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General => In Character => Topic started by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 04:39:33 pm



Title: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 04:39:33 pm
The United States are in ruins. Nearly two hundred years have passed since the Nuclear Destruction of the great war, and mankind still struggles to live on. The Ruins of Denver are no better off, political disputes crossing with the ever existing strive for survival and resources have caused the New California Republic, or NCR, to enter war with the Brotherhood of Steel over the technology that remains ever present in the once mighty city. And while presently, battles are sparse and the damages are minimal, the two forces possess power that could easily lead to another tragedy, albeit a smaller one. With much of the actual city unsafe to traverse in, settlements, encampments, and other such places have come to exits outside the bulk of the city in it's former suburbs, and while most of the original structures were wiped off the map, those that remained made great homes and refuges for the new societies.

Presently, both sides are at a temporary cease fire, but with Caesar's Legion looming in the east on it's slow conquest of the country, it's only a matter of time before tensions grow again. In the mean time, a surprisingly successful city has formed along the south side of Denver known as Mihi in the remnants of Denver's Mile High Stadium.

+++

Kethan walked into Mihi, rusted, barely functional Power Armor still on his body. With nowhere else to go after being exiled from the Brotherhood, he came here to try and find a new life. At least there was diversity.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 05:02:18 pm
A woman rounded what used to be a street corner, blood dripping down her arm. Her name is Dustcloud, or Dusty as she preferred, and she's in rough shape. A dog had bit her and with the small scuffle that had ensued, she ended up attracting a small pack of vicious dogs. She quickly opened an intact door to what looked like a corner store, and slammed it shut behind herself. She heard a dog run into the door, but it stayed intact, and soon the noises of the pack quieted. She sighed and began to survey the store.

It's medium in size, and appears to be well stocked. Someone likely lives here, or owns a store here, or something to that effect. She had a handful of caps, and wasn't about to go looking for trouble. She picked up some basic supplies- a new outfit- some doctor's fatigues, if she had to guess, a lone laser pistol with some ammo, some food and water, and a stimpak. She set down the caps she had and got behind a shelf, and changed out of her current clothes and into the new ones. Her old clothes were mere rags, with a red "X" across the chest. It was too... Identifying. I'm honestly surprised that I've made it a full 15 hours without being captured. Or dead, with these damn dogs.... Dusty thought to herself. She loaded the laser pistol with the reminder of those dogs. They were likely still worked up, to some extent and she wanted to be prepared. She peered out the window of the door and could see three dogs, waiting outside silently.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 22, 2013, 05:39:46 pm
Jagar dismounted the makeshift elevator, having arrived at a scavengers' settlement; located in and between the top floors of two neighboring skyscrapers.

"We're just getting supplies," Jagar said to his dog, Mezz, "Then we'll head right back."

Mezz, nervous from the precarious location, whined and nudged Jagar.

"I know girl, but believe it or not, we're safer up here," he responded.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 06:04:13 pm
Dusty opened the door just a crack. The dog's heads all snapped towards the door. She fired a shot, hitting the dog in the head before it even had a chance to fully notice her. It turned into ash. She fired several more shots out the crack of the door, and the remaining two dogs fell without much threat. She breathed a sigh of relief before looking around and quickly jogging down the street. It was barren- obviously overrun by the dogs. She saw a large wall that was clearly reinforced recently. She had no idea what it was, but it was brightly lit and smelled wonderful. She slowly moved along the wall, her weapon drawn. She was still wary of those dogs.

"Hold it." A man in combat armor holding an assault rifle raised his weapon slightly. "Lower your weapon, missy. What's your business in Mihi?"

"Mihi? I'm... I'm a traveler." Vague is better...

"If you cause trouble, you will be removed by force. But you seem alright. Okay, you can go in."

"Um, one question, sir... Are there any dogs in there...?"

"None that aren't trained or dead." The man laughed a bit when he saw Dusty's eyes light up as she hurried inside. She'd never seen so many bright lights in her life. She'd lived her childhood wandering the wastes from town to town, far away from Mihi, with her parents, until they were taken by Caesar's Legion around the time she had turned 16. She'd been with them ever since, as a slave, and now is her first taste of freedom.

"Centurion Adolphus is furious, I'm sure..." She said this under her breath. Dusty hadn't thought to ask if this was a Caesar's Legion owned area or not, and now she was paranoid. She glanced around, a cold sweat forming.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 06:15:16 pm
Kethan started to make his way about in Mihi, when he spotted some blood on the ground. Curiosity caused him to follow the trail to a woman in a medic's outfit, with an obvious wound on her arm. Irony if he had ever saw it.

"You might want to get that treated. That doesn't exactly look sterile. If you need, I think I have some alcohol on me you can use to disinfect it."

Kethan then took off his Backpack. it was mostly empty because he was striped of his heavier weaponry when kicked out of the Brotherhood. Now all that lay inside it was a few doses of smuggled Hydra, some Vodka, and a crummy .32 pistol they gave him so he wouldn't die at the first thing that tried to steal his armor.

"Sorry I can't offer much more. The name's Kethan by the way."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 22, 2013, 06:53:27 pm
Not far from the passage through which Jagar had entered, a young woman leaned against the wall. She had long, curly auburn hair tied in a ponytail, and hazel eyes. Her expression was severely neutral, betraying no emotion. Her clothing was simple and practical, a partially torn white long-sleeved shirt, patched jeans, and a satchel strung across her torso. She wore a holstered plasma pistol at her belt, and, although it was unseen, kept a knife in her sleeve.

Erin Havenheart would have put her hand on her pistol when the man and a dog entered, wary of any dogs in this bedeviled area, but it was already there. She always had a weapon at hand, even when unarmed. Besides being a dead shot with energy based pistols and a competent knife fighter, she was an expert at hand to hand, dangerous as it was against the rabid beasts of the Wasteland and foes armed with melee weapons and firearms.

The girl herself didn't know why she had come to the settlement; it wasn't like she wasn't well supplied. She was simply a wanderer, going wherever whim took her, regardless of potential danger. She had recently arrived in Denver, and soon after had taken to the settlements on the rooftops. The wild dogs were attracted to her for some reason, and constantly having to fight them off was troublesome, easy as it was.
And so here she was, unperturbed despite the odd looks she received. Erin tended to attract attention, and rarely of the good kind. She was a teenager traveling alone in some of the most dangerous settlements in the Wasteland, so people tended to notice her.

And speaking of being noticed...

A burly, unshaven man was walking toward her, somewhat menacingly. The girl watched him approach, her expression or stance not changing. When he was a few feet away from her, he said. "That's an awfully nice pistol ya have there. Ya shouldn't be carrying it so openly. Someone is bound to take it from you." Erin just stared up at him silently, after an brief moment, the man continued. "Someone like m-Oof!" As soon as she knew his intentions, which she had suspected anyway, the girl struck, lashing out and elbowing him in the stomach before he could finish his sentence. As he staggered and almost doubled over, she brought her fist up and smashed him in the jaw. Before he could react to her sudden attack, she continued by cracking both her fists over his head, and he toppled. Erin drew her pistol as two more men approached her with angry expressions. Taking one by surprise and clobbering him was child's play, but two who were aware she would attack would be more difficult, so she may need a weapon.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 22, 2013, 06:56:54 pm
Entering the western office complex, Jagar arrived at what seemed to be a pub.

Standing at the bar, which was really just a line of desks raised by packets of copy paper, he attempted to read the menu; poorly scrawled onto an array of small chalk boards hanging from the ceiling.

"I'm going to need to see some ID if you expect me to serve you," an old ghoul, working the bar, said.

Jagar looked at the ghoul in confusion, "ID?..."

The ghoul laughed as he grabbed a shot glass, "It's an old pre-war joke.  Well, at least I think it was a joke, my memory's a bit foggy of back then...  So, what'll it be?"

"Do you have anything to eat other than dog?" Jagar asked.

"Well I don't know, does the butcher have anything to eat other than meat?" the ghoul laughed.

The bartender, after he finished his chuckle, noticed Jagar's grimace and then the Hangdog tattoo on the back of his hand.

"Ah, you're one of those tribals," he said, "Which means you probably didn't find my joke very funny..."

Jagar kneeled down to Mezz and scratched her ears, keeping his eyes locked on the bartender.

"I think we have some of those frozen steaks in the back room..." the bartender finished, backing through a doorway behind the "counter."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 07:09:15 pm
"I..." Dusty would have made a snide comment about how she knew she needed to be treated, but stopped herself, figuring that being hostile was not a good way to make friends. "Thank you... Kethan, you said it was? My name is Dusty." She frowned a bit. "It looks like you don't have much to your name either, huh...? But you're wearing Brotherhood of Steel power armor." She had picked up the vodka from his bag and poured some over the bite before covering it again. She screwed the cap back on- there was still vodka left, after all.

"I know that it's not much, but... well, you don't have much in the way of weaponry on you, and I was wondering if you'd like some company. I'm not too familiar with the area, but I'm sure that I could be of some help to you." Dusty had no idea how to approach this. The past eight years, she was only allowed to speak when spoken to. She shifted nervously.

---------------

Near the Legion of Caesar encampment, posters were being put up in the city. All the posters offered a significant reward in return for the return of a slave. Dustcloud's face was printed on each one.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 07:17:42 pm
"Oh, yeah, the armor. The stuff doesn't come off too easy, and given the fact that when the booted me, there wasn't much in the way of spare supplies lying around, they just let me keep it. Took my My Minigun though. As for the company offer, well, I'm gonna guess that you and I both are new to this place and having friends is important. So that sounds alright to me." Kethan held his hand out so Dusty could shake it, his fingers twitching a bit, a side effect of his Hydra abuse.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 07:39:40 pm
"Oh, I see." Dusty decided not to ask about why he was kicked out, but she could see his twitching. There had been quite a bit of Hydra in his bag... She'd made enough Hydra to know its side effects. She decided not to judge him and shook his hand. Though contemplating what he might be up to definitely reminded her that she hadn't had her fix all day. Her head was killing her at this point. She reached into the small hip bag she had and popped open a small tin with "Mentats" boldly engraved. She picked one up and chewed it, and the headache instantly cleared itself. She'd been punished enough for having Mentats, but she always found someone willing to smuggle some to her for in return for some of her homemade medicine. Her job had been to treat the injured, so she had access to the supplies to make all sorts of things. Heck, maybe that gives us something in common. Much more comfortable, she put the tin away and seemed to think a moment.

"What should we do? We definitely need to get some supplies, but I'm guessing you're short on caps too. So should we try and earn some?" Dusty knew that they wouldn't get far without at least a little money.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 07:53:41 pm
"Hadn't really thought that far ahead. I guess all I really am good for is Merc Work or scavenging. Maybe getting hired as a bodyguard is a possibility too..." That was the one thing Kethan hadn't thought about. He barely had a cap to his name given the price of smuggling.

"Tell you what, for now, how about you lead, and I follow."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 08:06:34 pm
"Well..." Dusty looked disappointed. "I'm not sure. If we can scavenge a little, I could make some valuable stuff to sell. Or keep, our choice I guess. I'd really like to hunt down some venom or some flowers. If we get enough, we could trade what I make for ammo. Always better to have extra, right?" She was going over recipes in her mind. Broc flowers and xander roots produce stimpaks. If we can get some of those, that'd be ideal... "You probably know the area better than me, though. Where should we start?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 22, 2013, 08:15:25 pm
As the bar-tending ghoul wandered into the back room, Mezz's ears twitched at the sound of a struggle coming from the entrance.

Jagar also noticed the incident when Mezz turned her head.  He walked to the archway with his hand hovering over the grip to his Zip-Gun.

Peeking around the corner, he saw two large men threatening a young woman.

Without thinking, he drew the pistol and frantically changed aim between the two multiple times.

"St-  Stop right there!" he yelled with Mezz standing behind him, growling.

Seeing the unconscious thug by the girl's feet, and the two others aggressively looking back at him, Jagar slowly started to regret this decision...


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 22, 2013, 08:31:01 pm
Erin didn't stop to look at the man who had suddenly pulled his gun on her aggressors. He had distracted them, and the girl was trained to capitalize on distracted opponents. She took a few quick steps forward as the thugs turned their heads toward the man and his dog, lashing out with her foot. She caught the one on the left in the side of the head, and he cried out and fell to his knees, clutching his cranium. Erin followed up her attack, bringing her knee up into his face. A crack was heard as his head snapped up and he fell backwards, his neck twisted at a sickening angle. The other one turned to her almost in panic as his partner was felled, and clumsily swung his fist at her. Erin ducked under the awkward attack and flicked her sleeve as she stepped in close. The knife she kept hidden slipped into her left hand and she sidestepped another one of the man's clumsy strikes, but this time swiping his wrist with the tiny knife. The thug yelped in pain and snapped his arm back, and as he was momentarily off-guard, Erin punched him in the face, causing him to stumble. Then she moved in, knife in hand, ready to finish the fight.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 08:33:04 pm
"I remember whenever we needed natural resources, the key to finding what you needed was to look for out of place foliage. Most water ponds with plants around them have a big tree or bush near by because it was the first thing to start growing. The road straight west takes us into areas with fewer buildings, so it's a more likely place to check. Although we have to look out for NCR. They see me wearing this armor, and they'll shoot on sight."

Kethan's power armor had a built in navigation system, similar to that on a Pip-Boy. He routed out a path to a more open area and led the way.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 22, 2013, 08:50:48 pm
Erin didn't stop to look at the man who had suddenly pulled his gun on her aggressors. He had distracted them, and the girl was trained to capitalize on distracted opponents. She took a few quick steps forward as the thugs turned their heads toward the man and his dog, lashing out with her foot. She caught the one on the left in the side of the head, and he cried out and fell to his knees, clutching his cranium. Erin followed up her attack, bringing her knee up into his face. A crack was heard as his head snapped up and he fell backwards, his neck twisted at a sickening angle. The other one turned to her almost in panic as his partner was felled, and clumsily swung his fist at her. Erin ducked under the awkward attack and flicked her sleeve as she stepped in close. The knife she kept hidden slipped into her left hand and she sidestepped another one of the man's clumsy strikes, but this time swiping his wrist with the tiny knife. The thug yelped in pain and snapped his arm back, and as he was momentarily off-guard, Erin punched him in the face, causing him to stumble. Then she moved in, knife in hand, ready to finish the fight.
"Would you just STOP!" Jagar yelled in a panic.

He pointed the gun at the girl, then the thug again.

At that moment, Jagar couldn't seem to remember if he had even fired a gun before, "I don't want to use this, but I will if you two just don't calm down!"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 08:51:32 pm
Dusty nodded. "Alright." She didn't have much else to say as she trailed after him. She was considerably more at ease knowing that they were heading towards NCR camps- it was safer than going back towards the Legion. It was a quiet two hours of walking, but they ended up at a decently sized pond, with a young tree near it.

"You know your stuff." Dusty sounded pleased. "Can you watch my back while I'm looking for herbs? I don't see any NCR troops, but I bet that there's some wildlife around here, especially now that the sun is down. I don't want to get attacked by an angry critter while I'm working." Without even waiting for a reply, she crouched and started to look at the small plant life. Several xander roots were grouped together and she set to work separating the useful part of the plant from the rest of it. She looked around. Prickly pear fruit hung from a nearby cactus, so she grabbed those as well. However, there wasn't enough around to work with. She kicked the ground and hit metal with a large TWANG. She looked down and found a tin partially buried in the ground. Someone had been here recently, and it looked like they used this tin to hide supplies, because inside was a handful of broc flowers, three empty syringes, two pieces of cave fungus, and ten bottlecaps. "Talk about luck, Kethan! There's plenty of goodies here."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 08:59:14 pm
"Wait... metal box with stuff like that inside? That ain't just some random box that got left there by the war..."

Kethan surveyed the area and found a bush that had a bloodstain at it's base. Upon closer investigation, he found the body of a wastelander filled with bullet holes.

"It was an ambush... which means...!" Kethan quickly pulled his gun and tackled Dusty down before a bullet hit the tree on the other side of her. A group of raiders revealed themselves from the dunes and hills. A trap, using nature's bounty as the bait.

