(Read the previous chapter here.)
System: OmegaLite20
Tools: Gamemaster’s Apprentice Deck; Nine Steps and a Bloody Heart; Artbreeder for character profiles
Tools: Gamemaster’s Apprentice Deck; Nine Steps and a Bloody Heart; Artbreeder for character profiles
(The above contains affiliate links.)
[Scene 1, Tension Lvl:3]
Well, this is just great!
We just spent several hours rummaging through an abandoned WAmanzon warehouse searching for car parts and battling security robots bent on our destruction. We were nearly killed during several of the encounters and barely escaped with our lives. We should be heading back to Mausdale, but instead, we are driving around the warehouse looking for some sign of a baby on the insistence of a pregnant, hormonally-charged humanoid rabbit woman.
Sebastian did his best to convince her that it was a foolish task. Charlotte, we need to get you back home for your protection. Charlotte, that woman’s probably been here for several days or weeks. No one is waiting for her. Then he said probably the worst thing possible. If there was a baby out here, it’s probably dead by now. That got a look! If there was any hope of convincing Charlotte to head home, it disappeared with that last comment. So we all piled into the Armor-Plated Turbo-Boosted Omega-Dillo and agreed to one lap around the warehouse.
<Before driving away, Charlotte and Sebastion used some healing and med kits. Charlotte is now up to 8hp and Sebastian 7hp.
The trip around the warehouse will take (d6+5) 11 turns. Each turn I rolled on a d20 Search Table I created specifically for this event. The table is heavily weighted towards finding nothing, however, there are opportunities for items, encounters, special locations, and, yes, something related to the dead woman in the warehouse.>
“Arks!” Sebastian pointed out the window from his seat behind the steering wheel.
Just off the asphalt, walking through the grass field, was a group of 6 tall figures. They walked upright but had definite canine features. Two of them carried a large gas can between them.
Arks!
“Are they friendly?” I asked.
“Nope,” Charlotte answered. “At least none that we’ve met.”
The group of dog-men spotted us and changed directions, running toward our van. Since they didn’t appear to have any guns we felt rather safe and Sebastian continued driving around the building. Safe, that was, until he stopped several yards later.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“There’s a cardboard box over there in the grass. The markings read Green Giant and I see a couple of cans scattered around. That could be an entire case of canned vegetables. We should pick it up.”
“If we are, we need to get it fast,” I said, checking on the arks’ progress.
“I’ll pull up next to it with the Omega-Dillo between the box and the arks. Alyssa, you and Nate jump out and grab the box. Quick and easy.”
“Yeah. Quick and easy,” Nate agreed, though I detected the sarcasm in his voice.
I estimated we has less than a minute to grab the box and get back in the van before the approaching arks would be upon us. The van stopped and Nate and I jumped out. That was about the only part of the plan that went right. <DC10 Physical + DEX check. Rolled Nat 1.> The box had been there a while, had been rained on, and was still soggy. As we tried to lift the box the whole thing tore and cans fell out over the ground.
“Hurry!” Charlotte called. “They’re coming!”
Grabbing an armload of cans I jumped back in the side door of the van. “Toss me the rest,” I said.
Nate lobbed can after can as I caught them and chucked them further into the vehicle.
“Get in! Now!” Sebastian cried as we heard the sound of something hard hitting the side of the van. Nate scrambled inside and we secured the door just as an ark rounded the front of the van and reached for it. Sebastian hit the gas pedal and took off as arks scrambled to avoid being run over.
<Using one of the Micolite20 variations for modern settings I determined stats for the Omega-Dillo and rules for vehicle combat. I won’t go into all the details except to say that in the end the arks did 3hp of damage with their hand weapons, leaving the vehicle with 33hp.
Do the arks follow? (even) Yes + event. The event symbol is Perthro.
