly disavow me.  So far it's worked, it seems.  The Demon has left them alone."

He drops his hand and looks around at his guests again.  "I cannot do this alone.  I need a team, and I don't want folks too set in their career paths or too attached to this world.  Above all, I need people with potential, courage, and the need for freedom, to be their own people.  All of you have skill sets that would help me take down Vexember.  You need to train, of course, but I can help with that."

Vyctor laughs and holds up his hands.  "I am getting ahead of myself.  Mr. Blint, I saved your life because I see in you what I'm looking for in a team member, but moreso because it was the right thing to do.  These ruins are dangerous, but I'm tapped in to most of the building's old security systems and can keep an eye on the action.  I saw Tump and you both fall.  I saw that idiot Dafe bring Stacia down, but had to keep an eye on them from afar for a bit since I was busy.  When that she-wolf Nerra revealed herself, I had to stop my work and go help.  I also have a few people who feed me info when anything happens on the surface."   He finally leans back in his chair a bit and rests his arms on on the arms of the chair, waiting for Django to process.

"I'm in!"  Inarra blurts out when Vyctor stops talking.  "I mean, I want to help, I'd like to join."  Her words rush together, and she smiles a bit sheepishly when they are out, but her excitement is vivid.  It is the most energy either of you have ever seen in the usually calculating woman.

Django stares down mutely at his caf. He goes to take another sip, and then stops, placing the mug down on a flat surface next to him. He looks around the room for a moment, taking in the sights, before fishing his fushion-igniter from his pocket. He stands up, and starts for the door. "That's some heavy scrab yer sellin' Kerr. An' when I add up all the details an' circumstances, all thangs considered, I don't reckon you got no reason t'lie to me. Not when ya could'a jes killed me and got me outta yer way. But takin' on the sta-.. I mean..". Django shakes his head while sighing. "I need a smoke".

Django doesn't wait for an answer and shows himself the door, and immediately lights up with shaking hands once he's outside.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:04, Sun 08 Jan 2017.

Vyctor chuckles warmly and turns to Tump.  "What about you, Tump?  All I have to offer is riches beyond your imagination, fame, or quite possibly a very quick and nasty death."

Tump and Vyctor chat for a bit while Django pulls himself together. When he finally comes back in, he finds a small holoprojector sitting on the table.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:34, Thu 05 Jan 2017.

Django doesn't say anything, but comes back in and takes his seat, and resumes his caf. He looks like he starts to say something several times, but stops.

As tension builds, Inarra hops up and looks at each man in the room.  "Oh, c'mon!  The greatest revelation in thousands of years and you three have nothing to say to each other?"  She looks at Kerr then Tump.  "You HAVE to tell him!  I can't take it!"

Her words are full of energy and excitement and run together in a way contrary to her former, normally controlled self.

Tump looks over to Inarra. "I don't even know where to start, but maybe this will help." He reaches for the holo-projector and switches it on.

It blips and bleeps as it powers on and then proceeds to deliver its message.

~~~~

The device beams its projection into the middle of the room.  It's vibrant colors and opacity setting make the image seem as if the woman stood before you.  Only the scale belies the image as merely illusion.  The woman is dressed in some kind of indigo body suit that fits snugly, with golden accents on the shoulders, arms, and torso.  At the knees and below, she wears gold-colored armor and boots.  The golden material is some unknown material, but looks similar to hardened leather.  She has dual pistols at her hips.

The woman has thick, wavy blonde hair, and a face to die for.  The whole package looks so good as to be some artist's work rather than a living being.  Her voice completes the surreal package.  "When a thousand years have finished, the falcon will ...zzzt... again, and the star gods will fa ...zzzt...  Come find me at the ...zzzt.... eye temple and I will guide you.  It is the will of the ...zzzt..."

The woman crosses her arms and narrows her eyes, almost daring you to come find her.  Then the message resets and starts all over again. "I am Guri.  When a thousand years have finished, the falcon will ...zzzt... again, and the star gods will fa ...zzzt...Come find me at the ...zzzt.... eye temple and I will guide you.  It is the will of the ...zzzt..."