"Hehehe. Looks like two more stupid foragers wandered in. And one of them's Brotherhood. Once we scoop your body outta that tin can, nobody will be fuckin with us for miles to come."

"Cover your head Dusty." Kethan whispered as he shot at the grenade he noticed at one of the raider's hip.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 22, 2013, 09:02:37 pm
Erin was already moving as Jagar was shouting at her, she ducked under another unpracticed sweep, kicked the man's legs out from under him, then planted her boot in the side of his head, leaving him intentionally unconscious. Luckier than his friend, at least. Knowing the attempted peacemaker's hesitance would give her the edge, she whirled around to him, slipping her knife back into it's place as she raised her pistol towards Jagar's chest. Keeping a wary eye on the dog in case it decided to defend it's master, she said. "There, I stopped. So did he, although I don't think he intended to." Her voice was monotone and flat, betraying as much emotion as her expression, which hadn't changed through the entire scuffle.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 22, 2013, 09:08:25 pm
Jagar gulped, his eyes widened.

Mezz's growl grew louder, snarling at Erin.

"Down, girl..." Jagar commanded as he lowered his weapon.

He leaned back and sat against the wall behind him, taking a breath.  Mezz licked his face as he tried to relax.

Looking at the thug with the broken neck, Jagar spoke up, "Was that really necessary?" he asked.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 09:19:37 pm
"...who are these people?" whimpered Dusty. She had the blessing of not having seen Raiders since she was very young, so she had no idea. She ducked down best she could beside Kethan and pulled out her Laser Pistol. The explosion caused by the grenade killed the Raider who had it on him, and those next to him were crippled. This meant that one was dead, three were crippled, and two were fully intact, one of whom appeared to be their leader. She was shaken slightly by the aftermath of the explosion, but not much. The Mentats help with that. She took aim at one of the Raiders who was still standing well, not the leader, shooting several times in succession before moving onto the next. He dropped his weapon. One of the injured Raiders took aim with a shotgun in retaliation and managed to graze Dusty. She heard several bullets plink on Kethan's Power Armor.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 22, 2013, 09:21:32 pm
Erin lowered her pistol, although she didn't holster it. She shrugged. "It was an accident. Not that it matters. Dead, unconscious, I don't see a difference worth fussing over. The unconscious ones can follow you later, I suppose, even if it just means a quick death for them. Why do you care? You're not the one who's dead."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 22, 2013, 09:30:59 pm
Erin lowered her pistol, although she didn't holster it. She shrugged. "It was an accident. Not that it matters. Dead, unconscious, I don't see a difference worth fussing over. The unconscious ones can follow you later, I suppose, even if it just means a quick death for them. Why do you care? You're not the one who's dead."
Still a little shaken from the adrenaline, Jagar replied, "Well, you shouldn't just going around killing everyone.  I mean, it can't be good for karma."

He took a look at the tattoo on the back of his hand, "Then again, not many people would agree, where I come from..."

Dismissing the topic, he stood up.

"I don't believe I've introduced myself," he said, "My name is Jagar Sin Svans, although you can just call me Jagar"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 09:34:14 pm
With the four remaining shots in his gun, Kethan picked off the wounded raiders. He then proceeded to get up and football tackle the leader, and the two of them ended up wrestling over the shotgun he was holding. In the end, Kethan ripped the gun from the leader's hand and shoved the barrel into it's former owner's mouth. The results were messy. Over the hill, a cackling could be heard, and it was accompanied by a flash of light. There was one more. And he had a Flamer.

"Don't let him get close to you, otherwise, the results will be uglier than ghoulification."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 09:44:50 pm
Dusty was wide eyed and hyperventilating. She lined up the sights on her laser pistol and focused on hitting the Raider with the Flamer. She was running low on ammo, so every shot had to count. She managed to hit one of his eyes, but her other shot missed. She only had three shots left, and she wanted a better shot before she took them. Women aren't allowed to fight in Caesar's Legion, so this was her first actual firefight. The Raider was running closer, and managed to singe the end of her hair. It burned and she panicked, rolling and trying to set it out. It quickly went out, but not before taking a few inches off of her hair. What had once been some of the longest hair in the wasteland now looked rather close to what the common style was for women she'd seen since running away.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 22, 2013, 09:52:47 pm
Erin briefly wondered what the man meant by "karma," then remembering where she had heard it before. It was a foolish belief that circumstance favored those who acted morally, and the opposite. Erin Havenheart didn't believe in burdens such as morals. Such things were chains, willingly shackled, that dragged one to their death. "Name...? Oh. Those. I am..." She thought for a moment. "...Erin, I think it was. Erin...Havenheart. Why are these terms important?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 09:53:22 pm
Kethan rummaged up a grenade from one of the dead raiders. He then threw his old .32 at him, drawing attention away from Dusty. The flames from the raider's weapon were intense, but Kethan's power armor helped a lot.

"That Flamer's impressive, but you're no match."

With that lame pun, Kethan shoved the grenade into the raider's blown eye socket and pulled the pin before backing off and covering his head. The results were messier.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 09:56:36 pm
"Dear God..." Dusty had seen a lot, but this was a bit much for her. She threw up in the bush she was lying in before taking a sip of the pondwater and spitting it onto the dirt.

"What the hell is their problem?!" Dusty shook a bit, feeling the singed ends of her hair and shaking.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 10:04:53 pm
"What, you never seen a raider before?" Kethan said as he was strapping the Flamer onto his own back.

"Long story made simple, they're packs of psychos, probably on Psycho now that I think about it, who decided they're above civilized living and take what they please. The term Raider comes from the raids they like to make on smaller settlements. It's why places like Mihi are such rarities. Because defending any one place well enough to keep them, supermutants, slavers, and whatever else pops up, at bay isn't exactly easy. But feel free to take whatever you want offa them. They won't be needing it anymore."

This girl is sheltered if she's never heard of raiders, but she takes 'tats... something don't add up


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 22, 2013, 10:19:02 pm
Erin briefly wondered what the man meant by "karma," then remembering where she had heard it before. It was a foolish belief that circumstance favored those who acted morally, and the opposite. Erin Havenheart didn't believe in burdens such as morals. Such things were chains, willingly shackled, that dragged one to their death. "Name...? Oh. Those. I am..." She thought for a moment. "...Erin, I think it was. Erin...Havenheart. Why are these terms important?"
"Well, to start it helps identify individuals..." Jagar stopped when he realized he was seriously explaining what a name was for, "Eh, never mind..."

With his stomach growling, Jagar looked over his shoulder to see the barkeep pointing to a moldy box of Salisbury Steak, smiling.

Gagging a little, he turned back to Erin, "You wouldn't happen to know of a place to get something fresh to eat, not canine in nature?" he asked, "Would you?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 10:21:00 pm
"No, I hadn't..." Dusty learned quickly enough. Thinking about it, it made sense that they'd be around, but by the same token, it was jarring to see. She honestly thought that everyplace was like it was at the Legion encampments- sure, it wasn't any life to live, but there were never these "Raider" characters. Probably because of the soldiers that usually patrol the territory.

"Thanks for explaining." She poked through what the Raider closest to her had. Bottlecaps, some leather armor she could fit over the clothes she currently wore, and as Kethan had said, plenty of chems. From what she could tell, some Jet and some Mentats.She took both before moving onto the next one. She searched three Raiders total, and ended up with a nice hat, a small cache of bottlecaps, some booze, a handful of chems and food, and a hunting rifle with ammo.

"What'd you find, Kethan? I've got enough here to make some stimpaks, and maybe some Hydra. But can we go back to town...? I'm exhausted."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 10:26:07 pm
"The only real gem is the Flamer. I'll probably pawn off everything else. Be sure to take only the best parts of the armor. One good set of armor's worth more than a bunch of lousy pieces."

Aside from armor, and the Flamer, Kethan ended up with a bunch of Psycho and Buffout.

"Man, that firefight left my armor in lousy shape. I'm gonna have to do something about it before it shuts down entirely and I end up a breathing statue. But I don't wanna just sell it off..."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 10:39:42 pm
"Gotcha." Dusty carefully packed everything into her bag. She'd need to get a bigger one soon enough. "Do you want this Jet? I can't stand the stuff. You should take some of this food, too." She put on the hat and made a face and took another Mentat. The hat was a cowboy hat. "I think... Maybe we should find someplace we can keep it until we can get some parts to repair it. I'm sure that there's parts out there, but it looks heavy and I don't know if we could carry it that long. In the meantime, you'll need to wear something in better repair. We should get to a place where I can cook the ingredients I found, too. Can you find us the way?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 22, 2013, 10:40:42 pm
Erin thought for a moment. "There's a bar about forty yards north of here that advertises the fact that it does not serve such meat. It was slightly larger than the other three in this settlement and seemed to be marginally more popular, with roughly two more people than the others within, at the time of my observation." She said. She always scouted an area, safe or not, when she entered it, exploring as much as she could and memorizing everything. She didn't forget anything, a fact she had considered normal for the first part of her life until she met her first and last teacher, who had recognized it and told her of her unusual ability. He had called it eidetic memory, but Erin thought little of it. It was an inherent advantage that would help her survive, and that was the only thing that mattered.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 22, 2013, 10:49:56 pm
Erin thought for a moment. "There's a bar about forty yards north of here that advertises the fact that it does not serve such meat. It was slightly larger than the other three in this settlement and seemed to be marginally more popular, with roughly two more people than the others within, at the time of my observation." She said. She always scouted an area, safe or not, when she entered it, exploring as much as she could and memorizing everything. She didn't forget anything, a fact she had considered normal for the first part of her life until she met her first and last teacher, who had recognized it and told her of her unusual ability. He had called it eidetic memory, but Erin thought little of it. It was an inherent advantage that would help her survive, and that was the only thing that mattered.
"Uhh, thanks," Jagar replied, a little thrown off by the detailed answer.

He readjusted his satchel and got read to head off.

"Uhh, one more thing," he mentioned, before leaving, "What were those men attacking you for?..."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 10:51:59 pm
"Oh, don't worry about that. I'll get the caps to buy myself something when we get back to town, no problem. We'll look for a place to get our stuff sorted out once we've gotten there. For now, I need a fix."

Hydra was a combination of cave fungus and antivenom. Developed by the legion but now used everywhere, the stuff was meant to numb your injuries and accelerate the healing process. Problem is, the combination proved addictive, so in proper militarization, it was controlled. Kethan's addiction came from when he was given a double dose so he could stand up and fight in spite of being nearly slaughtered in a battle with some SuperMutants. The path back to Mihi was a fairly peaceful one. A few molerats, and one rather tenacious bloatfly and they were there.

"I know this place pretty well. I was sent here on ordinance a few times because a weapon broker on the north side was run by the kid of a Paladin. Not sure if he'd still be willing to give me the discount, but if he doesn't mention my expulsion, we won't."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 22, 2013, 11:01:32 pm
"I knocked out their...friend. He tried to rob me, the usual. Low life have no sense of who's out of their league. I had him on the ground before he knew what happened, and the other two were angered." As she spoke, Erin knelt by each unconscious (or dead) thug and searched them for anything useful. All she found were a few caps. Thieves who couldn't even judge who wasn't worth stealing from rarely had great wealth. She stood and began to walk at a moderate pace up the north path, towards the bar she had mentioned. The fight had reminded her she was hungry, and that was the closest place that served much other than dog meat, a meal Erin had no desire to eat. The dogs could stay in the streets below.  


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 22, 2013, 11:10:17 pm
"I knocked out their...friend. He tried to rob me, the usual. Low life have no sense of who's out of their league. I had him on the ground before he knew what happened, and the other two were angered." As she spoke, Erin knelt by each unconscious (or dead) thug and searched them for anything useful. All she found were a few caps. Thieves who couldn't even judge who wasn't worth stealing from rarely had great wealth. She stood and began to walk at a moderate pace up the north path, towards the bar she had mentioned. The fight had reminded her she was hungry, and that was the closest place that served much other than dog meat, a meal Erin had no desire to eat. The dogs could stay in the streets below.  
Slightly calmed, knowing that the death he was partially responsible wasn't entirely undeserved, Jagar sighed in partial relief.

Noticing that Erin was now heading towards the aforementioned bar, he followed, with Mezz just behind him.

"So...  Where are you from?" Jagar asked, trying to make conversation.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 22, 2013, 11:21:12 pm
"I was born in Arkansas, but I don't have need for a home. I have wandered for seven years, two of those alone." Erin answered. She had learned to tolerate idle conversation, because some people insisted on it, and saw no harm in answering innocuous questions.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 11:31:45 pm
"So, Kethan... Um, I know that the Brotherhood of Steel isn't just a local organization. Where did you come from?" Dusty tilted her head. "And how'd you get.. you know, kicked out?" She was struggling to maintain conversation. It was still a bit of a walk to the store, according to Kethan, and the silence was getting to her.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 22, 2013, 11:40:06 pm
"I was born in Arkansas, but I don't have need for a home. I have wandered for seven years, two of those alone." Erin answered. She had learned to tolerate idle conversation, because some people insisted on it, and saw no harm in answering innocuous questions.
"Seven years?" Jagar asked in surprise.

He considered asking why she went out on her own at such a young age, but, knowing the horrors of the wasteland, thought best not to bring it up.

As they arrived at the pub, Jagar dug into his satchel and fished out two Nuka Cola Victory bottlecaps.  Together they had to be worth at least 30 regular bottlecaps, given the rarity.


Looking at the two bottlecaps, he was reminded of why he was here.  This was supposed to be a rite of passage, surviving the rabid streets of Denver for a week.  "Facing the Spirits" is what the elders called it.  By isolating himself from the streets and depending on others for survival, he was betraying the very purpose of the ritual.


Clenching the caps, he looked to Mezz.

"I'm sorry," he said under his breath, as he walked into the bar.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 11:41:02 pm
Kethan sighed.

"I was in the Brotherhood from as early as I was 16. Grew up out west in the Mojave in a town called Goodsprings. This was back when the BoS and the NCR were on good terms, and I was picked out by the BoS when they saw me shoot down a hoard of Gecko with just one clip from my 9 mil SMG. By the time I was 19, I was a Paladin. Then that battle... anyway, I got kicked out a few days ago because I slept through one too many battles. But enough about me. What's the deal with you? Mentats but never heard of raiders? Doesn't add up quite straight. That and the fact that you know how to cook chems."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 22, 2013, 11:51:17 pm
Dusty swallowed hard and her voice lowered to a mere whisper. "It's a long story... The Mentat addiction is my dad's fault, alright? My vision's poor and he was always... well, he enjoyed his chems. We lived in a really well protected city, I don't remember it all too well. Far away from here, that's all I know." She shook, her eyes wide. "Well, my family was captured by Caesar's Legion. Enslaved. My father was killed because he wasn't too much a fighter and his chem addictions had wrecked him. My mother and sister, haven't seen them in years, no clue. Me, I was a slave. I was given to a Centurion two years ago, when they deemed me "safe" enough to remove the collar from. I've acted as a medic for his unit... that's why I can make chems. Okay?" Fear was the main emotion coming off of her- absolute terror. Whatever had happened, this was a very short version, that much was clear. "You aren't going to make me go back, are you? I just escaped, please...." Her voice wavered a bit, and she stood still.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 22, 2013, 11:57:31 pm
"Yes. Seven years. When I was young, something happened. It was leave or die, and survival is the only option in any applicable situation." Erin said.

"For what?" She asked as she followed Jagar into the bar. She didn't even think about the fact he had said it quietly; she had heard because she was right next to him and had excellent hearing. Such a trait was more or less required in the business she used to (and occasionally still did) work in.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 22, 2013, 11:58:37 pm
"Hey, it's okay. I'm not gonna turn in the only friend I have outside the Brotherhood out here. Besides, the legion's a group of assholes. Caesar can Lanius can both eat a dick."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 23, 2013, 12:03:21 am
Dusty let out a breath. "I appreciate it. No, really. You're the first man other than my father to treat me like a human being." She made a quiet sob before straightening out. She wasn't crying, but she was emotional. She was also clinging close to Kethan, mostly out of nerve. "I'm not going back. They can say I'm his property all they want, it isn't true. I just hope they don't look too hard for me... Speaking of looking, we should go to that shop and see what they have, maybe sell off some of the extra from earlier."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 23, 2013, 12:10:38 am
"Yes. Seven years. When I was young, something happened. It was leave or die, and survival is the only option in any applicable situation." Erin said.

