|
Post by southpaw on Apr 10, 2015 14:53:53 GMT
The story will go here! Based in the land of the Fallout New Vegas video game which I will assume people have played to save a lot of exposition The basics: The war between the New Californian Republic (NCR) and Legion has hit a stalemate. Both sides are battered and are struggling to gain (or hold) ground and Nevada is looking increasingly checkerboardy. Unfortunately civilian towns are caught in the middle. The town of Novac in the South is one such town As the NCR's manpower deteriorated the bandit gang calling themselves "The Vipers," and the Powder Gangers, a group made up of escaped convicts, took the opportunity to start exerting their own control over the local settlements and extorting them. Which went fine until both tried to stake a claim to the town of Primm. While both sides shot and blew each other up, Legion took advantage, rolled in, and set up shop in Primm themselves. The Powder Gangers withdrew to their prison stronghold, and the Vipers fell back to a series of mines they had fortified and turned into a web of tunnels and booby traps to make the Vietcong jealous. A peace was quickly established: Legion had too few men to push on either group, and instead offered to supply them with equipment (both bandit groups basically relied on scrounged kit) in return for help dealing with the NCR. The NCR, realising shit got real, prioritized their forces to defending the HELIOS ONE station which supplies power to large amounts of civilians in New Vegas. Ranger Station Charlie (yellow circle) was given a unit of NCR Rangers reinforced with a couple NCR patrols and a pair of elite First Recon snipers to provide some form of buffer and protection to HELIOS ONE and to the civilians caught between the two sides. Including Novac. The station is still undermanned however and can't cover all the land meaning raids from the Vipers, and occasionally Legion, into the area are common. The Powder Gangers haven't been seen in the area for a while and NCR patrols report hearing energy weapons and catching the occasional glimpse of the power armoured Brotherhood of Steel soldiers engaging in skirmishes with the convicts west of HELIOS. The frequent raiding has killed trade in the area and Novac (which had relied heavily on caravans for water) is under severe strain. The NCR, realising it was spread too thin to help, hired a group of mercenaries to provide security to the town which they're doing, but they're also taking priority of the town's dwindling water and medical supplies. Which is where you come in! You will be transporting a caravan from the Strip in the North, down to Novac. Easy! Right...?
|
|
|
Post by southpaw on Apr 11, 2015 13:46:49 GMT
Freeside was a cacophony of noise. The Followers of the Apocalypse had set up stalls outside their HQ and were busy distributing food to the throng of ragged civilians crowding around them. The stalls had drawn most of the crowd to the front gate, and through a side entrance a pack Brahmin emerged and began to walk the streets towards Freeside's East exit. A small group of filth-covered children fighting over a dead squirrel stopped to stare at the bags covering the Brahmin's body before their gaze shifted to the men flanking the beast. As the group approached, the children shrank away from the armed and armoured guards, most finding their eyes drawn to the one so hideously burnt they had mistaken him for a ghoul at a distance.
You ignore the kids as you pass them. You've worked enough caravan contracts to know the price of losing goods, even through charity. Besides, they're a common sight in Freeside and far from threatening. The same can not be said for all of Freeside's citizens. Although a largely peaceful place, muggings and robbery are still frequent. The Followers of the Apocalypse are well respected in Freeside and most appreciate them for the good they do but one of their caravans, almost invariably stuffed with food, water and medicine, is a golden opportunity too tempting for some and your eyes scan the streets for any threat.
As you near Freeside's gate you see the four guards stand from their chairs as they see you approach. You know the guards to be a good sort, well, as good as you find for hired guns in a place like this. But you also know they're fond of taxing the gate and those who refuse tend to fall foul of fortune in the town or on the road. For most, the small percentage the guards ask is preferable to losing their cargo, or potentially their lives, but you realise neither of you have a cap to your name.
One of the guards motions for you to stop. A quick look around shows you the guards are lightly armoured. One carries a shotgun hung lazily over a shoulder, but most only have pistols tucked into waistbands and batons and pipes hanging from their belts. You can tell these are men used to a bit of extortion and roughing up the odd thief or loud-mouthed trader. They have little interest in a real fight, although a couple of them bear scars that show they're no stranger to them either. You halt a few metres away from them and the guard who waved for you to stop approaches. With an arrogant smile and a touch of the brim of his hat to you he says:
"G'mornin lads. How can we be helping you today?"
|
|
|
Post by Bozza on Apr 11, 2015 15:23:40 GMT
"Morning lads. Just heading out with the caravan. Routine trip".
|
|
|
Post by southpaw on Apr 11, 2015 16:35:00 GMT
"If it's routine then you know the toll. 100 caps boys, and a safe travels to ya"
|
|
|
Post by thefishofdoom on Apr 12, 2015 20:34:51 GMT
(i am assuming we are travelling with the guy who owns the caravan, btw)
"don't got none. don't get paid more than food money till the goods arrive. talk to the boss."
boniface motions to the merchant.
|
|
|
Post by southpaw on Apr 12, 2015 22:07:28 GMT
Well you are now I wanted to see how you'd react though. I did write the next bit and then backspace sent me back a page and wiped it. Few minutes to redo it and it'll be up
|
|
|
Post by southpaw on Apr 12, 2015 22:44:22 GMT
The caravan owner (An aged fellow who shall now be known as Chet, a long-time driver for the Followers wise enough not to get too close to the hired grunts) pulls down the scarf wrapped around his face and looks at the guard. "Just another Followers delivery. Save your robbing for some other fool."
