The Tribe

GM: Elena
Players: Maddox, Mr. Terrific, Elena.
Synopsis: A followup to the plot 'Heling the Talismonger'.
Date: Juli 3rd 2071

+ Disclaimer and Consent

The summons

Mr. T and Elena will be contacted by a person they both know and have worked for in the past. It's Heling the Talismonger and he calls you out into the Sioux lands for a meet having to do with some work for you. Maddox, being not familiar with the man will be called by a trusted contact. The details will be scetchy but it's supposed to be an urgent and somewhat delicate job. Involving some magic threat.

Maddox gets the call with some trepidation. His tribe? Well, it's a lot more corporate nowadays, now that they have their own nation and land base. And world-renowned special forces group. He makes preparations.

Mr.Terrific personally wonders if 'Tonka' is available - his light machinegun would be darned handy for a magical threat. But seeing as not, he is only too happy to answer Heling's call. Talismongers are always helpful people to help, especially as Mister Terrific is going to be doing some heavy Enchanting coming up soon. He arranges for his visas and only brings that which is legal to bring.

Elena on the other hand never had much illegal to take with her, so her having this cascade gun now is a little challenge, but then, her Bison is huge and she simply hides it in the living amenities part of the vehicle.

+ Smuggling Weapons

Arrivals and introductions

As you arrive at the destination you will be greeted by a real bad sight. This is a small village of no more than 10 houses, nestled into the large woods of the greenbelt. Still, this place has been ravaged badly. There is bitter smoke everywhere and there is wounded people all around. And Heling is currently healing the worst cases to his best avail. He looks up as the small group arrives, Elena at once starting to help with the healing efforts.

Mr.Terrific immediately sets to with this as well, giving a greeting to Heling as if he knows the man (as well as conveniently pointing him out to Maddox by so doing.) His healing prowess is better listed as 'competent' whereas Elena's is more 'inspired.'

Maddox arrives, looking.. surprised. Dismayed. But he's a stolid ork, and tries not to let anything show. He's dressed as he would be in the city — solidly blue-collar, no buckskins or feathers — but he doesn't set to work healing or even triaging. Maybe he doesn't have the skillset; he introduces himself to Heling. "*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***" He nods, his eyes unable to keep from the carnage. "*** *** *** *** ***" (Sioux)

+ Healing

The efforts are hard, as it seems the wounds have been in contact with some seriously infective slime of sorts. There also is a little shock by the side as the two healers will certainly recognize a few faces as the bandits they have been fighting last time they worked for the Talismonger. Still Elena is the last to refuse people in need. And here women and children have been hurt.
There is a taint that still lingers to the astral as well…

Mr.Terrific quickly uses up the paltry medical supplies in his survival kit(s) cleaning off the sludge and is forced to borrow, use the tribe's emergency clothes, and so forth. He considers himself to have properly humiliated these guys in the past and so he has no complaints about fixing them up, although he'd better not hear any lip from them about it. And when he has a moment he will give the astral and that slime a look with his book-learning skills.

+ Examinations

Maddox pauses, looking to his new companions. "I am sorry — I seem to have left my manners in Denver," he says, rubbing at a silver-inlaid tusk with the calloused pad of his thumb. "My name is Maddox Red Lake — Maddie to my friends. I am an enrolled Lakota. What has happened here?"

Elena was not to happy with the sights both her astral vision, as well as the mundane eyes showed her. She sighed, "I'd guess this is the work of some Toxic Spirit of sorts. I just hope we are not speaking about the free kind, as that would inded be bad news for this tribe. Though if it's not free, then we also face a kind of tainted mage or conjurer…", she speaks out aloud what Mr.T also has started to be worried about.

Maddox raises an graying eyebrow toward the woman. "Nothing good can come of this," he mutters, to no one in particular.

Mr.Terrific nods to this. "I'm thinking toxic wood spirit myself. Generally they have a specific location, a focus of their harm; or a location where the summoner lives. Maye these people know that. In any case, pleased to meet you. Call me Mister Terrific, like in the old comic books. I do not claim to be awesome or even superior, but I am terrific."

Maddox can't help but chuckle, quietly, at the introduction. "I see," he says, apparently not too surprised—mages are odd creatures. He addresses a question toward neither Heling nor Mr. Terrific, or maybe both. "Why is it that we have been called together? Is it to cleanse this community of whatever… monster… has done this?" He pauses. "Or I should say, how may we be of assistance?"

Elena nods to Mr.T's words, "Oh…right… I am Elena. Witch of the woods… And yes. Most likely a wood spirit. Someone has been despoiling the woods it would seem or this thing would not be able to exist.", she says.