One of the interpretations is that the characters have a destiny yet to be realized. This will be explored in the next scene. Tension resets.>Sebastian quickly put some distance between us and our pursuers and the rest of the drive around the large warehouse was uneventful. Other than some old furniture (which we didn’t want) we saw nothing of interest and no signs of any other people. Sebastian was a bit disappointed when we passed a bank of closed garage doors which he assumed was where the delivery vehicles were stored. While WAmazon prided itself on its fleet of electric vehicles, Sebastian hoped they might have had a backup fuel pump on site. If they did, it was located inside the building and we all agreed it was too much trouble to get back inside.
We reached our starting point and Sebastian headed for the road. It was clear that Charlotte was still unsettled at not having any answers about the mystery woman inside the warehouse, but she honored the agreement to leave and said nothing.
<I rolled for encounters on for the return trip and nothing came up.
Having completed the warehouse, this was a good time to evaluate XP. It’s been about the equivalent of 2 Standard Adventuring sessions since the last allocation, so each character received 40XP. Nate doesn’t have enough XP to advance but Alyssa can spend 40XP to move from Level 2 to Level 3. Several skills increase and she can raise a STAT by 1 point. I chose Strength.
ALYSSA (Level 3) Max HP:44
STR: 13 (+1) DEX: 13 (+1) MND: 12 (+1) Mental Defence: 11
Melee ATK: (+4) Ranged ATK: (+4) Mental ATK: (+4)
Primary skills (+5 bonus): Subterfuge, Knowledge
Secondary skills (+2 bonus): Physical, Communication, Survival, Tech>
Alyssa and Nate gain 6hp for a night’s rest and each replenishes their health kits.>
[Scene 2, Tension Lvl:1]
We arrived back at the Thompson’s hotel well after dark. Ross saved us some leftovers which we ate quietly before heading up to our rooms and collapsing on our beds. By the time I woke up the next morning, Nate was already out helping Ross check the building's windows and making any repairs. This gave me an opportunity to peruse the hotel’s lending library and swap out some books.
When I left Woodville I brought several paperback books with me. They were titles I wanted to read, but I also thought they might have some trade value. By now I had finished three. Those, along with another book I kept solely for trade, gave me four books to swap. The Thompsons kept a stocked bookcase in the lobby topped with a sign that read “Leave One/Take One or Read and Return.” I quickly found three titles I was interested in and was down to my last exchange when I noticed Dale walk up behind me.
“It’s been a while since that got any attention, and I mean even before the war. No one reads physical books anymore. They just download them to their PEECE’s” <Author’s Note: Personal Compact Computer, or cell phone. See Chapter 4>
“Lot of good that does now, huh?”
“I guess you’re right. You like to read.” More a statement than a question.
“Yep. I was lucky. My parents kept a ton of books in the basement where I was trapped after the bombing. It gave me something to do until I was able to dig my way out.”
“A romance, huh?” he asked, referencing Angel In The River, the book I held in my left hand.
“Cheesy, I know, but I’m a sucker for a good romance novel. And the back cover mentions something supernatural, so that’s a plus. But I only have one trade left and I can’t decide.”
In the other hand, I held Aliens Of The Sands, the third in a four-book series by Ernest Harding. I’d read the first two books, Aliens Of The Sky and Sea, but had given up any hope of finding the rest. Locating this was like discovering a leprechaun’s pot-o-gold. <Are the first two books on the bookshelf? (even) Yes.>
“That’s a good series,” Dale agreed.
“You’ve read ‘em?”
“I’m on the last one right now. The first two are on the shelf there.”
“Yeah, I saw, but I’ve already read those.”
Did I say pot-o-gold? Finding an entire series is basically a pirate’s entire treasure. But surely Dale wouldn’t give up Aliens Of The Stars until he finishes it. Besides, I can only make one trade.
“Oh well,” I sigh, putting the sci-fi book back on the shelf. “At least the romance novel won’t leave me hanging.”
I picked up my selections and began to head back to my room.
“Uh, Alyssa? Wait a second. I’ve been wanting to tell you something.”
I tensed, hoping Dale wasn’t about to embarrass himself. He seemed like a nice hoop and all, but . . .