"For what?" She asked as she followed Jagar into the bar. She didn't even think about the fact he had said it quietly; she had heard because she was right next to him and had excellent hearing. Such a trait was more or less required in the business she used to (and occasionally still did) work in.
"It's...  It's nothing important," Jagar tried to dismiss.

Heading to the bar, he tried to shrug off his worries, "I'm going to guess that it's a stretch for you guys to have any chicken?" he asked.

The barman turned to him, "Chicken?  Is that like squirrel?"

Mezz's ears perked up as she barked at the sound of "squirrel."

Jagar sighed, "Squirrel's fine, I guess."

He sat down on a bar-stool, Mezz jumping up and putting her front paws on the one next to him, peeking at the food over the counter.

"And a beer too," Jagar said, covering his face in disappointment.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 23, 2013, 12:12:40 am
Kethan led the way. He would do the shopping since there was still a chance of him getting the discount. When he walked in and up to the shopkeep, they both smiled. Again, they had met before through Brotherhood business.

"Hey, Kreed! How's it going? You picking up some stuff for the boys in Power Armor again?"

"Just me and the initiate." He said as he pointed at Dusty after only a moment hesitation.

"I hear ya. Hey, you hear about the NCR? Apparently, they're paying for any Brotherhood dogtags someone brings in. They're paying in their paper money, but even with the shit exchange rate, it comes up to like, over two hundred caps a tag. I hear it's a ploy to get gangs like the Khans after you without having them officially on their side. That, and it's a ploy to mess with your headcounts. Watch your ass man. I don't want the headcount being low because it was yours that ended up decorating someone's wall."

"Thanks for the heads up. Honestly, I'm thinking I might be quitting soon... Dusty. Pick out anything you want. It's half off."

Kethan picked out some fuel for his new Flamer, a .357 sidearm, and a new suit of Combat Armor to replace his worn down Power Armor, it's disrepair the blamed on 'budget cuts'.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 23, 2013, 12:18:53 am
Dusty nodded, opting for a Laser Rifle, some Energy Cells and Microfusion Cells, and some Combat Armor. She decided to hold onto her loot from earlier to sell somewhere else, where a discount wouldn't be in the way. "Thank you." She smiled. "I appreciate the warning." She put up her caps and looked to Kethan. "Would it be alright if we got something to eat before heading out, sir?" She was making an opening to get out of the shop now that their business was done.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 23, 2013, 12:22:27 am
Erin sat down next to him. She withdrew the bottle caps she took off the thugs and laid them on the counter. "I'll have squirrel too." She said.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 23, 2013, 12:53:53 am
The barman brought a beer and two bowls of squirrel stew, one of which with squirrel on a stick on the side.

Jagar removed the stick from his side dish and handed the carcass to Mezz, who gleefully took it to the corner of the room to eat it.


"You're one of those Hangdogs, aren't you?" the barkeep asked, pointing to Jagar's tattoo.

Jagar was now seriously considering buying gloves, "Uhh, yes," he answered, "Does it matter?"

"Just thought I'd give you a heads up," the bartender said, pointing to the entrance.

Jagar looked over his shoulder and saw a couple of legionaries entering the bar.

"Strange, they don't usually come out this far west," the barman pointed out.

Jagar put his tattooed hand in his pocket and covered his face with the other hand.

He whistled silently (well, as silently as one could), "Mezz, come here girl," he tried to whisper.

Mezz walked around the tables and sat next to Jagar.

"I need to get out of here," he whispered to the group...


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 23, 2013, 06:13:00 am
"Roger Soldier. Take care Mac." Kethan said as he led himself and Dusty out.

"That place has good stuff, but we'll probably never be able to go back there. Oh well. There are other gunsmiths and dealers around here. But first, food. I know that the east wing was turned into a pub. We can get food and a place to stay the night there." Kethan counted his caps out. "Dinner's on me."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 23, 2013, 06:26:58 am
"Awesome. What're you gonna get, Kethan?" Dusty asked as she loaded her laser rifle. It was getting late, and no doubt some sleep would do her some good, but the prospect of a warm meal was keeping her on her toes just awhile longer.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 23, 2013, 07:11:22 am
"Eh, thing better than Brotherhood rations."

The East Wing was the only one in Mihi that didn't have an entrance, and that's only because it was sealed off to make room for the Pub. Most of the bedrooms were makeshift using posterboards as walls, and featured a cot. The food was crummy, but at least it was warm, and the beds were cheap enough.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 23, 2013, 03:38:13 pm
Erin looked at the entering legionnaires as she ate. "These people are annoying. Always getting in my way." She said out loud. Then, quieter, she said to Jagar. "If you need these Legionnairies out of the way, or aid escaping the area, I can provide. For a fee, although it doesn't have to be caps."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 23, 2013, 03:42:43 pm
In Dusty's opinion, the food was fantastic and she had no complaints about the cot. Considering the price, this place is a steal. Though the walls, these are so thin you could hear the molerats humping... She rolled and quickly enough fell asleep.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 23, 2013, 03:58:13 pm
Erin looked at the entering legionnaires as she ate. "These people are annoying. Always getting in my way." She said out loud. Then, quieter, she said to Jagar. "If you need these Legionnairies out of the way, or aid escaping the area, I can provide. For a fee, although it doesn't have to be caps."
"I'd prefer not to start a fight," Jagar explained, "The last thing the Legion needs is a reason to attack one of my tribe's camps."

Leaving payment for the meal on the counter, he stood up.

"Come to think of it, they usually don't need a reason..." he thought.

Moving quietly, he tried walking around the table that the legionaries were attempting to sit at.  Although, he accidentally nudged one of them while trying to maneuver through.

"Watch yourself, degenerate!" the recruit yelled.

Jagar kept walking, in the hope that they wouldn't care.  Although before he could make it out of the bar, one of them spotted Mezz following him.

"Halt!" he yelled, both of them standing up.

Jagar froze in fear, so close to the exit...

"Why are you hiding your hand?" the other recruit asked, intimidation in his voice.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 23, 2013, 04:00:35 pm
Erin stood and watched Jagar's interaction with the legionnaires. As they called for him to halt, she strolled up near him and leaned on a wall, whispering. "Offer's still open."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 23, 2013, 04:03:33 pm
"Look, those two caps were the only items of worth that I had on me..." Jagar whispered, the legionaries drawing closer.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 23, 2013, 04:07:19 pm
"I said it didn't have to be caps." Erin answered. "We can discuss details later, but, to put it simply, strength in numbers. I can always use a second fighter in a skirmish. I think you're almost out of time, so take it or leave it."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 23, 2013, 04:16:53 pm
Jagar started panicking, thinking over his options.

After a few seconds, he looked back to Erin.

"Alright, just don't make too much of a mess," Jagar said, reaching for his zip-gun.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 23, 2013, 04:33:50 pm
As soon as she had her answer, Erin moved. Fast as lightning, she struck at the closest legionnaire. Her right hand flickered out in an overhead swing designed to crack him over the head. As the man made to avoid her attack, she revealed her feint and caught him in the stomach with her leg. He doubled over, and Erin brought her left hand up into his face. She wasn't punching him, however; her knife was once again in hand, and she drove it through the man's eye socket. Pulling the blade out from the ruined eyeball as he screamed, she bashed him over the head with the hilt, and he went down. Whirling towards the other, she quick drew her plasma pistol and fired a single shot into the man's face at almost point blank range, catching him in the midst of striking at her. The legionnaire yelled in agony while he still had a functioning mouth, and then went silent, falling backwards.
Erin turned to Jagar. "Let's go."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 23, 2013, 05:18:48 pm
Jagar covered his mouth as he gagged, stopping himself from throwing up after what he had witnessed.

He looked to Mezz with a worried look on his face before eventually following Erin.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 23, 2013, 05:36:07 pm
Erin led them through a crisscrossing network of alleys across to the other side of the side of the settlement, past various low life, who each decided to leave them alone when Erin menacingly waved her pistol at any who moved towards them. Emerging from the alleys, they entered a slightly run down looking Inn. The sun was setting, so it was as good a place as any there to settle in. Erin scanned the mostly empty foyer for legionnaires, waving her pistol around, before, satisfied that they were safe, holstering it. She threw a few caps on the counter, asking for a room for the night.

((I was told we needed to get to a timeskip because Kloud and Kinfin are incredibly out of sync with u-*shot*


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 23, 2013, 05:44:56 pm
The morning rose and Kethan put on his combat armor he had purchased. It had been a long time since last he didn't have metal muscles on over his own.

"Wake up Dusty." He said as he shook his companion awake, reflecting on the past day. Scaving for chem materials was one thing, but consistency was the key to living in the Van Buren Wasteland. Finding a niche. It's why so many tribes existed out here.

"So, the question is, what's our next course of action. Chems can only get you so far given the fact that their prices keep dropping as more and more people start learning how to cook them up."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 23, 2013, 05:50:41 pm
Dusty stretched and yawned, groggy. She had slept well. "Fair enough. What do you suggest? I'm fine with anything, so long as it keeps us heading West. I'm not sure what's out that way, but I'd love to get some distance. Without the caps and materials, though, we're stuck, huh?" She pulled the combat armor over her fatigues, and moved about some. These feel strange. She grabbed two prickly pears and handed one over to Kethan. "Breakfast while you think. I'm pretty sure these are safe to eat." She shrugged and took a bite, before humming happily.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 23, 2013, 05:57:13 pm
"Well, the thing is, west of here is the NCR Blockade. You aren't gonna get past that without some sort of good reason. So, what I say is we get ourselves associated with the Van Buren Crimson Carivan Branch. They travel damn freely through everything west of New Mexico, so we might be able to get past the blockade if we associate with them. I think there local outpost is a touch south in downtown Denver. Maybe I'll find a pack brahmin that I can have carry my armor on.""


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 23, 2013, 06:02:50 pm
"I've worked with the Crimson Caravan before. They do good business. Maybe if we offer to assist them in some way, they'd let us tag along? It's definitely worth a shot." Dusty smiled. This seems like a good idea. "Before we go out, here." She handed him two Stimpaks. "Just in case. Is there anything interesting downtown, aside from the Caravan?" She was packed up and ready to get moving, but she'd rather be informed before she set out.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 23, 2013, 06:06:08 pm
"Wake up." Erin said, leaning on the wall next to the door. "It's morning."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 23, 2013, 06:09:58 pm
"Well, there is a place called Skytown. It's one of those tall buildings from pre war that was left in really good shape turned into a town. Might be worth stopping by just for the sake of it. But I wouldn't recommend  digging around too much. Super Mutants show up there from time to times. Ever see one? Big red brutish guys with pea sized brains. They like to capture people and torture them to death for the fun of it."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 23, 2013, 06:17:09 pm
"I've never been in one of those tall buildings... I bet it's a wonderful view...." Dusty was starry eyed a moment before snapping back. "Um, no, but they sound pretty hard to miss. Let's just avoid them." She wasn't sure what else to say, all she knew was that they sounded awful and she wanted to keep her distance.

"Let's go see those tall buildings! I'd like to go to the top of one."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 23, 2013, 06:49:54 pm
"Wake up." Erin said, leaning on the wall next to the door. "It's morning."
Jagar shambled out of the door, Mezz just behind him.

"What is?...  Oh, good morning," Jagar said, covering his face from the morning sun.

"Any reason for waking up this early?" he asked, rubbing his eyes and heading back into the room to grab his stuff.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 23, 2013, 06:54:20 pm
"Sounds like a plan then." With the power armor off, Kethan had to map out a route on an actual map and memorize it, but it proved easy enough. Skytown was about an hour walk away, and could be seen for miles.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 23, 2013, 06:55:42 pm
"Because we pissed off the legion, so leaving this area as soon as possible is advisable." Erin answered. "And I never went to sleep. We're heading west, past the NCR blockade. Before you ask, yes, I have to plan to get through. We'll hire ourselves out to Crimson Caravan's Van Buren branch until we're past the blockade."

((should be obvious what I'm trying to do here))


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 23, 2013, 07:07:18 pm
Although they ran into a handful of vicious dogs along the way, the path there was relatively peaceful. For the wastes, it was a beautiful day. Dusty was enjoying the trip. Soon enough, you could see the skyscrapers, many of which were still mostly intact. It proved to be an impressive sight.

Dusty tilted her head up. "Heck, these are huge..."

----------

"We're meeting resistance from the local tribe, sir. The Hangdogs, I believe they call themselves. They all seem to own trained mutts, which has hindered our progress. We may need to take... drastic measures if we're to continue moving west. On that note, the last scouts we sent did not return. Word is that they were killed by a woman." A Legion soldier was reporting to a superior officer.

The other man remained steely-faced.

"And the slave that escaped has still not been found. We've sent men in as far as Mihi to post posters with the reward listed, per your request. We will post more once we are able to make a larger advancement."

"That will be today. Send in more scouting groups to set up for our advancement."

"Yes, sir!"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 23, 2013, 07:09:55 pm
"Because we pissed off the legion, so leaving this area as soon as possible is advisable." Erin answered. "And I never went to sleep. We're heading west, past the NCR blockade. Before you ask, yes, I have to plan to get through. We'll hire ourselves out to Crimson Caravan's Van Buren branch until we're past the blockade."
"W- Wait, we're crossing the border?" Jagar asked, "I have responsibilities here, I can't just disappear without a word!"

Mezz leaned against Jagar's leg and whined, still worried about the height of the settlement.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 23, 2013, 07:13:20 pm
"Yeah, the old world had it's marvels. Oh, and don't shoot any dogs you see here in Skytown. The Hangdogs hang out here a lot. They're a local tribe that have trained dogs en mass" Skytown was inside what was once a Bank Tower with 28 floors. Many walls had been smashed down to make space for business levels, but the cubical that used to be there made for great private quarters.

"Of course, they have a sense of style here. The local restaurant and bar is on the highest floor for the sake of the view. Long walk up, but worth it."

((Should be obvious what I'm doing here))


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 24, 2013, 06:08:50 pm
"You also have a Legion who'll be looking for a Hangdog and his accomplice who murdered two of their men." Erin retorted. "I wouldn't care if you didn't owe me a debt. But that's the way I'm going, and your wisest path."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 24, 2013, 06:20:34 pm
"All the way up...? This might take awhile. I think I'm going to sell off some of the extra stuff I got earlier, just to save myself some effort when we climb the stairs." Dusty looked around a moment before deciding on a merchant and walking up. Items and caps were exchanged- Dusty got rid of her extra stuff, and ended up buying a few small things, including a better bag for carrying things.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 24, 2013, 06:22:06 pm
"You also have a Legion who'll be looking for a Hangdog and his accomplice who murdered two of their men." Erin retorted. "I wouldn't care if you didn't owe me a debt. But that's the way I'm going, and your wisest path."
"Listen, maybe if we go back to my village..." Jagar begin to suggest, considering that maybe he could find something of worth to trade there.

"On second thought...  Nevermind...  I'll go with you," he finished.  Returning from facing the spirits so early, having not even spent his only night away in the streets, and carrying a debt with him.  They'd surely take Mezz and outcast him, and that would just be if they felt forgiving...

"Do you at least know where we're going after we cross the border?" Jagar asked.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 24, 2013, 06:31:23 pm
"Hey, you're not the one with defective power armor strapped to your back." Kethan said snidely as he started his way up. The stairs were designed with short bursts in mind, each mini flight being half a floor.

