SWT: Niv Lova - Chapter Seven

Scouting for Scientists

Welcome back to Solum’s Weird Tales - Niv Lova! Last time, Lina got a little lost on her way to a Science outpost to question the people there about the Aberrations in the area. She got into a scrap with an invisible mutant which used a lot of her ammo, but she came out on top. We join her on day 14 of her adventure.

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Angelina 'Lina' Romanov - Age - 29 - Former 'legal' arms dealer XP 1
Muscle 0
Finesse 2
Vigor 0
Mind 0
Presence 2

HP 17. Fortune Point - 1. Level 3. Inventory. Bedroll, 3 Bandages Knife X2, Pistol 10 rounds SMG, Medium Armor (+2 DR) 4 Food and 9 Scrap. Lina's Jammer Remnant

Trait - Weird - Roll Advantage when Identifying Remnants or Aberrations

Why are you here? Choice
What do you want? Settle.
Quest: Question Scientist at Outpost

Lina could barely see her hand before her face the following day. A thick fog had settled around the area, and nothing she could do made the path ahead any clearer. She strapped on her back pack and drew her SMG, choosing caution over speed and made her way out into the gloom.

Photo by Yuzski on Unsplash

Day 14
Weather - Heavy Fog. (-2 Scav and Nav)
Nav? Lost. Scav? Yes, Nothing. POI? No. Encounter? No
Oracle: Any sign of the Science Station?/d No, but you find evidence of their trail.

Lina was hopelessly lost. She knew that she had likely traveled far enough East, so the road was of little use to her now, but the fog was too thick to navigate effectively. She tried to spend her time doing something useful and scavenging, but there was little to pick apart that she could find, and she made camp later that day feeling hopeless and exhausted. The only thing she had found was a pair of small, plastic clipboards, the paper on them damp with the moisture in the fog, but it gave her hope. What writing had survived was filled with complex math and scientific notation, neither of which she could make heads or tails of, but which seemed to indicate she was on the right track.

Make Camp. -1 Food (3) No Night Encounter

Day 15
Weather? Light Fog - No Bonus or Penalties
Nav? Still Lost. Scav? Yes, but find nothing. POI? no. 

The fog had cleared slightly the next day, increasing visibility from ‘Total Crapshoot’ to ‘Slightly Shitty’ She could a few feet around her, at least. Still, getting her bearing was largely impossible, and so she spent the day at a more methodical, slow pace to avoid burning through her muscles. She hoped she would find something worth snatching into her pack at this slower, more observant pace, but she had no such luck.

Encounter? yes
Rookie Scavenger. Reaction - Friendly 
Medic, Off-Putting, Missing Arm. Motivation - Restore Faith
Faction? Yes, Znat (Scholars)

She tracked a figure in the fog around noon. She gave it a wide berth, but it wasn’t trying to hide, and was in fact singing something that Lina eventually recognized as a Hymn. She thought about leaving, but the man strode with enough confidence through the fog that she decided to approach him in the vague hope he knew where he was, or at least, where he was going.

“Ho there traveler!’ The man said cheerfully. He waved a stump at him, before seeming to remember that his left arm was missing a hand and forearm. He swapped to his right and waved again. “What brings you onto the road?”

Oracle: Does he know the way to my destination? Yes
Does he want to come along? No, but he will give me an accurate map.
Does he want to got my settlement? No

Lina exchanged pleasantries with the man, and they traveled together for a shirt while before he said he was going to make camp. Lina joined him, for lack of anything better to do. The man, Alex, was a priest and lived somewhere further south, a place controlled by the Znat, like the scavengers Lina had met while Q was hurt. He was friendly to a slightly uncomfortable degree, but it seemed to stem from an honest earnestness, so Lina tried not to pay it any mind. More importantly, he knew the way to the Scientist Outpost.

“It’s less than a day South of here. If this weather clears up, it will be easy enough to find, but let me just jot down a few directions for ya.” He said cheerfully. Lina told him about Zona, and he said he might pop in on his return home, but that he had a ‘Quest’ of some form that he needed to finish first. He didn’t share any details, but he fingered the small, plain cross at his neck when he mentioned it, so Lina decided not to pry.

Make Camp. -1 Food (2) Night Encounter? Yes
d6 Escaped Prisoner's. = 4. Reaction - Neutral.

It was getting late, and Lina took the first watch so Alex could get some sleep. They would part ways in the morning, and while Lina would appreciate having someone with medical experience around, she wouldn’t be sad to see the man leave. Some people have a mission that means so much to them, it colors every word they say, and Alex was just such a person. It was intimidating. Hurried footsteps and harsh breaths echoed around the still night air, and Lina raised her gun and stood, scanning the horizon.

“Please, we don’t mean you harm. Please, we just need help.” A weak voice said from the shadows.

“Come closer slowly, and I’ll see what kind of help I can offer.” Lina said cautiously. 4 people emerged from the shadows, looking emaciated and wearing rags. The all slumped into the camp, and Lina offered each some water. Alex woke up and looked around before rushing to each with his First aid Kit to check on their health.