~~~~

While the projection is cycling through its message, Tump slides the flimsi given to him by Kerr over to Django. "Here, take a look at this."

Already maintaining a look of concern on his face, Django takes a look at the object Tump passes him.

It is a list of parts needed for a starship.  As Django scrolls through the flimsi, a picture of the ship itself appears.  The ship is labeled Millennium Falcon.  It has a rounded aft section, a pair of pylons central in front, and a pilot's cabin jutting out from the starboard side of the ship.  It has significant specs listed all over.  One thing stands out above all others.

You are sitting in the Millennium Falcon itself.

Flimsi picture/schematics:
https://www.wired.com/images_b...a/2010/11/falcon.jpg
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:57, Fri 06 Jan 2017.

Django puts the filmsi down, and places a hand over his face and wipes downward out of stress, and out of a sort of sense of helplessness at the situation. He listens intently to the holo-recording as it plays again, and then again. "The heck does this all mean? Some sorta prophecy bout' Vexember.. an' wait, did I hear her say "gods"?".

Kerr frowns.  "Yes, so did I.  There are hundreds of them.  Maybe thousands.  I haven't been off Corellia, er...Core, yet to get perspective.  I have to get the Falcon space-worthy first.  Guri is one of the demons, or very much like them from what I gather, but does not hold to their philosophy."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:01, Fri 06 Jan 2017.

"Hold on. She said 'gods', and you're calling them 'demons'. It's all quite confusing to me. Could you point me in the right direction? What exactly does that mean and do you have any idea what temple she is referring to?"

Vyctor shakes his head.  "I do not know what temple that might be.  Our first priority would be to get the Falcon flying again.  Then we might take out Vexember or at least get away from here.  After that, we can figure out where this temple is that she is hiding at."

He heads over to a display on the wall and calls up a data file with an image of an old, disgruntled looking male.  "This is the last image anyone has of Vexember, back when he was a senator of the New Republic.  He, and those like him, found the power to end the fighting between those two factions within the ancient religion.  They also found the ability to live indefinitely.  Part of that power came with the philosophy of ending interstellar travel for all worlds, thousands of inhabited planets.  I do not know much about the nature of these abilities, but the Rain of Light is part of it."

"You have seen this message from Guri, probably found in an office near the old upper hanger of the bank.  She was friends with Captain Solo, after a fashion, and I think they knew what was happening and made a plan.  I don't know how she managed to tap into the same power that Vexemeber and the other Star 'Gods' have that gives them indefinite life, but the message she sent me is recent.  Here, I'll play it for you."

"Yeah, I found that device admist lots of old junk up there. Found an ancient droid there too. I managed to get the drive from the head, but needed some part from down here to boot it up."

The monitor switches from the data file to a video of a blonde-haired woman of unreal beauty.  Unlike the holographic image, which has washed out colors and staticky image, this video is crisp and clear.  She sits at a terminal with a headset on.

"Vyctor Kerr, greetings."  Her voice is a sultry alto and makes it difficult to concentrate for a moment.  Perhaps Irin would give her a run for her money, but Irin at least seems real.  "My name is Guri, and though I am not one of the Star Gods, I am like them in a way.  I have lived more than a thousand years, watching as they have ruined the galaxy with their cruel tyrrany.  It is worse than any of the galaxy-wide empires before them ever managed, even under men like Exar-Kun and Sheev Palpatine.  Though I have worked against them most of this time, I have been ineffective on my own.  That is why I have reached out, combing the galaxy for individuals that I believe would work with me to overthrow the Star Gods, which are in truth, no gods at all, but demons."