A few floors up, Kethan started talking. "So, hope you don't mind me asking, but, have you ever seen Caesar in person? I heard that he's a hypocrite and doesn't practice what he demands of his men. Crude language, little respect when addressing others, et cetera."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 24, 2013, 06:43:22 pm
Dusty went up a few more steps, a tired look on her face. "Yeah, I've seen him. Actually, only recently. See, the man that was my owner is a Centurion, but he's first in line to become the next Legate, and so lately we'd seen him a handful of times. He seemed really cruel and was even more rude than the usual men. On that note, Centurion Adolphus's promotion.... What with me escaping, that reflects badly on him as it shows a lack of control..." Her voice was a mere whisper. "Kethan, promise me something. If they do come for me and there's no way for us to escape, please kill me."

She didn't even glance Kethan's way as she said this, just continuing to climb steps.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 24, 2013, 06:48:56 pm
"I can't promise that. Because that would imply I wouldn't be willing to help you any other way. Rule number one of the Brotherhood of Steel. Your unit is a whole. No man left behind who isn't killed in battle. So I can't promise that I'd kill you, because I won't let you get taken. How's that sound?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 24, 2013, 06:55:40 pm
"Depends." Erin answered as they left the Inn. "Information across borders is sparse, so I don't know where the best place to go will be yet. We'll see what circumstances are like when we get there."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 24, 2013, 07:07:30 pm
"Depends." Erin answered as they left the Inn. "Information across borders is sparse, so I don't know where the best place to go will be yet. We'll see what circumstances are like when we get there."
"So we're sneaking past the NCR with little to no knowledge of what to expect?" Jagar asked.

"What have I gotten myself into?" he thought to himself, leaning against the wall.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 24, 2013, 07:14:11 pm
Dusty seemed choked up. "Just know that I don't expect you to back me up. That's my fight, not yours, and I don't plan on dragging you into it." She gave Kethan a quick small smile. "Never thought I'd find myself a friend like you, that's for sure." She glanced out the window. "We're getting pretty high up... And it looks like we've got a lot to go. I bet the view up top is amazing."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 24, 2013, 07:18:23 pm
"Wait... you hear that?" Kethan stopped when he heard the phrase 'boarder crossing'.

"Hold up. I wanna eavesdrop." He said in a whisper as he stood behind a corner on the floor they were currently on, which was used as an inn. "If we're lucky, we'll get some info we didn't already have."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 24, 2013, 07:25:50 pm
"Yes. Your poi-" Erin suddenly fell silent and stopped as she almost rounded a corner. "If you were quiet, that just may have been true." She said mildly.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 24, 2013, 07:29:52 pm
"I don't hear anyone... I think they heard us, though." The are had gone near silent, Dusty's whisper cutting through the silence. "Hello...?" She said. Best to not drag this out.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 24, 2013, 08:02:21 pm
Jagar looked at Erin, unsure what to do.

"Uhh, hi?" he eventually responded.

Mezz ran 'round the corner, curious of who was speaking.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 24, 2013, 08:06:42 pm
"Well... this is awkward... umm... so... boarders... they're a thing. NCR to the West, Legion to the East. And random Brotherhood and Enclave bases here and there. It's like you can't walk three feet without hitting one..." Kethan was struggling to maintain his composure.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 24, 2013, 08:12:02 pm
Mezz walked around the group, sniffing the floor around them.

((fillerpostyay))


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 24, 2013, 08:17:16 pm
"They're certainly more than three feet apart." Erin said as she rounded the corner. "What kind of information were you looking for, specifically?" She asked, getting straight to the point.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 24, 2013, 08:49:44 pm
"Well, we need to go west. We have a plan, but it's complicated to move much out of town right now, so we're open to any information that could get us moving." Dusty regarded Erin curiously, but Mezz made her uncomfortable. She took a step away from the dog, moving to the other side of Kethan.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 24, 2013, 09:04:06 pm
"Hiring out to the Crimson Caravan is probably the easiest way to get across the blockade." Erin said. She wasn't very concerned about revealing plans to them, because if they were looking to cross the border too, they could be amiable to the prospect of joining forces for a time, and by the look of them she doubted they'd report them to the legion if they found out about the murders anyway.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 24, 2013, 09:10:48 pm
"That's our best bet too." Dusty figured she'd play it straight. "There's strength in numbers. Would you folks like to work together for a bit? Might be safer." Dusty saw two potentially powerful allies, and a bigger group meant a better chance at a successful escape. "We need to move quickly, though. I can't afford to stick around long."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 24, 2013, 09:17:57 pm
Jagar shrugged, "Might as well," he replied.

"Not that I have much of a choice..." he thought, looking at the back of Erin's head.

Mezz, after finishing her 'job' of sniffing the newcomers, sat next to Jagar's feet, approving the new group.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 24, 2013, 09:18:20 pm
"It could work." Erin said. "A little sudden, but I'm in perhaps as much of a hurry as you are, so that may be a good thing. For now, I accept."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 24, 2013, 09:22:15 pm
"Well then, it's settled. How about we grab a bite at the Skylounge to seal the deal. Besides, that's the reason we've even been trudging up these stairs, so I don't want to waste that effort." It was clear that carrying his armor was getting to Kethan.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 24, 2013, 09:26:17 pm
"Alright, alright. I'm fine with getting a bite to eat. Then we head over to the Crimson Caravan camp." Dusty chuckled a bit before looking up. "Let's get climbing, I suppose."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 24, 2013, 09:28:32 pm
"May as well." Erin agreed, following.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 24, 2013, 09:33:10 pm
Jagar and Mezz went with the group.

"Whew, for a minute I thought we'd skip breakfast," he laughed to himself.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 24, 2013, 09:39:04 pm
The view from the top was breathtaking in a post apocalyptic way. You could clearly make out the ruins where the buildings fell like dominoes, but you could also see the areas that held up better. But more importantly, you could from this spot, clearly see the NCR blockade. Camps no less than half a mile apart forming a line as far as the eye could see. Forces that were clearly spread thin, but could converge at any point if need be. The meal was better than the one at Mihi purely because the cook knew what they were doing here.

"You know, I just realized, I never introduced myself. Kethan Icelious Kreed. And you two are?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 24, 2013, 09:41:52 pm
"Jagar," Jagar responded, "Err, Jagar Sin Svans.  Being my full name."

"And this is Mezz," he continued, scritching the back of Mezz's left ear.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 24, 2013, 09:47:16 pm
"I'm Dusty. So, what brings you two westward?" Dusty figured it might be good to understand their motives some.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 24, 2013, 09:50:08 pm
Jag remained silent, mostly awaiting Erin's reply.  He had no idea why she needed to go west, and he felt now wasn't the best time to bring up why he's traveling with her.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 24, 2013, 09:52:20 pm
"Erin Havenheart. I'm a traveler. I'm avoiding the Legion right now, for certain reasons. I'd feel safer in NCR territory. And he's with me because he owes me." Erin answered. She wasn't impressed by the view, but it took a lot to impress her. She watched the NCR blockade carefully, making note, as best she could see, of the positions of divisions of troops and the like. It was always best to know as much about an area before entering it as you could.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 24, 2013, 10:01:33 pm
"Well, now that we're all acquainted, my plan was to get hired as guns for one of the larger caravans. We'll probably have to impress them, but I can say that Dusty's aim is deadly with that hot laser on her hip. And as for me, well, the gas tank on my back is indication of something. How about you two? I know Crimson likes it's merc teams to be diverse to mess with anyone who attacks."

A slight smoke wafted past the window...


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 24, 2013, 10:17:34 pm
Jagar separated himself from the group, only momentarily, taking a better look at the remains of the city.  He had never seen the region like this, it gave him a new scope of things.

The barks of dogs could be heard from the streets, only reminding Jagar of the tribe.  After a moment of examining, he could see the village from here.  It was just outside of the city, between Skytown and the NCR Border.

"I don't think we can ever go back there, girl," he said to Mezz, "I was too afraid to attempt the rite, and I made us both pay for it..."


Hearing Kethan ask about weapon specialties, Jag returned to the group.

"Well, I know how to use a gun, but I wouldn't exactly put my life on it..." he explained, "Although, back at home, I would often spar with the other whelps.  Just hand-to-hand stuff, though."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 24, 2013, 10:33:26 pm
"I can drop a man in half a second in close combat and can effectively wield any sort of energy weapon." Erin said. "Plasma, recharger, flamer, anything. My sight and hearing are substantially above average and I have experience fighting virtually any relatively commonly seen creature. I'm a competent knife fighter, though nothing amazing." She didn't even consider the possibility that her layout of her combat skills could be seen as boasting, being unused to social interaction. In her former line of work, the ability to kill was the only thing necessary, and she had been taught that idle conversation without a tangible purpose was useless and to be avoided. She lived to survive, and thought of little past what challenges she would face the next day, or the day after, or the day after that. As such, charisma wasn't her strong suit. Usually her fists and pistol did the arguing for her.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 24, 2013, 10:50:40 pm
"Okay. No need to be so intense. Anyway. I think we should be able to get the merc job easily enough as long as we can talk to the right people."

The smoke that was outside the window was now billowing. Curious, Kethan looked outside, and saw the source. A tirefire. And a hoard of men leading others around by ropes. Kethan swiped a pair of binoculars to look closer. He could see bodies of people on the street posts. Crucified. The Legion was striking below. And their victims, the Crimson caravan.

"Shit. Legion. Looks like they want to cut off the caravans to keep their enemies from being supplied."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 24, 2013, 10:57:29 pm
"That poses a problem." Erin said mildly. "But what to do about it?" She nonchalantly drew her pistol from it's holster, keeping it in hand.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 24, 2013, 11:02:22 pm
"I'm getting down there. That's what I'm doing." Kethan redoned his barely functional Power armor. With knowledge on the building's structural integrity, he chose a spot on the floor, torched it with his flamer, and then jumped on it, smashing through the floor. The weight of his armor smashing through the floor below it. This created a series of short falls until he reached the ground floor. This did, however, left the armor useless and unwearable, forcing him out of it and into his combat armor again.

(Structural Integrity falls under Explosives. After all, that's how demolitionists do their jobs.)


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 24, 2013, 11:16:28 pm
"That's one way to do it." Erin murmured, holstering her pistol. "Shall we follow?" She leaped into the hole, swinging by the ledge to the floor below, then repeated that, progressing ever downward, one floor at a time. Not once did she hesitate or falter, nor did her hand ever slip or her feet not find solid ground. The girl was a natural acrobat, and confident in her abilities.

When she landed near Kethan, finally reaching the ground floor, she drew her plasma pistol again. "Let's see how you handle yourself in a fight."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 24, 2013, 11:35:25 pm
"You've got to be kidding me," Jagar muttered, looking down the pit.

"So...  Stairs?" he asked, looking to Dusty.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 25, 2013, 04:22:07 pm
"That looks like a great way to break your legs..." Dusty shook her head at Kethan and Erin. She was considerably paler than she was a few moments ago. Legion.. "I don't really want.... Yeah, stairs." She looked like she might throw up. She took off running for the stairs. I need to be brave. And I need to stick by Kethan... And these new people.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 25, 2013, 05:24:51 pm
"That's one way to do it." Erin murmured, holstering her pistol. "Shall we follow?" She leaped into the hole, swinging by the ledge to the floor below, then repeated that, progressing ever downward, one floor at a time. Not once did she hesitate or falter, nor did her hand ever slip or her feet not find solid ground. The girl was a natural acrobat, and confident in her abilities.

When she landed near Kethan, finally reaching the ground floor, she drew her plasma pistol again. "Let's see how you handle yourself in a fight."
"Been a while since I used a flamer. It'll be a nice change in pace. How about we make it a contest. Most takedowns before the others show up wins?" With that, Kethan charged. It was basically a straight shot to the CC lot, and they were putting up a fight. This of course meant the legion was too distracted to evade the flames that engulfed the 4 gunmen in the furthest back of the lineup.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 25, 2013, 05:34:28 pm
Mezz and Jagar both rushed down the stairs.

"What have we gotten ourselves into?" Jagar huffed, still descending.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 25, 2013, 06:03:18 pm
Erin would have told him that competition was pointless, but so was idle conversation in the midst of battle. Since the Legion wasn't paying attention to her yet, she took the opportunity to rush them while they were focused on other targets. She came up behind two legionnaires, slipping her knife into her hand. She reached around and swiftly cut the throat of one, even as she smashed her fist into the side of the other's head. While he reeled, she turned on him, driving her knife into his jugular.  As another nearby foe took notice of her and raised a pistol, she took aim and fired a bolt of plasma into his chest. He dropped the weapon, screaming and clutching at his burning abdomen. As he fell to his knees, Erin advanced and cracked him over the head with the hilt of her knife, and he went down. Ducking behind a piece of rubble, she avoided two gunshots as the enemy finally realized how much of a threat she was. Quickly poking her head out, she swiftly fired a bolt at each of those who had fired on her, before taking cover again. Simultaneous screams sung that her aim had been true. Looking out again, she saw one of her targets clutching his ruined right hand, and the other slumped over, his face a smoldering mess.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 25, 2013, 06:15:12 pm
Kethan was taking a much more direct approach. Not even worrying about taking a few bullets, the flames spewing form his Flamer caused any that he got within a few meters of to scream in agony as their flesh burned. Between refuels, he made a few shots from his sidearm, landing shots between the eyes. The crowning moment of this fight for him was when one of the Legionares decided to whip out a Missile Launcher. Using some of the distracted-by-burning men as a shield, he rushed in between reloads and blasted the one with the launcher in the face with flame. He then took hold of the weapon himself and shot down a wall that a number of them were using for cover, the stones ripping them apart.

Between these two skilled fighters, the legion started a retreat, but the Crimson lot was in ruins, their brahmin slaughtered.

"Well, this was useful, but I hate Missile Launchers." Kethan threw the device like a Javalin into the tire fire.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 25, 2013, 08:14:34 pm
"That was over quick." Erin noted. "I suppose we speak with the Caravan survivors while we wait for the others to get down here."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 25, 2013, 08:22:15 pm
"That was over quick." Erin noted. "I suppose we speak with the Caravan survivors while we wait for the others to get down here."
"Don't get too comfortable. The legion doesn't just retreat. Last time one of them did that, they tied him to a boat, set it on fire, and set it drifting down the Gila Waterfall. They'll be back."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 25, 2013, 09:00:56 pm
"Well, of course." Erin said. "But what reason do we have to forgo doing something productive while we wait?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 25, 2013, 09:08:44 pm
"I'm just saying, be wary. They might have traps set up. Child bombers, all sorts of crazy stuff."

Kethan headed into the wreck that was the Caravan Lot. Aside from the crucified, the only living people Kethan had found left had survived by hiding inside closets, bushes, and in one case, a brahmin corpse.

"These people would probably be better off going to Mihi or Skytown than anywhere else. At least those places can offer them some protection. You find any Erin?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 25, 2013, 09:13:38 pm
Arriving to the ground floor, Jagar rushed outside to the sacked caravan.

"What did we miss?" he asked, Mezz following just behind him.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 26, 2013, 08:50:16 am
Dusty reached the ground floor at the same time as Jagar, and instinctively reeled back. She had snuck out of the medic's tent and onto the battlefield before. It was always this bad- add to that the fact that she wasn't supposed to be out there in the first place, and you'd see why she might be feeling queasy. Looks like they forced the Legion to retreat, for now... But they'll be back. She didn't have much to say, and immediately went into "medic mode". She broke down one of the crosses and began to care for the crucified person best she could. Usually, the most merciful thing to do to the crucified was to kill them, but some of these were fresh enough were she, with her advanced medical training, could save them. She pulled out the spikes holding the person in place, and after some treatment, he was stable. Groggy, but slowly returning to consciousness. "Don't move. You'll need to be taken into town for better treatment, and you've lost plenty of blood." She pulled some loose fabric into areas for people to lie and set the person on one before moving to the next crucified person.

"Jagar. Can you help the people that I manage to save? I've left some stimpaks at the triage site, please use them. I need to keep getting people down before they loose too much blood."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 26, 2013, 02:21:02 pm
Erin had been scouting the area more than looking for survivors, but she had found a few. "Not very many." She answered Kethan's question as she regrouped with him, followed by the few living she had found. "The part I explored had more corpses. Any defensive fortification this place had is in ruins, but I'm not sure it's worth trying to set up a rudimentary wall when they have missile launchers."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 26, 2013, 03:08:41 pm
"Uhh, right.  I'll do my best," Jagar responded, having little medical experience.

