Barf Forth Apocalyptica
barf forth apocalyptica => Apocalypse World => Topic started by: noclue on September 16, 2011, 05:16:36 AM
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We created characters tonight and went through Hx. We've got an Operator, Driver, Savvyhead and Quarantine.
I'm playing the Operator, Proust. She's wearing utilitarian denim pants and work boots, with a beat up Flack Jacket she picked up when she got Cobra to help her get Specialist Jackson MI out of town in his orange Ford Mustang. That chick was strange, but her gear was hard. A bit beat up but, the jacket should still stop a blade. Proust picks up gigs at Food Truck, a sprawl of tables at the end of a cratered runway centered around a kitchen that's been set up in a converted school bus. Proust is working off a debt to Captain, for sheltering her when her deal with Kettles went bad, and a few of his gang got sick and died. She warned him the cans were blown, but Kettles wouldn't listen. Cobra got her out that time, driving up in his Semi with the rocket launcher bolted into the sleeper. Cobra is useful, but keeping him in gas is costing Proust serious jingle.
The other member of Proust's crew, Robinson is the local Savvyhead who's got a junkyard set up in a hangar lot near the airport. He's skilled but a bit weird. He once showed up out of nowhere to save Cobra's ass when he had been shot on a run. Lateley, Robinson's been a bit jumpy because of the new guy in town, Specialist Mannsfield(?), Dwayne MI, or as Proust likes to call him "Specials." Specials came riding into town one day with Cobra, who says he found him out in the old part of the city, out where that submarine sits wedged up between them big old buildings. He was just standing at a crosswalk with his snazzy flack jacket and that assault rifle, just like Jackson had. Anyway, Robinson takes one look at his gear and gets to worrying that the new guy might disrupt his control of Tech in the city. Proust has her own issues with Specials, who refused to kill Millions on her last gig. If he had, Millions wouldn't have butchered Amy and left her staked out on Proust's regular table.
For his part, Specials woke up a few weeks ago from cry-sleep in the bowels of the submarine. He's supposed to meet up with Jackson, but she's nowhere to be found. The world has changed and his memories are still hazy from the suspended animation. The first person he sees is Cobra, in his leather jacket and metallic shades driving his mustang. Cobra brings him out to the airport, where he cant help but notice Proust's jacket with Specialist Jackson's name tag on it. He took the job offer and went along on Proust's mission, but he wasn't going to kill Millions just on her say so.
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I love how AW builds so much story into the history moves through MC questions.
Oh and the Quarantine's name should be Specialist Spencer, Dwayne A.
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Ooooooh, I wonder what the fronts are going to be.....
Sounds epic and already full of PC tension, can't wait for named NPCs to fill the triangles up. Woo! More, more!
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Glad you like it so far. Coning out of Hx we have a few NPCs, Kettles, Captain, Specialist Jackson, Amy (RIP), Millions. I know we'll start to put some flesh on them once we start playing.
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Fuck flesh! The only thing this game needs is the cool smooth metal of my Mustang.
Don't just stand there Proust, pass me the fucking wax.
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See what I mean about costing me jingle? He has no appreciation for what I go through for him.
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I definitely need to update this AP if I don’t want to fall 2 sessions behind. So, here's part 1 of our first session.
Game opened with Cobra in his car driving between the buildings near the landlocked submarine. He sees a bunch of people heading into the atrium of a large building and stops to ask if they need anything. Most of them run into the building while their leader turns to confront Cobra, “Food. Shelter. Safe Place” he says in a thickly accented voice. He’s wrapped in a baby blue blanket with a pair goggles on his head and AK-47 in his hands. Cobra catches sight of a guy with a rifle on the upper floor of the atrium, hiding amongst the debris and wreckage (Read a Sitch – 7-9 “what’s my enemy’s true position?”).