"Before he died, Captain Solo and others caught wind of what the creatures that would become the Star Gods were doing.  He feared that his brother-in-law and the knights that served with him would be incapable of defeating the Star Gods through the abilities granted by their religion.  In truth, the Star Gods had found a way to nullify that ability and thus the religion was wiped out.  I went into hiding during that time, but Solo left his ship on his homeworld of Corellia, now called Core.  There was a time of great upheaval before the Star Gods finally won, so I am unsure where his ship, the Millennium Falcon is located.  If you can find it, it is faster than anything the Star Gods have.  Try near Coronet City, the old captial.  It was in underground storage near a planetary bank exchange.  I have included the schematics, so if parts are corroded or missing, you will have to find a way to replace them."

"Vyctor, there is more to the importance of finding and rebuilding the Falcon than I can tell you now.  It is a symbol, much like the raptor you have tatooed on your chest.  If the Falcon should rise, it will shake the Star Gods to their core.  Find others who will join you, people you trust and are skilled enough to take on the demons.  Then find me and together we will free the galaxy of this evil once and for all."

Guri reaches forward and does something below the screen and the image goes black.

http://millennium-rpol.wikia.com/wiki/Guri
This message was last edited by the player at 04:57, Tue 10 Jan 2017.

Django rubs the stubble on his jaw line and drains the last of his caf. "Aight then. This whole vyte-scrab crazy ordeals settled fer me". His face looks stern.

Vyctor looks at Tump then at Django, a confused look on his face.  "Does that mean you're in?"

Tump nods his head slowly. "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."

"Yep. Made my career out of tryin' to set thangs straight with this here world. I ain't about t' stop now. Don't get me wrong Vyctor, I'm skeptical... but you got my interest".

"Very well.  Tump," he switches the screen from the black to a larger image of the Falcon schematics.  "I need you to finish what you started, looking for the droid warehouse.  Um, that's robots.  We'll need them to help with some of the major repairs.  You see the parts toward the front?  I've scrounged most of those that were missing.  The cryogenic reserve cells were corroded, but I found something far superior anyway.  We have no escape pods.  Shield generators are problematic.  Those have all disintegrated over the centuries.  I changed the lamps up front to something more modern and the sensor suites have all been upgraded and de-complicated.  Solo was a genius mechanic, but he was poodoo for organization."

"We have no operational weapons, no shields, no backup hyperdrive, and I can't get the sublight systems to work, though I think I have all the parts.  I'm a lot better with communication and sensor systems than I am with drives.  The only thing that is in perfect order is the main hyperdrive system, that arc thing out the 'window'."

He turns to Django.  "Your job is a bit more complicated.  I don't know if you want to try, but you are the only one that has a chance.  Deep in Core's central government data warehouse, there is an uplink backup to Vexember.  I need that uplink to download starcharts and other navigation from his computer or we can't leave the star system.  Our only other option, if you can't get that backup component, is to assault Vexember in his own station in orbit."  Then he turns off the monitor and folds his arms.  "You also need to not be distracted by any bounties you may come across, no matter how easy or dastardly they may be.  While we are working on this, you aren't a lawman, Mr. Blint.  You are a rebel."

"Also, if we can get Irin and Hance to join up, we would leap forward in our plans, though Hance is getting on up in years."  Vyctor looks up as if peering through the 6km to the surface.  "What about that hefty guy that helped you with the octorats?  He had some interesting gear.  Did he design that, or can we get the name of his engineer?  Might be even better than Hance.  Irin will come either way.  She just needs to meet her 'ghost'."  He smiles at that.

"Inarra, I need you to stay here and help me with the remaining parts I have on hand.  We can also see if that A-wing you were eyeing is salvageable.  They were pretty fast in their day, as well.  Once the droids are available, they should get us up and running in no time if we have all the parts."

Tump smiles wide. "Now yer speaking my language. But first, we're gunna need a better way of moving around down here. You got any maps of this place? And how about showing us how to use that tube thing?"

Vyctor nods and motions for Tump's datapad.  He attaches a small chip which downloads the requested data.  "There.  Django?  Inarra?"  He does the same for Inarra when she readily agrees.

