In reply to Smoker Nix (msg #3):

"See ya templars" Roadkill calls out

He really would like a full on assault with a templar haord but with hostages, Guess you have to go in quiet. He looks around the truck to see who is with him.

"Gillies can you drive us. I want to make sure guns and things are ready to go."

He checks the cab to make sure there are no obvious weak points or things to fall or cut people when people they start jumping in for cover. Also he wants to get the feeling of traveling up top at speed.

"Peter mate, Gillies is in front till we get within range and i will take over driving and pull over and you bikers can decide what you want to do. Jason keep clear of the truck, Gillies can sometimes... be dangerous."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:04, Sat 12 May 2012.

In reply to Roadkill (msg #5):

Ian jumps in the cab of Roadkill's rig.  He take over the "shotgun" position.

"Define dangerous please. Like I have to worry about staying out of the way or keep an eye on the truck if it gets close shoot the tanks and light a match dangerous?" Jason almost sounds like he is joking.

"Nah nothing explosive, just think of Gillies as a blind man wearing lead shoes. You are but a speed bump in the road. It like to go as fast as possible"

In reply to Tasmin the Templar (msg #2):

Rowan bows "may the road and the weather be kind to you, and good fortune ride with you". Rowans hands scetch in formalblessing as once again her fingers glow slightly.
"For my friends life I give you thanks, and respect due to you."
I know full well that i could not have healed the damage she took going through the wall"
Go in peace
This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Sat 12 May 2012.

"Well that's nice Roadkill. Blind man with lead shoes and you trust him with your rig. That's funny man very funny."

In reply to Jason Sinclair (msg #4):


Turning around to pace Jason, Tasmin started to ride slowly as the convoy got itself sorted out.

She carefully passed Smoker's radio over to Jason. Trejo had borrowed it to communicate with the rest of the vehicles while out in front, and now Jason had taken over the role of point man.

"You too, noble Squire. Here, take your friend's radio. Trejo said it belongs to the one named Smoker and he forgot to give it back."

As you may have guessed while you waited, with me gone there are now no more Templars at the Temple aside from Simon. This is why he asked for your friends for help. I must be off in the other direction, although I would rather accompany you or else stay to help prepare Boise."

Accepting Rowan's blessing, Tasmin (probably a fellow Neo-Pagan) called back to her, "Rowan! Yes, the Goddess was working through me to help save Jane. If you had not first started her heart, I would not have been able to repair the damage inside to her liver, pancreas, kidneys, lungs, spinal cord. Her life was a gift that was not destined to end there."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:53, Sun 13 May 2012.

Smoker's walkie-talkie (loaned to Jason) crackled.

"Excuse-moi! I am not blind, I see in many spectrum. I am a champion Formula One driver, now stuck be'ind the wheel of dis garbage scow. Per'aps I was a little over-aggressive at first, but now I am resigned to my fate and drive like Roadkill. As if I were a little old lady on 'er way to Church on Sunday in Trois-Rivières."

The robot autopilot took over, moving the rig carefully in front of Peter but behind Jason. This was the last known order of march so until it was changed, Gilles would try to conform to this.

In reply to Gilles the Driver Bot (msg #12):

Ian laughs at the comment from Gilles, "The way you drive I bet that little old lady was a menace to the poor SQ offices."

You can tell he is trying to bring a bit of humor and light up the mood.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:36, Mon 14 May 2012.

After checking the channel on the loaned walkie Jason switches his headset over and responds. "Hey Gilles pull over I got Smoker's radio. Gotta get it back to him boss' orders. Wanna chat about your Formula One days on frequency 4.2 Baker. Call that Mark II. This will be Mark I." assuming that Gilles pulls over then Jason climbs part way up and tosses the radio to Smoker. "Trejo wanted you to have that back." Jason turns and mounts the bike that he seems to have inherited.

On his best behaviour, Gilles pulled over to let Jason return Smoker's radio to him. Now all parties were in communication. (Jason with a headset in the lead, the CB in the cab along with Gilles, Smoker on the roof of the trailer and Peter's truck CB and IBS helmet radio.)

