She thought thru the words of the big man a couple of times and knew that she still did not totally understand what was going on so she let a sigh out and shut down the motorcycle to save fuel. No, she chose to focus on the last part of what had been said that they wanted to not rile the people of Compton up, she nodded softly and waved a long vine at the crowd.

 Glancing over to Bedlam, "Are they here to try and take our salvage away from us?." There was so much to learn and she only had the fading memories of Flora to draw from and she felt it was safer to stay with these people of her group.

Ophelia stepped aside as the dabbers moved out though she kept her hand near her sword hilt over her left shoulder.

Once they had departed she moved over to the others and nodded her understanding of what Bedlam had negotiated and traded. She understood that the mans word was his bond and she felt a little more relaxed with this new group of misfits.

Thunderbird makes a circle of the city to see what it is like before landing with the rest of the group. Getting caught up with the situation, he nods in agreement.

"So what is next beside a dinner in our honor?" he asks

You spend the next few days converting your hard earned salvage into barters, a large part of which you use to buy a small workshop for Tom and Socket next to the Bartermart. Soon it is time for the rest of you to depart on the next delve...

 She had managed to do a paint job on the motorcycle of flowers and vines winding around the frame and fenders and gas tank and had the engine smoothed out and running smooth.

 Meeting the others she was still surprised at the towns people and their fear of traveling the outside ruins. She looks over at the team, "What is out there that we can go find?, i heard someone talking about a shop from the restorationist that sells good stuff, should we go there and shop?."

--------


Crinkles finds himself quite happy to be back after their 'eventful' trip away.

Crinkles tried his best to hit up all his favorite food places during down time and if he could find it, would try to earn himself some free meals by doing physical labor for those that ran the eateries.

Arcus arrives with the rest of the Scavenger Team in Compton.. this is his first visit.  He avoided the town on his arrival in the area.. hoping to do some scouting of his own to track down the slavers he'd heard rumors about operating in the area.

His original thought was to avoid any rumors of himself hunting for Slavers in hopes that any informants in town would have nothing to warn the Badders about.

Arcus gazes openly at the sight of the fortified town walls...



Arcus collects his gear and the handy Mega-Shotgun "RECKONER"... slinging it barrel-down over a shoulder as he walks through the town... not actually brandishing the weapon clearly holding it at rest.  His wandering is not actually idle sight-seeing, but purposeful...

He is looking for any recognizable sign of law-enforcement sheriffs or deputies or even just plain obviously military types keeping the peace.  He is assessing the wall defenses the cleanness of the streets and the general order and behavior of the citizenry ...trying to figure out if this is a trading post of cut-throats or an actual community of mostly peace-loving residents.  And get a lay out of the community on the whole... obvious main thoroughfares, entrances and exits from the town.

Eventually he will make his way to the Last Chance Hotel...
Arcus will inform the Innkeep his is with Bedlam Jones party of Scavengers and that they will be bartering a large number of various weapons recovered from brigands for an equitable trade... but for now.. he'd like to barter a few days of stay by loaning his water purifier to the Innkeep in exchange for a room while he's in town for now, only two days worth.

Arcus will try a passive Interaction - Bargain 19

But if necessary he will roll... if a better deal seems likely...

23:44, Today: Arcus rolled 12 using 1d20+9.  Interaction 'Bargaining' for Room at Last chance Inn. {:( Guess not}

Afterwards he will ask where the Comptom Mayor can be reached and will go there to request a meeting with the Mayor... at her convenience.

It does not sit well with most towns to be going around forming an armed militia without getting the permission of the town authorities... makes them wonder WHY your gathering 'guns' in their peaceful town.. kinda rude!
This message was last edited by the player at 03:51, Fri 23 Oct 2015.

As the crew gets closer to Compton, the Sprawl becomes significantly less dangerous. Bedlam fills the newest crew members in on their relationship with, and reputation in, the town as well as its workings and features.