The data shows parts of the ruins mapped out by Vyctor, and they are extensive.  It has passages, blocked and alternative routes, monster nests, resources and the like.  There are also huge gaps.  Vyctor explains, "there are parts I've not gotten to yet, or were beyond my slicing skills.  Those two with the skulls...those were creatures I had no interest in tangling with on my own.  I don't think the robot factory is there, but that's not to say it's not also guarded by something nasty in the areas beyond the map where I've explored."

Still digesting the premise of breaking and entering a government compound, Django agrees to have his data pad updated. "Say, your bio I've looked at said you were a master a' slicin'. Anythang you thank I outta do to keep from bein' tracked by my department, without thangs lookin' too suspicious?".
This message was last edited by the player at 19:53, Mon 09 Jan 2017.

Vyctor chuckles when Django mentions him being a master slicer but doesn't interrupt.  When he finishes speaking he nods.  "Don't slice into any government systems on your own."

"Definitely ain't my plan. Even if I knew what I was doin', the odds a' them tracin' me are purty high. My only real strength heres that most a' the government stuff is automated. Security, gates, access ports. All that stuff is usually ran by machine'ry. They don't staff much flesh an' blood 'sept for in key locations. Common folks is too afraid a' Vexember to bust in a place like that. Although, I ain't quite sure my 07th level clearance is gonna cut it past some a' the check points".

"Your strength to our young organization, Mr. Blint, is your connections, especially to the 'legitimate' entities.  I suggest you use those.  If you can't do it, though, that's fine.  We'll just have to get those star charts the hard way."

"I'll get it done".

Tump fiddles with the data uploaded to his personal device. "This is great stuff. I'm sure Irin would be interested in filling in some of the gaps in her data as well." He looks up for a moment. "Oh, that's another thing. This tube system. How does it work? We'll need a reliable means of getting around quickly."

"The turbo lifts only work in a couple of areas and mostly require a portable power supply.  Sabersplice is responsible for about half of those, so Inarra can show you how to work one if she hasn't already.  I have downloaded the codes for all the active floors and the locations of the lifts on your datapads."

Tump scans through the data quickly. "Excellent. This will be helpful. If you can pass me a list of the items you still need to finish the Falcon, I'll get to work on them."

"Did you want to approach Irin and Hance yourself, of would you rather me handle that?"

"Perhaps you should talk to the Adsons.  Ease them into the idea that I'm not really a ghost.  If I step out of the shadows one day, Irin might shoot me."  He gives a slight smile that carries a touch of something more in it.  "I uploaded to your datapad the schematic for the Falcon.  The parts highlighted in red are the parts we still need."

[I will be uploading said schematic as a Game Map shortly if I can figure out how it works.]

Tump nods. "You're probably right. Might be best if I talk with them first. I'll see to it right away."

He looks over to Django. "I guess now that you've apprehended your criminal", he says jeering the law-man, "I guess we're no longer under contract."

Tump grabs his gear and situates himself. "I'm headed back up. You're welcome to join me. If you'd like, that is."

"Yeah, I reckon we ain't. Now we're partners".

Once Tump grabs his gear and extends an invitation to come along. "Suits me, prolly best we move around down here in pairs at'a minimum, maps 'er not".

Tump nods. "Agreed." He makes his way to the door. "Ready?"

"Yep" Django says as he grabs his pack. He speaks to Vyctor before leaving. "I dunno how long it's gone take me to get this done, but I'mma try an' be quick with it. If I ain't back in a few days, I don't reckon it takes a genius t' figure out what happened".

" Worry not, Mr. Blint.  I won'the need to guess."  His smile is cryptic.

Inarra and Vyctor follow the two of you to the lift.  Vyctor to protect you from his guard dog and to help Inarra get a more thorough look at the other starship, the 'A-Wing'.  Inarra shows you how to use the turbo lifts and tells you Hance has more of the right power cells to power the lift without having to leave the cell behind.  She also asks Tump to deliver a datachip to Sabersplice.