At this time Heling joined the group, "Yes, a terrible wood spirit. And it was only hurting them while they tried to prevented it's true evil deed, stealing their children. I fear someone is out for /real/ bad deeds, maybe even blood magic. And I need you to recover the kids alive if possible. Dead at worst… So their parents can at least say a proper farewell. I also want you to get rid of the thing and she shaman behind it, as well, where this despoiled place is, so I can call on the Tribal council to eleminate this threat to nature and as this proves all of us. I offer you 30K for this. 40K if you manage to get all of the children back alive. Will that be good enough for you to do it?" It seem he is mostly talking to the new man, obviously quite sure Mr.T and Elena would do it. Elena was nodding at once as she heard these words.

Maddox nods his heavy head. "That is more than acceptable," he replies. "Obviously, every bit of information you or the poor folks in this village can supply is more than appreciated."

Mr.Terrific mutters, "We should have shotguns for this," to himself. "Unfortunately, I left a few things behind in crossing the border. I don't suppose you would have a spare heavy pistol, perhaps a sporting rifle of the sort your group is familiar with? I don't need anything special. And yes, any information as to location would be very helpful."
Mr.Terrific also gives Maddox a quick looking over.

+ Examinations

Elena took out her Cascade and nodded to the man, "It's probably not good enough for this mission, but I can use it at least a bit…", she says. Then she nods to her comrades words and fills the neurostun into the substance and the DMSO into the carrier tank of the rifle.

Heling shrugs, "There is not pretty much information that we have. My guess is that the cause for this is close by and that the shaman behind this has an open account with this village. Considering their past…", he nods to Mr.T and Elena, "This might be related to their former … doings."

One of the villagers hands a well cared for Remington 950 and a pack of ammo to Mr.T, "Use it well brother.", he says. "But we have to stay to protect our families in case the threat returns.", T. might recognize the man, the leader of the bandits he stunned last time they met.

Mr.Terrific whews as he looks to Maddox and sees his likely adepthood. The only thing that could make it better if is he had an active weapon focus. For this, also, he looks.

Maddox puzzles his brows together, waiting until Mr. Terrific has finished with his dealings. "Do you," he asks quietly, trying to stay out of earshot of others, "have a history with these wounded people?"

Mr.Terrific gives the man a wry smile, recalling how he had decided not to kill the man. Perhaps his gift will prove telling. He touches his forehead. "I thank you," he says to the leader.

Mr.Terrific says to the rest, "Then we should head out, and follow the trail, such as it is. A little fast-travelling would give us an idea of how far to walk, perhaps.
Mr.Terrific does not immediately answer Maddox.
Mr.Terrific will likely answer him when we are out on the trail.

Maddox glances from the dodged-question, to the injured — nay, wounded — men, then back to Mr. Terrific. Ah! An attack of couth comes over him, and he just nods at the non-reply that was a reply.

Maddox nods. "I am fairly proficient in the back country," he says, jerking a thumb to his pack, complete with scabbard attached along one side, two-quart canteen and hatchet along the other. "What is this fast-travelling you talk of?"

Elena for now stays passive, watching the others interact. She then says, "Well, if it's not too far away, the tracks should be easy to follow, even more as these things usually leave a trail in the astral and this has been here not too long ago…"

Elena for now stays passive, watching the others interact. She then says, "Well, if it's not too far away, the tracks should be easy to follow, even more as these things usually leave a trail in the astral and this has been here not too long ago…"

Mr.Terrific explains, "When a wizard separates from his astral body, he can move about a kilometer per second and can only be stopped by walls or earth or living plants. But he can't watch the scenery. It's like moving in a dream. Considering the likely forces that a toxic shaman could have, I am likely to expend a great deal of my built-up elemental forces…. just to annoy him, really. I don't expect they will be able to hurt him. Their particular insanity gives them amazing powers and the ability to ignore many rules that we sane wizards must follow."
Mr.Terrific says "but my spirits only last a day, so if we will be walking more than that, I should hold off."
Mr.Terrific sets to motion!

Mr.Terrific mutters to Heling, "Do you know the beef that the toxic shaman has with this guy?"
Mr.Terrific with this village?

Maddox nods his head. "I see," he says, and maybe he even does. "Y'all are the creatures of magic here. I will follow your lead."

Elena follows Mr.T's lead, but she starts to whisper in latin as she moves out. Her voice sounding kinda pleading as she does. Raising her arms in the ages old gesture of a summons. Soon a shape will appear to her summons or so she hopes.

+ Conjuring

Mr.Terrific watches Elena's efforts and when she is done, pat her on the shoulder consolingly. "It's the toxic area, obviously. You will need to be careful. It obviously affects you more because of your totem."
Mr.Terrific says, "I summoned mine a while back."

Elena sighs as she fails, "Gosh… The spirits of this area are angered… Or I am not finding the right words to please them to come to my aid…", she says feeling the backlash of her attempt, the spirits punishement for her obviously unwanted request.

To be Continued …
page revision: 10, last edited: 03 Jul 2011 20:44
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