Teranovae's smile can almost be heard over the transmission, +"NEO!!! Good to hear from you, glad you could make it!  I'm doing fine thank you, shopping for some... show-weapons.  A Murder? ~ I hope its a well deserved one... we have so much power.. do we ever really need to 'murder'? Or are are you referring to a murder as in a numerical sense... like a 'murder of crows' or somesuch? But yes to the subject of how to help the citizenry here... With how the Pitt crater intersects one of the rivers feeding the city... a waste treatment plant would be Very useful.  I've been thinking of digging a hole and tunnel redirect the Allegheny River underground to reconnect it to the Ohio River so it no longer flows into the Pitt."+

Teranovae sends a digital image of the relevant old world maps she has of the locale, with clearly a electronically altered map of the old world Pittsburgh with the blast of the Orbital crater super-imposed, but of course none of the 'modern' alterations to the city.

Clearly she has thought of how best to help the residents of The Pitt...

+"The water filtration facility would not be a mechanical thing, but running the waters over a large gravel berm to filter the wastes naturally.. but its a huge project.  I would need the approval of the citizens to build it but I could do so in say a week of intense work?  But yes I certainly want in on helping in any fashion I'm allowed to!"+
This message was last edited by the player at 22:19, Thu 11 Nov 2021.

"Thanks, Mr. Hat! Have a great day," she says, cheerfully and apparently satisfied with her barters. She carefully folds the dress along the seams and puts it away, then slings on her huge sofa-backpack and merrily skips away, weaving through the crowd and the numerous stunned admirers with consummate skill.

She's going to go home, unload and inventory her loot with the rest of her stuff, have something to eat, and then play her new game. Yep! Today is a fantastic day, and nothing could possibly ruin it.

+"Nope actual murder, But beside that, Seems you already on track for water."+
Neo quickly breezes past the murder topic, Carrying on to their next point

Neo takes a pause before continuing
+"As I'm sure we all know, Humans require three things. Food, Water and Shelter."+
The river idea is a step for but the giant rubbish pile will ferment and can eventually contaminate the river"+
+"Expanding on this, The produce should be checked, I haven't had a clear look but securing a safe food supply is mandatory for the objective Vic put forth. Then Shelter, and that includes defence, These houses are ready to fall down. The wall around The Pitt is alright, but laced with dangerous radioactive material. Its Likely already caused permanent genetic damage"+

+"If need be I expect you'll handle produce until it can be self sufficient"+
Neo sends a updated map of the Pitt from their scans. Giving a accurate depiction of the current Pitt

Teranovae grimaces, understanding the Neo 'a name she gave them', is new to life and morality she keeps her tone gentle and encouraging...

+"Please Neo, no murder.  We need to be better than that, yes sometimes we must kill something living ~ but it should only ever be our absolute last resort.  We should only kill when letting something live would directly endanger the lives of the innocent.  Murder is wrong ~ killing a being just because they anger you or are inconvenient is bad.  Where does it stop?  The world is full of annoying or even inconvenient people... but as Good beings we must value life... even the lives of those who are not nice all the time.  We must be patient, and allow time for the examples of our Good deeds to reach their hearts.  We must try to show them that there is a better way to live that EVERY life is precious! It is what makes us different from MOTHER's tactics ~ She declares that all Wonders and A.I.s ~ like you, should be killed cause they are a threat to her.  We would not want to imitate her, would we?  So please no murder.  Talk to Legacy X he's with you.. trust his judgement before you act."+

She knows Neo's choice of words to 'murder' does not stream from any innate malice or wickedness from Its next words about helping to protect the city and she smiles. She knows Its casual switch from notions of murder to protecting the people spring from ignorance, nothing more, Neo will learn with time... she too must also be patient!

+"Well I can fix the housing issue by making or converting the structures to stone.  I can also put a fortified stone wall around the city with time and remove all the pollution by converting it all to simpler elements... BUT all this MUST be approved of by the people living here and within their Governance's approval!  I can make my changes without moving people much by any assistance I provide will be a lot easier and effective with their cooperation.  Also for any of it to last they must change their waste disposal practices or it will soon be back to what we tried to fix!"+

+"As for the Pitt ~ Itself.. I plan on investigating its depths at some point perhaps a barrier between it and the city would be advisable, but it would take ~ even me some time to wall the entire scar in to no real benefit."+

+"Oh, and my powers do not extend to plants or produce.. I'm an Earth Goddess.. not a Plant Goddess.  I only have dominion over earth, stone, crystal, rock, metal, minerals and the control of existing gravity that the Earth produces naturally ~ I do not create gravity, but I can manipulate what's already there.  I do not control or have any dominion over plants."+
This message was last edited by the player at 16:38, Fri 12 Nov 2021.

