In reply to Flora (msg #63):

He nodded at her response. "Good! Then let us collect our winnings and get out of here before they bring two giant brains! Ummmm...there was winnings, right?"

With the party's success in the Monster Mash, Bedlam begins tying up some loose ends before the team heads out into the Sprawl.

First he tracks down the proprieter of the Last Chance Hotel. The giant uses his considerable negotiating skills to ensure the party's goods remain "on deposit" for as long as possible while they are gone before reverting to community property.

Satisfied, Bedlam turns to the more pleasant task of paying a visit to the mayor.

[OOC: I know this thread is supposed to be closed, but it just didn't seem right to put this post in the meta-game thread.

Bedlam has a couple items to discuss with the mayor, but I wanted to give everyone an opportunity to interrupt before he goes too far off on his tangent.]

The Mayor's office is in the Community Hall, a large civic building of ancient vintage. Seeing how Bedlam is having difficulty fitting inside, she comes out to chat in the domed foyer, still boasting the original marble floor.

"Nice job in the Masherama. I don't suppose Bluetooth will be so easy on the next time round" she comments. "Still, you've proven your skills, I can't deny it. How do you feel about taking on a side job for the community?"

"We have no objection, assuming the compensation is adequate and the task is not too onerous," the collective rat even sketches a slight bow for the sake of theatrics.  "We do not slay nemean hydras for half the princess and the hand of the kingdom in marriage."

Bedlam chuckles and steps between Ordus and the (perfectly) engineered mayor. The rat collective's flames obviously cause the giant some small discomfort as the heat plays across his recent injuries.

"Thank you, Mayor. The Masherama is quite the draw. I can see how it serves many functions for the community," he smiled down pleasantly.

"My colleagues and I are flattered that you would consider us for more than our..." he glances back over his shoulder at Ordus. "theatrics. We are certainly not opposed to considering a rearrangement of our schedule in order to accomodate the community of Compton."

"Is this an... acceptable setting for continuing this discussion?"

The mayor leans back from Ordus' fiery rhetoric and smiles again at Bedlam. "No need to rearrange your schedule big man. Just offering you the chance to earn some sweet tech courtesy of our Armoury. All you have to do is help us with a little dabber problem. There a nest of them in a old building a few hours into the suburbs, I can give you a map gratis. They've been ambushing explorers such as your good self and taking the swag, depriving our community of valuable trading opportunities. They need to be taught a lesson, so just bring us, oh, say twenty dabber tails and trade 'em for a choice item or two. What do you say, it's a win-win proposition, no?"

Dabbers are mutated raccoons. Sneaky, trapmaking, thieving gits.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:54, Wed 26 Jan 2011.

"Dabbers, you say?" Bedlam cocks an eyebrow. "Troublesome vermin, for sure, but not really known for undue violence. Are they killing the explorers or just relieving them of their goods?"

"Don't get me wrong," the giant grins, holding his hands out to prevent an objection from the Mayor. "We'll defend our recovery goods from any dabber foolish enough to try to lift'm. But it seems you wouldn't be opposed to these dabbers if they would subsequently bring their swag here for trade, hmmm? I mean if Merlot set up a game of chance and relieved a few unwary explorers of a few bits you wouldn't have any quarrel with him since he would be spending his ... gains here in Compton, right?"

OOC: Just want to double check... you mostly mention dabbers, but the mayor asked for 'badder' tails. Which is a different troublesome vermin...

The mayor's smile fades a little. "Those little shits are banned from the municipality" she says crossly. "This place would be stripped bare in a week. And yes they aren't going to mess with a well-armed group of mutants like yourself, but try meeting them alone in a dark alley and you'll soon find out how harmless they are! Anyway" she continues, calming down, "the offer is open. I'll have a map sent to the hotel and leave it up to you"

"Excellent!" Bedlam beams. "Always good to keep the options open."

The giant starts to leave and then seeming to remember something, turns back to the mayor.

"Speaking of maps, Madame Mayor, we anticipate doing some fairly extensive exploring. Are there any particular areas in the Sprawl for which Compton needs updated intel? We might as well bring back useful knowledge in addition to any swag..."