Back at the Airfield, Robinson’s been working on rebuilding his airplane. When it’s done, he’s heading for Hawaii. He’s got all sorts of postcards and other Hawaiian stuff around his workshop, even one of those bobble head hula girls. Robinson hears someone messing around in the back of his hanger. He pulls out a big ol’ sawed off and calls out into the darkness. Someone’s back where he keeps Mr. Coffee, the water purifier that Captain lets him run for his own use. As he peers into the darkness (Read a Sitch – Miss!), a figure rushes towards him holding something bulky. He shoots and the figure falls heavily. He gets a light lit and sees it’s Mimi, a 14 year old girl that he’s seen hanging around. Her dead body is curled around Mr. Coffee.
Outside, a vision comes to Specialist Dwayne Spencer, a vision of the before times. The first sign that things were falling apart. Jackson calls to him to get into the sub. “This is it! The moment we’ve planned for…all the sacrifices have been worth it…” His thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a shotgun blast from Robinson’s shop. He heads inside and finds Robinson standing over the body of a young girl, lying in a pool of blood. To his questions about what happened, Robinson shrugs and says “She was stealing. She got shot.” Specials realizes that no one will care that Mimi is dead, no consequences at all, no one will even notice (Read a Person – Miss!).
Proust is out taking the pulse of the market. He heads for Son’s shop and asks if she has that thing he wanted. The sparkplug for a plane engine he’s been trying to find. For Robinson, but he doesn't tell her that. She has it, but it’s gonna cost her (Barter – 7-9!). Proust has a windup flashlight she could trade, but Son laughs at that. It’s gonna cost more—a favor. Son’s tired of giving most of her take to Captain. She wants to be a free agent. She’ll pay Captain rent for the space, but she wants to run her own business. Proust agrees to talk to Captain for her.
Meanwhile, Cobra sizes up the blanket dude, who seems jumpy (Read a Person – Miss!), “Why shouldn’t I just shoot you right now and take car?” Blanket dude’s hand moves toward his AK and Cobra guns his car (Act Under Fire – 10+), flipping it around with a turn of the wheel and hightailing it out of their as the bullets plink off the trunk of his car.
Specials asks Robinson what’s going to happen to Mimi’s body. “Suppose she’ll end up in Captain’s green house up on the roof of Terminal. She ate his food. Only right she should make food now.” Specials is obviously appalled, “you can’t just leave bodies out. That’s how disease spreads.” Robinson says “you’d have to take that up with Captain.” Specials asks if that's what Robinson thinks he should do (move – “Eager to Know” +1 forward) and Robinson responds that yeah, he should go see Captain (move – “Oftener Right” +1 forward). They head off to Terminal.
First session continues...
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I love the little details - especially the Hawaiian stuff and the blue blanket - and how you guys contrast it with scarcity and murder.
Keep it going. I'd love to hear more stories. :)
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Glad you're enjoying it. Session one continues...
Proust sees a bunch of Captain’s people are trading in the market. Buying food. Only some of them ain’t trading, just watching. Armed. She saunters over to Jacka Backa, who’s selling an old pistol. “Extra gun?” she asks (Read a Person – Hit! 1. Is he telling the truth? What’s he really feeling? What does he wish I’d do?). Jacka Backa casts a furtive glance at the nearest of the guards, Balls. Jacka Backa’s response is curt “Yeah.” Proust can tell he’s hiding something. “Everything alright?” He’s scared, “Sure. Everything’s fine…’cept food’s a bit scarce is all.” He speaks in hushed tones “Captain says things are going to be tight.” Proust glances around the market watches Balls eyeing Captain’s people. “You need anything? What can I do?” There’s something of hope in Jacka Backa’s eyes. “You took that Jackson outside the city right? Is it better there?” Proust shrugs, “it’s someplace else. You want me to get you out?” He shakes his head “I need my little girl someplace safe. I need you to get her out.” Proust nods and tells him to come by Food Truck’s tonight for dinner. He agrees, but he won’t sit at her table. She does business at her table. He motions with his head towards the gunmen ringing the market.
