Topic: Gateway: Home Sweet Home (Week 1) (Read 7893 times)

R^2 · « **Reply #80 on:** February 01, 2012, 01:42:37 PM »

"Much obliged, Wanda." Latir gratefully sips his tea and chats about the jobs everyone has been on.

With a little downtime ahead of him, Latir spends a couple hours that evening looking carefully at one of his mountains with a magnifying lens. After looking closely, he spends nearly fifteen minutes picking out a particular grade of sandpaper out of his toolkit. He carefully and meticulously makes a single stroke on the stone with the sandpaper, looks closely at it with the magnifying lens, and nods to himself for a job well done.

After that, he heads into the cargo bay of The Short Holiday with several pieces of lumber and some old blankets to make a loft for Muscles.

AirMan · « **Reply #81 on:** February 01, 2012, 03:03:11 PM »

Gulden, collapsed haphazard upon a couch, graciously accepts the bottle with a word of thanks. That word being "Yeaheahhhgulp," as his digestive track works at imbibing the cleaning fluid and fighting gravity. "Sh'a welcome reprieve from lava, I'll tell ya. Fun fact folks: Don't go makin' deals with devils. Not unless ya wanna work for yer prize and they're just lookin' like devils."

Shinra · « **Reply #82 on:** February 01, 2012, 03:53:28 PM »

Ardna enters the main lobby of the building, the clink of her staff on the floor signaling her entry. She is a tall creature, and odd in shape. Humanoid, but clearly not human; with the appearance of being crafted from gemstone, though the color of warmth in her flesh shows that this is not the case. Her skin is alabaster with hints of blue, and covered in a myriad of chips, scratches, deep gouges and lastly, engravings which shimmer in the light. She is dressed in the trappings of a mage at first glance, thick prismatic robes and wielding an impressive staff with the skull of a planar being affixed to the top, and covered in shards of solid quicksilver. But it is clear her robes are made of thick hide, with armor plates, and her weapon shows the wear and tear only a martial implement could possess. She glances around the room with her one good eye underneath a pair of brass goggles, her expression blank, almost empty. She is an ugly creature, probably unattractive before whatever tragedy befell her face, which is now extensively scarred, the damage looking like shattered stone. Though it is not visible, it is clear she is missing an eye from the damage hardly concealed by the goggles.

A faint buzzing accompanies her entry, as static crackles in the air around her. Her hair stands on end, seemingly free of gravity and tied into a topknot, cropped short enough to not be a nuisance. Though she does not speak, she carries herself with the air of someone on business.

R^2 · « **Reply #83 on:** February 01, 2012, 04:01:37 PM »

"Evening, Ardna."

(You're retconned into having worked with us all along, so don't bother introducing yourself. Just do whatever your character would do, assuming she's returning from some sort of away-time or small errand.)

Shinra · « **Reply #84 on:** February 01, 2012, 04:19:12 PM »

(i was planning on joining the gang actually. Don't go assuming things about my character! how dare you!)

R^2 · « **Reply #85 on:** February 01, 2012, 04:32:00 PM »

(Suit yourself.)

Latir raises a bushy eyebrow at the odd-looking... person? who just walked in and gestures to Ilex that this may be something She Needs To Handle.

sentrygun · « **Reply #86 on:** February 01, 2012, 05:04:53 PM »

Strolling out of her office with a gem in her hand the size of her smile, Ilex glances over to the more successful of her crew. "I dunno what possessed you into signing a contract with a devil, regardless of her authenticity, but I'm damn proud of you lot. You made off like bandits and netted us a new ship, all while revoking my protection clause."

Suddenly, she notices a much less than recognizable face standing by the door. "She the rookie you lot saved? She, ah... certainly doesn't fit your description. You might want to get your eyes checked, Latir."

AirMan · « **Reply #87 on:** February 01, 2012, 05:21:16 PM »

Gulden keeps sucking away at the bottle of brown stuff like he was a baby at a tit, giving a lazy, happy shrug at each comment and question.

R^2 · « **Reply #88 on:** February 01, 2012, 05:22:51 PM »

"I have never seen hi-- he-- that person before in my life."