As Compton comes into sight Bedlam grins broadly; sometimes the big guy just doesn't realize how much he misses crowds.

The first stop on the giant's list is to check in with Crusty Tom and Socket. "Not our most profitable delve," he shrugs. "But pick through and see if anything catches your fancy."

"Just don't expect me to let it go cheap just because we're friends. Business is business," the giant winks.

Bedlam fills Tom and Socket in on the delve. In particular he checks to see if they have any news about the Restorationists. He describes Wilbur's 'remote control' armor and the invisible guard drone. He also mentions the encounter with the Red Guard.

"Probably not your line of expertise, but maybe you heard customers talking. I'm especially curious about their access to the Gren bridge. Do you think with the Porkers neutralized the Gren brought in the Hoops for protection?"

After completing negotiations with Tom and Socket and picking up the latest in-town gossip, Bedlam moves on to the Bartermart to dispose of the rest of the swag. The giant is in his element here, his grin broad and genuine as he moves from one intensive haggling session to the next.

 She is just glad to be back among non violent people again, she waves to bedlam and shrugs when he talks about selling the loot, she trusted him to divide the loot evenly, right now she wanted to take a bath and water her roots and then supper.

 Turning to Bedlam, "I will be working on my motorcycle i left here, see if i can twink it some."

Although Ophelia valued the down time that being in Compton gave her and the team she was a restless soul and was soon prowling the streets to try to burn off the pent up energy that kept her on edge while out in the wilds.

At night she partied hard and in the day either slept off the effects of the hootch or walked miles of streets without purpose or direction.

Over the days she felt the change come over her, she knew from past experience that spending too much time out in the wild could change a person, christ she was half cat, half human herself. But as the days dragged on she felt things inside her change and slowly new and slightly disturbing abilities started to surface.

Not knowing how to control them at the beginning she stopped partying as the hootch would dull her reflexes and new abilities had a tendency to kill people if you weren't in control of them.

After the first tingles ran though her body she took herself away to the outskirts of the town and spent all the time she could testing these new powers and getting control of them.

In reply to Ophelia (msg # 101):

Arcus over the course of the next few days splits his his day looking for recruits for the Rangers, and training them.

He also asks about town about any rumors of the Hoop's Red Army... are they as open and peacefully seeking excellence as their claims?  Arcus also asks any he meets for rumors of the Legion of Gold, forever does he seek to track down these destorying robot/cyborgs that killed his parents and destroyed his home.

As always Arcus is a force for good and justice supporting the authority of the Mayor and apprehending criminals, mediating disputes, opposing bullies and upholding justice and fairness.  Every afternoon he holds a short communal class for those who are interested in self-defense, combat training or skill in controlling mutant abilities to share his battle skills and mutation experience with others so peace-loving folks can learn to stand up for themselves and protect their homes and loved ones and learn to live with their emergent new mutations.  He uses the Mutantion nullification collars to help those who could use a break from their powers learn control and comfortable use of their new powers.  He does not charge for these 'classess' but with a combination of offering his crafting skills as a scavenger and scrapper that his father taught him {Arcus made his bastard sword and his heavy plate armor scavenged from a Legion of Gold destroyed robot} and training classes in combat... Arcus will try to earn a new weapon.. a Longbow with easily replaceable parts for building arrows [Heavy Ranged Weapon - 2handed, non-gun].  A very busy day for him... but clear to ALL who become familiar to the young man.. he IS indeed All he appears.. heroic, helpful, dedicated to giving of himself to others... a true Hero of the people; but lonely and homeless!

Arcus asks Thunderbird who seems to have the knowledge to teach him to read and write in the language of the Ancients~ Thunderbird being literate.