The guard sighs, disappointed at letting such a laden load go unchecked, but steps aside and orders the gate open. As you step outside you're confronted with the familiar site of the New Vegas outskirts: Houses dot the area, some standing, some rubble. What remains of a large freeway bridge stands not too far away, and past it you can make out the fences of an NCR farm. The road leading south is dark, shaded from the sun by the giant walls that make up the borders of Freeside and the New Vegas Strip. You make your way along the road, and as you approach the bridge you notice a man leaning lazily against one of the supports, scanning left and right along the path. He spots you at length and straightens up against the concrete. As you close, you note he is encased in leather armour but appears otherwise unarmed. Upon his chest is the pin of the Crimson Caravan Company. He closes the distance between you and raises a hand in greeting.
"Was beginning to worry I'd miss you fellas. Miss McLafferty sends her regards and wonders if you might briefly spare her the time for a meeting. She has something of a...a proposition, for you."
Chet gives a dirisive snort and nudges the Brahmin forward. "Already got a job buddy, not driving this cow for the sake of it."
The man lays a hand on the Brahmin, slowing her to a halt. With what seems to be an attempt at an apologetic smile, he says "Ah, you appear to have misunderstood. Miss McLafferty has no interest in you chet." He gestures towards you two. "These two are the ones she wants to see. It won't take long and [he pats the Brahmin] might fine a beast as you have here, you won't clear the town before she's done with them. If you're worried about the geckos, Georgie here..." He whistles, and another man steps out from behind the support. He's also dressed in leather with the badge of the Crimson Caravan on his chest, but has a shotgun slung over his back and a large hunting knife at his waist. "...Will be happy to accompany you until they catch up. They'll be back with you and ya'll can be on your merry way before the sun starts to set."
He steps back and spreads an arm in the direction of a nearby house. "Gentlemen, if you please"
|
|
|
Post by thefishofdoom on Apr 13, 2015 0:14:50 GMT
"money. how much?"
|
|
|
Post by southpaw on Apr 13, 2015 0:31:38 GMT
(Mobile doesn't let me use bold and desktop version crashes)
"Miss McLafferty will be able to give you those details. I promise they'll be worth the walk."
|
|
|
Post by thefishofdoom on Apr 13, 2015 1:19:03 GMT
boniface scowls hard at the guard for a couple of seconds and cautiously proceeds to the house.
|
|
|
Post by Bozza on Apr 13, 2015 6:50:40 GMT
Will looks at Chet, "I guess we have no choice in the matter". He pats the brahmin, "Look after Chet for us, make sure he keeps out of mischief". "We'll catch up with you later ", he says to Chet and follows Boniface to the house.
|
|
|
Post by southpaw on Apr 13, 2015 11:32:50 GMT
The caravaneer leads the way to the house. Its run down, but functional, and from what you know of Mclafferty's reputation you feel same assuming she's "borrowed" it from some citizen or other for the time being. Your escort opens the door for you and steps aside.
You enter and immediately notice three armed men spread around the room, shotguns and rifles in their hands. They're holding them non-threatingly but you can see a professionalism in their posture and their faces that betrays their readiness to use them. A table is ready for you, two wooden chairs pulled out with glasses of water and some food at your places. On the other side sits McLafferty. A stern looking woman with white hair, her reputaton as a reliable trader is almost overshadowed by the rumours of how ferociously she obtains, and secures, those contracts. She stands as you enter and gestures towards the chairs.
"Good morning. Please, sit. I trust an introduction isn't required?"
|
|
|
Post by Bozza on Apr 13, 2015 13:03:08 GMT
"Nope!" Says Will as he sits down and starts to pick at the food, "Don't mind if I do! So, let's get straight to the point, what do you want with us?"
|
|
|
Post by southpaw on Apr 13, 2015 14:24:37 GMT
"To business then." She sits. "You're transporting an aid caravan to Novac. You're taking bandages to people who need bullets. The NCR are holding their ground for now but how long can they last? Just two nights ago a family at a farm not half a mile from Novac were slaughtered. The NCR didn't even know about the raid until their bodies were found this morning. Novac is a town of farmers and people happy to have a roof over their heads. They don't realise the danger they're in. Fortunately, the men protecting them do. One of them reached out to us to procure for them some weapons that might make the Vipers, and maybe even the Legionaries, think twice about coming to them next.
"Unfortunately, Novac isn't what you would call...wealthy. And while I sympathise with their sufferings I do not run a charity. In lieu of Caps, the mercenaries have assured me they have something else to balance the books: Some...items the Novaccians (fuck it, what else would you call them?) have scrounged from a nearby site. Items that I could find very useful. All I need from you is to deliver the weapons, and bring me back my payment. For which you yourselves will be well compensated for the effort.
"Sound fair?"
|
|
|
Post by Bozza on Apr 13, 2015 15:16:58 GMT
"It won't sound fair or otherwise until we know what we are being compensated", Will says. "What are we bringing back?"
|
|