The Cracking Ice - Chapter 1

It good hammer. Killed giant ice bear in one hit.

"I think going back to town would be a good idea, but is there a way we could leave some kind of sensor out here?" Ben asks the others. "The Coffin Nails could come out and collect it at a later time, but at least it might help us keep track of what's going on out here in case the demons are still around, or something else is. Maybe we could patch it into Echo in the short-term?"

Chay's eyes lights up. Maybe I can McGuyver something up? Should I rummage around in my bag of tricks tools and see what I can find. I am a bit of a pack rat so you never know.

Chay can make a Knowledge Electronics roll to Mcguyver up a sensor.

Chay tosses up a few switches, a few unidentifiable components, and some colored wire out of his tool trove.

Chay pulls out a few components from a junk box in the back of Echo and hooks up a device that will take a photo every few minutes and send it by radio waves back to town, but no further than that.

"Chay sure is a wizard of tech."

You arrive in the town Cartouche after an hour or two of driving. You're no doubt thankful to escape air conditioned luxury for smelly town folk. Your huge nuclear powered vehicle hums into town and draws the eye, gathering a fair number of armed and strange folk, ready to beat your ass down, should you turn out to be raiders.

That is to say, you're in town, surrounded by townies, locked, loaded, and fearing the worst, like demons to come pouring from the doors. But many of them are hopeful that you bring good news. Outside the mayor's saloon, Danny Doom, one of the Coffin Nails waits.

Kai snakes his head out the back and looks around. He waves at Danny Doom. "Hello... We did stuff." he states before his head snakes back in and he sits on his pile of shields and spears.

"The snow is melting just like it's ice demon lords, good people."

Chay hops out of Echo bringing his little hand held device showing the latest photos.

This is where we slew the ice demons, he says, scrolling through the latest series of photos.

"I believe we have won," says Ben. "Please, put your weapons away. We aren't here to attack you." Ben waits for the commotion to die down, and waits.

"Don't worry they can't hurt me no one picks on kids unless they're bad guys." Kai states snaking his head out of the back again, "I can show them my shields and spears if they want to see something cool." he adds giving a largely clawed thumbs up which doesn't really fight with a dragon really.

When Echo opens and demons do NOT pour out, the townsfolk relax. A few ragged cheers start before those people realize they don't know what happened yet. But more importantly, the guns are stowed or slung.

Chay is surrounds by the curious who ooh and ahh at the pictures of snow. Some have never seen the stuff.

Tipolei jumps out of Echo, and then lifts Justice's Hammer in the air, Justice Hammer killed many demons!!

The crowd cheers. As if an unexpected dam burst, many of them shout and clap each other on the shoulders. Tears shine from many eyes. Nods are passed back and forth.

Chay has to admit to himself, being the center of attention is kind of cool. He realizes that he forgot to place the kerchief over his face and everyone appears to have overlooked his hideous visage.

Yeah, the snow is soft, and would have been beautiful, if we weren't fighting for our very lives!

"Yes!" agrees Ben emphatically. "And now, we would like to speak to him if possible. We've come with what we hope is good news."

The old man is helped out from the saloon by Bully, flanked and followed by the others. A few of them touch Justice on the shoulder, and whisper something. He approaches Ben looking down at his shoes. He lifts his eyes up and with obvious effort, tries to stand straight and look him in the eyes.

The crowd hushes, their respect and compassion for their ailing leader shining naked with hope.

Tipolei advances near him, and slowly goes down on one knee to be lower. He hands him his hammer, You be proud, this good weapon. Killed many demons. Killed giant ice bear with six leg... need only one hit. This be Justice Hammer !!