Episode 2, Part 1 - Decisions [DONE]

#1

At the Mountain Cabin:

The goggles rolled and bounced on the sweaty silks before they were stopped by a chaotic heap of pillows. It had been fun, experiencing the whole séance in nuances of green, but now the oil lamp was lit and the fun was over. Kiph wavered, energy drained from the exertion. He looked over at the prone form of Abak Loett. The old bastard still slept, moaning in his sleep; obviously he hadn’t heard a thing. Well, the FateBringer Master was generous with his concubines in any case. Looking over to Tiana, the third and newest concubine of Abak Loett, he felt a renewed tinge of desire. She hadn’t redressed, but was dipping her hair in a pail of water.

I should do the same. I probably smell worse than Bakur does by now

Bakur had been one of them, a business partner in this trade venture of theirs. He was dead now, left behind in Bleak Wood, his body decomposing in a hole covered up by stones and sand. Bleak Wood… What a horror that had been. A spacer aircraft had been expected to arrive, but something went wrong and the damn thing plummeted burning from the sky. It tore through the city like some infernal plough, devastating everything and breaking free the herd of mutant G’Kraun Enfatah imprisoned within the South Wall Storage Facility. The grey horrors with blades for hands had then engaged in wholesale slaughter, lacerating and dissecting the population of Bleak Wood. As Kiph and his friends fled town, everything was aflame and rioters had taken to the streets. Bakur had bought it when a tattoed tribal shot him in the chest just as they drove out of town.

Kiph snapped to reality as Tiana walked up to him, pressing her chest against his, kissing him passionately. “I love you, Kiph”.
“Mmmm” he replied, pulling the carpet aside to peek outside. They had spent the night in the back of a truck; their field hospital and the only place in which he and Tiana could have some privacy, Abak Loett aside, but he always slept anyway. Outside the sun was rising and from the sound of it the others were already awake.

***********************************************

Ralkhara had been gone for a long time now. The nomad PathFinder had told them not to worry. He would come back the same evening. That was four days ago.

Ceres rubbed the horn jutting from her forehead. The Horned Smith they had called her back in Corona, her place of birth. “Ralkhara is not back!” she said to no one in particular. No one was close enough to hear it anyway. Not Kiph, the nomad FateBringer hiding in the truck with his little mistress. Not the other two concubines that had embraced this existence wholeheartedly, and cooked and cleaned like they were meant for nothing else. Not Riv, the newcomer, an old acquaintance of Kiph, who had arrived late yesterday evening, a harried and weary look on his face.

These last weeks had been paradise for her. The peace and tranquillity was unrivalled in this distant location. There were berries to be gathered, mountain deer and hares to hunt and even canned supplies in the goods brought along by Abak Loett, the sick FateBringer Master. But now she felt this growing unease, her senses crying out to her. Whatever happiness had existed at this place, she no longer felt at ease here.

***********************************************

Riv watched as the canned beans fried in the pan, the tomato sauce boiling. The fireplace was burning brightly, the flames hungrily devouring the firewood. Like me then. It burns with a passion so deep and sincere. A slab of deer meat had already been prepared and his nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, savouring the smell of food. His luck was incredible, he just could not believe how fortunate he was; to stumble upon Kiph in the mountains like this. Kiph didn’t seem angry anymore either, which was generous of him. Anya had been a severe blow to him, and discovering her in bed with Riv hadn’t made things easier. That had ended their business relationship somewhat prematurely, though Riv had been square enough about it, leaving Kiph with his rightful half. Besides, he had seen what Kiph was capable of and that was not something he wished for.

“Hah!” he yelled triumphantly. Not because of Kiph or Anya, but because he suddenly envisioned the face of Oldboy Smith when he discovered what he had done. A soft whistle escaped his lips as he exhaled. “Luck is with me. I can feel it. I just feel it”.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#2

The hum of the wind melted into the song of a distant ocean she had never seen, and the stars flared incessantly, almost painfully bright in the clear skies. Lost in thought, Ceres traced the new scar that ran along her leg, courtesy of the Bleak Wood incident. A thin slightly lighter line ran from her ankle to the knee, resembling a bleak road like the one that was hers almost since she left Corona.