Bongo Bill · « **Reply #89 on:** February 01, 2012, 05:23:41 PM »

Bertram had gone off somewhere to see what he could do with his share of the loot.

Shinra · « **Reply #90 on:** February 01, 2012, 05:56:24 PM »

Ardna adjusts some of her weight onto her staff, as the faint buzz around her turns to a distinct crackle. She takes a breath, before addressing Ilex. "You are the leader of this... Mercenary coalition? Or just one who commands a basic authority over their peers?"

sentrygun · « **Reply #91 on:** February 01, 2012, 06:45:01 PM »

"I'd hope my crew sees this as a bit more than just a coalition, but yeah, I'm the one in charge. Ilex Holsten, head of Holsten Holdings, though that's a bit drab. We usually call ourselves the Fools-Errant, despite the name rattling against my business sense a bit."

Ilex steps up to the woman to get a closer look. "So, what do you need punched out? You certainly look like you could rough a good couple of jerks up at the same time, so I'm guessing you need help on a bit of a larger scale?"

Poultron · « **Reply #92 on:** February 01, 2012, 06:55:03 PM »

Isaac had dropped his comic and trained his rifle on the newcomer the instant she strolled into the room, keeping a keen eye on every movement.

Shinra · « **Reply #93 on:** February 01, 2012, 07:09:32 PM »

Ardna gives a faint grin, electricity arcing across her teeth. "Unfortunately, you misunderstand my intentions. I haven't work for you, nor the means to compensate you if I did. I have been paying attention to local happenings, and I am under the impression that you are in... somewhat of a bind. I believe we can help each other."

"My name is Ardna, and as of the present, I am unemployed and unemployable. I am seeking to remedy this situation, and I do not think a company in debt is in the position to refuse an applicant who is willing to work well below the pay grade of their qualifications."

sentrygun · « **Reply #94 on:** February 01, 2012, 08:09:49 PM »

Ilex dons a blank stare. "So... You know that we're in debt, and you want to work with us? You know that we don't have money to pay you with and yet you still want to work?"

Taking a few moments to process this ridiculous statement, Ilex can only come to one conclusion. "I'm not all too sure I want to hire an insane person. You'd have a better, more complex story if your plan was to spy on us, which would be ridiculous in the first place, you'd just go to the bounty office and go track down some marks if you really couldn't nail down decent work, you've got something like half the scars I do so you either got mowed down by a cargo ship or you're nothing new at this..."

Ilex slumps her arms to her sides and gives a completely defeated expression. "What could possibly make you think this is a good idea?"

king of no pants · « **Reply #95 on:** February 01, 2012, 08:47:26 PM »

Meran accepts the glass and gives a curt nod of appreciation to Wanda. He stops chugging the glass halfway through when the newcomer steps into the lobby. Listening carefully to her proposition, he runs a few numbers in his head before procuring a small booklet and a pen, scribbling furiously at it while Ilex and the newcomer are conversing. Giving a satisfied nod, he tears the page free and hands it to Ilex.

Unpaid internship. Decide whether to hire once debt is gone. Free help is good.

P.S. Find more work soon. Inform me.

The dwarf gives a formal nod to his employer and the prospect, setting off back down the hallway to his office and stopping every few steps to collect the documents that had flown free of the folder during his earlier rush into the lobby.

Büge · « **Reply #96 on:** February 01, 2012, 09:16:07 PM »

Morgiana's door flies open and she strides out. She's dressed immaculately, not a hair out of place (that is, she's wearing her robes, a casually fastened blouse, a floor-length embroidered skirt, a burgundy sash, layers of bangles and a lotus flower in her hair).

"Great gorgons, my head is spinning! Are we under attack by the Elemental Planes? Don't tell me you were right about Millicen--" She pauses as she sees the gensai conversing with Ilex.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't realize we had company," Morgiana smiles tactfully at Ardna and curtsies. "How do you do."

Shinra · « **Reply #97 on:** February 01, 2012, 09:38:34 PM »

Ardna nods to Morgiana, before turning back to Ilex. "So you don't know me by reputation of my name, then? A relief. Some years ago I lead a band of Githyanki pirates. I cost the local merchants a great deal of money, and the bounty office a great deal of personnel. There is no 'official' price left on my head anymore, I saw to that, but needless to say my former sources of livelihood are reluctant to hire me, and I lack the skills for mundane work."