“Alex’s mom stopped by while you and Nate were away.”
Whew. Bullet dodged.
“Oh?” I asked, turning back to Dale.
“She heard about what happened to her daughter. That you and Nate were talking to her when it happened.”
“Wha . . . what does she want?”
“She wants to talk to you two. She wants to know what happened, at least what you heard. But more importantly, she wants you to find out who wanted Alex dead.”
“We’re curious too, but the chances of us figuring this out are slim.”
“I think she just wants some closure. Can you at least talk to her? Maybe that’ll make her feel better.”
“Let me tell Nate and I’ll get back to you.”
With that, I went upstairs to drop off my books before going to find Nate.
<This is the event from the previous scene, the “destiny yet to be revealed”. While the PCs were already investigating, having the mother specifically ask them to help ramps up the stakes.>
[Scene 3: Tension Lvl: 3]
Nate was eager to talk to Alex’s mother, hoping she might be able to provide some new insight. Dale offered to drive us to her home a few streets away. On the way, he told us a little about Alex’s family. Her mother’s name was Joann and her father left home about a year ago. A family friend told them that their father had enough of the family life and wanted to get away. They had no idea where he went. Alex was actually relieved when he left. Apparently, her father was abusive and a drunk. Alex’s mom took the brunt of it, but some of his rage spilled over to Alex.
Eric, the family friend, tried to help Joann out over the next few months and the two eventually struck up a romantic relationship, one that Alex didn’t approve of. Dale didn’t know exactly why but thought it was a combination of wanting more mother/daughter time and simply not trusting Eric.
“Why didn’t she trust him?” Nate asked.
“I got the sense it was a ‘we don’t need a man’s help’ thing as opposed to anything specific to Eric.”
We pulled into the drive and knocked on the front door. After a few moments, a tall, white hoop wearing an apron answered. I should be used to it by now, but I was still surprised. I don’t know why but I just assumed Joann was human. Dale made the introductions and she seemed genuinely pleased to see us.
<Picking up with the investigation I drew another card. (See Chapter 5 for an explanation of Nine Steps and a Bloody Heart) The result removes “A Friend” from the suspects column. Alyssa tries to get an extra clue but fails the Comm Check>
She spent a few minutes telling us about Alex and some of her accomplishments but nothing that really dealt with her death and the circumstances surrounding it.
“Mrs. Andrews,” Nate interrupted. “The fact is we really don’t know what was going on at the cabin other than your daughter woke up and Ken was gone. We have been told that if Ken truly wanted to harm Alex he would not have left her alone but would have done it herself.”
“Are you saying Ken wanted to kill her?” Joann asked shocked.
“No. Maybe. We don’t know. Can you think of a reason Ken, or anyone for that matter, would have wanted to harm your daughter?”
“No. All her friends are shocked and have done their best to console me, coming by to check up and offer to help in any way they can. And Alex adored Ken. I don’t believe she would have been with someone capable of this.”
“What about Eric?” I asked.
Joann first looked confused, then glared briefly at Dale once she realized he must have told us about her boyfriend.
“What about him?” she asked.
“Dale told us that he and Alex didn’t get along well.” <Why? From GMA: Shatter Path>
“Alex was very protective of me after her father left. She felt we would be better on our own, not just mother and daughter, but best friends as well. In her mind, Eric threatened that. She was afraid I wouldn’t need her as much and that everything would include him. She didn’t want to share me. So, she made life as difficult as possible for Eric. She was grouchy. She complained. She tried to sabotage Eric’s and my relationship whenever she could. She was hoping he would just leave.”
“How’s Eric taking the news?” Nate asked. <Seal Conflict>
A sour look crossed Joann’s face . . . I think. (Once again, rabbit expressions. Not so easy to decipher.) “Pretty much like an ass. He tried to put up a good front, but I could tell. He was relieved that he wouldn’t have to put up with her anymore. He even suggested that focusing more on him and our relationship would make the pain go away faster. Can you believe that? Anyway, he’s gone. I told him to leave and not come back.”