Specials and Robinson make there way into Terminal. The waiting area is home to most of Captain’s folk. Time has left its mark on the building and the big panes of glass have long since been removed and carted up to the roof, to enclose Captain’s greenhouses. They ascend to Captain’s office. The door is flanked by two meaty gunmen, who let them in when they see Robinson. Captain calls out from behind a big desk, and Robinson informs him about how he had to shoot Mimi for trying to steal Mr. Coffee. “And who’s this fucker?” Captain eyes the well-equipped soldier, noticing the expensive gear and the too clean looks that scream not from around here. He introduces himself as Dwayne Spencer, which causes Captain to raise his eyebrows. “So Mr. Fancy thinks he deserve two names, eh? I’m the only one who deserves two names here. That’s why I’m...Cap Ten.” Robinson tells Captain that Spencer has knowledge from Before and that he says they shouldn’t leave Mimi’s body outside or it will cause disease. When Robinson explains how they found him out by the submarine a few weeks back, Captain goes ballistic, “He’s been eating my food for three weeks? Drinking my water? In all that time no one thinks an introduction is warranted? It’s inhospitable is what I think.”
In the Market, Proust makes small talk with Jacka Backa and then heads over to Balls. Balls is watching to make sure everything is safe. Proust offers him a drink when’s he’s off duty, which makes Balls laugh. He’ll take that drink now, “watchin’s thirsty work.” Proust fetches some liquor for Balls, putting it on her tab. Food Truck nods, “your tab’s still good, for now.” Drink in hand, Balls lets slip that Captain has started rations and has them watching to make sure there isn’t any trouble. He looks like he hopes there is some (Read a Person, 7-9. What’s he really feeling?).
Captain asks Spencer what he can do to pay for the food he costs. “What you good for?” Spencer replies simply, “I’m a soldier.” Captain motions to his two thugs near the door, “I got me enough guns.” Spender is not put off, “Nah. A soldier. Those guys aren’t soldiers. No discipline. I could make them soldiers though, if you want (Read a Person 7-9. What do you want me to do?). Captain smiles, “I want an army.”
Out in front of Terminal, Cobra pulls up in his pockmarked car, his anger obvious in his driving. He hails Robinson and Spencer as they exit Terminal. Proust heads over from the market to see what’s up. Cobra explains what happened out near the sub and they agree to go with him to even the score, Robinson first extracting a promise that when they’re done, Cobra helps him go kill Millions for what he did to Amy. Robinson was sweet on Amy. Spencer gets Captain to loan him six of his men for a “training mission” and Cobra goes to fetch his other car, an armored big rig cabin mounted with a rocket launcher. It’s big and loud and sloppy.
Cobra pulls up short of the Atrium building and Proust and Spencer jump off with Captain’s men. The truck lumbers up in front of the building, taking ineffectual fire from the upper floor. Robinson unloads with the rocket launcher, tearing through the opposing forces. Proust and Spencer lead the men up the burning stairs and into a firefight. Rice goes down, gut shot. But they take the room. Proust looks around the room. She notices with some consternation that everyone is looking to Spencer for direction. She sees the blanketed leader of the men racing off down a corridor and gives chase (Read a Sitch. 10+ “Who’s really in charge here? What should I be on the lookout for? What does he intend to do?” Spencer hesitates a moment as he sees the men moving into the other room where the women and children are kept, then he heads off after Proust.
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So, a lot has happened since my last post. A quick update:
Proust heads off with Specials in pursuit, leaving the frenzied men behind with the woman and children. That’s going to end well. The fleeing figure reaches the roof and turns and fires a burst from his AK at Proust and a failed Act Under Fire leaves her dangling from a steel stairway that pulls away from the wall. Specials moves to aid her by grabbing her wrist and swinging her up so she can grab the railing, but exposes himself to danger and plummets below. Luckily his high-tech armor soaks up most of the harm.
