Riffing off an old Jeff Rients post (
http://jrients.blogspot.com/20...stions-for-your.html):
1. Where do I go to sell or trade this artifact that I found?
Artifacts (and junk, baubles, & curiosities) can be used to barter in New Hope. You've heard talk of a Trade Town to the east where items are bought and sold with "money." [Items donated to the village of New Hope are worth bonus experience points.]
2. Where can we go to buy or trade standard equipment?
You can trade or barter for any Tech I or Tech II adventuring gear in New Hope. Tech I weapons and armor are usually available for barter, Tech II weapons/armor sometimes are available.
3. Where can we go to get armor or other gear custom fitted for this mutant I just befriended?
If you don't have an enforcer who can cobble something together, you've heard the village of Delby's Ford, south down the river, has an armorer who knows how to work metals beyond what anyone in New Hope can. If you need metals or other Ancient materials, a crazy wanderer told of a Sarbis (mutant aardvark) mine somewhere in the mountains beyond Trade Town, which trade in those sorts of materials.
4. Who can I go to if I can't figure out the purpose of this artifact?
There are rumors of a group calling themselves The Restorationists, but no one knows where their base is. Some say it's with the carrins (mutated vultures) north-west up the river. Some say somewhere in the south, in the mountains.
5. Who is the greatest warrior in the land?
John Colbottom, a mutated human, is the war chief of New Hope. If there's a greater warrior than him, you haven't heard of them yet.
6. Who is the richest person in the land?
Jessop VanPelt, a mutated human, has the largest herds of anyone in New Hope. You've heard the Boss of Trade Town has more wealth, but everyone says the Trade Towners are all liars. The carrins are said to live in a golden tower far north-west.
7. Where can we go to get some mutant powered or high tech healing?
There are White Hand healers in Delby's Ford, by all accounts.
8. Where can we go to get cures for the following conditions: poison, disease, radiation, energy drain, mind control, hoops turned my spear into rubber?
Rumors speak of The Healing Place, an Ancient installation where Live Metal doctors will treat your ailments.
9. Where are the local known ruins and installations that I could plunder?
The ruins of Harkendoom are full of artifacts, and it's only a few miles away. You can see the ruined towers from New Hope.
10. Where can I find an alchemist, sage or other expert NPC?
Possibly in Trade Town, or among the Cryptic Alliances. Sleeth (mutated lizard folk) are said to be masters of lore, and live in the forests to the south. Wardents (small furry mutants) can figure out any artifact if given a day or two, they say.
11. Where can I hire mercenaries?
You could try to recruit a few locals willing to serve as men-at-arms in New Hope, but your best bet to find dedicated warriors to hire on would be Trade Town. Or try to recruit some marauders you meet in the wilds!
12. Is there any place on the map where swords are illegal, mutants are outlawed or any other notable hassles from Johnny Law?
Most places are pretty lawless. You've heard of a settlement known as The Shell somewhere south, where mutated animals rule, and pure strain humans are unwelcome. Similarly, the Knights of Genetic Purity are known to hunt mutated humans, and you would assume those types are not welcome at their hidden stronghold.
13. Which way to the nearest tavern?
There's a communal Long House in New Hope, where people gather to feast and drink. For a proper tavern, maybe Delby's Ford or Trade Town?
14. What areas or ruins are sufficiently dangerous that if I explore them I will become famous?
The Great Wastes to the north are poisonous, but if you could explore the lone mountain and make it back alive, everyone would remember your name for generations. A ruin called Erstripe in the deserts north-west of New Hope is guarded by Live Metal.
15. Are there any wars brewing I could go fight?
An orlen (two-headed, four-armed humanoid mutant) passing through mentioned that their people are constantly battling arks (hound mutants) and badders (badger mutants).
16. How about gladiatorial arenas complete with hard-won glory and fabulous cash prizes?
Several of the young adults of the village went far south for their Rite of Passage, and found a place called the Dirtmaster's Arena, where they were able to fight for sport. They returned with some useful artifacts and lots of useless no-grain chips that the arena people thought were important.
17. Are there any cryptic alliances with sinister agendas I could join and/or fight?
Yes, but you don't know where any of their bases are. You've heard of the White Hand healers in Delby's Ford, but other than that you're not sure where to look.
18. What is there to eat around here?
Stagon (mutated deer) are the most common local herd animal, but a few farmers keep hoppers (mutated rabbits). Both can serve as mounts, but also can be eaten. Hopper milk and cheese are local specialties. Some farmers grow millberries, which are apple-sized raspberry-like fruits. Wheat is the most common grain. There are fish of various types in the lake, and tang-strap, a type of fresh water seaweed, as well.
19. Any legendary lost treasures I could be looking for?
All the youth in the village talk of the fabled black ray rifle, which fired a beam of instant death. The old folks talk about the "Hollow Vee" which was supposedly a magical entertainment device of the Ancients.
20. Where is the nearest ruin or creature rumored to have lots of artifacts?
In Harkendoom, the rumors say that a gang of Serfs (mutated human degenerates) have a trove of functional Ancient artifacts. Last year, the group going on their Rite of Passage went looking for a ruin called the Buried Tree between New Hope and Delby's Ford, but none ever returned.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:36, Tue 04 Oct 2022.