He rushed to the site and treated the injured as best he could.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 26, 2013, 03:14:44 pm
Dusty managed to save only two more crucified people- everyone else was too far gone to help, or in decent shape. She sighed.

"Thanks. We should regroup..." She nodded towards Erin and Kethan. "They're stable enough to leave for a few moments." In fact, two of them had already sat up. Dusty walked over to Erin and Kethan. "You guys were fast. What's the plan from here?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 26, 2013, 03:51:04 pm
Jagar set down the medical supplies and rejoined the group, with Mezz.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 26, 2013, 04:13:52 pm
"Depends on what you mean by 'what's the plan'. Plan involving the legion, get everyone here to help the scat. Plan involving the boarder, dead until further notice. And I'll be honest, after my stunt in Skytown, I don't want to go back there. Don't think people will be happy to see me. The best move right now is either head for Mihi, or go somewhere else that can be easily defended to use as a Base of  Operations until we can dig up a new plan. Or at least that's what I'm doing. You three can go where you choose if you don't agree with me."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 26, 2013, 05:50:43 pm
"If you want a place to lay low and avoid the Legion," Jagar interrupted, "The Hangdog camp would be a safe bet..."

"Maybe they would understand," he thought, "We've been staring down the Legion for a while, now.  The least I could do after what I've done is warn them..."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 26, 2013, 06:04:59 pm
"Hangdog camp? Where's that, exactly?" Dusty glanced at Jagar. "I'm happy to go anyplace safe, but we should at least bring the living Caravan members along too. The more people on our side, the better, and I'm going to guess that they'll be amiable." She looked down. "Does everyone want to stick together for now, or does anyone have any specific objections to places we might be able to go for this?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 26, 2013, 06:34:49 pm
"The Denver camp is just to the west of here, about 1/3 of the way to the border," Jagar answered, "I could lead you all there, if we stick together."

"I have to warn you, though..." he continued, "My tribe aren't exactly the most civilized bunch...  It will take convincing to get our group in, usually only slave traders are allowed entrance."


Jagar was worried, he was unsure of how the tribe would react to what he had gotten himself into.  They still think he's facing the spirits, surviving without the help of anyone but Mezz in the streets of Denver.  Showing up in a large group with bad news would be disgraceful, but he had to warn them that Caesar was coming.  And perhaps the threat would cause them to be more forgiving of his mistakes, right?...


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 27, 2013, 02:15:06 pm
"The Denver camp is just to the west of here, about 1/3 of the way to the border," Jagar answered, "I could lead you all there, if we stick together."

"I have to warn you, though..." he continued, "My tribe aren't exactly the most civilized bunch...  It will take convincing to get our group in, usually only slave traders are allowed entrance."


Jagar was worried, he was unsure of how the tribe would react to what he had gotten himself into.  They still think he's facing the spirits, surviving without the help of anyone but Mezz in the streets of Denver.  Showing up in a large group with bad news would be disgraceful, but he had to warn them that Caesar was coming.  And perhaps the threat would cause them to be more forgiving of his mistakes, right?...

"Slave traders huh... well, in that case, I'd say we need disguises." Kethan grabbed the head gear from a few legionaries that had been killed and tinkered with them, redesigning them to be a tad more generic and less obviously associated. He then handed them  to Erin and Dusty.

"This way, your face will be covered." He whispered to Dusty, knowing that she would be uncomfortable around the slave traders given her status.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 27, 2013, 04:45:34 pm
Erin slipped her disguise on quickly, feeling comfortable. She had always favored disguises. They were masks of safety, protecting one's identity and concealing it from those who would do you harm. A good disguise got you into a lot of places that would be otherwise difficult to infiltrate. Pretending to be someone not herself was no different to Erin than actually being herself. To her, an identity was something that could be cast aside whenever needed, and a new one taken. They were masks that never showed her true face. At this point, the girl wasn't sure who she was supposed to be. She had taken and discarded so many personas that perhaps she had already thrown away who she really was.
But that was a matter to ponder another time.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 27, 2013, 05:01:35 pm
Dusty exhaled in relief as she donned the disguise. "This'll do good. We should get a move on. The Legion won't waste any time getting back here. They're probably already on their way. Round up the survivors and let's get a move on. We'll drop them off somewhere safe."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 27, 2013, 05:12:20 pm
Jagar and Mezz began helping gather the injured.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 27, 2013, 05:28:38 pm
There were a total of six survivors, whom Kethan set up with disguises as well. The three that Dusty treated were unable to move, but between Kethan, Jager, and Mezz, they were covered. The other three were willing to follow.

"Well Jager, lead the way. If they ask, say the caravaners are members of our raiding party that got wounded."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 27, 2013, 05:52:02 pm
"Alright, it's not that far of a trek," Jagar explained as the group followed.

   ---

After about 40 minutes had passed, after leaving the survivors with a caravan heading to Mihi, the they arrived just outside of the camp.  Jagar had taken the group through various obscure passages and alleys, extending the voyage but avoiding encounters with wild dogs.

"Up ahead, you can see the camp from here," he pointed out, "Is everyone ready for we head in?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 27, 2013, 05:59:25 pm
"I... I guess..." Dusty looked down, a trait of hers thanks to her slave days. "Let 's get this over with."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 27, 2013, 06:08:28 pm
Erin simply nodded.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 27, 2013, 06:09:16 pm
"I'll cover the rear." Kethan said calmly.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 27, 2013, 07:03:37 pm
"Alright, follow my lead and stay in character," Jagar informed the group before heading to the camp.

   ---

"Halt!" a guard exclaimed, "What is your purpose in-  Wait, Jag, is that you?"

"Uhh, hello Tree-Bark," Jagar awkwardly replied, "I know what you're thinking..."

"You're supposed to be facing the spirits..." Tree-Bark pointed out, "If the elders knew you were here..."

"There's something the elders need to know!" Jagar interrupted.

"And what's that?" Tree-Bark asked.

"The Legion is in Denver," Jagar explained, "And they're moving closer."

Tree-Bark didn't reply for a moment, "Well, the elders probably would like to hear of that," he responded with a crack in his voice.


He then looked to the group behind Jagar and Mezz, "And may I ask why you're traveling with this whelp?  He was supposed to be avoiding human contact for the ritual."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 27, 2013, 07:23:42 pm
"Alright, follow my lead and stay in character," Jagar informed the group before heading to the camp.

   ---

"Halt!" a guard exclaimed, "What is your purpose in-  Wait, Jag, is that you?"

"Uhh, hello Tree-Bark," Jagar awkwardly replied, "I know what you're thinking..."

"You're supposed to be facing the spirits..." Tree-Bark pointed out, "If the elders knew you were here..."

"There's something the elders need to know!" Jagar interrupted.

"And what's that?" Tree-Bark asked.

"The Legion is in Denver," Jagar explained, "And they're moving closer."

Tree-Bark didn't reply for a moment, "Well, the elders probably would like to hear of that," he responded with a crack in his voice.


He then looked to the group behind Jagar and Mezz, "And may I ask why you're traveling with this whelp?  He was supposed to be avoiding human contact for the ritual."
"Ran into him along the roads. Ended up in bad shape after some slaves made a break for it. Said he'd lead us to a place where we could reconstitute ourselves. Whelp or no, he was our best bet."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 27, 2013, 07:53:45 pm
"Ran into him along the roads. Ended up in bad shape after some slaves made a break for it. Said he'd lead us to a place where we could reconstitute ourselves. Whelp or no, he was our best bet."
"Well, he shouldn't have led you here..." Tree-Bark said, "Granted, we could use more 'helping hands,' but your stock seems to be rather dry."

"They're looking to trade for gear medical supplies," Jagar explained, "We have plenty of weapons and herbs, it wouldn't hurt to do some trading."

"I suppose..." the guard replied.

"Now, perhaps it's best that I see the elders, now?" Jagar asked.

"Yes, yes." Tree-Bark replied, letting him in.

"And I suppose you can enter too," he continued, looking to the rest of the group.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 27, 2013, 08:03:02 pm
"Thank you." Dusty had spent enough time around slavers to know how to act, and she did a fairly good job- if not appearing slightly nervous. God, I wonder if these people can talk to the dogs... And dogs can smell fear. I need to stay calm, nobody can recognize me. Even if the Legion is looking for me, my hair is shortened and I'm wearing a mask. Dusty took a deep breath. She was not a fan of slavers, nor anyone who sealed with them.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 27, 2013, 08:28:13 pm
Erin nodded at the guard as she passed. Noting Dusty seemed to be nervous, she wondered at the other girl's past. She generally didn't care about the pasts of her companions, but the more interesting ones tended to be a source of idle curiosity for her. She disdained the feeling of wanting to know something just to know it, but conceded to herself that their pasts had the chance of holding useful information.
She glanced around at the camp, noting with disdain the dogs that ran freely. While she had nothing against dogs, her time in the streets of Denver around them had trained her to be wary of them. The beasts here, despite her knowledge that they would only attack her if commanded to, made her jumpy.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 27, 2013, 08:40:36 pm
Kethan had seen only a few tame dogs in his lifetime before now. One was Mezz. One was a Cyberdog, and one was only tame because it's owner had it hoped up on chems. So to see so many dogs that weren't aggressive in one area was impressive.

"I've got some spare weaponry I picked up in my last scuff, if you wanna point me in the direction of someone with food or chems to trade." Kethan asked one of the Hangdogs.

"Rust. If you wanna come with me. I know you know this stuff better than I do." Just in case, Kethan was using a fake name for Dusty.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 27, 2013, 09:44:28 pm
"I've got some spare weaponry I picked up in my last scuff, if you wanna point me in the direction of someone with food or chems to trade." Kethan asked one of the Hangdogs.
"You can find traders by the tents, near the center of the village," the Hangdog replied, pointing in their general direction.

   ---

"You may see the elders now," a Hangdog, guarding the entrance to a large tent, told Jagar.

He nodded and walked in, followed by Mezz.

Three older tribals sat on their knees, behind a short, round table.

"Why have you returned so early, Jagar?" Bares-His-Teeth, the youngest elder asked.

"You are supposed to be facing the spirits with Mezz," Path-Digger, another Elder, continued, "Returning now shows great disrespect for our customs."

"I understand what I represent by returning before completing the ritual, but I have news that the tribe must be aware of," he explained.

"Well, what is it?  Spit it out!" Bares-His-Teeth asked in a rude tone.

"Calm yourself, let the young one speak," Spirit-Runner, the oldest elder interrupted.  She had been been trying to coach Bares-His-Teeth as the newest elder, ever since the last one had passed.

"The Legion has entered Denver," Jagar answered, "They've already started crucifying caravans!"

The room fell silent.

"This day has been a long time coming," Path-Digger spoke, "Ever since we first heard stories of the Legion all those years ago..."

The other two elders didn't speak.  Spirit-Runner had a look of genuine depression on her face, while Bares-His-Teeth appeared not even know what to think.

"Thank you for bringing this to our attention," Spirit-Runner said, "Due to the circumstances, you can attempt the rite another time.  For now, you and Mezz may stay in the village.  We have a lot to go over..."

Jagar nodded and exited the tent with Mezz.

Sighing, he went to regroup with the others.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 27, 2013, 09:51:22 pm
Dusty calmed herself some more. "My pleasure." There wasn't much to say. "Do you think the Hangdogs will fight the Legion?" She said it quietly once they had walked some distance. The settlement was large and noisy enough that nobody would hear quiet discussion.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 27, 2013, 09:59:01 pm
Dusty calmed herself some more. "My pleasure." There wasn't much to say. "Do you think the Hangdogs will fight the Legion?" She said it quietly once they had walked some distance. The settlement was large and noisy enough that nobody would hear quiet discussion.
"I don't know. One thing I do know though is that this location is tactically sound Look around. It's well boxed in from some sides with only a few key entrances. Anyone, be they Legion, NCR... or even Brotherhood might like this location. I can't be certain. But if you look at it tactically, here's the facts. If NCR took it, they'd use it to advance their boarder. Not practically sound with their setup, but still possible. If the Legion took it, it'd make a great camp for them to have a strike team. The Brotherhood is fond of their bunkers though. So unless there is a bunker near here, or a proper fort building, they might not take it out of risk of being exposed to arty fire. So I don't know. All I know is, this tribe is sitting in a bad spot with the war. War never changes though. Innocents always get caught in the cross fire."

Kethan found the traders and sold off his spare stuff for materials that he double checked by Dusty's recipe lists as well as already made Chems. Taking a Hydra hit while there.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 27, 2013, 10:17:10 pm
"... That's not good for them." She quieted quickly as they approached the traders. Dusty's pejorative was to get together some supplies. And hopefully to find some Mentats- she had run out. I'm not about to complain. I'll be fine. I can stop any time I want to.

She ended up getting rid of the armor she got off of the Raider, plus some of the random supplies she'd found on the way. She was able to buy the last few supplies she needed to make a full batch of Hydra, plus enough to make some Med-X and Stimpaks. It was cheaper to buy the supplies than the drugs. At least I still have some use in that skill... She also bought some food and drink. She handed some over to Kethan. "My treat today."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 27, 2013, 10:23:46 pm
"Thanks. Not really sure what to do here at this point. I'm sure that Jager's having an important conversation with his elders, and Erin, well, honestly, reading her's near impossible. I wanna dig up some spare parts. Think I saw a junk pile near the entrance. Might be able to find what I need to fix up my armor."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 27, 2013, 11:02:37 pm
Jagar and Mezz returned to the group.

"Well, you can stay here as long as you want, but if I were you I'd get out of here as soon as you can," Jagar said, "As for me, I'm not really sure what I should do..."

He took a look at the tattoo on the back of his left hand.

"I'm sure the tribe won't give up, but Caesar has been taking over groups like ours for years now..." he continued, "Every time someone resists, he finds a new way to break them.  I want to help the tribe, but honestly...  Honestly I'm just afraid.  Everyone here has been like a stranger to me, ever since..." he pulled a strap of worn-out boxing tape out of his bag as he spoke, and began wrapping it around his left hand, "I've been told non-stop about respect for the tribe's customs and now I just don't know...  I think I want to leave, but I can only think of the people I'd be letting down."

"I just don't want to put Mezz and Myself in danger for something I'm not even sure about, anymore..." he continued.


"I'm sorry for bringing this up out of the blue, but I really don't know what to do," Jagar said, finishing wrapping both of his hands.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 27, 2013, 11:13:33 pm
Erin, with no specific thing that she needed to do while they were in the camp, had taken to shadowing Dusty and Kethan, watching them closely. She was idly looking for any clues that might hint toward Dusty's past. Kethan's was obvious. He was former Brotherhood. She wasn't interested in him. Erin had experience at reading people, and although she struggled to distinguish emotions, those were less important to her. In her old line of work, knowing a subject's pattern and personality were essential to completing the job. In addition to having to know where they'd likely be at any given time of day, it was also needed to have at least a basic understanding of their past, so as to predict their reäctions and weak points. She hadn't known Dusty long enough to get a good read on her, but it was only a matter of time.

"Good. The less attachment to your old home, the better." Was all Erin said. She wasn't interested in Jagar's emotional trouble; her only concern was with anything that could compromise his effectiveness in a fight and the like. Thoughts of home were one of them.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 27, 2013, 11:17:55 pm
"Although Jager, if you're concerned. How about we give them a little backup." Kethan looked at the Junk Pile. He knew his way around tinkering. A grin crossed his face.

"C'mon. I'll show you how to get these things running. I see plenty of robot parts in there." Kethan started off by pulling together a mostly undamaged Protectron. Getting it active with a Fission battery, he tinkered with it's programming until it was set to defend the camp.

"What do you think? Think that they'll appreciate the extra firepower? There's enough for a bunch of Protectrons, a few Handys, a pair of Gutsys, and I think a Sentry bot too. But they're your people. It's your call."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 27, 2013, 11:34:11 pm
Jagar took a good look at the robot, disinterested in it.

