In reply to Ian Roadkill Colby (msg #107):

slinging her AK, Rowan walked back across the roof of the trailer to the cab. Opening the hatch she said, "excuse me, mister Roadkill, sir?"

"I know we don't want to run and draw the bikers back to Chance City. We're in the open here, but do you want to pull in behind the building on the off chance they ain't seen us yet?"

In reply to Arthur Dayne (msg #106):

Michaela nodded, absorbing her master's wisdom. She lounged back against Peter's truck, thinking a little. "I understand. I was originally going to ask Col Schaeffer what it was like being in the Einsatzgruppen, but instead I'll just say his remarks about smoke signals were racist and he should apologise to Peter."

When the radio call came through, she snapped to attention.

"Oh man, that sounds serious! Wonder if it's those ass-hats from Pantano Station, or someone else? We staying here, going in the truck, or taking the horse?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:07, Thu 01 July 2010.

In reply to Michaela Fukushima (msg #109):

"I say we ride out, on horseback" he said, speaking from the back of the horse that he had been sitting on already for some time.

"If these individuals mean to pose trouble, we will fight better mounted than on foot.  Our horses are mobile and agile, can leap where they cannot and our height advantage will allow us a better opportunity to strike them down."

Peter let out a string of muttered curses as he slammed the hood of the truck closed once more. He eyed the road a bit and then spoke slowly to those still at the pickup with him. "If they are coming towards us, we should let them. We should make sure they do not go towards the others and the city. We can easily set up here to be able to be armed when they roll up and shoot them down if needs be." He glanced at Jane. "Do you want to take control of Betty again?" By Betty, he referred to the gun in the back of the pickup truck, which had the name Betty painted on it, and not of his doing - it had come that way.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:46, Thu 01 July 2010.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #108):

"Too late for that," Roadkill answers, shaking his head solemnly. "If we can see them then they can see us. A parked semi might be missed or assumed to be an old junker but if this baby starts moving there is no way that it won't catch their eye."

"Besides, if it looks like we're trying to run or hide and they're bad men, I guarantee that they'll swoop down on us like the predators that they are. I should know...I used to be one of 'em."

The group was split into three elements.

(Marshall's Note: In the future, please refer to the tactical map posted in the Reference Threads so you're all clear on who's where.)

http://tinyurl.com/3x6hc6w

One part of the posse was in Chance City in the Victorio Mountains, with Smoker even further on his own in a mineshaft.

Another was in Gage City on the Interstate, with the rig.

The last was in between, with Peter's pickup on the road south of Gage City in the foothills of the Victorio Mountains, at the foot of the dirt road to Chance city with the Chosen who'd been dropped off.

None of the groups have visual contact with each other. The group in Chance City may not even be in radio contact any longer, as Schaeffer's IB helmet doesn't quite have the range to Peter's truck. Smoker's walkie-talkie does, but he's underground.

---

The townie and Chosen in Gage looked concerned, and mounted up in the pickup.

"We're just gonna go around them buildings. We only got the shotgun, ain't gonna be much help."

Thankfully, there were a few visual obstacles in between the riders and the gas station, so it's possible they hadn't seen anything yet, being occupied with keeping the shiny side up. Roadkill knew from personal experience that riding took a lot of concentration, with not a lot left over for sight-seeing.

---

At the drop-off zone, the Chosen looked bewildered when they heard something was happening. They weren't in sight of the Interstate, but knew if someone came south down the road they were going to be in a passel of trouble!

Deciding that someone would have to look after his flock, Sigfried called out to the milling throng, "okay people, let's get moving! We're going to walk to Chance City from here. I'd rather be there than sitting here. Come one, move it! Let's go!"

"Mister Firecrow, we're gonna hoof it to Chance City from here. Brother Edgar and the others who went haven't said anything, so I'm guessing it's safe. Even if they come down the road, they hopefully won't figure out where we've gone, or that we were here at all. You gonna get your friends over in Chance?"

It probably would work, especially if they covered their tracks. Bikers on the Interstate would have no reason to randomly follow the rutted dirt road to long-vanished Chance City. Once the people were out of sight of the road, it would be like they were never there in the first place.

---

Smoker wandered down the tunnel, checking for anything interesting. There wasn't a lot to see other than the rails. The others gathered around the metal-covered well-head. There was water down there, but no way to test it until someone brought a bucket.