Invariably in the evenings, Arcus will seek out Ophelia, to spend time with her.  He will ask about her day and take an interest in her.  He clearly would like to recruit her to the Rangers.. but his is polite enough not to push.  Mostly he just wants to share her company... it is obvious he is attracted to her... and his heart is lonely for true companionship and love... but his interest is not focused on himself... but on her being a friend first and foremost!  It is clear he is a devout believer in the Holy Radiant Glow.  He will party hard as well with Ophelia trying to relax and set down the day's burdens he places upon his shoulders... the young man seemingly places the weight of the world and building civilization on his shoulders; Ophelia learns because Arcus has nothing else.. he has no home.. no friends, no family all of that was taken from him  with the destruction of his home town by the Legion of Gold!  So Arcus has effectively 'adopted' the world as his home and its people as his family... to protect and serve... desperately trying to fill the whole in his heart and life with purpose and meaning!  He does not push for more intimacy than she is willing to share being merely grateful to share her company.  If she is willing to share the fact she has new abilities she is having difficulty controlling... he will offer to help train her in their use.  He has done this before as well for other mutants with strange abilities.  Again he will ask if she has no interest in keeping her mutant nullification collar may he keep it not just to help apprehend criminal mutants but also as a training tool to help mutants who are having difficulty gain control of newly emergent powers.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:16, Wed 28 Oct 2015.

Ophelia like the young Arcus well enough and enjoyed his company when he was around. She knew he had feelings for her and realised it was partly her fault for flirting with him while out in the wild.

She was not looking for a mate at the moment, her last was killed not so long ago and her hunting his killers had lead her to the group they now belonged to. The wound was too raw to be filled with a young lad even if she thought he looked handsome.

No she would be his friend, for sure and his confidant if needed but anything else was not to be... for now.

She told him of her powers but having had differing ones over the years she was quickly able to control them after some practice. She also handed over her collar not liking them and not wanting to keep it, it was a relief to have it gone.

Bedlam
Gasket's experience with the politics of the sprawl gangs is put to good use by Bedlam. The Restorationists have a reputation for neutrality and charging dearly for use of their technology. The points to the suppression collars as a case in point. "They sell them cheap to the badders, but they're greedy for power. Burn out after a few hours and have to be recharged. And that costs plenty". The dabber points to a complicated indentation. "Non-standard power jack. No way the badders can charge this, but maybe we can rig something. Unless you'd prefer on getting your robot buddy booted up"

Neither Gasket or Tom have heard anything about the Red Guard, and Gasket doesn't think a hoop would work for a gren, or a gren would want to hire a hoop in the first place. "They live in the river anyway, the bridge is just their cash cow, and they've go it wired to blow. No need for more muscle. More likely the hoops are paying for access just like everyone else"

Rose
Oblivious to Compton politics, Rose contentedly works on her bike. Her nimble fingers, fine as the smallest roots, have it tuned up to perfection.

You now have a masterwork bike (+2 on all rolls associated with it). 09:57, Today: The Shadow, on behalf of Rose, rolled 29 using 1d20+12 (17).

Arcus
The ranger obtains his water filter, although his plans for the collars are thwarted by their built in power obsolescence. The citizens of Compton, seem to warm to the young ranger after their initial cynicism, and attendance at his courses slowly increases. He is even given some reading lessons in return.

Two more Compton visit and you will be literate.

You hear little about the Red Guard, although a few other travelers talk of meeting the hoops and receiving the same offer. Arucs is granted an interview with the mayor after a few days, just before the party is getting ready to leave.

Thunderbird headed out into Comption in search for books to start a library. Returning from his search, he talked to Arcus "Hey Arcus, did you want to get with the city authorities to see about starting up a library like they did of old in Alexandria?" he asked

In reply to Thunderbird (msg # 105):

Arcus looks at the collection of books his eyes going wide in wonder, "Back in ..mah home town... o' Stone Pillar... there was a few books around town.. mah pa' owned three hisself... but Ah ain't nevah heard o' no Alexandria!  But if'n ye want ta ask tha' mayor to build a place for lot's o' books..a library.. I'd be right fur that an wouldn't mind yur tagging along!  Though I was gonna be askin' fur permission ta recruit some kindly, honest-hearted and brave folks here-about tha' might have what it takes ta' be Rangers as well!  Guardians of Civilization... and Ah'm a thinkin' civilization..starts with yur books an learnin' tha knowledge o' the past mistakes...so there not repeated... if ya take mah meanin'?"