"They won't be enough to stop the Legion," he said, "Besides, nobody here knows how to maintain these things, and it's spooking the dogs..."

"I think it would be best if I followed you guys, past the NCR border." Jagar finished.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 27, 2013, 11:39:17 pm
"I know it's hard, but there's only so much we can do. Just... trust me. There's more of them than you think. You'd need more than any single tribe could muster- Caesar's Legion has so many tribes in it already...." Dusty said it bitterly. She knew that they'd be defeated, even if they got these robots working. "Right now, your best bet? Tell your tribe to get the hell out of here. It's good for you to come, too. Because there's no way..." She made a frustrated noise and turned away from the group. She didn't feel safe discussing the Legion at all. They're gonna find me, and who knows what they'll do to this tribe? We need to get out of here oh god oh god...

-----------------

With camps now securely set in place, the Legion could safely extend it's reach, and it did. The camps were already teeming with Legionaries, and they were looking ahead. Soon, it would be time to move in.

"Sir, one of our scouting and raiding parties has been found dead." Silence. "It appears that a Brotherhood of Steel member, two women, and a member of the local tribe were responsible. Nothing else was recorded by the recording member, it appears he was killed at that time."

"Is that so..." The Centurion mused a moment. "We have no choice but to retaliate. The Brotherhood of Steel is a known problem, but these locals are far closer to our reach. If we get them to join us, we gain their ability to train these mongrels... We could increase our forces exponentially."

"What would you like us to do?"

"Continue to advance the front line. I want to see these dog men taken in the name of Caesar!"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 27, 2013, 11:46:31 pm
"Alright." Kethan removed the fission battery. "In that case, it's like Dusty said. Things won't go well. I think that if we get out of this town, we should find a safe-house. There's a bunker that used to belong to our chapter that we abandoned when we finished striping it of it's tech. I'll lead the way this time. But don't expect much in the way of anything useful to scav there. I know. I personally ripped the pipes out of some of the walls because they were made of the same alloy we make our T-45s out of." Kethan started to walk.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 28, 2013, 12:07:47 am
Jagar took one last look to the center of the camp.  Certain that nobody would notice his disappearance if he left with the group, especially considering that most didn't even know he was back.

"Alright, I'm right behind you," he sighed as he signaled for Mezz to follow him.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 28, 2013, 02:57:06 pm
"It'll have to do. Crossing the border probably isn't an option, huh..?" Dusty appeared disappointed. "We'll need a good safehouse, get it set up right, and stick around until we can find a way out." Dusty felt a twinge of guilt. I'm not helping these people avoid the same fate as my own. I'm awful. But I don't just care about me, it's just that these people are dirty slavers. I can't think... What if Jagar is a slaver too? And what about Erin? Who the hell knows what she does.... Dusty followed Kethan and glanced at Jagar and Erin with wild eyes. She was slowly becoming paranoid due to Mentat withdrawal, though most people wouldn't be able to tell, unless they were skilled in medicine and knew what to look for.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 28, 2013, 03:13:53 pm
The bunker had a code operated external opening mechanism. You needed either the proper passcode, or someone on the inside to let you in.

"This Bunker was actually part of one of the Vault Setups. I think it was Vault 30. Research shows that the 'Vault Experiment' here was that they let it's inhabitants play around with their GECK. But with all that power and a thousand people to split it among, people got greedy. Eventually, one person ended up using the thing to wipe out everybody else. This vault had an irregular setup because of it's experiment. It's also why you won't see the Vault Number or any other references to it being a vault anywhere except the Overseer room, which is down the hall on the right. The GECK itself, if you were wondering, got broken by the last resident who went mad with loneliness. Bathrooms are to the left, and there are beds straight down the middle. As for the main area, you take the elevator right there down, but it's just a few acre wide metal square of emptiness."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 28, 2013, 04:22:50 pm
"The GECK?" Jagar asked, "I think I've heard of that.  It was some sort of farming equipment, correct?"

He analyzed the entrance to the bunker, paranoid of the confined space.

"I've heard stories of a vault city, back west, that used theirs to decorate their streets with grass and trees," he continued.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 28, 2013, 04:28:16 pm
"Not quite. The GECK, or the Garden of Eden Creation Kit. It's a terraforming device. The idea of it was that it'd be used to rebuild nature after the Great War. Most Vaults were equipped with one. But most Vaults led to the death or insanity of the entirety of their residents. That being said, the plan obviously failed. Otherwise, the whole world would be green and lush already. It's idiocy like what happened here which is exactly what the Brotherhood aims to prevent. Too many people are irresponsible with technology." Kethan still shared some of the Brotherhood's ideals, one could tell by the tone of his voice.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 28, 2013, 04:33:16 pm
"Well, this place will work," Jagar redirected the conversation.

"Come on, girl," he said to Mezz, heading to the living quarters.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 28, 2013, 05:26:57 pm
Erin looked around at the bunker approvingly. It would serve for the time being. She mostly ignored the conversation about the GECK, but that didn't mean she didn't listen to it. Erin never forgot anything, so by staying close enough to hear as she explored the bunker, she filed away the information to review for anything potentially useful.
As Jagar retired to the living quarters, she leaned against a wall in a hallway, drawing her pistol and partially dismantling it to clean it and use spare parts from her satchel to replace anything compromised. It was one of her top priorities to make sure her weapon was in good shape. A misfire in the middle of a skirmish could spell disaster.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 28, 2013, 05:45:16 pm
"What most wouldn't give for a functional GECK." Dusty commented after Kethan finished. She went the opposite direction of the others, towards the Overseer's Office. She brushed her hands over the surfaces. Not much was left, aside from a desk, with a hot plate and beaker. Likely left behind by previous tenants, no doubt. She turned the hot plate on. It didn't seem to have much juice, but she didn't need much. She cooked up a few chems- two Hydra, three Med-X, and two Stimpaks. She sighed, contemplating trying to make new things. She felt compelled to ask Jagar and Erin about their past jobs and opinions on the slave trade, to put her mind at ease. She decided to approach Erin. She packed up her supplies and looked down the hall. Erin was against the wall. She walked down the hall to her.

"Erin, may I ask a question? You've never said much about yourself. What's your trade? You seem to have a lot of skills, so I figured you must have some sort of job at some time."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 28, 2013, 06:03:15 pm
"I am --or used to be-- an assassin and general mercenary." Erin answered bluntly. "In addition to taking out specific targets, I often served as a bodyguard or spy." She had little problem revealing her old occupation. While it was possible she had killed someone one of the others cared about in the past, she never let anyone see her face on the job, and killed her own employers if she thought they would sell her out. "Why?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 28, 2013, 06:16:18 pm
"Call me paranoid, but I don't feel safe traveling with people I don't know at all." Dusty looked down. "I'm not too fond of the idea of an ally selling me out for a few Aureus." She didn't know what else to say. Erin made her uncomfortable, what with her flat, seemingly unchanging affect. She seemed honest enough, at least.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 28, 2013, 06:22:05 pm
"I won't betray you if I don't think the gain for it is greater than keeping you around." Erin said. "Companions with skills I lack are useful. You've got medical training. I can do basic first aid in the field, but little more than that. Therefore, it's worth traveling with you for your expertise." She paused. "...Who's after you that you're afraid of betrayal anyway?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 28, 2013, 06:28:22 pm
"The Legion." Dusty sounded sad. "They're looking for me, right now. I left not too long ago, but.... They'll be wanting me back." She was covered in scars, even though you couldn't see them right now. She felt self conscious, suddenly.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 28, 2013, 06:33:48 pm
Dusty didn't look like a legionnaire, and Erin wasn't sure how much of a fighter she was. And she had been nervous in the Hangdogs' camp, a tribe of slavers. She had medical experience and could mix chems. "Escaped slave, are you?" Erin said. "I don't deal with the Legion, no matter how much they offer me. I won't betray anyone to them. The Legion and I have a bad history."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 28, 2013, 06:42:52 pm
"Yes. Eight years." Dusty let out a sigh of relief. "That's a weight off my mind. I won't ask about your past with the Legion. I know them well enough." She looked into the living quarters. "I'm going to get set up in there. Talk to you later." She walked away, and into the living quarters. She went into the room set that Jagar was not in, feeling drained. She sat on the edge of a bed. Not much here either, other than a few beds and some shelves, desks, chairs. Nothing exciting.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 28, 2013, 06:46:44 pm
Erin nodded and turned back to her still partially deconstructed weapon, finishing the repairs and rebuilding what she had dismantled. Satisfied , she holstered the weapon again and drew her knife, making sure it was still in suitable shape.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 28, 2013, 07:59:44 pm
Jagar, after setting out his supplies in one of the living quarters, walked out to the main room.

"So, what exactly is our plan, now?  We can't just wait out the Legion, down here," he expressed.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 28, 2013, 08:04:40 pm
"You're right. Waiting out the Legion won't happen any time soon. But you have to realize they're not the only factor in the area. There's the NCR and the Brotherhood who's war is distracting both sides. The best bet for holding the Legion off is if one side wins this war. That side will then be able to dedicate full attention to the Legion. It's the only way anything will really move in Van Buren."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 28, 2013, 08:32:52 pm
"What if the NCR doesn't win?  They have enough trouble as it is holding their own territory," Jagar pointed out, "And, sorry to break it to you, but the brotherhood has been on a downward slope ever since you outcast half of your order to the east.  The Legion seems to have the advantage here."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 28, 2013, 08:38:55 pm
Dusty could hear them talking a ways away, but wasn't able to make it out, aside from NCR and Legion. She finished setting up her bed and desk, and walked down the hall, towards Kethan and Jagar. "What are you guys talking about?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 28, 2013, 09:17:55 pm
"Just discussing the war and what it means to us. Both NCR and the Brotherhood are too proud to let down quietly. NCR has Numbers, but the Brotherhood has Raw Firepower. It's an even match. Besides, I'm not Brotherhood anymore. And while I did have a few friends, plenty of people there hated me too. One way or another, one side is gonna wind up losing this war, and by the time that happens, Ceasar'll be waiting to pick off the stragglers. Something needs to be done." Kethan pulled a wall panel off one of the walls and revealed a stash of chems. Hidden before the chapter moved bunkers. He tossed Dusty some Mentats, and grabbed some Hydra for himself.

"If either of you have a fix, go ahead and take it."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 28, 2013, 10:31:23 pm
"I'd rather not..." Jagar responded, although he kept his eyes focused on a bottle of steady in the back of the cache.

Scratching the back of his neck he turned away, "If-  If you need me, I'll be with Mezz in the living area.  Let me know if you manage to think of a plan other than 'wait'."

With that rude response, Jagar withdrew from the room.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 28, 2013, 10:41:47 pm
Dusty snatched the Mentats from the air with near superhuman speed and had popped one before most people would have caught it. She stashed the rest in her bag. She waited a moment before speaking up, instead watching Jagar walk off. "Think he used to use chems?" She asked Kethan. She shrugged, unsure but not too worried.


"So we need to pick a side, is what you're saying. If I were them, I'd join forces to take out the bigger threat to both of them, then go back to killing each other, but... I'm guessing I'd get shot for suggesting it if I brought it up to them. I'm fine with anyone who isn't Caesar's Legion, but I do think that there's no way it's a perfectly even match. It might be close... But I betcha one of them is stronger than the other in the end." Dusty nodded to herself. "Since I don't have strong feelings about either party, my feel is that we should go to whomever has the best chance of winning and rally them. Resolve the little squabble and get things ready for the showdown. We don't have much time to spend making this choice. Hell, we should probably take a late night tonight and approach the group we decide on." Dusty looked worn down, even bothered. She wanted to do something, but had no clue what, and it showed with her posture. She slouched against a wall.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 28, 2013, 11:08:08 pm
"I'm not one to rush into any decision like this. Besides, what good would a rally really do? In the end, it's the Chain that Binds on the Brotherhood side and the Commanding Officers on the NCR side that call the shots. And good luck getting a hold of President Johnson or High Elder Forge without ending up Swiss cheese or a smoldering pile respectively." Kethan took a Hydra hit and then went to bed himself. It was getting late anyway.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 28, 2013, 11:25:42 pm
Dusty said nothing. She knew that he knew better than her, but waiting wasn't solving anything. Irritated, she went to her own room and sat on the edge of the bed. "I don't know a damn thing about the world. All I do know is that the Legion sucks. Do I really want to get involved in this?" No, you don't. Why are you sticking around at all? She knew that her heart was in the right place, but Kethan knew the facts of life in the Wastes. How would they get to someone who would listen to what the group had to say? Maybe it's a fruitless effort. Or maybe... She shook her head, and took off her leather armor, knowing she'd have a hard time sleeping in it. Still, she was restless and sat up. The feeling from earlier hadn't gone away, and she wondered what it was. There were many feelings she didn't understand, mostly due to her time with Caesar's Legion, and the desire for close companionship was something she had never known. All she knew was that she didn't want a war.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 30, 2013, 12:49:27 pm
When the next day had come, Kethan had his resolve. He refused to betray the Brotherhood, but knew the war effort was going to take too long either way. So there was only one thing to do. He was going to slow the Legion down, and to do that, he had to break their organization.

"The legion can't stand without it's Higher Ups. And I know at least one person who knows a Legion Higher up. That person's death will weaken the legion, and make them reckless. NCR and the Legion will pick them off en passing. It's the only way I can stay true to my friends while still respecting my banishment."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 30, 2013, 01:28:32 pm
Dusty had spent a restless night awake, only occasionally managing to nod off. She had taken enough Mentats overnight to have reached a conclusion on what was bothering her- she decided that it could wait until she was safe. Get safely out of the Legion's reach, then I can worry about stuff like that. It still did bother her, but she had decided that the first course of action had to be getting far, far away from the Legion encampments.

Which is why she groaned loudly when she heard Kethan talking in the men's quarters. Going near that man again was something she never wanted to do. Ever. It wasn't that she wouldn't love to slice his head off with a hot laser shot, it was more that she knew that she stood no chance of doing it. Not to mention, the man made her nervous. Even thinking of it makes me nervous. She took a Mentat and rubbed her eyes, and put her armor and glasses back on. She took out a water bottle she had and took a sip before getting out of bed. There wasn't much else she could do but get up. She had a feeling that Kethan would want to talk to her.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 30, 2013, 01:33:09 pm
"I heard that. Don't worry. My plan won't involve you if you don't want a part of it."

Kethan worked it out so she didn't need to be involved. Assuming the other two were willing of course. Erin would disguise herself as Dusty, Jager would return Erin to the Legion, and she would leave a trail of Chopped Xander Root for Kethan to follow until between the three of them would be able to take out Dusty's former owner. Then would be the matter of getting out, but given how Erin fought the previous day, Kethan was certain they'd escape unscathed.

Kethan waited for everybody in the Main Hall so he could verbalize his plan once everyone could hear it.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 30, 2013, 01:37:33 pm
Erin had slept very lightly the night before. She awoke at the slightest sound, but quickly went back to sleep. She had long ago trained herself to sleep that way so as to not be surprised while resting. Her sleep was dreamless, as it always was. A deficient imagination didn't lend itself to such fantasies.

When Kethan entered the main hall, Erin was already there. "Tell me who it is, and I'll have them dead in a day or two at most." She said matter-of-factly. She had risen very early and lurked around the rooms the others were in, waiting for them to wake up, and also listening in. With her keen hearing, she had heard Kethan musing about his plan out loud. Killing specific people was her specialty.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 30, 2013, 01:45:39 pm
Dusty walked out into the Main Hall. "I never said I didn't want to be involved... I want to kill that son-of-a-bitch more than any of you. Combined. I'd hope that you'd understand, though, that I don't want to end up a slave again. I'm willing to help, but... don't leave me behind. I know that I'd make for a great distraction, if one of you brought me back, but... I'd need a promise of my safe escape." She took a shaky breath. That would suit her fine. She knew, better than anyone, how to distract this part of the Legion. She was willing to put her trust in these near strangers, if it meant saving others from what she'd gone through.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 30, 2013, 03:25:25 pm
Jagar and Mezz entered the main hall.