There was a burst of static on Schaeffer's radio, but he was unable to decipher Roadkill's call because of the intervening mountain. Inside the mine tunnel, Smoker couldn't hear anything at all.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:12, Thu 01 July 2010.

"Just great." He couldn't tell if she was commenting on his past or their present and likely immediate future. "I'll get back up in the fighting position. I got a couple hand grenades, that should help. They're not free, though." She winked at him from above.

Pulling the AK's cocking handle back, she let it snap forward with a metallic Ka-clakc. With her tumb, Rowan then selected Single fire from the large selector handle on the right. She trotted back over the top of the trailer to the fighting position, getting into cover.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #114):

"Let me mount up behind you, then."

Micahela jacked a round into the Winchester's chamber, then climbed onto the back of the horse.

"Funny thing, if "Colonel Klink" were using smoke signals, we actually COULD communicate with him! Radios? Not so much. Maybe those Old Ways types were onto something."

"Ready to go."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:02, Thu 01 July 2010.

"The native peoples that followed the Old Ways were honorable, and their warriors were to be feared and respected.  They made the best with what they had, and hell, the way things are today, no one's really got that much of anything.  I think we could probably learn a lot from one of those."

He moved his horse ahead, and gestured for Michaela to follow.  "We're going to go catch up to the others. Anything you want us to tell them?"

In reply to Arthur Dayne (msg #116):

From behind him on the horse she said, "It's up to you. They'll see where we're going, anyways."

"We gonna gallop?

Brother Edgar turns his gaze across the nearby open spaces, trying to pick out where mineshafts might be.  Trying to catch sight of the missing scout.

"We'll give him a little longer," suggests the Doomsayer, taking a seat on a nearby wall section, "Perhaps he found something of use.  He seems a handy sort."  With a look to the Colonel, he adds, "Perhaps you could signal the others?  Let them know that things seem safe and ready for their arrival?"

In reply to Brother Edgar (msg #119):

The Colonel shook his head.

"Can't. We're out of range for the helmet radio. Also, I don't think sitting and waiting here will do any good. We need to split up, as someone should go look for Nix and we need to let the others know this place is clear as well. The sooner everyone is off the road, the better."

He smiled at Jack and the Brother.

"How about this. I go looking for Nix and the two of you head back to let the others know they're safe to come?"

At this moment, the helmet's speaker crackled with a burst of static.

"Verdammt. Somebody just sent a radio signal, but with the distance and these mountains all I got was static. Whatever the message was, we need to move. Now. You two go back to the others, I go looking for Nix."

Shaeffer knew that he might be missing a chance to fight, but to him the safety of Nix and the others was more important than having a little fun.

"Well only cuz ya beat me to it.  Somethin's weird though, they ain't too far away.  I mean I ain't no radio expert or nothin' but that don't seem right ya can't hear 'em.  Probly outta hoof it back."

Jack scratched his stubble and figured This here German Kommando guy is probly more apt ta find Smokey than my dumb ass anyway.

With Jack in agreement, Brother Edgar stands again, brushing his robes off, "When we lack information the mind begins to fill in the blanks with worst case scenarios.  Let's go ease our minds and theirs."  He begins to head back up the rutted track again with the guitarist, turning back to the Colonel as they go, "Try to send a signal when you find the young man?"

In Gage, the bikers approached along the Interstate from the direction of Las Cruces over the next few minutes or so.

Using her binoculars, Rowan studied them.

The townie moved his truck behind the building, while the three Chosen stayed with Roadkill for the moment, not having any better idea. They would be useless in a fight; one had a club made from a pipe and the others had knives.

A few birds glided on the thermals above the mountains to the south. A crow landed on the top of the trailer, not too far from Rowan. It squawked at her, then flew off to land on a telephone pole to watch the coming conflict. It knew there were often dead lying around after such clashes, which could yield tasty treats for it's crow palate.

When they were closer, Rowan called down, "there's five and it looks like they're wearing green... some kind of green robes? And I can see some kind of symbol in them, it looks like the funny one Brother Edgar's wearing. Like a 3-legged mutie. Mo offence!"

One of the Chosen named Elsie described the Church of Doom symbol. It sounded the same.

"You mean like that? Oh, that's real bad. They've got the power of the Atom, but it's perverted because they're evil, according to Brother Edgar. They'll kill all you guys. But they'll leave us alone, we're Chosen."