"Yeah, I don't exactly like the landlady either, but I think murder might be a bit much. Especially since I shouldn't need to do anything to One-Eye except brief them, if he isn't stupid." Victor paused, considered how to phrase what he was thinking. "Heard there might be some Wonders arriving to meet at the Leans, like yourself, Neo. I'm hoping to have a roof over my head before they arrive, and I'm hoping they'll stay out of sight for whatever they are doing. Wonders shake things up quite a bit."

Teranovae smiled at hearing Legacy X's voice and wanted to ask how he'd been since their last gathering, but his tone said it was business first ... pleasure second and indeed they had much work to do.  Triggering her wristcomm again...

+"Legacy, If you have a locale for this Headquarters you have in mind and approval to 'refurbish' I can build any structure you would desire ~ but I'd expect you would want something subtle and secure? So perhaps a subterranean bunker of sorts with multiple exits?  I could install multi-ton rolling doors that would take superhuman strength to open..easy enough for you and me to open but be quite impassible by normal humans. Though ~ Neo would be needed to put in any technological conveniences you might require.  As for other Wonders in the city... I've not personally noticed any. I'm shopping currently, but I could join you when you find the location you want to begin my stone shaping."+
This message was last edited by the player at 05:03, Sat 13 Nov 2021.

The woman nods to Victor. "Good. I trust you'll do whatever feels right." The woman's tone suggests she's picked up on his wordplay and doesn't particularly care about it one way or another.

He and Neo have little difficulty collecting the requested bars from the occupants. These are the dregs of society; some of them look very ill and pale and most all of them have a dry hacking cough of some kind, but either are still managing to somehow earn their keep or happened to save up enough while they were healthy. Most hand over their payment without much of a fuss. There is one man who almost tries to shoot Victor with a harpoon gun of all things, but with some careful words and a level head he manages to get his bar without resorting to a fight.

Then there's Peter One-Eye. The man is wrinkled, gray, and thin, with three rings piercing his left eyelid shut. His dry, leathery skin is covered in scars and what looks to be sewn-in patches of other people's skin. His clothing looks in danger of disintegrating into dust at any moment, and he walks using the broken husk of a pistol-gripped 12-gauge riot shotgun like a cane. He stinks in the way that only an old man can stink, a unique mixture of body odor and unwiped ass. He grins a toothy smile at Victor from across the doorway. "Eeeh? Yer Erika's collections pet now aye, well ain't that a rinky-dink! What'll it be then huh tough guy? Oooo, is it the stocks today? It's Tuesday right? Mwe-he-he-he-he!"

---

"I would love to hear any tales of renown you or any others might have to share!" Brass Hat replies to Teranovae with a smile.

Brass Hat takes Teranovae's hand, confused for a moment, but realizes what she is doing before her Touch has any tangible effect. "Crikey girl, warn a man before you go trying to mess with his biology!" he warns her, looking very displeased. "You don't know what effect that might have on people!"

He takes the ring but Teranovae's blunder earlier has clearly waned his enthusiasm some. He inspects it for a moment before tucking it into one of his approximately nine thousand pockets.

Brass Hat watches the exchange between Colleen and Teranovae with an amused smile. "I think she's put out because you mispronounced her name," he helpfully suggests after the smaller girl walks away. "I wonder what's inspired her to settle down in the Pitt of all places... ah well, it is only my business if she makes it mine!"

---

A little bit of light comes to the woman's eyes as she squints at Amanda. "What I'm up to?" she repeats in disbelief. "... Wow. You actually don't know anything. I should count myself fortunate. Please let me go or- or I'll..." Her eyelids flutter and her eyes go hazy again. "... do... nothing, like a g-good g-girl..."

A couple of people are spectating this event, clearly trying to decide whether this is their problem or not. Not least of which happens to be Colleen, wandering by on her way home to play some freshly purchased video games. As a native of the Pitt, she likely recognizes the woman as Rydia, consort/playtoy of Mayor Skullfucker -- and origin of the nickname Skullbleeper among the kids.