Man had been given too few years - the Author gave him but enough ink and parchment to write one short tale. She felt like she was scribbling doodles on it. The locale may hav been serene, sustenance abundant and danger absent, but she brought all the trouble one might need with her.

No, the young woman was not depressed by her percieved failure - she hated it. The loss of the armors to the bandits, soon followed by all their merchandise and companion in the madness back at Bleak Wood. Jonathan was gone too - and with him likely the option of accessing what knowledge was kept in the city's archives and the minds of its scholars. All the quests she undertook for that one prize, one fate would ever deny her.

There, in the middle of nowhere, Ceres had more than enough time to ponder whatever unpleasant thought crossed her mind - she was not of much use in hunting nor standing watch, and failed to find common ground with Abak Loett or his girls. Indeed, she wished to do something that mattered, something that would make her grow. There is a long way from surviving to actually living.

The turmoil within was concealed by a chill serenity without as she sat there, on a large flat rock ovrseeing the valley below, and watched the clouds roiling on the horizon, reminiscent of what she imagined the sea would be like.

Perhaps... going back, to face fate once more, to wrest what was hers and all the people's from its grasp. To wipe the feeling of failure. To be alive.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#3

Riv took out his knife and carved a good sized portion of the venison, and quickly devoured it. A little rare, but just the way he liked it, bloody and too hot. A little pain lets you know you're alive.

The odds had turned in his favour. His pursuers, offended at just a little housefire that just happened to roast that prick, should probably catch up with him in a day or so. With only one of them with a gun, he had originally figured he could get a few of them before he fell, but now with at least two other allies, maybe he could actually surivive the fight. Yes, things were definately looking up.

With the rest of the breakfast ready, he stuck his head out the door and hollered "Grubs on! Come and get it!".

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#4

Caught up in thought, Ceres at first did not percieve Riv' words. The scent of meat nad hearbs though easily circumvent her tangle of thoughts and spoke directly to the stomach.
A protracted rumble from her abdomen snipped off her ponderings, and she rose. Brooding may be a great way to spend time, but it does not confer many calories.

Sitting in the kitchen, she eyed her portion of the venison, took a sharpened branch and proceeded to roast it in the fireplace, studying it as if it as some strange alien creature. Not looking at him, she spoke to Riv. "You might consider roasting that meat more thoroughly, mister. Otherwise, you'll catch trichinellas, and they'll turn your muscles to swiss cheese."

Considering the topic closed, she turned to the sizzling meat again. Really - in the wastes, the maxim was "cook it or forget it". She shook her head absent-mindedly. Some people...

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#5

[ooc - actually there was a bit of delay between him helping himself, and then serving it.]

"Yes mom," Riv said. He'd eaten much worse then slightly rare venison - you'd be surprised what you would eat in the deserts....
She probably was right - dying of disease was not in his plans.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#6

Somewhere in the Wastes
3 days ago

The small, wiry figure adjusted his grey cloak, pulling the hood further up to block the sun. His lips were parched, and his black, unkempt hair full of sand. With a slight limp he slid closer, his head on level with the dry bushes that covered this part of the desert. He had finally found her, the figure he had spotted on the horizon earlier. She had collapsed in the sand, her huge, muscular frame still twitching slightly. Five crossbow bolts were embedded in her back, and he quickly retrieved them, wiping off blood on his ragged cloak. The female mutant was twice as high as Ceres, and her arms were enormous. Earlier she had lost her weapon; a chain attached to a metal barrel, apparently a crude ball and chain, though he could barely imagine someone using the huge weapon. Ralkhara adjusted one of the black strips of cloth that covered his face, inhaling deeply as he did so. All of a sudden there was movement on the left shoulder of the beast, and Ralkhara noticed an eye there, blinking open then focusing on him. The right arm of the mutant jerked into action and all the nomad pathfinder could do was to hit the sand to avoid being crushed, and then roll quickly sideways and out of reach. The Troll, as mutants like this one were called, had several spasms, and then it stopped moving.
Ralkhara did not move over to make sure it was dead. He did not prod it with a stick, nor did he wait around to check if it moved again. Instead he limped hurriedly away, towards his motorbike. If there were others they would probably look for her, and he would do well to remove himself as far as he could from the beast before they found her.