"Hey wait, if you normies hide, and they think this truck is ours, then maybe they won't do anything? What do you say, Mister Roadkill, it's your truck! You can hide in the truck or in the building, anywhere really that's out of sight, and we'll bluff 'em out."

The crow squawked again in agreement.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:46, Fri 02 July 2010.

"Atmosphere hasn't been the same since the bombs fell. Also, the range on these,"he tapped his helmet to indicate nthe integral radio"was never meant to be for more than squad coordination. Range is about half a mile, so even under the best circumstances I'd only be able to receive. With the mountains, even receiving range is lowered."

Shaeffer shrugged. It couldn't be helped, so there was no point in worrying about it.

"Anyway, I'm off to find Nix. I'll try to send a signal, but I won't promise that it'll work. Godspeed and we'll see you later.
With that, the Colonel turned away and began looking for Smoker's tracks.

OOC: 15:40, Today: COL Kurt L. Schaeffer rolled 29 using 3d8, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(8+8+3)19,7. Searchin' for tracks.
15:41, Today: COL Kurt L. Schaeffer rolled 11 using 3d8, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3,6. Trackin' Nix.

This message was last edited by the player at 13:43, Fri 02 July 2010.

In reply to Michaela Fukushima (msg #117):

"Let's gallop then," he said, giving the horse a light nudge that it was trained to respond to with a burst of speed sending them onward towards Gage.

The light emanating from Nix's flashlight flickered and Nix had to whack it a couple of times to get it to stay on.  The brief moments of complete darkness made the mine tunnel close in on him and Nix started to tremble slightly.

It suddenly occurred to him that investigating a mine tunnel on his own probably wasn't the wisest thing to do.  Turning round he quickly retracted his steps, heading back for the safety of the glaring sunlight and he newly acquired friends!

In reply to Smoker Nix (msg #126):

[Smoker, Schaeffer, Dakota, Bro Edgar]

Expertly finding Smoker's tracks, Schaeffer quickly followed them to the only open shaft around. He met Smoker as the other man was coming out. Schaeffer was also certain there were no tracks (other than Smoker's and his) leading into or out of the mine. There were other tracks in the dust of the ante-chamber, but they looked old to him and preserved in time.

"Glad you found me! I was just coming out, anyways. Some cool stuff in there, I can get it to work but it'll take time," Smoker said.

The other two, Brother Edgar and Dakota Jack, started back east towards the drop-off point and the Chosen who were waiting by the pickup truck.

---

[Firecrow, Jane, Arthur and Michaela]

By way of reply, Jane pulled back the charging handle on the Ma-Deuce.

"I'm okay with being on the Ma-Deuce," she answered Peter. "You're a better driver than I am." But not by much, she was a qualified marksman but seemed even better behind the wheel.

"Ready to rock!"

Meanwhile, Arthur and Michaela (riding double) had left at a gallop, heading north to Gage. The Chosed refugees had gathered their stuff and were starting to walk along the dirt road west to Chance City.

---

[Roadkill, Rowan]

The approaching riders still weren't clear to Roadkill on the ground, although Rowan could obviously see them. She must have good eyes to spot the symbol, they were still at least a couple miles away!

From up top, Rowan said, "Roadkill, what we do's up to you." She kept looking through her binos, keeping low to minimise her silhouette.

Now he could hear the rumble of their unmuffled engines across the desert.

"They're stopping... yeah, I can see the symbol all right, definitely Church of Domm Doomsayers, very tough. Heavily armed. Looks like they spotted us, they're pointing and having some kind of discussion." They're moving again.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:58, Sat 03 July 2010.

Roadkill scowled as he peaked up over the dashboard. Five of Silas' goons was bad news. If they were going to come and investigate subterfuge was probably the best answer. If nothing else it might buy them some time until backup arrived. He just hoped that someone had heard the radio signal. He hadn't even gotten so much as a 10-4 back in aknowledgement.

"Yeah, let's hide. There's no reasoning with those green robed nut jobs and we ain't got the firepower to engage them at long range," Roadkill tells Rowan before crawling into the back of the cab to conceal himself with his sawed off clasped tightly to his chest.

Hopefully the crazed doomies passed them by after a brief conversation with the muties from brother Edgar's band. If not...well, he had two facefulls of buckshot waiting for anyone who went digging around in the cab.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:14, Sat 03 July 2010.