As requested, Gilles switched to the Mark 2 channel. "D'accord. I was programmed by using driving algorithms based on a Forumla One driver from Quebec named "Gilles Villeneuve". He was one of the best in the world, very aggressive. Until he died during a race a hundred years ago. A Junker named Misha downloaded part of the AI code from an ancient computer racing simulation to program me.

"I see in visible light and infrared, I have a built-in radio, can listen and of course speak. But I do need to be rechared by a Junker after 10 hours of minimal drain, 4.5 hours with everything on. Right now I am at 92% charge."

In the cab, Roadkill (listening or not) noted the LED display for Gilles' battery was at 9 bars.

As was usual for their driving order in the past, and true to their current mission, Peter brought up the rear with his technical. He kept distance from Roadkill's rig, just in case of any potential problems or accidents....he didn't want to be running into the back of the rig because he didn't leave himself enough room to manuever. But he kept up and vaguely listened to the radio chatter, mostly tuning it out. For once, he kept his eyes on the road and didn't glance back at Jane at all while he was driving. He seemed focused or determined or maybe just angry. It was hard to tell.

In reply to Gilles the Driver Bot (msg #15):

Sitting up the top of the truck Roadkill thinks
'this isn't so bad, the fresh air the view, the *pufft* "The bugs! Screw this i'm taking the driving seat again"

Before he knows it the truck pulls over and Jason hands over the radio. A good time to get back in the seat. Still wanting a break Roadkill lets Villeneuve drive for the next hour before taking over

1315 Hours

As the Posse left Boise (and Tasmin resumed heading northwards), the clouds overhead became darker and soon, a cold rain was again pouring down on them.

I-84 was not a pleasant drive. It followed the Snake River Plain in a half circle from Boise down to Twin Falls and clear through to Montana. To the north of the highway are tall mountains, and to the south is the Snake River along with numerous canyons and vast expanses of soggy prairie.

The rain from the mountains washes down through the plateau to the river and constantly warps the highway. The convoy regularly splashes through massive pools of water from backed up drainage culverts blocked by debris.

During more civilized times (that is, before and during the period of all-out war between North and South) Idaho DOT road crews and the US Army Corps of Engineers kept it in good condition. These days, between the water, the ghost-rock craters, and the damage caused by occasional battles of the Last War, it’s more like an obstacle course than a road. It’s 130 or so miles from Boise to Twin Falls. It’s 130 or so miles from Boise to Twin Falls. Daphne made good time on her bike — about five hours, as it’s relatively easy to swerve through the wrecked cars and debris occasionally blocking the Interstate on a 2-wheeler.


Traveling in the technical and rig they wouldn't get there in nearly the same time. In fact, their overall speed was about halved. They would arrive in the morning. For this night, they'd just have to pull off the road and sleep in their vehicles if they couldn't find a convenient building.

Marshall's Note: I need 1 Drivin' roll from each driver. The Rig and the Technical have Handling -1 (so Roadkill and Peter each have a -1 penalty), the bike has a Handling of +3 (so Jason's Drivin' roll is +3). TN is 5 (Fair). Post rolls with IC posts or in the Roll thread.

Smoker, Rowan and Jane can all make Difficult (TN 9) Searchin' checks to locate some kind of structure near (but not too near the road) to camp in, otherwise, it's the vehicles.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:15, Mon 14 May 2012.

In reply to The Marshall (msg #18):

"What a place" Roadkill sees the destruction all around and when driving the rig turns and swerves as if he has it on a string.

"I kind of want to be sleeping in this truck and not in a semi destroyed place i think, what you think Ian"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:44, Mon 14 May 2012.

As the rain sets in it gets harder to see for any good distance. Jason barely slows though winding up nearly ten minutes ahead at one point. He waits until he sees the rig's headlights then continues on slower than before.

Smoker huddles down, pulling his shemagh over his head, and peers through the rain.

Looking at the rain, Ian says, "Ya, at least we know that the cab is dry.  If we are going to rescue the hostages I would like to see every one have some half decent sleep."

In reply to Sgt. Ian Sullivan (msg #22):

Due to a lack of glass, the inside of the vehicle cabs were not particularly dry. The armoured shutters needed to be open wide to see the road and so let in a great deal of rain. Although, it was better than being on the trailer (Smoker), riding (Jason) or in the back of the technical (Jane and Rowan) despite having rain gear.