***********************************************
Back at the Mountain Cabin
Now

The shouting of Riv and the smell of breakfast woke the two concubines known as Hertha and Maliphene. Hertha was the first concubine of Abak Loett and her feminine charms were fading every year that passed. For a woman of her stature she was ancient, the very first that Abak fell in love with and, infatuated and smitten with love, nearly married. In the end his father had talked him to senses, for Hertha was a woman from a poor family and she would not make a strategically wise marriage. Thus she became his concubine instead and with time love and devotion turned to duty and routine, and Abak found younger arms to sleep in, and then yet another young woman. Eyeing Maliphene with an arrogant sneer, Hertha rose from her makeshift bed and made her way to the table.
“Mirshak uthan sinsiki!” she cried in the tongue of the eastern tribes, shaking her head while doing so. Ceres, the foul blood woman, had already seated. Never one to turn down a meal, eh, foul blood. But Hertha showed no of her contempt, instead the old woman smiled warmly to Ceres. “It is good to see you awake, Ceres. I trust you slept well”, her voice was warm and affectionate.

Maliphene looked at Hertha from the bed. Oh, how the old woman was bitter, and full of hate and envy, yet she hid it so well, in layers of sickening warmth and hospitality. Like having a serpent for pet. How she despises us all and secretly blames us for her lot in life. As for Maliphene herself, she had long since come to terms with her place. She even liked it, for did not master Loett provide for her well being and craved scant little in return? No. Maliphene would never become like Hertha, of that she was sure. And while the others ate, Maliphene brushed her hair and studied her appearance in a hand held mirror.

I wonder who this Riv is. He looks so strange, but it seems he is a friend of Kiph. Oh, where will you fit in I wonder. Are you a friend and an ally?

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#7

“Bakur, it was you or me, you understand friend”, Kiph muttered under his breath for the hundredth time that week as he chewed on a grisly undercooked bone of some desert creature Riv had prepared, wracked by a misunderstood emotion...guilt.

“If I could have taken that bullet for you, I would have” Kiph croaked quietly, convincing himself further, his mind quickly degenerating into a jumble of contrasting thoughts.

His gaze wondered to Ceres, all regal and magnificent, chiding Riv for his cookery methods. Kiph gurgled in glee as he ate, enjoying watching Ceres reprimand the newcomer.

Bakur was gone now, Ralkhara as well, but Ceres remained, bossy and beautiful. As long as his Ceres was alive and well, Kiph would follow the horned goddess, through mud, blood and s**t.

Tired from the many debaucheries the pock-marked fatebringer had participated in with his master’s concubines, Kiph for once was still, leaning against the wall and watching his two companions converse. Occasionally a tic or twitch would overtake him, and he would hide his face from the others, but for the most part Kiph just stared at Ceres.

Maliphene, Hertha, and Tiana had entered the room now, as the aroma of charred meat permeated the mountain cabin.

Seeing Tiana put a brief smile, or what passed for one, on Badblood’s fish lips. Just as quickly it was gone, and replaced with a sneer, as a sudden memory of Anya surfaced. Kiph quickly glimpsed in Riv’s direction, but the fire-lover did not notice, busy burning his own lips with still-smoking meat. “If I could put Riv in your place now, I would Bakur”, he seethed and whispered to no one but himself.

Another thought crept suddenly into his brain, and without preamble, he rose and said,

“Ceres, if you let me, I will find Ralkhara and avenge Bakur!” he nearly spat out the words. “If it will please you, I will return to Bleakwood for our possessions. If it would please you...” he droned on and on, oblivious for a moment of Riv, the concubines..

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#8

Travelling with Kiph certainly made Ceres used to sudden outbursts, sudden changes of tone and subject.
Looking up from her chewy steak she was just peppering, she continued to do so, and turned to Kiph. "More exactly, our possessions. I was considering it, yes, but do not know whether they are worth putting our lives on the line, though."

She knew the answer well - what was it worth to live with failure? Any worth could be gained only by an attempt to stand upright again.

Still thinking, she turned her eyes to her hand, to the overpeppered steak, back to the hand, put the pepperbox down, and proceeded to eat the rather spicy meat.