In reply to Ian Roadkill Colby (msg #128):

[Roadkill, Rowan]

They were still a couple miles out when they came into view from the cab of the truck. Roadkill peeked over the dash to make sure, and then got down. Laying down in the fighting position, Rowan seemed to be trying to shoo away the hungry crow that was sitting on the sandbags, without success.

"Dang it, you buzzard-in-training! Shoo!"

One of the Chosen, Randy, borrowed a mesh baseball cap to look more like a trucker. Elise and Carter, the other Chosen, made a show of loading more salvage into the back of the trailer. Elise had some kind of degenerative skin disorder like leprosy, although in every other way she was a young vibrant 17-year old. Randy had a full pelt of striped fur, and Carlos's fingernails had elongated and turned black, like non-retractable talons (although finger function was normal). They were obviously mutants.

"By the Glow, those are skulls! On the front of their bikes!" Carter exclaimed. "Fresh ones. Get ready, here they come."

Roadkill switched off the CB. At this point, a transmission wouldn't do them any good and at worst could spook the Doomsayers, tipping them off. Either help was coming, or it wasn't.

There was a sound of several motorcycles gearing down and pulling in. Despite an attempt at politeness and good humour the raspy voice of the Doomsayer's leader sent chills down their spines. In contrast to Brother Edgar, who spread warmth and goodness.

"Hello brethren, I see you are taking the spoils of the Dead Ones! As is your birthright."

"Dead Ones" was becoming a common Cult of Doom term for normies, because they were all dead as far as they were concerned although some didn't know it yet.

"Yep, we are. Many of the gifts of the Atom, and what once belonged to the Dead Ones is surely ours to take!" answered Randy, a former lawyer and de facto spokesman for the Chosen there. "Enjoying the ride?"

"Ah, I am glad to hear you have embraced the words of the Prophet Rasmussen. Indeed we are, thanks to the Glow! I am Brother Ezekial of the Church of Doom, servant of the Mutant King and the Prophet Rasmussen. We are hunting someone who has stolen a holy relic from the Church, the Eye of Hiroshima. Here is what he looks like, and what the Eye looks like. This despicable thief is a scavvie who stole it from a museum before we could bring it to safety. Mark him well. One of the High Priests wants him alive, but dead will do. Failing that, recover the Eye at all costs."

There was a rustle of paper, then Randy answered, "no Brother, we've not seen him all along the road west to Tucson. If we shall, we will send word?"

"Please do, to Vegas or any other Chosen community. Your reward will be great, greater if you bring the Eye, and his head, if possible. A dozen rifles and a case of ammunition."

"We will! Is there anything else?"

"Now that you mention it, we see you seem to be woefully under-armed for these violent wastes. Any of the Dead Ones would gladly see you dead, and so how are you protected?"

After a pause, Carter replied. "Brother, I do have a shotgun in the cab. Want me to get it? I don't need a gun myself, the Glow has provided me with weapons." Presumably, he was showing his talons for them to admire.

"Splendid weapons, but not the only ones you should use. Do not trouble yourself, my child. Here, take these for your defence. Cleanse any Dead Ones you may come across."

There was a clatter of metal on the pavement as some metal things are placed there.

"We recovered them from a town of Dead Ones to the east of here. They were unresponsive to our questions and so they were cleansed. Not before telling us that the one they call "Smoker Nix" was heading west towards Tucson. I see that was a pathetic lie, that he probably went east towards Almagordo or south into Mexico. We shall return that way, and continue our search."

Roadkill had a bad feeling. The closest settlement had been Las Cruces, and Smoker had hung around with him there for a least a few days. They tolerated but didn't much like muties there, and he could imagine how that conversation went.

"In the name of the Glow and the Saints of Evolution, we bid you good day!"

With a roar, the motorcycles revved up and rolled back onto the road, then the sound faded to the east. The thin sound of screaming followed them from the burning spook juice. You can actually smell the ghost rock fumes in the air!

"Man, what a dick. You can come out now. They left us some guns and ammo!"

When Rowan and Roadkill lifted their heads, Carter, Elise and Randy indeed were armed, one with a Mexican 9mm P-38, an SA M10 assault rifle and the other examining an SA Southern Eagle M50 sidearm. A web belt had several magazines in an ammo pouch. There was also a shoulder holster with a couple spare .50 magazines and a belt holster with a couple magazines of 9mm. Carter was also holding a case of Milrats.