"We haven't heard much from over the river lately, so any news would be appreciated" says the mayor brusquely. "Now if you'll excuse me I have other calls on my time today. Good luck and come and see me again if you make it back out"

In reply to Bedlam Jones (msg #75):

"We are gonna need supplies...and you would think the town would provide something for the people who risked their lives for entertainment's sake..." He pointed out, grumbling a bit considering he had avoided the worst of it. "Where to first?"

"Thank you, Madame Mayor. We'll do our best."

Bedlam does not try to press any issues with the mayor and leads Multi-Roach and Friends back toward the hotel for final preparations.

In reply to Multi-Roach (msg #77):

"Well," Bedlam replies to the giant cockroach with a grin, holding up the rough script. "Our winnings have provided us with safe lodging and storage for a week or so. Plus some extra to purchase water and food. A few more trades in the bazaar and we should be good to go."

"Anyone know about dabbers?" he addresses the group. "Other than the fact that they are thieves and can't be trusted? What do they value? How can we minimize our exposure if we try to negotiate with them?"

As the party heads into the 'burbs, S'kaar keeps his many eyes open for threats.

---

14:33, Today: S'kaar rolled 22,8 using 1d20+5,1d20+5. Two perception rolls.

 She let her size and Bedlams giant frame discourage any who might want to .."borrow"  their loot they had recovered in the ruins. Glancing to see how
 Ordus was doing after the swift journey back to the town here.

 So who is going to handle the selling of our loot?.

16:28, Today: Flora rolled 10 using 1d20+1. conspiracy chk

 So Bedlam managed to sell off alot of the porker gear and got them decent rooms that even fit their bodys for a nice full sleep in peace. She felt the suns rays touching her skin early and found that she was fully awake and soaking up the sunshine thru her skin.

 Looking at a old toy train the inn had in display later it brought back memory's of childhood. She felt the emotions of her brother and his train, as she watched it began to move within the display case. She let a "O" escape her lips and stepped back as she found that she can somehow connect to a machine and possibly urge it to do what she wanted to see happen.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:00, Sat 17 Sept 2011.

"Aw, quit kidding around, sis. You know I'm the man when it comes to dealing with the merchants..." Bedlam winks at Flora. "But you can come along if you want and glower menacingly over my shoulder."

OOC:
Bedlam Jones rolled 4 using 1d20+1. Conspiracy Roll.

Bedlam is blithely unaware of any possible sneaky behavior in his purview.

"Let's hang on to the shotgun, a handgun, and all the ammo," Bedlam suggests to Flora and Ordus. "None of us can use them, but we'll need to recruit a couple new crewmates, and anyone who can drive the truck should be able to use one of the guns."

Bedlam sells the rest of the group's swag to the merchants (or town militia for weapons), using his coercive skills to the best of his advantage.
Bedlam Jones rolled 22 using 1d20+13. Interaction Roll for Bartering.


The next morning, Bedlam awakes after a very poor night's sleep in a puddle of sweat and dust... The alpha flux has played it's games - the giant is continuously surrounded by mud, the ground turns into a viscous ooze wherever he walks.

Ordus managed the trip back to Compton well enough, given that the rats (collectively) whimpered and groaned like a med-tent after a major battle, and had all the focus of a sackful of wet mice.  Once in town, they slunk off to a room intending to 'sleep it off'...

Only to cause some alarm much later when the bedding they used proved flammable, and forced the evacuation of their hidey hole by everyone else present due to smoke and heat!  When they finally emerged into the light of a new day, blinking and rubbing their plentiful little red eyes, the rats are definitely brighter...and on fire, to boot.  Not that they seemed to notice this!  Quite the opposite.

"What's everybody staring at," they squeaked blearily.

 As they went shopping she looked at the goods that could be useful when they went back into the ruins again considering what the porkers had pulled on them last time.

 She picked up the small robotic looking device and read the writing on the side of it, "Auto Doc", Well if you think we should hang on to the firearms then maybe we should pick up this medical unit and some food for our next trip into the ruins?, still that energy mace would be nice too. So what do you think Bedlam?.

While you are considering your purchases at the shop, you notice another man browsing the wares.  He is of middling height (to most people) and stout build.  He wears heavy canvas pants and little else in the way of clothing.  His skin is rough, heavily textured and a mixture of earthy brown tones.  It also seems to be stiff, moving in discrete plates rather than smoothly.  Overall he looks distinctly rock-like.  Hearing Flora's comment, he approaches.