Peter, dressed in his IBS, was probably the most dry. Roadkill and Sullivan had rain blown into their faces through the vision ports. Rowan and Jane huddled under a rain tarp in the back of the technical but still needed to keep their heads out to keep watch, and Smoker did the same on top of the trailer. Jason was the most wet as he not only had to contend with the torrential rain but massive pools of runoff.

A section of intact roof overhead and a fire would do wonders. Once they stopped and rain wasn't being blown into the vehicle cabs they would provide reasonable shelter. Roadkill's sleeping compartment remained relatively dry as would the inside of the trailer.

Peter got out and stretched once they found a spot to park for the night. He didn't relish driving at night or in rain, but both was far worse. So he was glad they were stopping, even though it would make them not reach their destination until later.

He looked at Jane and Rowan. "My apologies, ladies. I would install a topper to the back but then we'd have to work something out for the very large gun."

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #24):

Jane grinned down at Peter.  "That's ok.  It saves on showers and baby is getting used to it by now."

Jane leaned over the edge of the truck and spoke in a softer tone.  "Besides you'll get to dry me off later."

In reply to Jane Guin (msg #25):

Usually, the convoy would find a structure to camp in, build a fire to dry off. They wanted to spend as much time on the road as possible, so they pushed it until the darkness started to fall. And fall it did, quickly, due to the heavy rain clouds. Dark mountains reared on their left, the Snake river rumbled angrily on their right.

Smoker, Jane and Rowan peered through the rain, looking for trouble (which was  less likely due to the rain) or maybe some shelter. None of the watchers on the vehicles was able to spot a suitable building or structure. The plains between the mountains and river were empty except for the odd ruined town or burned-out farmstead or ranch.

Roadkill and Peter seemed to be in favour of sleeping in their vehicles. This had the advantage of being convenient. The technical would really only sleep 3 at most (2 in the front bucket seats, 1 on the bench in back) and not particularly comfortably as the seats wouldn't allow you to stretch out all that much. As well, the technical was now more bulletproof than waterproof! The rig was more comfortable. The sleeper compartment behind the cab would sleep 1 comfortably, while of course everyone could sleep in the trailer. Unfortunately, you couldn't light a fire in the back of the trailer, or at least not a big one (and the rear doors would have to be open). You could still light a fire beside the vehicles (or in between) and put a tarp over to keep the rain off, but still wet.

Jason had more luck than the other searchers just as the last of the light died under dark rainclouds. Just before Glenns Ferry he spotted a small trailer park in a gully just off the Interstate to the right. Before the war it must have been a pretty sad place to live, with a few dead trees and barren hills with scattered clumps of tough desert grass and salal (bushes). Now everything was all brown and muddy.

There were some intact double-wide trailers that they could hide the vehicles between. Some of the trailers looked intact enough to provide shelter. Typically, bandits liked to tag their turf to show ownership but all the tags and graffiti sprawled on the trailers looked old and weathered, this was not likely the current home of some road gang. Jason didn't see any lights or smell any smoke.

Marshall's Note: It's either the trailer park or the open prairie. Let me know your choice. As mentioned the vehicles are more bulletproof than weatherproof so they probably won't be as comfortable as a building with an intact roof. Of course, buildings might be occupied.

https://maps.google.com/maps/m...pn=0.008042,0.013111
This message was last updated by the GM at 19:31, Tue 15 May 2012.

In reply to Brother Edgar (msg #26):

Ian looks over the gang tags at the Trailer Park, he quickly checks a note books and not seeing any "known" active gangs on the tags he thinks that there has been no major recent activity there.

The trailers look drier then just sitting in the vehicles over the evening.

Peter opened his mouth to reply to Jane but then stopped himself. Saying something about her being wet just seemed a bit too on the nose. He snorted in asmuement and then found a pair of trailers to hide his technical behind, picking one that looked sturdy and would provide shelter inside nearby. He would sleep there.

Jason as point man arrived a few minutes before everyone else. As the rest are pulling in to the Pointe Vista Village. He spots a series of trailers that look slightly less shabby than the rest. "Guys I found a trio of trailers a little further in. Two are serviceable but the third is the find. It has a fireplace that has been adapted. It would be nice to be dry tonight." Jason gives directions to the trailers.