In reply to Smoker Nix (msg #10):

Michaela looks over to Smoker and says "I think it might be better to get in to town before we start trying to fix the doors.  It should be just a couple of miles away.  I will keep a watch out for any water that we can use to wash up."

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #11):

Looking down at the Templar that was saved she has a feeling that she has seen him before or heard of him.

Rowan Takes a good look at the Templars wounds.
"Friend you are a mess" she says with a smile on her face.
Then sets to with her medical suplies cleaning the wounds and then using 3 Poltices one on each wound.

Taking out his tobacco roadkill lights up "Thats what i need" and gets out of the truck and goes to smoker. His face changes to one of determination and clearly he looks a wee bit pissed off.

"Unless there is a river or lake in the middle of the road we are not going to stop"

Roadkill looks on towards the town in the distance and begins to bark out orders. Even though people are probably doing it anyway.

"Ladies tend to the big guy, keep him alive so we can find out who he is and what he was doing and if he starts going all boney then shot him in the head, no repeats of celine." He says with a look of disgust on his face as he looks at smoker. "I drank out of the same flask as that thing"

Quickly changing back to the matter at hand

"Smoker give me a status, if it holds good, if not then strap it up somehow, don't want people falling out. A few miles, That is all i want to drive. Can we get the bike on somehow quickly or is someone going to have to keep riding it. Mayby rip the doors open and drive with them like that, You are the king when it comes to this stuff" Roadkill takes a drag and waits for a reply but clearly roadkill looks like he wants to get going quickly.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:00, Wed 28 Sept 2011.

In reply to Roadkill (msg #15):

" The gang's probably right, we're gonna be better off getting to town and getting decontaminated first.  Getting these doors open is going to take a while, and they should hold until we get to Near Wichita.  I'll make sure the econobox is strapped down good though, just in case." Smoker replied.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:28, Wed 28 Sept 2011.

1410 Hours

Outside Near Wichita, Kansas.

Rowan applied the poultices to Trejo, the only one who was wounded (fairly extensively) among the passengers of the rig. The rear doors would hold until they got to Near Wichita. The convoy started up again, and they soon saw signs of life. Greenery returned a little, signage pointed the way to town, and so on.

This stretch of Interstate seemed to not be very well-kept (as the direct route to a Ghost Storm it wasn't in high demand!) although extensive salvaging had taken place. Lights and signboards had been unbolted and removed, thoroughly-stripped wrecks towed off to the sides where they hadn't been taken away.

A couple miles out of town they came across a roadblock on the Interstate. It was a serious installation, a pair of concrete and sandbagged bunkers controlling the road with a gate. Traffic barriers forced approaching vehicles to slow down and get into single file. Stretching off to either side were rolls of concertina wire along a county road (that would allow easy patrolling).

A third bunker (with a machine gun) set back a little ways up on a small rise covered the other two controlling the gate. The third bunker also had comm wire connecting it to a telephone line along the Interstate, and a radio aerial. Parked behind the third bunker was some kind of jeep.

A flagpole by the roadblock flew an SA flag, and a sign proclaimed "NEAR WICHITA VOLUNTEER DEFENSE ASSOCIATION". Two guards stood outside on the pavement, waving them down. They were carrying SA assualt rifles and wore helmets and Kevlar vests. On their shoulders was a badge depicting a pair of longhorn antlers.

Around them was open (if fallow) farmland. Behind the barbed wire they could see green fields, even a herd of longhorn cattle off to the southeast.

As she rode along on Trejo's bike and got ready to stop, Rowan thought she saw something glinting in the sky to the south. Some kind of aircraft, maybe?
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:55, Thu 29 Sept 2011.

Rowan stops for a moment then takes a better look, and speeds to catch up.
Wishing she did not feel so misserable.
She knows she needs to clean down and soon

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #18):

The aircraft appeared to be some kind of ultralight aircraft, a glider powered by a small engine. It was approaching on an oblique angle and although they noticed, none of the guards seemed concerned by it.

Rowan will stop as directed by the guards

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #20):

Without question Roadkill slows down for the roadblock. Of course hoping Rowan will do all the talking as usual. He is too tired to deal with questioning people. A nod is about all he has in him.

Rowan Pulls up to the guard point and stops.
"Good day" she says politely calmly.
" We have some people that wanted to join some relatives in the back of the truck"
"And we would like to clean up if that is doable, may be do some trade as well".
She looks and sounds exausted

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #22):



"Yes ma'am! If you need to get checked out there's a clinic in town with a doctor, Doc Kuznetzova." As a trained paramedic (if junior before the War) this news was surprising and impressed her.