"I would go, yes" she added short thereafter.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#9

(ooc - fine! See if Riv cooks again! Sheesh....)

Sensing something in the tone that said something unsaid, Riv paused, and then spoke:
"Who was this Bakur, anyway?", and before waiting for an answer, " when yah planning on heading out? - I'll be happy to tag along..."

Riv had no clue who Bakur was, other then he needed avenging, and that it involved going to Bleakwood. He had no problem with either activity, Bleakwood still took them away from ole OldBoy Smith and his patsys. And then, there were a couple unsettled debts to collect upon in that 'fair city'.

Bakur was obviously a hot button with Kiph, so Riv made sure his shotgun was close at hand, though not overtly to present a threat to his current companions...

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#10

'I would go yes' she had said. Kiph had heard correctly and nearly began to tittter, his nerves on edge.

'Back to Bleakwood'. The thought brought mixed feelings for the neurotic Fatebringer.

Returning to Bleakwood, would mean Kiph could visit the 'special place'. It also meant trouble. The spacers had crash-landed, and were probably looking for him, he thought paranoid. Then there were the group's possessions, and Kiph was sure that Ceres would reward his unfailing loyalty to her, by giving him some of Ralkhara's and Bakur's belongings. Then there was that worm, what what his name? And that object, they had nearly lost their lives over...the..?

"What about the Ra--Rada--Radiatos?" he blurted out in Ceres direction. She was angry when the four of them had to leave the mysterious object behind. Perhaps, Kiph, thought, if he could retrieve it for Ceres, maybe, she would reward him in other ways. The thought made him shudder with near-ecstacy.

"What of you, Riv?" Kiph nearly spat the words. "You comin'? If you do, dont forget who's in charge! Right Ceres?" he glanced again at his living goddes, grinning, and daring Riv to challenge him in any way.

Who was this Bakur, anyway?", and before waiting for an answer, " when yah planning on heading out? - I'll be happy to tag along..."

"Bakur was a...friend" Kiph said softly. "He died saving my life." (which was true, in fact, in Kiph's warped sense of reality)

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#11

Riv knew enough about Kiph to know he was as batty as a bedbug, so it was good to find out his current 'buttons'.

One button now seemed obvious enough. Ceres. The bugger's whipped, thought Riv. He needn't worry on that regards, the mutie didn't interest him in the slightest. No wonder Kiph was still icey from their last meeting - he actually cared what women think.

No, muties did not interest him - his people prided themselves on their pure blood. Though Riv did not really know it, his people had been spared much of the radiation - being far from any targets, and smart enough to stay away for that first critical week, they were subject to less radiation then most, and kept their genomes mostly intact.

"Well, I'll follow your lead - just let me know who we need to keep an eye out for. Ready when you are.."

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#12

"The whole place is a mess, as far as I know - with tribals running amok, the warden most likely as well, and those war beasts, the En'Fatah or how they are called, most likely still somewhere too. Likewise, the town is ripe with opportunity." More as an alibi for herself she uttered after a brief pause: "It's dangerous. I still am not sure whether we should go. I guess Bakur would have, and Ralkhara as well."

A few seconds of silence later, she added: "If we were to vote, I would vote 'yes' though. Let's get what is ours, and save what can be saved."

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#13

"Even cookings dangerous," said Riv with a grin, " so lets get this show on the road. Anyone got any spare explosives?"

He expected that it would be overlong before his persuers found this camp, hopefully after they had been gone for a while. Would be nice to leave a dangerous surprise for them.....

He looked about the interior of the cabin. It was well built, and wooden.

Even cooking's dangerous...... Hmmmm....

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#14

"Now that you are asking - I do have a few at the bottom of my luggage... why?"

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#15

Kiph was already outside, examining the truck Ceres and him had driven, as they got the hell out of Bleakwood and into the desert. After a few pulls and kicks, he managed to get the driver's side door opened. Before hopping inside, he brushed some of the broken glass aside, and ran his spidery finger along the blood-stained seat. He then lifted his finger to his face, examining the blood, and then licked it lovingly.

"Mmmm, Bakur." he murmured and then proceeded to prick the same finger, allowing some of his own blood to flow and mix with Bakur's drying lifeforce. He put a small vile to his bleeding digit and allowed the glass container to fill a quarter way up.