Outside, Robinson jumps from the truck and heads inside. He’s confronted by Balls and the rest of the men raping the captured women. He pulls his sawed off and tries to control the situation (Read a Situation – miss), but gets shot in the process by Balls’ shotgun. Robinson’s still breathing but he’s hurt pretty bad and needs medical attention (3 harm). He lies there, bleeding. Balls gloats “now you can watch.” Robinson opens his mind to the Maelstrom and sees barren icy landscape with the familiar red glow of Hawaii off to the west. However, all the warmth is flowing into Balls and as everything withers around him, Balls is growing stronger. Robinson picks himself up and unloads his sawed-off into Balls.
Meanwhile, Cobra sees six or seven people fleeing from an open manhole cover and gives chase. He slams an open car door into a scrawny dude named Exit who is dressed in a big plastic tarps tied by bungee cord. Cobra learns from Exit that they’re a bunch of refugees from an oil platform who fled when the frozen seas threatened to topple their home and the fish ran out. Their leader, iii, promised to find them a place of safety and food.
Proust is facing iii on the roof and they both have their guns drawn. Proust yells out her name and asks if he’s heard what people say about her (Operator move: Reputation). Yeah, he’s heard of her. Folk say she does what she says. Proust promises to bring his people to a safe place and feed them if he’ll put his gun down and the three of them head down to check on the gunfire below.
They find an injured Robinson standing over Balls' body with Foster standing next him, holding a large knife to his eye. Specials surveys the scene (Read a Situation – 10+) and shoots Foster and Newton dead. That gets everyone’s attention and they fall into line. We gather up Rice and Robinson and take them to see Grip. iii sets his AK down and turns and walks away, saying “they’re your problem now.”
Grip’s set up a hospital inside an old grocery store, maybe a Whole Foods or something. Anyway, Grip agrees to patch Robinson and Rice in return for Robinson’s Savvyhead services. He gets them stabilized and we leave them there to recuperate while we get the refugees settled and Proust goes to round up some food and go-juice. An Operator’s work is never done.
Still more to come...
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Love letters -
Dear Prowst,
Remember how you owe Captain? Trust me when I say that he does. How are you doing on those payments and favors to him? It's not like he keeps you fed, warm and safe or anything right?
But I am sure you totally have the jingle to keep him off you back right? It's not like you have a crew you need to keep fed and flush with gas, or a small horde of refugees that are your responsibility or anything? Oh wait.... That's an awful lot on your plate, let's see things are going, roll+Sharp:
On a 10+ choose 3, on 7-9 choose 1
* Captain is patient with you, for now
* You don't have to call in your markers with
* You keep everyone fed and warm
* You still keep your ear to the ground and know what's going on
Love,
Colin
Dear Specials,
Your first action with Captains army went great didn't it? Sure half your men died, most by "friendly fire" but hey that war and it's not like the fucking hyenas didn't have it coming, right? At least it was a good cause though, someone fucked with your friends car! But that's just a slight set back, and Captain is a reasonable and patient man so let's see how your army building is going shall we? Roll +Hard.
On a 10+ choose 3, on 7-9 choose 1
* Captain doesn't blame you for what happened
* Balls' friends don't retaliate
* You are able to instill some discipline in your men
* The new recruits aren't in the Captains pockets
Love,
Colin
Dear Robinson,
Working with the doc is great, in no way what so ever is there an unspoken ever present threat of death over your head in case you fuck up. No pressure or anything. But I wouldn't fuck up. Roll +weird
On a 10+ choose 3, on 7-9 choose 1
* your repairs are solid and will last
* while working you come across some parts that you need for your plane
* Doc is impressed with your work
* You make some friends in Doc's gang - Peppering, Chack and Bill
Love,
Colin
Dear Cobra,
Driving anywhere you want in the city is fucking hard right? With all the gangs, warlords, factions and that's before we even get into your gas situation. Just traveling across the city requires a network or friends, relationships and favors owed roll+Sharp:
On a 10+ choose 3, on 7-9 choose 2
* You have picked up some new gossip, ask a question about the city
* You haven't made any new enemies, like one of the cannibal gangs on the outskirts
* the package you agreed to deliver for Wisher made it safely
* You come out ahead in your bargaining with Dremmer, he owes you
Love,
Colin
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Prowst? I've been spelling it wrong in my notes for six games!