"Which reminds me, the only toll we got for coming in and trading is you have to donate a unit of blood each, for our clinic supply. You can do it at the clinic while you wash up. Did you come from the ruins? You'll need to get decontaminated for sure!"

Mention of blood reminded both her and Roadkill of the rumours they'd heard that Near Wichita, for all it's apparent wealth, had been taken over by Nosferatu... vampires. What the guard said next didn't dispel the story.

"If you made it out alive out of Wichita ruins Mayor Quinn and town Marshall, Azrael, are going to be mighty impressed! They want to talk with everyone that comes out alive, because so many people go into the Ghost Storm and don't come out again. They're usually busy during the day but check the town hall after dark, they're around that time."

Meanwhile, the patrolling ultra-light aircraft buzzed overhead. It had NEAR WICHITA VDF markings on the delta glider wing, and appeared to be unarmed. While one guard talked to Rowan, the other waved up at the pilot and the pilot waved back.

Rowan smiles a little mirthlessly.
" Well sure as heck if some one wants my blood they will need to let me decontaminate first".
"or some one is going to be a little ill."
"How about if we drop our cargo off and refule?"
There is an old poem that runs,
"I have miles to go and things to do err I sleep"
Rowan Considers for a moment,then adds
"I think that will be up to the boss in the truck"
"As to how long we stay and what we do"

She adds softly

"As to the ghost Storm, lets just say that few problems will be coming out of there for a long while"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:19, Sat 01 Oct 2011.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #24):



"That sounds fine, ma'am. Check in at the Hospital, take the exit into town and it's on the main drag, Central Avenue. Donating blood is optional, but it helps save lives and if you do, decontamination and medical aid is free."
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:04, Mon 03 Oct 2011.

Rowan "Thanks, I will let every one in the Semi know."
Then waits to be told she can procied and waves the semi after her as she is cleared through.
Then once clear stops to have a word with people before procieding

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #26):



The guards raised the barrier and waved them through.

"If you're here later on and want to talk about Wichita, the Mayor would probably buy you all dinner. Real barbequed steaks! We grow the beef ourselves, it's fresh and uncontaminated."

This was a fantastic offer! Probably none of the travellers had eaten more than one real beef steak in the 13 years since the War.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:05, Mon 03 Oct 2011.

Rowan Stops looks astonished.
"Thank you I will make sure the rest know about the offer"

Once she cleared the roadblock, Rowan rode a little down the Interstate, the stopped on the left (near the centre divider) and waited for Roadkill to catch up.

She signalled for him to stop so they could confer.

 Rowan "What ever else we need to get cleaned up before we travel on"

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #30):

In the last mile or so, Roadkill noticed he was having engine problems. The truck had taken a couple shots, and even though the tractor was armoured the engine had suffered some damage that would need to be repaired.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:13, Thu 06 Oct 2011.

In reply to The Marshall (msg #31):

shouting out of frustration
"smoker what have you done to my truck!"

Roadkill eases back on the accelerator and avoids engine breaking as much as possible as they slowly gets to Rowan up ahead.

"Ok master fixer what do you think we have here" he says as he jumps out of the truck to see what it looks like from the outside. He gives Rowan a wave that he has actually noticed her but clearly the ladies aren't on his mind for once.

In reply to Roadkill (msg #32):

"What have _I_ Done? don't you go blamin me! your the one drivin us through crazy ass radiation storms just for a bit of undead trim!" Smoker replies. "let's pop the hood and see what we can see"

Seeing all the SA markings Trejo pulls his hood over his head and pretends to fall back asleep, keeping alert and ready just in case he is noticed.

Rowan Relaxes, and waits for Road kill and the others to finnish inspecting the truck.
And lets her consiness drift, feeling the area they are in and how it balances

They lifted the hood and started checking the motor and hoses. It looked like the crank case was cracked and slowly leaking oil. They could make it into town but probably go no further without either damaging the engine or constantly topping up the oil. It could be fixed but would need a shop.

The Ultra-Light came in and circled them once at medium altitude, then angled off towards the angry Ghost Storm on the horizon over the ruins of Wichita. No doubt taking a look.

Rowan, while possessing no ESP or other arcane senses, was still sensitive to the area around her. This area seemed healthy and in balance with nature. The trees and grasses seemed less stunted or warped than most places in the Wasted West, there seemed to be... less pain.