"Now Bakur, we can kill together. Next time I kill, you can share in the thrill."

Satisfied with his attempt to "channel" his oafish erstwhile companion, Kiph now climbed inside and revved the engine loudly, while checking all the guages.

"This machine is ready, Ceres" he screamed toward the cabin.

"G'Kraun" he then said to himself and spat, while looking into the rear view mirror at his own twitching, pock-marked face. "We'll be ready this time"

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#16

"Well, to be honest, there might be somebody following us, and it might be a good idea to be gone quickly.

When they come in here, they will likely check how warm the fireplace is to see how long we've been gone, right?

So whatcha got? Somethat easy to rig with a tripwire would be nice. Anything with fire would be nice too..."

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#17

"Mining plastics, mister, and thanks a lot for telling us so soon that you're being tailed. As if we did not get shot at enough. So, whom did you piss off? How many guns, men, dogs?"

Ceres rubbed the base of her horn and observed Riv from below her eyebrows.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#18

Riv and Ceres both felt the sudden change in the first concubine. Her honeyed words were gone and she was tense, her behaviour creating an icy atmosphere inside the room. "Well, you may all leave for Bleak Wood" she said crisply, "but Loett and his concubines will certainly not be coming with you, whether there are pursuers on the trail of this man or not".

"No" she said, pausing for a mere second, "we shall raise his grand tent in a secluded spot, away from prying eyes, and we shall nurse him back to health. So say I, Hertha, for now that my master cannot speak for himself, it falls to me to make such decisions".

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#19

Ceres just nodded. "Suit yourself, woman. I never suggested that you and your unconscious master should return to Bleak Wood, nor did any of us. Let your paranoia rest and make any preparations you need."

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#20

"Well, I didn't want to spoil the mood. " Riv grinned, "Sides, would not change much - they are a day or so behind. . Consider it good motivation for me to stick with you. I'm sure you can use another gun where your going."

"Mining plastics are nice, but tricky to rig. Too bad you've no 'nades - they are easier to rig. Hmmmm. To answer your question, 'bout eight, one gun - pistol, rest got crossbows, and no dogs as far as I know. "

"Now, you might want to ask Kiph - I'm a bit of a goat," giving leering grin, " but I'm a man of my word and I deal straight. So if you gots any questions, ask em and I'll answer em straight up."

"As for you ladies, if those folks find you, well, lets just say they will be happy for quite some time indeed. In fact, please stay - they'll use up time on yah. Not much though, and it's debatable what they would do with the old man - Your choice."

It was a shame really, the look in the lead concubine's eyes told him she would happily die for the old man - perhaps the thought of what the persuers would do to her.... Fanatics. How stupid.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#21

Hertha rose from her chair and left the table. A nod signaled to the other concubines that they should follow her example. There was a short pause as they hesitated, but it took only ten seconds before they were outside. Tiana noticed Kiph in the truck and stole a glimpse of him before she joined the others in the back of the flatbed truck. Loett slept there, fevered dreams giving him nightmares.

"Unload the truck of our equipment!" Hertha barked, her voice quivering slightly with nervousness.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#22

oh crap, i forgot about Abak Loett!!!! Duh! He's only my master! Blaaaargh. Sorry AG, Will post re: Abak Loett tomorrow moirning!

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#23

Kiph looked into the rear-view mirror briefly, spying the concubines, thought for a moment, then bolted suddenly from the truck .

My mind is eroding like cancerous tissue, Kiph thought as he ran to help the women unload abak Loett's chests. The Last Gambit had done too much damage. No man could take that abuse, no man but me! he said to himself proudly, his thoughts dangerously close to delusion once more.

He had forgotten about his master, while busy admiring Ceres, mistrusting Riv, and thinking of d**nable Bleak Wood.

The rev on the truck’s engine subsided now into a low, gurgling hum, as Kiph helped carry the heaviest and bulkiest of Abak Loett’s possessions, before suddenly losing patience, and making his way over to the Master himself. Abak Loett looked to be in a bad way. But something confused Kiph, something he missed, the master’s wounds did not seem as bad as the master’s current countenance.