"You are Flora?  And Badman Jones?  I'm Tom.  They say your last delve was successful.  I was wondering whether you wanted more company?  In return for a share of the takings I could help you and let you use my medi-patch."

"Someone mentioned ruins and delving?" - asks a slender being in a buzzing voice. He wears a heavily modified bulletproof armour, his body is covered with feathers, his head is like a hawk's, and around him the air feels spontaneously generating electricity. "I am Shreek, the Electroid, and I would gladly join your company and delve deep into those ruins."

 She looked down at the two new men talking to them and glanced over to Bedlam, Well you said we needed more bodys for the next exploration into the ruins, he they are.

 She settled her maul on the ground and nodded to them both, Since iam flora and this is Bedlam, he thinks he is a merchants worse dream but we shall see. Either of you two been out in the ruins?, we lost one of our group to a bunch of porkers last time out, you willing to trust us out there?.

Looking up from his examination of the AutoDoc, Bedlam just cocks an eyebrow at Flora. ~Thinks?~ his thoughts enter her mind.

Turning his attention to the newcomers the giant grins. "Bedlam. The name is Bedlam. I wouldn't worry about the porkers. But the area is obviously dangerous and more crew means better chance of everyone surviving."

"Either one of you got experience with ancient tech?"

"Fair enough." Tom takes Bedlam's correction with a shrug.  "I'm no good with tech, sorry.  I've a knack for reading people.  It's probably why I normally travel alone."  If Tom sees anything contradictory about the last statement, it doesn't show in his tone or on his face.

"I can handle myself and my skin means I can take some hits without getting hurt.  You won't regret it."

You arrive in grand style, with the motorbike engines roaring as they drag your wagonload of booty into the town. Mayor Adams in waiting inside the gates, along with a sizeable crowd of curious citizens. They let out a half-hearted cheer, which triples in volume after a warning glance from the mayor.

"Welcome back friends! And on behalf of Compton, thank you for dealing with the porker menace. News travels fast" she says with a wink at Bedlam. "Your rooms are prepared at the Last Chance Hotel and there is a feast in your honor at the Monster Mash tonight. Roast pork is back on the menu!"

[Finishing up with Dabbers]
Bedlam carefully notes the firehouse location on the map.

"I'm sure you don't need me to tell you," he says to the Big Tail. "There's still plenty of fairly nice salvage to be picked through in the soup kitchen. I don't expect much, if any, of it to be left next time we get back there."

"It's also possible your collective would occasionally like to trade some excess salvage. Compton's the best place for trading, and closer than the badder market. Unfortunately, the folks in Compton aren't real keen on ... members of your collective. Could be we would be willing to do some trading for you... in exchange for a portion of the profits, of course. No, no. Don't answer now. No need to rush into such a deal. Discuss it with the other big tails."

"On a slightly different topic," he continues as the Big Tail surveys the contents of the parcels. "Seems to me the Gren might be looking for some help keeping the badders out of their garden. If any of your folk happen to cross paths with any of the green men, let'm know our crew harbors no ill will toward them. In fact, we like fresh veggies of the non-glowing variety. So it could be we might be able to help'm with any potential badder infestations."

[Before arriving in Compton]
Bedlam explains as best he can to Rose: "If we try to kill everything that lives in the Sprawl, then everything will try to kill us. That makes for a very short life span. Better to have allies and friends."

"I gave the dabbers part of our swag because I said I would. Don't forget, they helped us to get it - we would not have survived that porker attack without their warning. From now on they will warn us of possible danger. And we don't have to worry about them ambushing us or stealing our goods."

"As long as we are not too careless," he adds with a meaningful glance at the scouts.

"A few shinies is a reasonable price to pay in exchange."

"Everyone should remember, however, that the dabbers are still on poor terms with the good folk of Compton. So it would be best not to talk about our dealings with them because we don't want to be on poor terms with the good folk of Compton. If anyone asks whether or not we saw or ran into any dabbers, just tell'm the truth - we saw some, but they weren't in a fighting mood and took off before we killed'm."

"Crinkles understands." He says to Bedlam.

He greets the mayor with a big exuberant wave.