AirMan · « **Reply #98 on:** February 01, 2012, 10:08:17 PM »

With a final punctuated gulp, a satisfied gasp and a pop, the empty two liter XX jug is settled down by the couch. Gulden mumbles something about Possum Ridge Paralyzer and stumbles off and over to a position most might call standing if the room ever decided to sit still. Fighting a burp, he comments, "Sounds like a right fine merc to me. Stuck to piratin' fer so long yer bound ter grow an' enjoy the mercantile trade. The merchandary. Sword sellin'. All them scars tell me yer bad at dyin' too, and the boss here ain't nothin' but obsessed with employee longevit-hic. Longevity."

Doom · « **Reply #99 on:** February 02, 2012, 05:23:54 AM »

Shinra: If I haven't given you a Background Trait yet, here you go: Void Crusher - +1 Intimidate, +1 Acrobatics. Fearsome Pirate's Reputation. If I have given you a trait, choose the one you like best I guess.

Gyrating down the hallway, your good friend Enrique has an armful of wood in one arm, his modular hip-adjusted implement is present and ready for work, and his other arm is bobbing up and down in a steady, hypnotic rhythm to a beat only Enrique can know, yet you know... in your heart. (Another NSFW.) He notices the new lady and spontaneously springs across the lobby in a pirouette, landing before Ardna in a kneel. He accepts her hand with his free arm and kisses the top of it, then raises his head and grins, his mustache wobbling with little sparks. His voice-box has been set to charming French-man. "Ahh, a darling flower has found it's way to our leetle garden! I would be honored to help you furnish a room, mi petite chou fleur, after I repair the crass boor's window."

When Ilex inevitably decides to eat some food, Beatrice confronts her with a bottle in either hand and clearly stinking drunk. "Boss! Ah did tha' job righ'.. but.. yer sellin' me short! Hic! I need ta fight! I ain't no errand-bot!" Maximum frown interrupted by need to run to the restroom and give offering to the porcelain god.

And so Fools-Errant regroups into the night...

Week 1 Summary

-The Long Holiday was destroyed during a ruins dive by a set of vicious Bandit Brothers led by the Gehenean, Hjard. You caught a ride with Mister Rosco Nailbrain, fleeced some bits from the Clockwork Plane of Mechanus, and defeated Hjard in his follow-up ambush. You then raided his hideout, saved and recruited Beatrice, a Shifter Fighter, and finished off the nefarious brothers with some primal decapitations. Escorting Rosco earned his gratitude and a possible link with the distant Bladefang Orc Tribe, who are said to be in a region south of the Iythian Reaches.

-Unfortunately, the destruction of the Long Holiday and the symbolic loss of your license has caused your primary financial backer, Finneus Firebrand, to saddle you with a debt for the ship and to withdraw his support for your mercenary actions in the city. This may ultimately lead to your being muscled out of the city entirely by rivals... You have a month(of Iythian time) to amass the debt.

-Pursuing a canceled payment from one Ottiumus Oppenmeyer, you were baited into a trap by him with intention to put you in a bad light. Or kill you! You escaped the trap, but perhaps not notice. Ottiumus appears to be organizing a rival band of mercenaries to knock you out of and occupy your position.

-You paid a gracious visit to The Academy and had a cordial meeting with their "Empress", Millicent. She might offer you work, but would force you to work under her.

-You busted the sinister scamming of the Devil May Care contracting group and got a new ship, the Short Holiday, along with a mysterious artifact. You saved a Squire of Pelor, Hammond's life.

-Wanda successfully turned in the Bandit Brothers Bounty, Beatrice successfully had the Lode-stone Ore inspected, Muscles successfully was Muscles. You still have a mysterious I.O.U. that you took from Hjard that points to a Damien Reinbach in Gateway. Bertram's Aunt sent him another letter insisting he come home to discuss the inheritance.

Your debt stands at 436,000/500,000 GP

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Author Topic: Gateway: Home Sweet Home (Week 1) (Read 7893 times)