“Master Loett, wake now” Kiph purred in a voice his companions had never heard before, and were not present to hear now. He sounded almost as if he cared. Human. A soft prod from one of Kiph’s spidery fingers, touched one of Abak Loett’s wounds.

“Master Loett. Can you hear me? It is Kiph” The younger fatebringer whispered, as he examined Abak's prone form. .

“Woman!” Kiph yelled to Hertha suddenly. "Heal thy Master! Do it now!” he hissed, his brief tender moment gone now.

“The Master knows too many secrets. He must live.” he cryptically babbled and sat lotus-style in front of the venerable Fatebringer, in twitching vigil.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#24

Great Muro! Now, there is little that Kiph can do to make the master wake up. Loett has been examined by Ceres, pre-game, but she could only make him conscious for short periods of time. If you want to have him wake up, we can play that out and Echo must post. If no one has posted within 24 hours from this post, I speed the game up, write what happens in response to Kiph's actions, and start rolling the dice, checking what, if anything, happens on your way to Bleak Wood (among other things).

Also, if Riv wants to booby trap the cabin, somehow, valadaar should post something to that effect. The more ingenious the idea, the higher the bonus to the applicable skill roll, and vice versa. I will assume that the concubines are informed of the booby trap. If not, explicitly say so. ;)

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#25

Rummaging through her luggage, Ceres handed a bundle of plastic explosive and a detonator to Riv. "Here you go. Rig it so that plenty of them have time to get into the blast area before it goes off, and make sure it has plenty of debris to pick up." Ceres twitched as she remembered a mining accident... any blast picks up loose rubble and hurls it with deadly force, machines become jagged shards of iron, and men bud red stains on the walls...
Focusing her vision on the explosives again, she asked Riv: "Will one bundle be enough? I do not wish to spend the whole stash - it may come in handy in the future."

Not wishing to be anywhere close when Riv tampered with the booby trap, Ceres wandered off to check upon th old nomad again. Abak Loet was in bad shape, and it pained her to leave the helpless man, no matter how depraved he may in fact be, behind to his fate. Reaching for her bag, she contemplated what could be done for him. No sense in losing a man who might be grateful to them; likewise, there was little sense in having a distraught and nervous Kiph along - well, more nervous than usual.

Ceres shook her head as she spied the frantically meditating youngster, who was blissfully unaware that his activity in itself was an oxymoron.

Roll Medicine, see what can be done with Abak. If nanites could help him, Ceres will emty the half-full nanite dose into him.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#26

"What kind of detonators do you have? I'm hoping to just get them inside the cabin - this bundle looks enough to level the place and that would be enough."

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#27

"Ah, just your run of the mill remote-controlled. Flip a switch, boom they go. Better check the batteries on the thing, but I think they're OK" replied Ceres, and turned back to the old man.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#28

"Well, that makes things easier."

Riv cut a piece of cloth from his garish tie-died robe, and tied a short piece of string to it. Looking at the wall over the doorway, he looked for a good solid beam - the explosive would be screened from anyone looking from below by the wood, but the charge was big enough that the wood would not protect someone standing there, or anywhere in the small cabin. It would burst nicely into a spray of lethal splinters.

Next, he hid the detonator among the firewood nearby the fire, and connected the switch to the string attached to the scrap of cloth. He then covered the string with some of the dirt, ash and sawdust from the fireplace, puttering with it until he was satisified that it would be invisible.

The remote control was nice - no cord to lead them to the charge.

Finally, he partially covered the scrap of cloth to make it look less obvious, but findable after a reasonable search. Ol' OldBoy was a bit emotional, and might simply grab the scrap as evidence of Riv's presence - he had seen him wearing it enough times.

Of course, he could have rigged it to go off the second the door was opened, but that would likely get only one. With it set the way it was, perhaps he could get more. The fact that someone different might find it never really crossed his mind...

And as backup, and before pulling the safetly pin to arm the device, he positioned some of the logs precariously so that if disturbed, they would more then likely press the switch as well. Confident it would not fall between him pulling the pin and getting out of range, he pulled the saftey, armed the detonator, and left the cabin.

"No one mess with the fireplace or the firewood - or boom - you hear?"

Not the best work, but it might get one of the buggers. Maybe.

Riv whistled and went over to look at the old man. He looked at the younger concubines, and said, barely audible, "What a waste...".