Nate and I exchanged looks and I knew he was thinking the same thing I was: could Eric have been involved in Alex’s death?
The rest of the conversation revealed no more helpful information. We assured her we would continue looking into things while we were in town and said our good-byes. Walking out the door, Dale asked if we wanted to talk to Jaci Fox, Sean Murphy’s son’s girlfriend. We did.
[Scene 4: Tension Lvl: 4]
Jaci’s home was further south along Old Valley School Road, near Jesse’s service center. After our last stop, I was prepared to meet another hoop but was caught off-guard when a young, black woman answered the door. Just when you think you’ve got things figured out . . .
Jaci Fox
“Lucas ain’t here,” she said. “Dale, of all people! Y’know we broke up.” She sounded a bit irritated.
“I know. I know.” He admitted sheepishly. “It’s just that these two are trying to find him . . . for his father.”
“Why’d you break up?” I asked. “We heard you were one of the reasons he left the farm to live in Mausdale?”
“That’s probably true,” she admitted. “But he a’come back a rabbit.”
“And that was a problem?”
“You’ve heard the sayin’ ‘breedin’ like rabbits’? Well, that’s all he wanted. Sex. Sex. Sex.”
“Boys,” I said, sympathizing with Jaci. Dale lowered his head, embarrassed for both his gender and his race.
“Aw no!” Jaci said. “It’s not that. We were into each other before. But now . . . he’s a rabbit! I just ain’t inta that. It’s kinda . . . ewww!”
<Was Jaci turned off by his hoop appearance? (even) Yes. Was there more to it than just that? (Good) No. Hmm. The oracle told a completely different story than the one I had in my head. Way back when I thought up the Jaci/Lucas storyline, the version I thought up was that Jaci was just uninterested in an overly sexual relationship, but, for fun, I decided to check that with the oracle. Turns out, she’s simply repulsed by “rabbit sex”. >
“We both agreed that to keep seeing each other while he bounced from girl to girl to get his fix just wasn’t going to work out.” Jaci said this with a straight face. It’ll hit her about fifteen minutes after we leave. I’m sure of it.
“Any idea where he is now?”
<Is he still hanging out with multiple girls? (even) No +event (see below)>
“I heard he’s settled down with Billie Hancock. You should try her house.”
<Does Jaci have any info about Alex? (even) No.
The event is Jera
which GMA describes as “a recent effort pays of or a roadblock is removed”. For this event, I’ll change the failed bonus clue roll made earlier for Joann to a success. When the party returns to the hotel they will find a note left from Joann which will be based on the next investigation card draw. Tension reset to 1 for the remainder of the scene.>[Scene 5: Tension Lvl: 2]
Bille Hancock lived . . . you guessed it . . . several blocks further south on Pulling Track Lane.. In fact, her property was the only house in the area and it backed up to woods that stretched all the way down to Danville.
<Is Lucas there? (Good) No.
Not going to roll for Billie’s “race”. I’ll just say she’s a hoop as that makes the most sense.
Does she know where Lucas is? (even) Yes Irksome Wealth>
Based on our conversation with Jaci, I guessed Billie was a hoop and I was right. Unfortunately, Lucas wasn’t there and we could tell that Billie wasn’t in much of a conversational mood. She answered our questions but was brief and I could sense she just wanted us to leave.
Sean’s son was out hunting, trying to catch something to barter with the Stokes, the couple that runs Gram’s Dutch Kitchen, the first place Nate and I stopped when we got into town. Lucas missed their cooking and was hoping that he could earn a few meals by bringing them some meat, perhaps a deer or a few hares. (I wasn’t sure if I should have been disturbed by that or not.) However, luck hasn’t been with him and he was growing frustrated.
We told Billie that we wanted to talk with him about his father and he could contact us either at the hotel or Jesse’s service station. I didn’t even want to bother her about Alex, so we just left.
<Does Bille have any info about Alex? (even) No.>
End of Chapter
==========================
Matt. 7:7
(Read the next chapter here.)
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