Chapter 2: The Journey

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Mar 24, 2024 9:26 am
Neta says:
"I think we all want to try the sand scorpion and for me I would love to try a vodka with starfire citrus if you have it. And you guys? Anyone else wants a drink?"
Adeon follows Nesta and the lady attendant to the empty table and sits besides Ariel.
"I'll have 2 of the special sandmelon lemonades and the sand scorpion, please" he orders, his choice made with a hint of adventurous curiosity.
Mar 25, 2024 11:58 am
Quote:
"dear, do you have any recommendations for some cheap accommodations for the night? We just need some place to wait until the next train"
The woman nodded thoughtfully, her expression thoughtful as she considered Nesta's request. "Well, there's the Desert Oasis Inn just down the street," she replied, gesturing in the direction of a nearby building. "It's nothing fancy, but it's clean and affordable. Perfect for travelers passing through."

As they waited for their food to arrive, Maya and her companions chatted amicably, their spirits buoyed by the prospect of a delicious meal and a comfortable place to rest for the night. Soon enough, the restaurant owner came back with their drinks and dishes. As she began to distribute the beverages to Nesta and her companions, she couldn't help but notice the curious looks on their faces.

"So, what brings you all to our little corner of the galaxy?" she asked, her tone friendly and inviting. "You don't seem like you're from around here."
OOC:
What do you do?
Mar 25, 2024 12:20 pm
"We really aren't ma'am, Just going after some work trying to make ends meet, looking for a ship that is supposed to be around these parts, but we are always open to any extra work, need help with anything?"

Nesta did not confirm with the crew before asking, but she assumes everyone is in agreement to try and earn some extra money, and that with the new ship in the horizon they should be looking for some jobs to use it.
Mar 26, 2024 11:39 pm
Quote:
need help with anything?
- said Nesta, in a nice and friendly way.

"Oh, no, my dear, thank you. But if you happen to stumble upon a Sandstalker, a Dust Wraith or even a giant Sand Wyrm remember me and send me some meat, ok? I can pay for that meat. It won't be much, but could help you with the medical bills."

She paused, then smiled. Adeon probably smiled back.

"You're all very kind and we don't have many visitors. The last group of travelers that came to my restaurant some months ago were real jerks, loud-mouthed and offensive. They apparently did not like anything about Watson. They were displeased by the food and the beds in the hotel, hated the décor, found the local practice of wearing a kilt somehow hilarious, and made a mess everywhere they went. Simple concepts like putting trash in a bin eluded these people, who seemed to think that they were better than everyone else put together and set about putting everyone they met in his place – whatever they perceived that to be."
OOC:
What do you do?

Rolls

Nesta Venbar: Chr/Talk - (2d6)

(65) = 11

Mar 27, 2024 3:51 pm
Quote:
I can pay for that meat. It won't be much, but could help you with the medical bills.
[...]
"The last group of travelers that came to my restaurant some months ago were real jerks, loud-mouthed and offensive. They apparently did not like anything about Watson. [...] Simple concepts like putting trash in a bin eluded these people, who seemed to think that they were better than everyone else put together and set about putting everyone they met in his place – whatever they perceived that to be.
"If we do stumble upon one of these creatures, be sure we'll sell you the meat! But I hope we escape the medical bills."

Maya lightly laughed and when she stopped, she leaned forward and rested her chin on her right hand. She then proceeded.

"About this clearly rude group that passed by before us, do you happen to know anything about what they were doing here, who they were, anything at all? We're trying to get information to help us with our task, and they sure seem suspicious."

Rolls

Chr/Talk - (2d6+1)

(23) + 1 = 6

Mar 27, 2024 4:15 pm
"I'm not sure... My husband told me they were working for the World Government of Walston, in Central city. Two man and one woman.

Their leader and captain was Rourke "Grizzly" McCallister, an old man with a broad frame. The others called him "Grizzly" for his unkempt hair and white beard that cascaded down his chest like a waterfall. His weathered face bore the scars of countless brawls, with a prominent scar cutting across his left eyebrow. Clad in a worn clothing and trousers that seemed perpetually coated in grease and grime, he exuded an aura of rugged toughness.