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#29

Kiph shot Riv a withering look.

"What are you mumbling, eh? Speak up" Then pointing in the direction of the cabin, while still loking at Riv,

"Boom? How long?"

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#30

"Until someone fucks with the fireplace. Or takes the bait."

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#31

"How many are coming?" Kiph asked Riv, while lovingly stroking Abak Loett's forehead with a cold, damp cloth.

"Who is this Oldboy? Did I run with him when we knew each other? I...forget things sometimes. You want, I kills 'em for you, eh?"

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#32

"Eight. And, no, Oldboy is a new matter. Some things never change, and these folks have intruded into a private matter between me and Tarag Smith. You see, we were gambling and he reneged on his debt, so of course, his house got toarched to settle accounts. My, what a blaze it made - he must have been stockpiling fuel. Almost got him too, which would have been a bonus.

Well, he is a coward and gathered a whole bunch of friends to swing the debt the other way again. He's the only one with a gun, but there are still a good bunch of em."

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#33

Kiph's face had a weird look for a moment, then seemed as if a fog lifted from his eyes. The Fatebringer looked at Riv with an unreadable expression. "It burned?" he asked rhetorically, "It burned, Hahahahahahaha, it burned!"

Riv noticed Ceres looking away and rolling her eyes, and gently shaking her head. The horned goddess was obviously used to Kiph's semi-permanent insanity, by now.

"I like you Riv. Lets kill them" Kiph concluded, then went back to caring for Abak Loett, and watching Ceres attend to the Master with her mysterious medicinal bag.

"Can we stay and kill them, Ceres?" Kiph asked submissively a few moments later.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#34

"Well - we cannot kill everyone, because then, I will be unemployed. You as well, actually. So, let's perpetuate manslaughter, serious injury and outright murder only when it is necessary, and not, say, when it is funny. So, if they catch up with us, and show any intent of interfering with our bodily functions, say, with a knife, then yes, we can kill them all."

She rubbed her forehead, weary and hopelessly out of place.

"But please, abstain from killing anyone just for looking at you funny - with the two of us, I have yet to see a man who would not give us a funny look."

Life was easy for some. Less so for others.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#35

Ceres approached the sickly Fatebringer Master and quickly opened her doctor’s bag while squatting by his side. She threw a quick look at Kiph and motioned for him to give her some room. She carefully checked his vitals, then studied the wounds he had received from the mutant horrors.

His wounds have become infected again, and there is vomit on his hands. He simply refuse to become better. It must be some sort of poison, but I know nothing of the G’Kraun, ‘cept for the fact that only Loett became this ill. Perhaps they are like ticks, in that only a few carries disease?

Ceres tried to make sense of the situation. Radiation poisoning could not be ruled out, for some of the symptoms were there; nausea, vomiting and infections.

Sighing she wiped a syringe; she did not have that many and reused the few she had. She always remembered to sterilize them though. A quick sting, Loett did not even grunt, and half a dose of healing nanites flowed into his body. Another sting and anti-radiation nanites followed suit.

Kiph and Riv were agitated and Ceres had to hush. Loett bolted upright, heaves racking through his body. All of a sudden he was vomiting everywhere, spilling some on Ceres’ pants and boots, on the silks he laid in, on his shirt, on the ground and even some on Kiphs comforting hands.

**********************

The concubines had carried away most of the equipment and Hertha had ordered Maliphene and Tiana to raise the grand tent in a secluded copse some thousand steps down and north.

Master Loett had been revived, though he looked like a thin ghost and positively reeked of vomit mixed with rose water and sweat. He whispered to Kiph now, the mad apprentice nodding eagerly and crying at the same time. Hertha looked hard on Kiph. The nervous maniac was a far cry from a charmer, actually very few men of the wastes were, but still Tiana seemed to have been smitten with him. She could not for the life of her understand why.

“I feel so weak, Kiph…” the master whispered, tiny droplets of spit escaping his dried lips as he did so. “I do not have the strength to move around. Believe me, those nights in the back of a moving truck was like hell for me”, Abak Loett had that look of resignation in his eyes, a look Kiph had seen before. He did not say it, but the Fatebringer Master expected to die, of that Kiph was certain.