"Did you brotherhood types really have to take the beds as well?" Jagar asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Uhh, what's everyone talking about?..." he noticed the group.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 30, 2013, 03:33:00 pm
"Those were the beds. We never had matrices in the first place. Anyway, I thought up a plan to stagger the legion so they aren't a threat anymore for the most part. If Dusty has a name and a face of someone very important to the Legion whom we know is in the area. So the big thing comes down to taking him out, leaving everyone below him in a state of confusion and disarray. Jager, you look like a slaver, no offence. And Dusty, I promise that we'll get you out. Here's the plan. Jager, you 'return' Dusty, Dusty leaves a trail for me and Erin to follow, and then we take that guy out. Between the four of us, we can get out alright. The Legion thrives on it's hierarchy, so snip one part of the rope, and the whole thing unravels. What do you all think?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 30, 2013, 03:41:35 pm
Dusty sighed. "I still have my old... clothes, if you can call them that." She pulled the old slave clothing out of her bag. It was hardly clothing- rags with a red "X" across the chest. "If you disrupt the chain of command, they do fall apart. But it won't be easy. If we do this, I'm leaving my nicer stuff with you guys. They'll take it off of me if I come in with something useful. I'll bring a small, easy to hide weapon, just in case..."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 30, 2013, 03:51:26 pm
"Wait, Dusty was a Legion slave?" Jagar asked in a bit of surprise, "Am I the only one who wasn't told?"
...
"Err, well.  It seems like it could work, but the Legion has a thing against trading with other tribes," Jagar continued, "I just hope my accent isn't too much of a give-away."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 30, 2013, 03:58:58 pm
"It won't matter anyway. We're talking about a man in line to become Legate. Her escape was a sign of weakness on his part and he's desperate to get her back. They'll want to reward you in person." Kethan had spent plenty of time thinking this one out. He had fought enough Legion while he was in the Brotherhood to know how they operate.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 30, 2013, 04:02:52 pm
"Jagar, I take it you don't have experience going undercover?" Erin said. "This might not be the best plan if the people working in it have to guess how to do their job. I'd rather go in alone and eliminate him, but if you're insistent on this plan, I could make it work, but with a slight variation. It'd be easier for me to pose as a captive being sold to the Legion, and then I can follow Dusty to the target. I don't need a weapon to kill a man, so concealing my pistol won't be a problem."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 30, 2013, 04:10:49 pm
"Don't take offense to this, but it's going into the heart of a legion camp. No one person going in alone can make it out of that no matter how good you are. All it'll take is a single shot from behind while you're working on one person and you're dead. That, and Dusty's presence insures we get to who we need to get to. That's why I insist on the plan. Besides, Jagar's been around enough Slavers in his village. I'm sure he knows some of how they act, right? Who's to say that you'll even be able to follow Dusty. They might send you off to another camp. How about this though. You're good at stealth, right? Follow closely to make sure that if something unexpected happens, you can react."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 30, 2013, 04:20:06 pm
"I suppose it could work, but this is the Legion.  I abandoned my home to get away from them, and now I'm the one who has to go into their territory and shake hands with their general?  I'm not sure I can do it," Jagar began to panic.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 30, 2013, 04:22:58 pm
Kethan put his hand on Jagar's shoulder.

"Listen, I know it sounds intimidating, but I trust you enough with this task. All four of us are gonna make it out of there in one piece. I promise." Kethan smiled and gave a thumbs up.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 30, 2013, 04:29:07 pm
"Fine.  But this better be the last time I see the Legion," Jagar sighed.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 30, 2013, 04:41:06 pm
"And you expect me to even be seen out of disguise?" Erin said mildly. "Trust me, I've done this before. I made it out alive then, and I can now. As I said, I'm willing to work with your plan, but I don't like having people with no real field experience working beside me." She turned to Jagar. "For you to have the best chance of keeping your cover, only talk business. If they try to make small talk, give them a cursory dismissal. Act like you're only there because you want your pay. Be cold but not rude. Give them reason not to talk to you outside of business, but not to kill you or kick you out." She told him. Erin felt uneasy about someone such as him being such a critical part of the plan. But she could always ditch him and do it herself if need be.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 30, 2013, 04:49:43 pm
Dusty turned and headed back into the women's quarters, and changes her outfit. She folded up her fatigues and armor, and set the rest of her too-valuable-to-lose gear down as well. She returned to the group, looking far closer to how she had originally. She didn't have much to say- she agreed with Erin. Jagar being inexperienced was difficult.

"If we're doing this... Jagar, listen to Erin. She knows what she's talking about." She then turned to Erin. "I'm glad to know you'll be following in the shadows, so to speak. Sets me at ease, some."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 30, 2013, 05:00:29 pm
"Trust me, once this is over with, the legion in the area will be like lost Geckos." Kethan wnet to a screen on the wall that constantly desplayed a map of the local area. There was no way for it to be removed when the Brotherhood moved out and they didn't need it anyway.

"If we get to this point about three hours east, we should find the kind of people we're looking for. Dusty, if you could chop up some Xander root to use as a trail marker. I'll probably be about 500 feet behind at any given time."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 30, 2013, 05:05:15 pm
Some of Dusty's scars could be seen in this outfit. Most of them are on her core body, many on her back. She's shaken, wearing these clothes again. It isn't good for her psyche, and she shook slightly as she got to chopping up what Xander Root she had.

"Let's just get it over with, I guess. You should all make sure you're ready, too, before we continue. I really don't want to risk any more than we have to..."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 30, 2013, 05:10:23 pm
"I'm always ready." Erin stated. Indeed, she had her satchel, her pistol, her hidden knife, everything she carried on her.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 30, 2013, 05:22:00 pm
Jagar put on his overcoat and covered his hands with boxing tape, yet again.

"To be safe, I can't be seen with a dog when entering the legion camp.  You two need to keep an eye on Mezz," he said to Kethan and Erin, "She knows how to keep her head down, so I doubt she'll be a problem."

Jagar slung his bag around his shoulder and holstered his makeshift pistol, "Well, let's get going."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 30, 2013, 05:27:00 pm
The group advanced. A legionare troupe on patrol fairly close to the legion boarder was spotted by them. This was where they'd make their move.

"I'll watch Mezz for you Jager. Erin, stay hidden, but close, just in case. Here's the rope to make the capture look legit. It's a pre-war type called Nylon. It won't hurt your hands Dusty. Speaking of, here's my old .32. You should be able to hide it. Only five shots so make them count, but I've got your Laser Pistol on me to give to you once things get real."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 30, 2013, 05:35:40 pm
"Alright, umm.  Here's hoping for the best..." Jagar said as he started binding Dusty's hands.

"You ready?" he asked.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 30, 2013, 05:43:03 pm
"Ready as I'll ever be. I'll try to play my part... Play yours too. I want to be sure that they'll be convinced." Dusty nodded as her hands were tied. She walked alongside Jagar, towards the Legionary patrol. As they got within hearing and seeing distance, Dusty began to struggle against Jagar.

"Please, you have to let me go...! Nnnh!"

The Legionary patrol took notice of them, and watched as they approached. The small patrol looked at them, talking among themselves, until once decided to close the gap and came close. "Halt! This is territory belongs to Caesar. What is your business?" The Legionary looked at Dusty, but did not assume that Jagar intended to return her. Intentions first.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 30, 2013, 06:22:44 pm
Jagar gulped before responding, "I've come to claim my reward for this escaped slave!" he yelled as he yanked on the bindings.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 30, 2013, 06:33:43 pm
"Is that so...?" The Legionary moved in closer, grabbing Dusty's chin and tilting her face so he could better see it. "Yeah, this is the one Centurion Adolphus is looking for. I think. You can come with us. It's not safe to do business out in the open like this. You'll be paid after the Centurion confirms that this is the slave he's looking for."

Dusty pulled her chin away from the Legionary and spat at him, a wild look in her eye. "I'm not going back! I'm not something to be bought and sold, I'm a person you sonof- UFFF" Dusty was cut short by the swift hand of the Legionary. His hand had a heavy gauntlet on it, and it left a mark on Dusty's neck. She quickly quieted down. She'd played her part well enough. The Legionaries were too excited by the thought of reward to be concerned with Jagar's gulp- they didn't notice at all. And Dusty's squirming about saw to that. "Silence, woman. Now, shall we go? I'll lead the way. Flank him." The legionaries formed a small pack around Jagar and Dusty, to ensure that there would be no escape or attack. And they began to walk. Dusty got to dropping the little bits of Xander Root here and there. She'd drop more frequently once she was in the camp. For now, she just wanted to be sure that the trail wouldn't be lost. Her face and head ached from the hit, and all she could say was to whimper as they continued on.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 30, 2013, 06:56:21 pm
Erin followed the group silently, hand on her pistol. Keeping track of the trail was child's play. She'd tracked targets for days at a time before, and she didn't have the advantage of a trail of Xander root then. She wasn't exactly anxious, but strangely apprehensive. In no way did she trust Jagar's (in)ability. She felt at any moment he'd say something to blow his cover and she'd have to step in. It wouldn't be difficult to save them, per se; but it would throw a wrench in the plan, and Erin would simply end up resorting to a similar method as she had used to assassinate a centurion before. It could take days to weeks, but it'd get it done.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 30, 2013, 07:19:37 pm
Kethan followed them from a good deal behind. Having Mezz with him proved a boon as he was alerted whenever something got near. The plan was going smoothly.

At the Legion camp, Adolphus had a special guest with him.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 30, 2013, 09:40:39 pm
Jagar followed the legionaries to the camp, attempting to keep up the act as a slaver.

((Don't really have much else to post... :P))


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 30, 2013, 09:47:24 pm
A short walk later, they arrived at the Legion camp. Curious onlookers watched as the group headed to the Centurion's tent. They stopped at the closed tent.

"Sir, a man has arrived with a slave in tow. We believe the slave to be yours. Permission to enter?"

Quiet discussion could be heard before someone spoke. "Yes, send them in. Stand guard in front of the tent, and I will call for you if you are needed."

"You heard him. Get in there." The Legionary nodded to the entrance of the tent. Dusty began to panic. That was her old master's voice, alright, and she struggled some. She wanted to run, but knew she couldn't. Not now. She settled for looking like she was trying.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 30, 2013, 10:00:20 pm
Jagar entered the tent, "Uh, greetings Centurion, I believe this is yours..." he spoke as he pointed to Dusty, having a difficult time keeping his cool.

"I found her hiding in a small shop in the Denver Streets.  She put up more of a fight than any of us would have expected," Jagar continued, " 'Us' meaning my caravan," he nervously corrected himself.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 30, 2013, 10:31:38 pm
Adolphus took a good look at Dusty, a clearly displeased look crossing his face when he noticed her hair length had been shortened, but in spite of that, her face was exactly as he remembered. He ordered Jagar be rushed out the door.

"I must say, it was bold of you to try and escape me, but you knew you'd be ending up here again. I'm pleased that you found her. Pay the man who located her a good sum of Aureus. As for you, you of course know this stunt will be punished. I was thinking we might cut your tongue out. or maybe I-"

"So, they found her eh Adolphus?" A dark haired man said as he entered the tent, an angry look on his face.

"Legate! Sir. I thought you had left. Yes, as you can see, we've located my escaped slave. I'm sure this proves that I'm capible of solving mistakes."

"If you were worthy of your title, you wouldn't have made the mistake in the first place." Legate Joshua Graham, known for his stern brutality. "What makes you think the slave isn't going to escape again. Or that she didn't make allies who will come rescue her. You're not worthy of anything as far as I can see."

"Sir, what do you mean? You said that you were going to show lenience and give me a week to correct myself."

"I changed my mind." Joshua pulled out his pistol, an auto .45. He pointed it at the back of Dusty's head at first, but when the trigger was pulled, the bullet instead went into Adolphus's head. "From this point on, I'm taking control of Adolphus's squad until a suitable replacement is found. Until then, the mater of this slave is to be discussed. Return her to the man who caught her. In due time, she'll be claimed by a new master as we concur the west. But of course, for his loyalty, he'll still receive payment."

(Kloud let me control Adolphus for this)


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 30, 2013, 10:43:33 pm
Dusty attempted to scramble away, but was soon grabbed by two Legionaries and escorted rather roughly back to Jagar's side. She was hyperventilating, shaking badly and splattered in the blood of her old master. She didn't run from Jagar's side for fear of being shot, instead opting to look at him with wide, empty eyes and a pleading expression.

"Caesar's Legion appreciates your loyalty. Unless you have any further business, you may leave." The Legionary made a shooing motion with his hand. "You may take the slave and the payment. We have no need for her anymore. At this time, at least."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 30, 2013, 10:47:51 pm
Jagar, unsure of what to think when Dusty ran out, covered in blood, just nodded to the legionaries.

"Uhh, s- su- sure..." he replied, his act falling apart in uncertain fear, "F- follow me," he nudged to Dusty as he forgot to grab the nylon lead before heading back the way he came.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on November 30, 2013, 11:33:04 pm
Erin followed at a safe distance, stopping under cover outside the legion camp and watching. After Jagar and Dusty emerged, she watched them closely, noting the blood on Dusty and Jagar's clearly upset demeanor. When they passed by her, she stood and met them. "What happened in there?" She asked. She had heard the gunshot, and the blood on Dusty suggested who had pulled the trigger, but it was incredibly unlikely she would just walk out of there after shooting a Centurion. "Since you're already leaving, I take it the job is either done or Jagar already got you kicked out."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 30, 2013, 11:35:54 pm
"I'm not entirely sure what happened..." Jagar replied as he removed the rope from Dusty's hands, "If it's any consolation, I just got payed in a worthless currency..."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 30, 2013, 11:40:59 pm
Dusty followed Jagar, not saying a peep. Just silence, even her movement didn't make a sound. She looked to Erin, when they got close to her. She opened her mouth, trying to speak, but only choked noises would come. "Dead." She managed to say. Her demeanor was the same as when they had left. He's dead.... and there's someone worse than him now. We've messed up this time... She shambled over to a bush and threw up, and came back pale as a sheet. "Dead...."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 30, 2013, 11:50:12 pm
Kethan charged. Ready to fulfill his part of the plan he ran like a bull. Ready to topple any Legion in his way. That is, until he charged right past the group, realized he passed them about fifty feet past, and then back-peddled to them.

"Eh... what's going on here?" Kethan said, puzzled. He saw Jagar holding Legion Money. He saw Erin, standing out in the open, and he saw Dusty, blood on her face and retching her guts out. Suffice it to say, he was confused.

"Did I miss the action?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on November 30, 2013, 11:53:46 pm
"I believe so..." Jagar replied, still confused on what happened, "I don't understand, what do you mean, he was replaced by someone worse?..."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on November 30, 2013, 11:55:07 pm
Dusty continued to shake. She didn't feel well. "There.... action... It... happened... I want to go home..." She stopped a moment, rinsing her mouth out with some water and spitting it out. She couldn't muster more words at the moment, she was too shaken. She gave each member of the group a soulful look. She seemed a lot like a lost child after what she saw. She started walking towards their base.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on November 30, 2013, 11:57:38 pm
For the sake of simplicity and speed, Kethan carried Dusty back to the Bunker, setting her down on one of the beds.

"Alright, now very slowly, what happened in there. And feel free to stop if it feels overwhelming. Just take your time." Standard things to say when a Brother was in shock after something happening on a mission in the Brotherhood.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on December 01, 2013, 12:06:19 am
Dusty didn't resist being carried, and when she was set down, she had stopped shaking and hyperventilating. Now all that was left was the empty, broken look.

"He... my old master.... this is his blood-" She choked on her words, a silent sob. "He's dead." She leaned against Kethan and cried. Not for loss of the Centurion, whom she had despised, but for her lost innocence and for the deepening of their situation. She had been fortunate enough to remain naive and innocent, completely ignorant of the brutality of post-apocalyptia, but that also made being brought to reality all the harder.