----

If all goes well Arcus will clean up nicely polishing his armor, oiling his weapons and having any trail-wear on his clothing sown up so he is his most presentable when he meets with the Mayor of Compton.

He is direct and to the point...

"Greetings Mayor Sah!  I'm 'Ranger' Arcus "Starborne", I've come ta town seeking to uphold justice and help the weak and needy.  The lands outside o' Compton.. the Wastes and the Sprawl are overrun with bandits, slavers, miscreants and many-a-sort of evil an threat that prey upon innocent and peace lovin' folks everywhere.  Well we Rangers are making a stand ta' help fight the bandits bring them ta' justice, hunt down dangerous threats and find a way ta' either make them no loger a threat or if necessary end them, inspiring people ta' work together and rebuild civilization in peace for friendly trade and community, we support the peaceful and just local authority of the communities we visit and try ta' make the world a little safer place for peaceful decent sentients.. ALL sentients ta' live and find prosperity and happiness!"

"I'd like ta' ask yur permission to see if'n any o' yur towns folk would like ta' join tha' Rangers in helping ta' keep tha' peace and spread tha' message of civilization bringin' justice and help ta those in need.. not just here in Comptom.. but in the wastes as well.  I'd be recruitin' only the bravest, and most ethically moral o' folks as only they are suitable fur being Rangers.  Its a thankless unending Quest... but our reward is in seeing the good will, peace and happiness our tireless efforts bring to tha' children and sentients who will inherit the, hopefully, brigtah' tomorrow we build fur them!"

 After resting and cleaning up some, she found her way down to the nice motorcycle she had picked up during their first or second run in with the badders and hog riders.

 It had picked up a new coating of dust but a careful wash soon had it cleaned once again. Letting her tendrils flow over the engine and electronics of the machine she found herself settled once more doing what she loved doing...even if she had asked herself how it was that her being a kinda plant based creature had a knack for the hard workings of machines and how to tweak them so that they not only functioned once more but worked very well.

 Several hours work later she wiped the oil and grease off her hands and tendrils and touched the stater button and was rewarded with a noisy rattling and vibration up thru the handle bars to the throttle, it settled down and she listened to the burbling rumble of the beautiful motorcycle and eased it out to the streets and rode down the street and to a part where she could unleash herself and open up the throttle and let it fly across the open field.

 She is sure she ate a bug or two on her fast ride but it was worth it as she could sense within her how the machine and she worked together to become a foreign single display of power.

"Not sure I'd consider him a buddy," Bedlam muses. "But I would like to have one less casualty on my watch. I will leave him in your capable hands."

"Oh, and by the way, one of the Restorationist heavies was willing to go to quite the extreme to get hold of him. Seemed to think there was something really special about a multi-bot," the giant shrugs.

Arcus makes his impassioned proposal to mayor Adams, a heartbreaking beauty and hard-nosed administrator.

"Well that is an interesting proposition young man. I will certainty put it to the Citizens' Council at our next meeting. We should have a answer for you by the time you're back from your next delve. Oh" she shrugs apologetically "that is to say I assume you are leaving soon, what with your credit situation. No doubt you will bring back more loot next time" she concludes with a dazzling smile. "And rest assured, the Council will no doubt share my enthusiasm for your planned rangers"

Tom and Gasket managed to get ZE-5 booted up after a few days tinkering. The grateful multi-bot decides discretion is the better part of valour when you are on the Restorationists Most Wanted list, and so decides to accept Tom and Gasket's offer of a partnership. A silent partnership.

Arcus is clearly stunned by the Major's extreme beauty... blushing anytime she meets his eyes.

