[GRIM TALES] Wulf Ratbane's SLAVELORDS of CYDONIA

Wulf Ratbane

Adventurer
INTRODUCTION
[imagel]http://www.badaxegames.com/mm/pdf/SL/m-birgitta.jpg[/imagel]
Brigitta could feel an almost electric charge in the air. For months, the buzz had been building in the community: A new era was dawning on the world of man. But despite the growing consensus that something was imminent, there had been no agreement as to the nature of the event they all awaited. Whether it was her own proclivities, or simple luck, Brigitta’s gaze was drawn to South America, to the primal temples that sprouted from the jungles and ascended to the stars. Powerful magic had been performed there, once. Magic with the power over life and death.

And Brigitta was determined to see magic performed there again. Her magic.
* * *
[imagel]http://www.badaxegames.com/mm/pdf/SL/m-goon.jpg[/imagel]
It was just a job to Teddy Carlyle. Just a job: Watch the girl. Protect the girl. Get his hands dirty so she didn’t have to. But still—South America? Was the pay that good? Well, sure, she’d patched him up, and got him out of trouble with the law—more than once—but after hundreds of miles through lawless desert towns, through mosquito-infested jungle, over the mountains and down again… And the whole way, swallowin’ his pride, takin’ orders from weaker men—takin’ orders from a girl—he had to ask himself why he was still stickin’ around.

Just a job?

Right.
* * *

[imagel]http://www.badaxegames.com/mm/pdf/SL/m-haskins.jpg[/imagel]
Colour Sergeant John Haskins gripped the machete tightly, while his other hand sought for the smooth, reassuring touch of his rifle stock. Though he certainly didn’t look it, he’d seen more travel than most of the other men put together—and he was starting to feel it. I should have stayed in retirement, he thought. But the pay was good, and Ms. Nielson showed a trust in his experience and abilities that, he had to admit, he’d been missing. He was fit enough to lead these men—Yanks though they may be—and fit enough yet to keep the girl out of trouble.

Haskins stepped out of the jungle and headed into the valley. “Come on then, lads.”

He was paid to lead.

And confident they would follow.
* * *

[imagel]http://www.badaxegames.com/mm/pdf/SL/m-joshua.jpg[/imagel]
Joshua Hambrick stepped into the clearing and snapped his spyglass up for a better look at the valley.

“Smoke,” he grumbled.

Natives? Souls to save? Maybe.

But he was beginning to think he’d have his hands full, just counting present company.
* * *

[imagel]http://www.badaxegames.com/mm/pdf/SL/m-sutton.jpg[/imagel]
Rawley tugged lightly at Joshua. “Let’s have a look, padre.”

Rawley scanned the valley for moment, scribbled in his journal, scanned, and scribbled some more. He handed the telescope back to Joshua.

More scribbling.

“There ya go,” Rawley said, grinning. “Not bad, not bad. What do you think?”

[sblock]
rawleys_map.jpg
[/sblock]

Joshua glanced down and grunted.

Almost sounded like approval, Rawley thought.
* * *

[imagel]http://www.badaxegames.com/mm/pdf/SL/m-brown.jpg[/imagel]
William T. Brown stopped in mid-sentence and hitched at his holsters, annoyed.

“I thought you were along to chronicle my exploits, Sutton. Did you hear a word I just said?”

“Well,” said Rawley, “We’re well beyond tales of gamblers and gunfighters now, don’t you think? I mean, you’re hardly unique among this crew… I mean, we’re all just hired guns at this point.”

Brown’s moustache bristled.

“Hey, now, story’s not done yet,” Rawley said. “Impress me.

Brown pushed past and headed into the valley.

“You bet your ass I will.”
* * *


“Our destination is down there, gentlemen, somewhere in that valley,” Brigitta said. “I doubt we’ll see it from here, but there’ll be no mistaking it once we find it. A temple, shaped like a giant snake.”

“Pagans,” huffed Joshua.

Brigitta glared. “Don’t dismiss what you don’t understand, Mr. Hambrick, and don’t insult the spirits of this place. Neither bullets nor bibles will save you, then.”

“Really? Why’d you bring us along, then?” Brown asked.