Ceres saw it too, but she was not so sure. The nanites had helped him and might give him a fighting chance. What he needed now was quiet and rest, something she was sure the concubines would provide

**********************
“Here it is, Master”, Hertha said, bowing her head in deference to her master. She had handed him a bundle of hides wrapped around a couple of items she knew meant much to her master.

“It is time for you make do without me… I am not sure we will even meet again, Kiph”, Loett said as he handed the deerskin bundle to the crying Fatebringer apprentice.

It took a while and no one spoke, then Kiph opened the bundle with shaking hands. Inside was a pipe, a small tin box, a lighter, a small leather pouch and a stiletto in the black sheath of a Fatebringer Master.

“Kiph, here is what you will inherit from me, your master. My meditation pipe, a pouch of fine tobacco, a tin box with refined Angelic Juice. Not the cheap variant but premium stuff. You will find the side effects are far less severe. And Kiph… The stiletto I got from my master who got it from his. You must give it a name and thus it will become yours – a part of your very soul. When you kill with it, you will know that it is perfection”. The master coughed hard several times, and then looked up at Kiph again.

“You are young and not yet in your prime, but Kiph, you are now a master. Take my ring”, Abak Loett removed a fine golden ring from his inner pocket, “and travel with my blessing. The dagger and the ring will grant you access to the council of Nadeir, though you must find it first. There your voice will be heard, an equal in matters of the council. There you will find resources, allies and a place to rest”.

The master was nearly asleep, but after another bout of coughing he smiled wearily at Kiph and spoke one last time before sleep claimed him. “Nadeir cannot be found. Nadeir will find you. Just you keep the ring and the stiletto. Wear them proudly”.

**********************

Riv looked inside the cargo hold. Everything seemed to be in order. The cabin had been emptied quickly and now they were ready to leave. The booby trap was set, the master and his concubines in hiding and Ceres and Kiph seemed ready to depart as well.
The Smith triplets would likely be closer now. Perhaps even now their scout was nearby, approaching hidden and unseen.

What was his name again? Sev… Nev… Yes, Nev! That bastard follows Oldboy like a dog follows his master

But, as dogs go, Nev was good. He knew his trade and was an uncanny tracker and skilled at keeping hidden as well. If Nev died, however, the Smiths wouldn’t stand a chance of tracking him any further. Too bad Nev was cautious, bordering on the paranoid. That was what happened when you listened to the preachings of “Oldboy” for too long, for the firebrand pastor had almost gotten Riv watching under his bed with his tales of hell and eternal punishment. That did not stop the Smiths from wenching and gambling though. No, his preaches were more like visions of hell and the message was that everyone was going, except those that would find salvation at the hands of the lord. And it always came to be, that the lord handed out salvation through his mortal vessel; Oldboy Smith.

Ceres - Medicine: Success
Riv - Mechanical Repair: Not Revealed

Loett falls asleep, but of course: You all have time to ask a couple of questions in between his speech.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#36

wow, very nice, Mr. AG!

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#37

1. If no one posts within 24 hours, I will assume that you leave the cabin headed for Bleak Wood.
2. There are three roads to Bleak Wood: The old interstate (frequented by traders, caravans and outlaws), the mountain track (small and difficult) and through the Bleak Wood proper (marshland road).
3. If you do not specify which road you take, I am gonna assume the interstate as it is the fastest

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#38

Kiph votes old interstate, since we have a big-ass army truck, and I will be posting before the 24 hr period is up! Oh! and Kiph is drivng! :)

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#39

"Going slow enough for me follow with Blaze here?"

Without looking up, Riv scratched a pictograph into the dirt nearby the cabin.

\ _ /
\V/
/ \
/ \

It echoed the odd pictogram the warrior bore on his robe and armor.

Re: Episode 2 - Decisions

#40

Kiph was already behind the wheel, an embodiment of bubbling happines. Ceres thanked her parents that she inherited a rather strong stomach, for his driving was creative at best, insane at worst. Also, the seat belt was not made for her size, meaning that if anything happened, she would be taking flying lessons right through the windshield.

"Riv, I suggest you ride in the back, as to grant you a better field of view and fire. I will sit in the front and ... chastise Kiph about his driving."