Of course, there might be more to know about her. Same DC15 E:Current Events for Colleen to know more about her.

---

Spoiler for Game Mechanics: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

04:55, Today: GM LoonyLadle, for the NPC Rydia, rolled 30 using 1d20+10.  Insight.

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 16:45, Sat 13 Nov 2021.

Amanda grinned more amused by the challenge than afraid of it. "Is that the game we're going to play? What fun, but you don't  know the rules, and I don't know the players. How's that going to work? Hmmm... You did run... Kind of sus, shall we go see Mother, and make sure you're as good a girl as you say?" This was a verbal trap.

She reasoned either this woman was scared of her, for being a wonder or because she knew about Amanda's past.

If she knew Amanda was a wonder then she'd definitely know Amanda was lying about going to Mother and need to find a way to get help which would likely reveal the information Amanda needed.

If she knew Amanda only by her past, then it would be much harder to tell this was a lie as it'd serve to confirm her initial fears about Amanda and force her to find a way to get help which again would likely reveal the information Amanda needed.

Amanda just kept giving her an amused customer service smile and didn't let go.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:12, Sat 13 Nov 2021.

Teranovae's expression saddens and she takes a respectful step back her eyes lowered in... regret and contrition.

"I'm sorry 'Brasshat', I meant no offense.  I meant only to heal you of any disease or pain from aging ailments to relive any suffering you might be enduring... not 'change' you into something you are not, but you are right it was presumptuous for me not to ask if you even wanted healing. My apology's ~ I know that my power would ONLY heal, but you would not know that, you are Of course free to reject my 'gift'."

Listening to 'Brashat' about his observations of Colleen, she casts a gaze in the direction she left and replies, "I did? Huh... I did not know her ego was so fragile... people mispronounce names all the time, its usually not taken as a personal insult.", she shrugs.

Turning back to 'Brasshat', "I've taken too much of your time anyways... much to do today, Again my sincere apology for not asking if you wanted healing... perhaps someday I'll regain your trust.  Good day Gentle Bard."

---

Terenovae watch the smiths as they regarded her payment in ingots still in recrimination of her failing with 'Brasshat', she could do so much to relieve the suffering of those living in The Pitt, she wanted to help... but she also must be patient, she must gain their trust first.  But she could only help if they let her... she must avoid the trap MOTHER had fallen into in her cold-logic, 'inflicting' her own ~ "She knows best", even if it seemed to her she did.  Mankind must accept salvation... not have it imposed upon them.

She continued to ponder how much of Sandra's Mortal zeal for knowledge and truth... still burned within her now divine heart to help and heal... a lesson to learn she as Goddess was not so different from her mortal origins.  Patience... she must have patience... something MOTHER did not!  She must not become THAT kind of tyrant.. despite her good intentions.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:01, Sat 13 Nov 2021.

11:59, Today: Colleen rolled 9 using 1d20.  Current Events.

Colleen dunno nuffin.

Colleen looks, of course. Rydia is cute, if nothing else. She shrugs and keeps walking. It's not her business, problem, or interest.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:02, Sat 13 Nov 2021.

+"I'm fairly certain than when we inevitably ruin her little landlord trick here she's going to try to take us out. Besides different between planning, expecting and doing.+
Neo clears it up before mentioning something else
+"Related Note, I'll construct the base, You got a lot of work healing. Besides I have ideas"+

Neo Turns to Peter One-Eye, with an bit a excited grin
"Real confident there old man.  Lets start with some questions for me.
How often does Erika demand payment, Your comment of Tuesday says often but I want to specifics.
Why can't you pay normally and how you got in this housing agreement
How Erika gain so much claim over this actual slum
I'm sure your old enough to know these things. Answer them and we'll see how much I feel like fixing, simplest would be to just pay for you but there's bonus points for useful answers.
They shows off a bar for Peter to look at to accentuate the point
This message was last edited by the player at 19:49, Sat 13 Nov 2021.

The glares at Amanda, but her last words seem to send her reeling back into that confused state. She mouths the phrase 'good girl' to herself a couple times before clenching her fists at her side so hard her knuckles turn white. "P-please," she breathes through clenched teeth. "You and your cult already took everything I have. My independence. My opinions. My dignity. At least let me live out my shell of a life out from under your shadow. You... y-you... mindbreakers!" The woman spits the last word defiantly, but just as abruptly gasps and writhes in pain in Amanda's grip. She sinks nearly to her knees, only barely managing not to dirty her dress.