Are they running form Bandits? No, but they are fleeing an enemy of the scientists
Do they have the location of the Enemy Camp? Yes and something else.
(Added Enemy Camp to map - 3 Hexes East.)
(Added Aberration with guaranteed Remnant to Map - 2 Hexes East)
How big is camp? d6 - 6 - Settlement Size
Do Prisoners' want to go to Zona? No, and they leave before morning

The prisoners' had fled a camp a few days east. When Lina asked if they were bandits, the prisoners were emphatic that these people were no simple bandits. They had good arms and armor, structure and something worse. They had a plan. The prisoners were sure they were destined for death, but they didn’t stay around long enough to figure out from what. They also said there used to be 6 of them, but 2 died on the escape here when they got wrapped up in some kind of horrible Aberration a day and a half East. That was useful information, for all that word of this enemy encampment had Lina on edge. She made a note of both and intended to pass them along to Konstantin when she returned. She offered the people shelter at Zona, but they refused. They wanted out of the Zone as soon as possible, and would be heading to the Boundary. Lina tried to tell them there was next to no chance of getting free, not without a substantial bribe, but they ignored her, and once their wounds were treated and they were watered, they left.

“You can’t save everyone.” Alex said with a shrug.

Day 16
Weather Clear Skies 
Nav? Map to Destination Scav? Yes, 3 (5) Food and 2 Scrap (11)
POI? Yes, Mobile Science Station. (Nice, the dice know!)

Alex left the next day. The fog had fully lifted, and the skies were thankfully clear. It was about half a day’s walk to the Science outpost, and so Lina took her time to check the surrounding area for anything to squirrel away into her pack. She was in luck, finding several cans of food and a few useful pieces of scrap. She found the Science outpost sooner than she would have expected, which she put down to the better weather. It was set up in the ruins of an old building, with a surprising amount of surviving nature. Much of the trees and grass she had seen had been on it’s last legs, going yellow or grey to match the bleak surroundings, but not here.

Photo by GWANGJIN GO on Unsplash

Encounter? No
Is this outpost at the Aberration that is being studied? No, and it is in an Abandoned Urban Area
Reaction - 10 Friendly
d6 Scientists = 2 Mikhail and Olena

There were 2 scientists at the outpost, and neither seemed to notice her approach, which Lina thought just went to show that even smart people can be very stupid sometimes. When they saw her, they were on edge at first, but Lina’s easy charm and lack of blood thirst made it clear she was not their enemy.

“I come from a settlement called Zona. We’ve noticed these Aberrations popping up, and we were hoping for an information exchange.” Lina said confidently.

Mikhail and Olena - I cannot draw very well haha

The two scientist were keen to discover a new Settlement nearby that was friendly and interested in their work. They suggested before Lina could begin her main argument that they would like to accompany her back to Zona, and see how they could help. It soon became clear why.

“We are hunted by the people out East. They wish to use these unnatural occurrences to their own advantage.” Mikhail said, while Olena’s eyes bored into me. They were an intense pair, but in different ways. Mikhail seemed incapable of stopping himself from speaking when a thought occurred to him, while Olena seemed barely said a word, her unblinking, inscrutable gaze a constant pressure on Lina’s attention.

“You have seen Aberrations before.” Olena said eventually, after Mikhail finished a tirade aimed at their captors from the settlement to the east. It wasn’t a question.

“I have.” Lina said

“Good. We cannot join you yet. While we appreciate Zona’s hospitality, this Aberration is the a largest we have had a chance to study. You will accompany us, we will record it’s affects. Then we can leave.” These statements also were not questions, and it became clear that Olena’s mind was made up. It seemed like more than Lina had bargained for, but if this aberration had a Remnant, she could see her return with the two scientist in tow as a major coup for her new home. It seemed like far too good an opportunity to pass up.

New Quest - Guard Scientists while they study Aberration
Make Camp with them. Do they have food? Yes.
Do they have weapons? No
Do I trust them enough to give a pistol? Yes, but it's one more than the other. Which one? Mikhail
Night Encounter? No.

They discussed their plan as they made camp in the outpost. The ruins were well protected from the element’s, and the scientists didn’t seem to a have much in the way of gear. Mikhail confided in Lina that both scientists had been brought into the Zone on a government contract, along with many other scientists, but once the funding dried up, their protectors disappeared, and many of the scientists were scooped up by hostile groups.

“We escaped a while ago, but these Aberrations are too interesting to leave unexplored. “

“That’s enough Mikhail.” Olena said in her sharp monotone. The conversation moved on, this time to their target.

“Is there anything in this area we should worry about?” Lina asked

Are there bandits in the ruins? Yes, and Mutants

“We set up camp there originally, but bandits arrived, pursued by mutants. We fled down a fire escape, but it collapsed on our way down. I imagine the bandits are still there.” Mikhail said thoughtfully.

“I can see why you haven’t returned.” Lina said drily.

“The mutants and bandits may have taken each other out.” Olena chimed in. “The bandits are not well equipped. If we move swiftly, we can likely get a few hours of study. Then we can leave.”

“As you say.” Lina said, although she had a feeling things would not be so simple.

End Session - 1 XP

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Abandoned Urban Area, lets go! There are so many cool side plots developing that I want to note down for future playthroughs. Lina has been here for 2 weeks, but there is still so many hexes to explore that it feels more fun to have all future stories set in the same Zone. I’ve been relying on the oracle a bit to guide play, such as by getting directions from NPC’s and throwing in things I want, like Urban areas, when I get “And” or “But” answers, but I think that’s ok. Thanks for reading!