"Ah..Aye t-thank ya kindly fur yur time and thoughtful consideration miss mayor... ah... Ma'am!  There is a second thing as well... er~ more of a civic kinda proposal... Ya-see my friend and party member, Thunderbird, the hawkoid electrokinetic, he's real learned-like and can read many o' tha' books an writin' of the old world.  Well if'n were wanting ta' rebuild civilization... I agree with him learn' from the mistakes o' that past is a more-informed way ta' go about tha'.  Well, we'd like ta' start a Grand Library here in Compton... where many of the relic books or samples of the old world are collected and translated.  Thunderbird thinks of this as a great way for everyone to have access to the books... but I think we need ta' go a few steps further!  Many folks ...like me are just concerned about finding out where their gonna sleep or eat the next day... and nevah get the chance to learn how to read an write.. not tha'  their dumb or stupid.. just ignorant and focused on more important things..like livin' ta' the next day.  Aye don' think jus' collecting books in one place where nobody who can't read or write is evah gonna go is enough!  I'd like ta' propose not jus' a library.. but a school..er a Really BIG SCHOOL.. where people can come ta' be taught reading writing, mathematics, and learn the history o' the world as it was?"

He shrugs, "Mayhap since children' are only so good fur labor... while their youngin's... maybe offerin' schoolin' fur all children as can attend to everyone fur free?  It only helps ta' have more educated folks around fur any community?  Heck with enough folks willing ta' teach.. the School could also teach kids a useful trade ...like an apprenticeship so as they have skills useful to tha' community when their all grown up as such... Er Ma'am Mayor?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 13:59, Thu 05 Nov 2015.

Bedlam is happy to hear of Gasket and Tom's success in reviving ZE-5.

The most recent foibles of the alpha flux has given the giant an idea which he presents the techies.

"Got another project for you, lads. On that last delve we ran into some sort of invisible tech. Now I'm pretty good at clouding minds so I seem to disappear, but it doesn't last long. This stuff was continuously invisible. And floating, too. Think you could come up with something to counter it? Make it visible, or make me able to see it?"

"We'll give it a shot Bedlam" answers Tom "but you're going to have to come back with more salvage next time to keep us solvent. Hopefully we'll have something for you after the next delve"

BTW you have a piece of unclaimed alpha tech that will also do the job, the Omniscient Goggles.

"My, my" says the mayor, steepling her fingers. "You certainly like to think big. Our resources as you know are somewhat stretched, but if you are prepared to donate your time and equipment we may be able to match your contribution. Finding enough books will be your biggest problem, I doubt we could fill a single bookshelf even if we collected every volume in Compton. So, that means even more reasons to come back with a big haul, am I right?"

Arcus smiles with a big grin, "Right ya are Ma'am Mayor!  We'll git right on tha'!!"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 23:29, Fri 13 Nov 2015.

Ophelia stayed to the shadows over the last few days, hovering round the team like a prowling guard dog. She found it difficult to settle ing crowded places and her time in Compton was starting to see her go a bit stir crazy and praying for the next salvage mission to start.

She was also an untrusting woman by nature and she was never relaxed making sure she knew where all her team were at all times not trusting anyone other than them even though she knew deep down the town was as safe if not safer than most places.

Thunderbird shook his head in agreement after listening to the conversation. "If you have any books to donate, we can start with those and call them the "Foundation books" since the library will be built upon them." he said with a smile.

 The low rumble of an engine dwarfs the sound of people talking as she rides the ancient harley into the garage where she had stored it and she was smiling as she turned the ignition off and the shock of silence once more settled within the garage.

 Sighing with satisfaction she sets the stand and begins the process of cleaning it up, Though she was in part mostly a plant based life form she did enjoy keeping the machine clean and polished for the next time she got to enjoy doing what thrilled her soul.

 Covering it up carefully and wrapping the heavy chain around the bike, she went in search of the others to see if anything had been decided for their next venture out to the land of rabbits and hogs.