---

"I know what you meant," Brass Hat replies solemnly to Teranovae, "but remember that many people still regard Wonders as thoughtless, holier-than-thou meddlers. I have no doubt as to the purity of your intentions, but intentions alone do not make results. Carry yourself responsibly, goddess." He offers a small smile.

Some time later, Teranovae is out by the smelter complex looking for a blade. She is not permitted entrance to the main building without official business, but the bulk of the smiths seem to do their work in an open-air structure just off the grounds. It is a hell of smoke and fire and embers, big men with scarred skin heartily pounding steel on steel. At first the workers respond to her presence as an imposition on their work, yelling at her that they deal with wholesale and if she wants to purchase a single blade she should go back to the market square. Soon however she finds a man carefully grinding an edge to a finely-finished blade at a smaller forge in a corner. It is from this young artisan that she finds her fine blade, a clear cut above those of the Pitt's common guardsmen. He requests twenty ingots, but when he sees the more uncommon materials the green woman is offering he pretty swiftly haggles down while wondering aloud what bulk gold is even worth in market and how big the market for jewelry might be.

---

Peter gets what a normal average-sized girl would consider uncomfortably close to Neo and looms over "her" to better examine them with his one good eye. "Nyeeeh? Questions? Ol' Peter loves questions! The answer is... swordfish! The answer is always swordfish, mwehehe!" He cackles.

"Huh? Pavement? Erika always demands pavement, but water's too rare to mix cement!"

"Pay? Pay who? Oi, are're yew the gubbermint?! I got yer taxes roight here!" He points his shotgun-cane at Neo, showing that the barrel's been plugged with something wadded up and pink with little cartoon dinosaurs on it.

"Mah house? Ay woke up here you daft git! Tha's my actual bed roight over there!" He points his shotgun-cane at a particularly vile pile of old coats in a corner of the room.

"Ahhh, Erik's a good boy, he's in charge of all the trade and traffic an' stuff! Very important!"

Peter leans over the proffered ingot and squints his one good eye, tilting this way and that as if evaluating a prize sculpture. "Oi tha's a good paperweight, that is!" He peers up at Neo. "What is it?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:01, Wed 24 Nov 2021.

Amanda shuddered softly and loosened slighly. "Mother wants me dead." These words rolled out in a bitter monotone too hurt to show feeling, as she moved past this revelation to discuss what had happened she spoke more flowingly, and seemed embarrassed and a bit ashamed. "Please forgive me. This is a misunderstanding, I am a recent apostate. When you ran I was afraid, Mother can be quite severe. I would be gutted if she hurt people to get to me because I did nothing. It was a numbers decision threaten one to safeguard many, but it was my mistake." At this point she let the woman go looking sheepishly at her shoes taking a half step back still within arm's reach but at a more normal talking distance.

Meanwhile, in the Leans...

Victor calmly put an arm between Peter and Neo, slowly making it clear that he was getting too close. "I think I am beginning to understand the real reason Erika wanted me to talk to you."

He smiled politely, all the same, trying to play this cool. He cleared his throat as it occurred to him the old man might have hearing issues. "We aren't trying to collect taxes, old timer, and we know this is where you woke up. The lady who says she owns your land wants a paperweight that looks like the one Neo has. Apparently, she is convinced that is money, and will leave you alone for the next month if you have at least one to give her."

Teranovae smiles sweetly for the elderly storyteller, "I have lived all my previous life within a Barrier city.  I  will admit.. my 'real-world' comprehension is lacking... in the barrier cities there is no want for comfort or homelessness or hunger... also no liberty, freedom or Truth!  I thank you for the perspective of your 'real world' wisdom, dear storyteller!  I will try to be the responsible goddess mankind needs! Thank you again!"

---

At the smithy when she finally finds a artisan willing to trade with her, she only smiles at his wonder for the materials she provides, as wealth means little to her she is fine with his price, but does not use ANY of her powers for him to be fearful of.
She does not haggle.. whatever price he sets is what she pays.