“Because I’m not certain we’ll be alone in that valley. If you lot hadn’t gotten us in that trouble in Mexico, we’d be two weeks ahead of any-- ‘competitive interests’—by now.” Brigitta frowned. “At the very least, we’ll have locals to be wary of. I’d prefer to avoid hostility if at all possible, but if not… well, that’s what you men are for.”

“Let’s get on with it, then.”

The group plunged into the valley, and the jungle eagerly swallowed them up.



Character sheets for this adventure are available for viewing here:
http://www.badaxegames.com/mm/pdf/SL/SL-charsheets.pdf

The dice server can be found here:
http://www.irony.com/mailroll.html

Alternate Dice Server (you will have to email the link):
http://invisiblecastle.com/rolldice.py
 
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nakia

First Post
Teddy takes off his newsboy hat and wipes his forehead with a massive, catchers-mit hand. He'd done some work in the developing subway, fitting pipe amidst water and rats. It had been hot and steamy in those tunnels, but nothing like this. This heat was something else, something almost alive.

He lifts some overhanging vines out of Brigitte's way, then falls back in line just behind her.

God, he wanted a beer.
 

Hjorimir

Adventurer
Bill shakes his head more to himself than anybody else.

What the hell was I thinking when I agreed to this?

Texas is feeling far, far away...
 

ragboy

Explorer
Rawley wonders again why he returned to this place. The jungle had almost killed him once. Maybe that's the reason he's back. He spits on the ground and grins at the back of his 'employer.'

"So, Bill," he calls, hurrying to catch up. "Tell me what you _thought_ you said to that pretty little señorita back in Juárez?"
 


Fenris

Adventurer
Haskins rapsy voice calls out again for the group to keep ranks and keep up.

"Hurry it up back there. I want no lollygaggers back there, Rawley and Brown. Don't mind this heat either. Back when I was in in the Punjab, now that was heat. Boil the water right in your pouch it would. Ah, now that was a trek! Of the 158 men in the unit that left port, we lost 20 to the heat, 5 to tigers, 12 to blood parasites, 3 to jungle madness and 60 to Pashtun spears. And that was on the way there!. Haven't had that much fun in years. Come on then, only 8 more miles to camp. You lads can keep up with the lady here can't ya?"

The worn sergeant turns and pushes on through the dense brush, still chuckling over past exploits.
 


ragboy

Explorer
Bill said:
"I thought we agreed to put that behind us!"

"Sure, sure," Rawley says, stumbling a bit over the rocky scrabble and occasional vine. "But, it sure would make a great chapter in your memoirs."

HASKINS said:
I want no lollygaggers back there, Rawley and Brown.

"Alright you damn limey," the newspaperman says under his breath.

"Come on, Brindle," he adds, tugging on his horse's lead.

[OOC: Where are we on the map?]

Edit: Added the horse...
 
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Wulf Ratbane

Adventurer
ragboy said:
"Alright you damn limey," the newspaperman says under his breath. "Wish I had my damn horse."

I wasn't specific on this point, but I assume, that although with some difficulty, you have managed to get your horses this far. At the moment, however-- and as it has been for much of the recent journey-- you may have to dismount and lead them.

[OOC: Where are we on the map?]

The group comes on the valley from the north, heading south. You have a vista view of the river valley, and you'll soon have to decide whether you want to try to find passage down from the higher eastern side, where the rivers form a marsh; or from the lowland western side.

Either way will mean a difficult scramble down into the valley. Barring some other decision factor other than finding the easiest way down, someone with Survival may be able to pick out the better path from up here. For safety's sake, it will require Ride checks to ride down and Handle Animal to lead a horse down.
 

nakia

First Post
Fenris said:
"Hurry it up back there. I want no lollygaggers back there, Rawley and Brown.

Teddy looks back at the newspaperman and the cowboy, then up to the British solider. His Irish blood heats up a bit. It was one thing taking orders from a woman. He owed her and she paid him, so that was that. It was another taking orders from a damn proddy Brit.

I'm all for someone making a Survial role to find the easiest way into the valley. Teddy has no mount or animals, so he's good on that front.
 

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