The lift takes you back to the upper levels and Mr. Blint remains silent enough this time not to attract attention.  An hour later the two of you leave through the standard entrance to the ruins to go about your business.

Tump and Django finally reach the surface right around sunset. He approaches the Saberplice team, who are securing their work site for the evening.

"Evening folks. How goes it?"

One of the gang members, a middle-aged man whose name slips your mind stands up and gives a half wave.  "Hey, Tump.  Just wrapping up here."  Then he frowns in confusion.  "I thought Inarra went with you?"

"Eh, you know her. She latches on to a task, there's no pulling her away." He pulls the data chip from a pocket. "She wanted me to leave this with you. Said you'd know what to do with it."

Django breaks off from Tump, giving a farewell, and heads back to the inn to grab a bite to eat for the road. He checks all his things and packs, and then goes to retrieve his hover bike, and check his data pad's map for plotting a course to Core City.

Tump says his farewells to Django. Even though they've only known each other about a day, they were now linked in duty. Their success and fate were intertwined.

"If you need anything, you know where I'll be." He shakes Django's hand. "Good luck out there, marshall, and watch your back."

Given the hour, Tump heads back to Inn for a meal before the kitchen closes and collect his thoughts before trying to catch up with Irin. He hurries through dinner, settles his tab, and makes his way over to Hance's.

"After this, there wont be no Marshal no more, best I can see. Wont take em' long t' catch on to me". Django gives his farewell, and is off.

"Hey, Tump.  I was just about to lock up.  What can I do for you?"  Hance has an armful of tech in his hands.  One by one he finds a spot for it on the shelves behind his counter.  He barely turns to acknowledge that it's the relic hunter.

Tump cranes his neck to see if Irin is around. "Sorry for the late hour, but something came up today. Thought Irin might want to know about it. She around?"

Hance puts a couple more things up on the shelf.  "She's back in the cooler going over her data dump for the day.  This have anything to do with that ghost of hers?"

Tump starts heading over to the cooler, but at the mention of the 'ghost', he stops dead in his tracks. Not being much of a liar, he just manages to squeak out "Umm, perhaps..." and tries to hurry himself to the cooler.

He slinks into the cooling room and closes the door quickly behind him. Feeling like a school-boy ducking his girlfriend's parents, he rolls his eyes at himself. The latch catches Irin's attention and she glances back to see who it is. "Back so soon? Did you forget something?"

Tump cocks his head to the side in confusion. "What do you mean? It's practically closing time."

She stops what she's doing, but only for a moment, and the returns her attention back to her toys. "Oh, time flies I guess."

Tump pulls out the remains of some of the dry goods he gathered that morning and places it on the table beside her. "Here, you should eat something. I have a feeling you're going to be in for a long night." He slides the datapad with all the information collected from Ky on the table. "You need to see this."

She quickly shoves a few bites of food in her mouth and starts sifting through the data. When she gets to the schematic of the Falcon, her eyes go wide and looks over at Tump. "Where did you get this?"

"I made it down to the basement, and that there just scratches the surface. A man who calls himself Ky lives down there." He eyes Iron to judge her reaction. "Also known as 'Irin's ghost'."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:12, Tue 24 Jan 2017.

Irin is silent for a moment as she processes the data.  "Makes sense," she finally says.

"Ky is Vyctor Kerr, isn't he?  He's going after Vexember and you're going to help him."  The last isn't a question.

"Yes, that's right. That revelation made for a very intense moment between him and Django." He laughs out loud. "It was so awkward. You would have loved it."

The laughter finally dies down once he gets the gist of her last statement. "He does have plans for the ex-senator, but what makes you assume I am helping him?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:54, Tue 24 Jan 2017.