"But that's not a good thing..." At this point, she was bawling into his shoulder. "Legate... Joshua.... Graham!" She stopped speaking at this point, just letting herself get it out of her system.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on December 01, 2013, 12:18:39 am
Kethan's eyes widened. This wasn't good. In recon missions, the Brotherhood had lost countless people trying to get info on Joshua Graham. And what did come back was records of his ruthless nature. Spys in the NCR said he had been killed by Snipers no fewer than five times, and none of them were right. The man was made of Iron as well as anyone knew.

"I'm going to stay here until Dusty's feeling better, but then, I have to go out and talk to a few people. It suddenly became important."

We don't have any options anymore. We can't hide, so we have to influence the war or get past the boarder. But fi I call in a few favors... we'll see...


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on December 01, 2013, 12:49:32 am
"Excuse me, but I thought that our plan was to get as far away from the Legion as possible," Jagar complained, "I went along with going to one of their war camps because I figured it would stop the Legion from hunting us.  If you ask me, from what the said there, they no longer care about us.  I have no intentions of fighting back, if that's what you're thinking, I say we head west, and if we can't cross the border then we'll head north.  Anywhere is better than being in the Legion's path of destruction."

Jagar took a breath, unsure if he should continue with what he has to say, "And...  And if you guys don't agree then I might just leave on my own.  I'm tired of waiting around and I'm certainly not going anywhere near another Legionary!"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on December 01, 2013, 12:57:33 am
Dusty cried a short while longer, and stayed leaned onto Kethan's chest a while longer than that. Once she was done, her voice was hoarse and her eyes red. "I want away from the Legion too, Jagar... But we won't be able to just run so easily. We'll either need to get involved, or somehow find a way through the border blockades... But it won't be so easy as just walking...." She looked back to Kethan. She didn't want him to go- she wanted to go somewhere safe, where everyone could be peaceful. But that place didn't exist, so she wanted to find that sense of safety in her friends.

"I know that you're probably going to meet with your old friends, Kethan..." Dusty sounded exasperated and exhausted. She stood up and went into the corner, and got out of the bloodstained slave robes, quickly switching into her fatigues.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on December 01, 2013, 01:02:51 am
"I'm gonna get a hold of some people with connections that can be of use to us. Hopefully by tomorrow morning, I'll have thigns set up in such a way that we'll be able to make a difference. As it is, we're a former Brotherhood, Mysterious Apathetic Assassin, former Slave, and a Tribal whelp and his dog. Even though two of us are properly trained, that's not enough to get us to safety. So tomorrow morning, Jagar, Dusty, get ready to sweat." Kethan stood up and started to walk. He wouldn't be back until the middle of the night.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on December 01, 2013, 10:21:57 am
"Erin, Jagar... I'm going to bed." Dusty said. "Night." She walked to her bed in the women's quarters and laid down, took a Mentat and quickly fell asleep. With how exhausted she had been, she slept well.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on December 01, 2013, 01:20:20 pm
Jagar, frustrated, returned to the living quarters with Mezz without a word.

"I really don't like this..." he said to Mezz, once they were out of earshot.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on December 01, 2013, 02:11:09 pm
Erin had stayed mostly silent during the walk back and Dusty's breakdown. These happenings were one of the biggest mysteries to Erin. She had been exposed to bloodshed from a young age. Breaking a man's neck or shooting him in the back were as natural to her as breathing. She'd killed her own teacher, stuck a knife in his throat, before setting out on her own. That was two years ago. Since then, she'd killed more people than she could count. Slaves, brotherhood, legionnaires, NCR, tribal savages. She'd used disguises to gain people's trust before strangling them in their sleep, or cutting their throat, or throwing them off a balcony. To her, emotions were weaknesses. Weaknesses she could exploit in those around her, using their pity, kindness, and lust to complete her mission and eliminate her target. Seeing an ally completely lose her composure was puzzling. But regardless, it was not her concern, so long as Dusty recovered.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on December 01, 2013, 02:31:50 pm
The next morning, the Bunker had changed. Not the main halls, the Overseer Office, the Bed Chambers, or anything in the upper area, but the Lower area. The former Garden. It had been transformed. Kethan had been out most of the night, not a moment of sleep. And he had brought with him, three guests.

"Alright everyone. Wake up!" Kethan Yelled as dawn broke outside. "I want all three of you downstairs. Take the Elevator and be polite. I've got three retired men who owe me a lot that you should be on your best behavior for."

The three people. Former Paladin Oleg, now going by Old Man Oleg, former Scribe Beatrice, now simply Doc. B, and a Mind-in-Tact Super Mutant, now going by Joey. With them, they brought a training course, an Auto Doc, a VR Projector, and a mountain of junk.

"Thanks a lot for this. Consider your debts payed in full."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on December 01, 2013, 02:37:14 pm
Jagar took a good look in the direction of the exit, considering how easy it would be to leave...
...
*Sigh*, he made his way to the elevator.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on December 01, 2013, 02:40:13 pm
Dusty fell out of her bed in surprise. "Ow." She turned her head to the door. "I'm on my way!" She hopped up and threw on her armor before jogging towards downstairs. She felt considerably better than she had last night, but the memory still replayed in her mind, haunting her. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes. You could tell she had spent a lot of time crying yesterday, and it looked like she may have even cried in her sleep some, as her eyes were still puffy. Sleep, however, helps push all bad memories down, and that helped a bit. She took her morning Mentat before entering the Elevator with Jagar. She wasn't sure what to expect, but if Kethan liked these people, surely they had to have some sort of skill. Her eyes went wide as dinner plates when she saw Joey, having never seen a Super Mutant before. It was an amusing combination, given that her eyes were still puffy. She swallowed hard.

"H-hello, my name is Dusty. It's a pleasure to meet all of you." She had quickly regained her composure and flashed them her smile. Now rather than looking beat down, she looked confident, dazzling and like she'd had a rather rough night, but not too worse for the wear. Curiosity soon took the better of her and her eyes wandered the room, taking in the assortment of items as well as the people.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on December 01, 2013, 02:55:28 pm
Erin soon followed on the elevator, interested to see what allies Kethan had called in. When she arrived, she surveyed them approvingly. At least two of them looked combat capable. She didn't see super mutants often, and she tended to avoid them. As much as she didn't understand the purpose, she decided she should at least give a cursory greeting. "Welcome. I'm Erin." The words felt awkward and unfamiliar, and reminded the speaker of how pointless socializing really was. But regardless, she appreciated their presence, if you could call it that. Feeling very little emotion, Erin usually felt little more than a vague feeling of satisfaction when things went her way.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on December 01, 2013, 03:07:59 pm
"I called in a few favors these three owe me for major events. Oleg owes me his life after I took a shot from an Anti Material Rifle for him in the arm, I saved Doc B's ass from banishment when I took the fall for some missing weaponry that ended up turning up the next morning, and Joey here, I was the only person in the Brotherhood that listened to his plight when he requested Brotherhood aid to defend a town in the Mojave from being raided. They're all here for two days. During that time, you're all gonna get a taste of their skills. Oleg is a Weapons Master. There's not a single object in the world that can be used to kill something that he can't teach you how to use. Joey, well, I once saw him make a Minigun outta parts he ripped from two protectrons. He's a wizard at Makeshift weaponry. As for Doc B, She brought in a plethora of Implants and an Auto Doc to install them in us. Free of charge. The number of implants you can get is determined by your Physical health, but still. Of course, I would never tell someone else to go through something I wouldn't, so I'm gonna participate in the lessons and treatments as well, but still. So, who's first?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on December 01, 2013, 03:12:17 pm
"I would like to volunteer." Dusty stepped forward, a resolved look on her face. "I'm ready to sweat." She winked at Kethan before stepping forward, unsure who to go to first. In the end, her curiosity won out and she wandered over to Joey and his pile of junk. "Hi..." She glanced up, only a hint of nervousness this time. "I don't have much in the way of weapons yet, so I'd love to learn your craft." She seemed very willing to learn and nodded to Joey, looking up at his face.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on December 01, 2013, 03:20:59 pm
Joey's voice sounded like he was chewing on Gravel. He stuttered a lot too.

"Rrright. From the look of that Laser Pistol, I take it you favor the en..ergy side of things. I think I can... show you a thing or two that can help you... always be armed. Ff-first. And most impoortant is the source..." Joey continued on, building, dismantling, and building again, various laser based weaponry. It was impressive how delicate he could be with his hands.

"Remember... enrgy weapons aren't that commmon. Youl find more parts frome robots than from scavenging, so always be wwiling to spend the shot if you see a machine roaming aroud."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on December 01, 2013, 03:45:45 pm
Jagar gulped when he saw Joey, glad he didn't bring Mezz with him as she would have probably attacked him on sight.

He took a look at his Zip-Gun, "I suppose I could be better with weapons...  But I don't really have any intention of using this thing..." he commented, "Whenever I find myself in a situation, about to use it, I can only remember the stories my father used to tell me of the wasteland, and what it turns people into...  I'm just not sure if I want to be involved in this..."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on December 01, 2013, 03:54:40 pm
Erin turned to Oleg. "Weapons. I only ever received training in energy weapons. I'm an expert at any sort of energy based pistol. Sometimes a little more firepower than that is necessary. Big guns. Miniguns, rocket launchers, I'm sure you know the drill. Since you're offering to teach, I want to learn."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on December 01, 2013, 04:00:51 pm
After spending some hours with Joey, she was the proud owner of her very own Laser RCW. "Thank you so much, Joey. This is so cool!" She fiddled with it a few moments before nodding to him and looking at the other two people. Erin was with the man named Oleg, so Dusty walked over to Doc B. She could relate to this woman, having experience in medicine herself. However, she'd never seen an Auto-Doc. She'd always had to do things the old fashioned way. She looked at the machine in professional wonder for a moment before looking to Doc B. "Is it alright if I work with you next?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on December 01, 2013, 04:14:33 pm
Erin turned to Oleg. "Weapons. I only ever received training in energy weapons. I'm an expert at any sort of energy based pistol. Sometimes a little more firepower than that is necessary. Big guns. Miniguns, rocket launchers, I'm sure you know the drill. Since you're offering to teach, I want to learn."
"So, anything but stuff that use Batteries then, eh?" The man's voice had a strange accent. One that seemed lost to time. "Tell ya what, lass. Sometimes, you run into someone wearing armour that's sooo shiny, yer lasers just bounce right off em. So ya gotta shatter that mirror with a good old fashioned bullet. It's easy enough to aim and shoot, but there's a few tricks you can use to hit a baby mantis right in the eyes from 500 feet. I'll show ya." Oleg demonstraited how different from energy weapons normal guns could be to handle. Things like bullet fall and ricocheting.

After spending some hours with Joey, she was the proud owner of her very own Laser RCW. "Thank you so much, Joey. This is so cool!" She fiddled with it a few moments before nodding to him and looking at the other two people. Erin was with the man named Oleg, so Dusty walked over to Doc B. She could relate to this woman, having experience in medicine herself. However, she'd never seen an Auto-Doc. She'd always had to do things the old fashioned way. She looked at the machine in professional wonder for a moment before looking to Doc B. "Is it alright if I work with you next?"
"Of course. I'd be insulted if you didn't." Doc B looked over Dusty thoroughly with various medical tools. "I'm going to hook you up with an optical enhancer to make up for your obvious astigmatism. While I'm at it, I'll include a reflex enhancer. Then we'll give you an impact based sub -dermal armor, inject you with Nantes into your blood to increase your healing rate, and give you a cardiac regulator to help you manage combat stress. That last one won't make you cold as Ice mind you, it'll just keep your heart from rushing too fast in a fight so your aim stays steady."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on December 01, 2013, 04:24:16 pm
Dusty gave everyone a final glance and took a deep breath before stepping into the Auto Doc. Then, everything went black...

With a creak, the Auto Doc door opened and Dusty gasped, surprised. She squinted a bit. Everything was really bright compared to the relative darkness of the Auto Doc. She still felt tired- leftover from the anesthesia, she supposed. She shook her head slowly, and moved each of her limbs. Everything seemed... sharper. "Wow, my vizzin..." She slurred her speech a bit. She was certainly still waking up. She took a few steps over to a chair and sat, resting as she watched the others mill about. She knew well enough when she wasn't clear headed- well, when she wasn't going through chem withdrawal, that is.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on December 01, 2013, 04:32:33 pm
"I doubt that you've gone through this much trouble to train us as a gift," Jagar said to Kethan, still reluctant on the situation, "What are you planning?"


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on December 01, 2013, 04:42:16 pm
"I'm getting us as far away from the Legion as I can, and I'm giving us the best bet we can of surviving. Since the plan to ruin the Legion's organization in the area failed so badly, I'm making up for it by expediting our border-crossing. If we have to, we fight our way through, whilst wearing disguises. Once we're on the other side, we drop the cover, and move on. Now if you'll excuse me."

 Kethan went to the auto doc and Doc B himself. He figured he'd want his implants in place whenever he was doing his other training.

"Kethan, I know you've already received a tension fiber in your arms and back to let you more aptly maneuver your over-sized armaments. That doesn't leave too much room given your physical state. But I can give you carpo-digital reinforces to limit your recoil with weapons, and a property calculator implant to your brain for the sake of dealing with the natural limitations with your large weapons, as well as with explosives. You better not ever get caught in a grenade blast radius again with that one."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Korbis on December 01, 2013, 05:07:25 pm
"Well, glad to see we're taking a more logical route," Jagar replied as me motioned towards the elevator, "Well, I suppose I don't really have much else to do, here.  I'll be back up-stairs."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on December 01, 2013, 05:25:27 pm
Erin, having finished the training, was waiting around for the others. She heard Kethan, and more or less approved of what he proposed. There was little to do but wait for the others for now, though.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on December 01, 2013, 05:33:17 pm
Dusty was feeling better by the time that Kethan exited the Auto Doc. "Jagar went upstairs. I don't think he wants anything to do with this training at this point... and... I'm not sure he even wants to continue traveling with us at this point." Dusty tilted her head and took a Mentat. "I'm not sure what to do about that."

She wasn't sure why anyone would turn down free training, free implants. Implants are completely safe, she knew, so it wasn't much of a bother to her. She definitely felt some amount more useful to the group after learning some. However, after the training, it had grown late. No doubt, time for some sleep soon.


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on December 01, 2013, 05:36:14 pm
"I dunno. Jagar's his own man though. It's his right. Anything left undone we can do tomorrow. We should all eat. I do wanna check on him though."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kloud on December 01, 2013, 05:58:03 pm
"Fair enough. Let's go upstairs." Dusty got into the elevator, alongside Kethan and Doc B. It was a quiet ride up. Dusty got out of the elevator and glanced around, looking for Jagar or Mezz. She decided to strike up conversation while she was looking. "So, I never really asked, but... where will we go once we get past the blockades? I've never been out West."

((Kinfin gave me permission to move two of his characters upstairs.))


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: Kinfin on December 05, 2013, 09:38:10 pm
"Fair enough. Let's go upstairs." Dusty got into the elevator, alongside Kethan and Doc B. It was a quiet ride up. Dusty got out of the elevator and glanced around, looking for Jagar or Mezz. She decided to strike up conversation while she was looking. "So, I never really asked, but... where will we go once we get past the blockades? I've never been out West."

((Kinfin gave me permission to move two of his characters upstairs.))
"Dunno. Never planned that far out. Just wanna get away from Van Buren. Too many memories, too much conflict."

The whole Bunker Shook.

"What the hell was that?" Kethan ran to the Overseer's Office and accessed it's security camera. Mercs were outside it's door, setting up explosives and trying to get in. "Shit... NCR's bounty. This is an ex-Brotherhood Base... this isn't good."


Title: Re: Van Buren: A Fallout Role Play
Post by: AiraVansalon on December 05, 2013, 09:42:19 pm
After taking one look at the security feed, Erin said. "We need to move. Now." She didn't specify if she meant them to fight or flee, and in reality she didn't know exactly which one. But with how many mercs were there, an open fight wasn't a good idea. If they were going to fight, they would need a strategy.