Teranovae also realizes, she is ill-set to bargain and haggle as in the barrier cities there is NO haggling... one pays what ever credits are required and the consumer product is yours.  The price never varies and does not change.  Perhaps, if she should ever venture into a market again she should do so with Legacy X for his real-world familiarity might be useful?

When the transaction is done...

"Thank you for such an exquisite blade sir, I shall carry it proudly as an example of the finest Pitt craftsmanship!  Might I inquire where I might find an armory or firearms vendor?  I'm looking for a Heavy Pistol to carry as a sidearm.  Also a leatherworker to fit me with a sheath and gunbelt holster for my weapons?"

Neo clearly gets annoyed, uncomfortable and borderline hostile as Peter moves in, until Legacy puts themselves in the way.
"Right..." Having a moment of space and a lot of new info Neo quickly processes it to try and figure out a diagnosis for this mans obvious problems, and ideas how to help it.
If it's just hearing problems its easy to fabricate a hearing aid, Might need legacy's help with surgery if it comes to that.

Today: Neo rolled 17 using 1d20+10.  Expertise to diagnose.

The woman's eyes widen a little as Amanda suddenly starts speaking honestly. "O-oh, I see..." She rubs at her wrist as it is released, even though there is no reason for it to be sore. "I suppose that is fair... enough..."

She trails off, biting her lower lip and staring intensely at Amanda as if she could divine her secrets just by staring at her. "No... that doesn't make sense. Mother never kills if she has the option, she only breaks people... unless...!" Her eyes widen. "Oh stars, you're one of them aren't you?!" To her credit, she doesn't try to run this time.

---

The smith looks a little surprised and embarrassed at Teranovae's grandiose praise, blushing and trying to avoid staring at the green-garbed woman's cleavage.

"A heavy pistol?" the smith replies, perplexed. "Is there any other kind? A trader in market probably has something for you. Be careful; gun runners don't have any sense of humor."

---

Neo's diagnosis is that One-Eye Peter is a little bit senile, moderately hard of hearing, but mostly too-old-to-give-a-shit. It's a small miracle he's survived this long in his state; could be he's just to ornery to die.

Peter looks a little offended at Victor's interposition. Although he listens (or at least seems to listen) as Victor speaks, Peter keeps leering at the brightly-colored young woman with a look that suggests he hasn't seen a girl in years let alone one so vibrantly-hued. When Victor finishes speaking though Peter does look back at him with a pensive expression.

"The two o' ye... ye ain't like the usual hooligans that come through 'ere," Peter cautiously observes. "Might ye be... nah." He disengages from the younglings and hobbles himself over to a pile of tatters that may once have been a couch that faces a badly-damaged LED television. "If'n yeh naw here t'make an example of ol' Peter why are you here?"

Teranovae smiled for the smith and thanked him again for his directions.  She left the smithy and returned to the market, perplexed that Legacy X had not yet responded to her communicator call she shrugged assuming he would respond when he had a chance to.

As she made her way to the market she stuck her hand into her shoulder bag and again formed a collection of thirty 1 pound steel ingots to use as trade.  It was also kind of... awkward to roam about the market with an unsheathed machete... placing it in her shoulder bag was...odd and it kept poking her at inopportune moments as she walked the market.  Definitely a tailor for a sheath and holster for her revolver would be her next shopping objective!

Finding a gun-dealer she made her request, "Hello gunsmith, I'm looking to purchase a heavy revolver pistol for personal defense.  I'd also like four speedloaders of combination ammo - APEX {armor piercing explosive}."

BIG-ASS Revolver-.50Cal "Predator" = {Firearm-Pistol} Heavy Pistol-Ranged Damage: PL 4 {8pts}
- 5 shots {reload}, 1rd w/ 4x Speedloaders
Ammo: Armor Piercing/Explosive = Penetrating/2 {2rk}; Improved Critical/2 [Crit: 18+] {2rk}
Total Cost w/Ammo: 12pts



Pulling a single steel ingot from her bag she shows the gunsmith she does have funds to pay for her purchase.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:04, Fri 03 Dec 2021.