Disappointed in the lack of carnage, the crow flew off squawking.

---

[Arthur, Michaela]


The cultists were disappearing towards the east as Arthur and Michaela galloped out of the foothills of the Victorio mountains, heading for Gage.

Beside Arthurs ear, Michaela said, "Boss, I see 'em! About a mile out at our two o'clock, heading away towards Las Cruces."

There hadn't been any sound of gunfire and there was nothing to indicate a battle had been fought, like smoke or circling turkey or black vultures (aka "buzzards").
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:31, Sat 03 July 2010.

Peter nodded to Jane and gave her a whip-quick smile that was gone faster than a cold snap in summer. He started up the pickup truck and began heading towards where the semi-rig was, but stayed back enough to not be seen from the road yet, and tried to make sure no dust cloud would be kicked up either that could be spotted.

He called the semi over the CB. "Are you there, Mr. Roadkill?"

In reply to The Marshall (msg #127):

Schaeffer clapped Smoker on the back.

"Good to hear and it's even better to ssee you're hale and hearty. Lets get back to the others. I'll try to send a radio message.

Shaeffer activated his radio. "This is the Colonel. I've foiund Nix, he's alive and well. WE're moving back to the drop off point. Shaeffer out."

The Colonel smiled and walked in the directio of the pick upmand the waiting chosen. The coast seemed to be clear, so it was time to get everyone moving.

Roadkill had moved back into the cab and flipped on the CB radio just in time to catch the tail end of Firecrow's transmission. Picking up the mic, he responds with, "Firecrow this is Roadkill, I'm here. We just had a little run in with some hostile Doomsayers but it looks like they've left the area. I'll 10-25 with you at the drop off point in a sec."

Roadkill peaks around to make sure that the Doomies are gone before hopping out of the cab. "They all gone?" he asks before changing the subject to the conversation he had just overheard.

"What was all that about an Eye and a thief and Smoker Nix? Can I see that paper he gave you?" Roadkill asks as a bad feeling grows in his stomach.


ooc: There is some regional variance in 10 codes but where I'm at 10-25 means to meet face to face.

In reply to Ian Roadkill Colby (msg #132):

"Yeah, they split." as he spoke, Carter buckled on the Southern Eagle. Randy the furry lawyer picked up the assault rifle and pulled back the cocking handle to examine the chamber. Elise belted the Mexican 9mm around her waist.

"Search me," Randy replied as he slung the Commando around his back. "Never heard of it before. Ours is a young faith, although our Holy Relics have been around us all the time. Obviously, our friend has something the Cult of Doom really wants.

"You'd best ask Brother Edgar about the split between the Cult o' Doom and our breakaway sect, The Church of the Atom (Reformed)".

Randy handed the paper to Roadkill. There was a sketch of Smoker Nix, with information on a reward for the return of the Eye of Hiroshima. There was a photo of the Eye itself, and it just seemed to be a monocle of some sort, a glass lens set in an eyepiece, nothing remarkable looking. The reward was as stated a dozen automatic rifles and ammunition, plus a bonus if Smoker was brought in dead, and even more if he was brought in alive for the Prophet to "Confess".

Arthur and Michaela rode up, and then when it was explained that the bikers were Doomsayers but were gone, they loaded the horse up in the trailer. The rig and townie pickup returned the way they came, to the drop-off point where Peter was waiting.

On their way back, Brother Edgar met with Sigfried leading the rest of the Chosen, who were lugging everything they had down the dirt road to Chance City, by hand. Schaeffer and Nix passed by the band of they Chosen as they double-timed it back as well.

Most of the posse ended up at the RV point at the end of the road to Chance City, where Peter and Jane were waiting, at the same time. Schaeffer and Nix jogged up as well.

OOC: This puts all the PCs at the same place and time. I would assume the next order of business is to get the Chosen the final distance to Chance City, then figure out what to do after that. Although most NPC dialogue in the future will be in Red (to avoid confusion with Private Messages and to match OOC notes), "good" Chosen/Doomsayers will be purple and "evil" Chosen/Doomasayers will be in green. Hope that's not too confusing! NPC'd players will be in the same colour as they were before.