The first mate was "Slick" Sullivan. Despite his nickname, there was nothing sleek or polished about him. He was a wiry man with a perpetual smirk etched onto his thin lips. His hair, slicked back with some dubious substance, gleamed under the harsh lights of the starport, reflecting his oily demeanor. Sullivan's eyes darted around with a mischievous glint, always on the lookout for an opportunity to cause trouble or make a quick credit.

Mara "Wrench" O'Donnell was the only woman in the crew, but she was every bit as rough and rowdy as her male counterparts. Standing at an average height, she compensated with an air of fierce determination. Her short-cropped hair was often hidden beneath a grease-stained bandana, and her hands bore the calluses of someone who wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty."


https://i.imgur.com/yeE9dc9.jpeg
Mar 29, 2024 11:50 am
Adeon, his curiosity piqued by the talk of the mysterious trio, picks up on the tension in the woman's demeanor. With a mouthful of sandstalker's meat, he blurts out
"Doun uorry mam..., I'll heupi you if dey coume back."

Swallowing hastily, he turns to his buddies with a grin.
"So, what's the plan, folks? Crash at the Inn for some shut-eye, or take a stroll through the city's nighttime vibes?"
Mar 29, 2024 7:06 pm
"I’m good to head to bed if everyone also is"
Last edited Mar 29, 2024 7:07 pm
Mar 29, 2024 9:23 pm
OOC:
Does anyone wanna do something else or talk with someone in the Desert Oasis Inn or in the startown? Should I move on to the next day and the train to Central?
Mar 30, 2024 9:19 pm
I´d love to head to someone else's bed, but this place is quite... dry... and the people here are not exactly my type... I'd rather find my... our ship kill some worms and come back, to civilization...
Mar 31, 2024 5:49 pm
In the next day, you go back to the train station and grab a train to Central. Tickets are 5 credits per person.
OOC:
I will deduct from the shared funds.
The trains themselves are short, just a small electric locomotive and a carriage or two at most. There are often a couple of freight cars attached to the back of a train but these are usually empty; they are simply not uncoupled when not needed because that would require someone to do it. You discover that there are just seventeen people working at the railroad, serving three main and a few more minor stations, plus the rail depot at the capital. As such, the railroad staff are already overworked just running a train every day.

However, despite the somewhat primitive transport, the journey does not take very long and soon Central Station comes into sight. It is located on the edge of the capital, a town that looks remarkably like the one you just left in many ways, though it is smaller. There is no starport, but there is a large lake with islands to the north. This is Central Lake, named because it lies more or less in the centre of the island.

The town is the rail hub for the island, with a line out from here to each of the larger towns. Central City actually has a reasonable service industry - restaurants, hotels, shops, rentals - as anyone travelling from one settlement to another by train will almost certainly have to stop over here. There are also a couple of government-owned factories and the dictator’s palace, which serves as a governmental centre.
OOC:
What do you do?
Apr 3, 2024 10:52 pm
"So what do we do now? I'm not used to go to new places, I just wanna go explore."
Apr 4, 2024 11:47 am
"We need to get to the World Government of Walston that was the last place we knew the ship was on charter to, unfortunately i'm assuming that is in the dictator's palace, i would rather steer clear of it if we didn't have to go there"

We make our way or ask our way to that (building i supose) and on the way try to see any ship pads to see if we can catch a glimpse of "our ship".

"I say we just go for the clues about the ship as fast as we can, this place does not give me a good feeling"
OOC:
I'm trying to go direct to the objective just to move the game along, but feel free to say any other errands, or other places you want to go =)
Apr 5, 2024 3:57 pm
OOC:
Does anybody wanna do something in the town or should we continue to the palace for the "main quest"? I usually say that we need 2 PCs to agree and them I move on.
Apr 5, 2024 4:29 pm
"Don't worry sister, I'll be by your side and protect you. You lead the way."
OOC:
If nothing happens that grabs the attention of Adeon, so we can move to on, and go to the dictator's palace
Apr 6, 2024 4:40 pm
Nothing else calls Adeon's attention and you don't see any starships nearby, so you head to the dictator’s palace.