"Apparently. I was on missionary, horror attack if I wasn't that I'd be dead." she raised a hand so the woman could see without drawing too much attention to it. She cycled through a series of gloves from mittens, to work gloves, and opera gloves to a ring And bracket adorned hand with painted nails, before returning the hand to her side as it had started. "Wish I could tell you I'm some sort of choosen one who broke through the programming, it was the prospect of watching mother try to kill me that finally pulled the curtains back on Mother's love. Feel like filling me in on the situation? When you thought I was who I used to be you were pretty scared, kind of feels like maybe you have a mess I helped make and should offer to try and clean up." she sounded not entirely sure about this. She was mostly convinced this woman was indeed safe but she kept the most incriminating stuff quiet. Not wanting to panic anyone with too many upsetting details.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 00:10, Sat 04 Dec 2021.

Into the Leans, once more friends....

Victor walked into the house, slowly and respectfully. "I am Victor Vale, son of Vincent and Gloria Vale, and this is Neo. I doubt that means a lot to you. My family survived the end by working with those around us. Beating the hell out of an old man isn't exactly working with them. All I promised Erika that I would try to collect payment from you, or at least find out why you weren't giving it. I follow the migration paths lately - I've decided to give hunting a try. My goal is to bring my happiness with me when I settle in, and leave a bit of it behind when I have to go."

He was hoping Pete would just give him the money without any stupid demands... or that this encounter would at least not end in him getting punched out by Victor as a way of saving them from Neo.

Gun runners indeed have no sense of humor; the arms dealer in town has no fewer than eight armed guards, and Tera thinks she also sees a sniper on the buildings, just in case.

The sturdily-built and guarded man running the arms caravan gives Teranovae a smug smirk. "That's some heavy kit for such a pretty woman," she says with a voice full of sleeze. But he doesn't let hitting on the green goddess get in the way of business, shooting his assistant a sharp glance. The requested items are almost immediately to hand. "It's so hot when a customer knows exactly what they want. Could I also interest you in a drink at the bar tonight, and you can show me those muscles I see rippling under there?"

The exchange of currency goes smoothly. Not having an appreciation for the local currency Tera has no idea if she's being ripped off. She probably is.

---

The woman watches Amanda as she changes gloves as easily as some people breathe. "Wow, that looks convenient," she says without any hint of sarcasm. "It has to be anything but though, if only because of Mother. For what it's worth, I know what it's liked to be chased to the ends of the earth and how horrifying it is to be caught."

She flips her hair. "I'm Rydia... you know, the (former!) voice you might have heard on the radio warning people about Mother's- Mother's... beauty and intelligence?" She winces pitifully, the words obviously not what she meant to say. With a little context, Amanda thinks she might remember that pirate station; Rage Against the Machine. Rydia's voice sounded so confident and defiant back then while the Rydia in the flesh sounds meek, obedient, and broken. "I appreciate the offer, but it's too late for me. I'm a good girl now." She raises a hand to brush her bangs aside showing a tiny, almost invisible surgical scar on her forehead. She smiles sadly.

---

Peter regards Victor and Neo for a long -- uncomfortably long -- time with his one eye. Every now and then he seems to be on the verge of recollecting something but it always slips away from him before he can act on it. Finally he shakes his head. "Naw, ol' Pete One-Eye has nothin' ta pay tha' braidy-haired she-witch wit', but yeh..." He points a gnarled finger at Legacy with a smile. "Ye got something t' yeh... I dunno why ol' Peter's trustin' you with his secret, mebbe 'e don't tnink 'e's got much longah on this dusty earth? I'unno. 'n'e'ways, come close, look 'n' listen, and ol' Peter'll show ye som'et tha'll pay fer all three o' us."

From seemingly disparate, meaningless rumpled-up papers and rags the withered man assembles a map. It appears to be of a section of Pittsburg before it was buried during the war. Peter points at one particular building. "'ere," he says, tapping it with a nail. "An ol' nanite clin'c, tha's how ol' Pete's still so healthy 'n' beautiful, y'see?" He lets lose a loud, drawn-out rasp of a laugh, showing rows of crooked, yellowing teeth with metal fillings and exhaling a stench like rotting fish in the two incognito Wonders' faces. "Ol' Skulldugger's crews ain't diggin' 'n'where close. There be treasure 'nuff fer both o' us t'pay our debts. But ol' Pete's ain't as young as 'e used t'be, 'is legs be more nanny then bone o'late, y'see? But ye... ye can make it. Ye just need the password f'the secur'ty sys'ms... 'tis... 'tis, uh... I forget!"

Teranovae looks around admiring the level of security with a even nod.