Irin finally looks up.  She gives Tump a look, then smiles.  "Let me get some equipment together.  The Pit is where the Falcon has to emerge.  How far from the bottom is the ship?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:40, Tue 24 Jan 2017.

Tump just smirks at Irin. "Best I can tell, it's as far down as you can go. There's a catch though. It's not air-worthy yet. It's missing about half its parts" He points to the ones highlighted in red on the schematic. "And even I manage to find them all, we still need an engineer with the know-how to install them properly."

Tump motions towards the door of the cellar. "Your dad's pretty sharp when it comes to putting things together. You think he'd be up to it?"

"No."  The reply is quick, fearful.  "No," she says again less forcefully. "Let my dad live out his days fixing junk. He doesn"t need to die on some crazy quest out in space taking on supernatural beings from the stars."

Tump raises his hands in defense. "Ok. Alright. I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings leaving him out. He certainly seems content with his shop, and we can just leave it at that."

"Now, I got a few odds and ends over at my place that might be useful. We'll probably need a few of your dad's toys too. Let's get a list of what we'll need and reconvene in the morning. I can meet you at the Inn for some breakfast, or I can meet you here."

"Let's just meet here, okay?  I need to break the news to Dad that I'm not going to be seeing him for a while."  Her smile is sad, but determined.  She begins to log out of her systems, pull datachips and the like and tidy up, preparing to shut her station down for the last time.

Tump nods. "That'll be fine. Do what you need to do, and I'll be back in the morning." He leaves and closes the door behind him as Irin powers down her system.

Hance is still shuffling about the shop with his nightly organizational tasks. "Need a hand with anything before I head out, Hance?"

"Aw, ain't you sweet."  He gives you a wicked grin reminiscent of Irin, then laughs.  "Nah, Tump.  Same ole', same ole'.  Don't change much around here.  You go on and have fun.  There's relics t' hunt tomorrow.  You'll need the rest.  I'll be here."  He goes back to cleaning up the store.

The front door is already locked, but it's a mag seal that can be opened from the inside and relocks automatically.  If you go out, Hance will have to let you back in.

Tump looks down at the floor. "Yep... same 'ol, same 'ol." He heads over to the door and looks back. "Maybe tomorrow morning you can show me a few new toys that might help out with all that hunting. See ya then."

He leaves quietly and heads back to his room at Anders. He settles in for the night and in the morning packs up all his gear, specifically making sure the droid data drive and Guri holo-projection is with him. On his way back down, he runs into Anders.

"Morning", he says with a nod. "Looks like I might be on a bit of a long job. Here's for next month in case I don't see you by then." He transfers the 500 credits and heads over to the Inn for a quick meal and stock up on rations.

"See ya 'round, Mr. Anders."

"Mornin' Tump."  The innkeeper fixes Tump a glass of water and takes his breakfast order.  Casing the place, as is the relic hunter habit, Tump sees a couple of the Voidchasers eating quietly in their usual place on the raised platform.

It's the old man, Caeldaar, Polerin the second, and Ruffin, their leader.  Their heads are close together, their voices far too low to hear.  Caeldaar seems calm, but the way Ruffin scowls, the old man may be taking the younger man to task.

A couple of other townies are in taking their breakfast as well, but the place is quiet.  Empty.

"Mornin'" Tump nods to Namben and picks a seat on the far side of the Inn from the Voidchasers. "The usual for breakfast, and I'm afraid I'll need a fresh allotment of travel rations. Had a bit of a scuffle recently and lost my last batch."

"Better make that two, just to be safe this time." He sets his pack on the ground beside him as he looks around the unusually empty building. "Anything new going on?"

Namben moves at his usual sedate pace to get the requested rations.  He plops a plate down in front of Toben, steaming with fried strips of meat and some kind of large bird eggs.  The milk is white today and rich.  "No, it's quite frankly dead around here.  With the Voidchasers breaking up and likely heading on, and Sabersplice taking a few weeks in Core, it's going to be downright quiet around her.  Hopefully, some new blood will move in soon, or Ant Hill may just dry up and blow away."