The palace is rather grandly named. Like other buildings on Watson it is largely underground, with just the top floor above the surface. It is not really segregated from the rest of the town, except by a wider than usual open space between it and the nearest building complex.

There is an obvious entrance facing the town, which is the direction you came from. There are no guards outside and, as it's now office hours, the outer doors are left open.

The entryway leads to a reception area decorated in the locals’ idea of a tasteful and business-like manner. Pastel blue and light to mid-grey seem to be the colours of choice.

There is a reception desk which is currently not manned. A couple of overworked clerks seems to be in nearby rooms, but you're alone in the reception. The seat of government for an entire world does not have a full-time receptionist? Incredible…
OOC:
What do you do?
Apr 8, 2024 12:20 pm
"Strange...."

Nesta claps her hands loudly three times

"*clap clap clap * ANYBODY HOME??"
Apr 8, 2024 2:06 pm
After that, you’re spotted by an overworked clerk who recognises the crew as ‘not from around here’ and tries to put together a suitable reception. He asks how can he help you and, after you tell him about your ship, you're offered comfortable seats in a side room, with water, coffee and a little wine to drink, if you want, and a plate of pretty good biscuits while you wait for someone to help.

Half an hour later, a government official, Alan Greener – the Minister for Offworld Affairs, Public Relations and Fisheries himself, as it happens – enters the room and apologises for the delay.

"So, how can I help you?" - he asks.
Apr 10, 2024 3:35 pm
Maya, who for the first time in a while let her guard down as Adeon and Nesta were attentive to their surroundings, was eating the biscuits as she never had biscuits before. As the Minister entered the room, she quickly swallowed the biscuits, cleaned her hands and mouth, drank a little water, and proceeded to talk to the Minister.

"Hi! I'm Doctor Maya Nadir. How are you?"

Maya felt the need to present herself as a doctor, to show that the crew were not there for funny business.

"Sir, we came to Walston for work, our job was a simple task: to recover a ship. However, this ship was nowhere to be found around here, we're trying to understand what happened. What is the process for us to formally access information about ships' dispatches?"

Maya was still feeling unsettled about that whole situation, the few workers, the ominous ambiance, the missing ship... She felt thrown off when the Minister entered the room, as she knows how diplomatic jobs are, it seemed especially odd that the Minister himself would accept a reunion with a group of strangers with no heads up, she was expecting an assistant, an analyst, not the Minister. She decided to analyze the situation a little more before giving out more information about the crew and the job.
OOC:
I'd like to roll notice again to see if Maya catches up on something that is passing by unnoticed by the crew.
Last edited Apr 10, 2024 9:47 pm

Rolls

Wis/Notice - (2d6+1)

(65) + 1 = 12

Apr 11, 2024 3:55 pm
Quote:
"Hi! I'm Doctor Maya Nadir. How are you?"
"Hi! I'm Alan Greener, Minister for Offworld Affairs, Public Relations and Fisheries. Nice to meet you."
Quote:
"Sir, we came to Walston for work, our job was a simple task: to recover a ship. However, this ship was nowhere to be found around here, we're trying to understand what happened. What is the process for us to formally access information about ships' dispatches?"

"Let me see your documentation..." - Allan reads your documents claiming property of the Stuck'n'a'rut. He checks the electronic authentication but them takes the rest of it at face value. "So, yeah, I know that ship. Captain Grizzly and his crew were, frankly, a bunch of troublemakers, but for lack of anyone better we chartered their vessel for a fairly simple job. They somehow managed to botch the task and disable their ship into the bargain. They then departed in the direction of the starport aboard a gravflyer before I knew what was happening. They took a ship out of the system a couple of days later and have not been heard from again.

I can tell you where the ship is and help you get access to it… If you agree to complete the mission the original crew were supposed to have carried out. The task is not very complex. I can pay you for that."
- he finishes, with a smile.
OOC:
What do you do?
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