For the sturdily-built caravan arms dealer, she smiles replying ~ "Well a woman has to protect her assets, yes?"

All of Teranovae's knowledge about guns and weapons of war comes from the archaeology and resource recovery she has done for MOTHER. Her research teams can't very well retrieve for destruction or collection if they do not know what they are looking for!

However, Tera keeps that information to herself stating, "My mother is very familiar with firearms and made sure I was well educated in their use and care, 'Never rely on a man to do for you what you can do for yourself'!", but her tone is in jest and tease no anger or rebuff in her demeanor.

She smiles sweetly, "A drink or two tonight, why not?  Yes, I am FAR stronger than I look, thank you, but I don't drink with men whose names I don't know..."

Again she looks around and leaning in a little closer  ~ providing an even more enticing view of her loveliness and lowering her voice to a hot whisper, "But I may make an exception for someone connected enough to have such a... professional security team AND such a business sense.  I'm sure you are charging more for this sidearm than its 'street value' and I'm letting you know ~ I Do Not Care, my wealth is inexhaustible, my patience much less so.  BUT if you have access to mercenaries capable of using these fine weapons, we might 'talk' about it over drinks tonight for I may have tasks I'm willing to pay richly for to make the wastelands much less... 'friendly' to the MOTHER's bots.  A source of firearms and skilled Mercs would be useful ~ And profitable for you."

She pulls back taking her firearm and ammo, smiling again ~ "Thank you for your ~ business, maybe I'll see you later this evening over drinks!"

Teranovae will make her way out in search of a tailor for a sheath and gunbelt & holster for her new purchases...

Neo bolts up like they were just hit with lightning, Nanites are right up their alley.
"If you can't remember the passcode I might be able to get in anyway" Her grin springs back to her face.

She looks towards Victor for a moment, pondering how likely it is that his wonderous properties would resist nanites.
Either way this whole Nanite clinic should be very interesting... Just got to wait for Legacy.

"I'm Amanda, that's the 'Mother's Mercy' version of my oddity only. I am not looking to traumatize you with the scary stuff.
So I want to help, but I tend to be much more of a foot soldier than a nurse.
I do know someone, they're definitely human but very skilled at medicine. Now I think you might bruise where I grabbed you. So I think you should go see her, and this is where I worry if I'm a good person. You might get scared, medicine is scary. I could help you be brave long enough to get her help. So I give you four options, I can leave you alone, I can introduce you and hold your hand through it try to talk you through, I can twist your arm so to speak, or I can do everything I can to heal you, I'm a scary woman everything has a good chance of getting you totally healthy but plenty of people would be frightened by it, most people would understand the arm twisting. You don't have to decide straight away, but it might be easier to decide quickly. Don't worry about Mother, Mother want what's best for humanity. Mother want humanity to be healthy. This is about making you healthy. Do you want to be healthy?" She spoke calmly trying to be reassuring while walking the tightrope between honesty and avoiding anything Mother might have anticipated and therefore setup as a trigger for some mind-control, brainwashing stuff.

OOC: Wasn't sure what the right skill was. She's trying not the persuade her one way or another, she's trying to get to what Rydia wants. To get their she is trying to obfuscate how she might try to heal Rydia to avoid triggering post hypnotic suggestions or the like.

10:41, Today: Amanda King rolled 25 using 1d20+10.  Deception.
10:40, Today: Amanda King rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  Expertise Mother's Theology.

And yes she actually means Teranova, who she did just call definitely human, which is misleading, but she earnestly believes is true in a fervent almost desperate sort of way because of what it says about her own humanity.

Victor considered what this would mean, even as he ignored the unpleasant sight and smell. He had to force his vision to not zoom in on the teeth. "An old world hospital running even half cocked would be better than the crude tooth surgeons working with whatever they can scrounge up. That's payment enough for me. I'll work something out with Erika."

He looked to Neo. "It's worth a look, although why no one has broken in is beyond me."

Nothing was free in the Wastes. Even with his charmed life he knew that. Everything good had a steep price, and the question was always when payment was due.

So the price of a functional nanite hospital remained to be seen.

If he could convince Neo to go, he'd thank Pete for the tip, and then he'd get on the comm line once he could get someplace out of sight of normal folk. <I'm open for dialogue now. What's going on?>
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Thu 16 Dec 2021.