Tump shrugs. "New blood ain't always a good thing. Quiet may just be what this place needs for a while. Besides, I think it'll take a force much more powerful than a two week vacation to bring her down."

He takes a few bites as he peers over at the Voidchasers. "You think this thing with the Voidchasers will stick. I know they're mostly full of piss and wind, but going their separate way? Seems a bit extreme for the creds they were pullin'."

"Them three there are the only ones left in town.  Caeldaar is staying.  Ruffin is trying to get Polerin to stay to rebuild, take on some of the other solo hunters.  I'm surprised they haven't approached you.  Polerin though," Namben shakes his head.  "He doesn't seem to be having any of it.  Says something ain't right around here and he's pullin' out."

Namben wipes the counter for the tenth time in the same spot as he looks over at the Voidchasers table.  "Course, Polerin has always had good instinct about such things."

"Just being a relic hunter can earn you a certain reputation as it is. I don't think I'd want to add their reputation as well." He takes the last few bites of breakfast. "What about you? You think something's going on 'round here?"

Namben chuckles and puts his towel away.  "Nothing really ever happens on Core, Tump.  We are the very definition of static."

"Well then, here's to static." He laughs and raises his glass.

"I suppose I'm off then. Got some errands to run. I'll grab those extra food packs if you've got them too." He settles up his bill and leaves an unusually large tip for Namben. "I little something to keep the lights on."

With all the goods in tow, he leaves the Inn and heads back to meet up with Irin.

When you enter the shop, Hance is wide awake and bustling.  He seems excited about something and greets Tump with a wide grin and a wave.  "Irin's in her room, Tump.  She's dressed.  Head on back."

"Yer awfully chipper this mornin'", he says as he tips his hat to Hance. "Get some new toys in or something?"

"Naw.  Irin just told me she figured out her ghost wasn't a ghost at all, but none other than Vyctor Kerr.  She's going into the ruins today to meet him.  You going with her?  That why you're here all packed up?"

Tump nods. "Yeah. Thought she might need someone watching her back. Brought some extra food with me too, in case she gets her tunnel vision again." He chuckles. "You know how she gets."

He peers towards the back. "Irin! You about ready?"

Irin exits the back with her signature white and dark orange delving suit and a loaded pack.  She sets the pack down and goes over to Hance to give him a big hug and kiss on the cheek.  "Love you, dad.  Hope you don't get too bored while I'm gone.  I don't know how long I'll be gone, but this find is totally worth it."  There is a slight catch in her voice but she covers it with one of her famous beaming smiles.

Hance returns the hug and kisses her on the forehead.  "You be safe down there, okay?  Don't give Tump too much grief."  He kisses her forehead and then stares into her eyes.  "And don't forget to look up from your datapad from time to time.  Be aware of your surroundings, Irin, you hear?"

Irin laughs and turns to leave.  She doesn't see Hance's face after she turns her back, but the facade of 'just another day' is replaced with worry and sadness.

Hance knows.

Tump gives Hance a nod. "I'll keep an eye on her. Like she was my own sister", he says, trying to give as much reassurance as he can. Hopefully it means as much to Hance as it does to Tump.

He gives a wave, heads out the door, and pulls it closed behind him. He looks over to Irin and hands her the food packs from Namben. "That should last us a while, just in case."

"Thanks."  There is a catch in her voice and she does not say anything else until you are well into the ruins, nearing the turbo lift.  "So, where to?  We going all the way to the bottom?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:37, Sat 04 Feb 2017.

Tump nods. "Yeah, all the way down. I figure it's best to have a little chat with Ky before we get too far into anything."

He walks over to the tubes and shows her how to use them. "Just step in and say where you want to go. Basement ought to do the trick."

Irin looks over the edge of the tube and stares for a moment.  "You're joking, right?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:37, Sat 04 Feb 2017.