I chose the last three for Cobra. Dremmer (still!) owes me, and I delivered a suspiciously large "package" from Wisher to the cannibals.
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You should spell it Proust. The GM can spell it however he wants ;)
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So some time has passed. Proust has been working her gigs, keeping everyone fed and warm. Captain is being patient with her for now and she hasn’t had to call in any markers (Love Letter 10+. She doesn’t have her ear to the ground and doesn’t know what’s going on). She has Robinson off doing some technical work on Wisher’s rig and Cobra running deliveries.
Robinson’s made friends with Peppering, Chack and Bill. He’s also found a part for his plane in one of Grips HVAC units and taken that. Grip is impressed with Robinson’s work (which means that his repairs are likely not solid and will not last.).
Cobra safely delivered a package for Wisher. Dremmer (a minor warlord) owes him a favor for driving him a couple of heavies to a rival’s territory and back. And he didn’t make an enemy of the cannibal gangs on the outskirts of town. (Love Letter 10+. He hasn’t picked up any new gossip or information about the City.)
Specials has spent the time drilling his men and he’s been able to instill some discipline in them. They don’t seem to be in Captain’s pockets and Balls' friends are playing nice (Love Letter, 10+. Captain blames him for what happened).
Specials remembers the time Before. Could they have stopped it? They had thought that they could, but things got out of control. They were part of a military unit and when the fighting started, they activated some kind of Device as part of their protocol. The Device ended up creating the psychic maelstrom. The other nations saw this as an attack and retaliated with nuclear strikes and the things got worse from that point. Tsunami’s. Nuclear winter. The works.
They find Millions. He and his goons have a makeshift fortress under an overpass, cars stacked up as barricades. Time to make him pay for killing Amy. Specials is scouting with Jakka Bakka, Exit and Rum when they are jumped by two of Millions’ men. Specials kills one, wounds the other. But, Jakka Bakka is killed.
Back at the workshop, Robinson is training the platform refugees, showing them how to fix the plane when Parcher breaks something and is looking to run. Robinson scares him into staying (Intimidate, 8). And Parcher realizes that iii would have killed him. Looks like Robinson has an apprentice.
In the market, Proust is setting up a meet between Food Truck and Wisher, brokering a deal. It’s taken quite a while and quite a bit of jingle to get the chemicals Wisher needs. Food Truck needs this deal, because Captain has been withholding food and he’s running out. Wisher doesn’t show and Food Truck blames Proust, “I thought they said you do what you say? Where’s Wisher? What am I going to feed these folks?” They look out at the hungry people in the marketplace who are looking angry and dejected.
Cobra returns from delivering the package for Wisher and finds a crowd waiting for him outside his hangar. They think Cobra has food and try to get into his truck. He throws a half a ration bar into the crowd and as they struggle over the food, he pulls away into the hangar. He finds Proust carrying a box of chemicals and gives her a lift to Wisher’s compound, along with Robinson and Specials, who they find out at the end of the runway staring into the distance, seeing the past.
It’s a tough drive, the road seems to fight him like a sentient thing. Wisher has a wall of buses surrounding his oil pump, topped by a Humvee with a 50 caliber machine gun. Wisher and his “family” live here. We are ushered inside and meet with Wisher, who is wearing a business suit and tie as are the rest of his family, his wives. Proust is upset, but Wisher has decided to change the deal. Food is scarce. Specials offers him a new deal. We’ll help each other take out Millions. Wisher likes the sound of this and offers some of his men, headed by his wife Matilda, a scrawny business-suited warrior with a crossbow and a riot shield.
The attack unfolds with Cobra charging Million’s walls with his truck and getting wedged up against a miniskip full of concrete (Seize with Force, Miss). Then Specials and Matilda lead the men forward through a maze of shipping containers. In end, Millions lies dead and his men routed. In the fighting, Matilda loses one of her sisters, Wisher’s wife Jeanette.
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Specials, what’s the worst thing you saw? A nurse, killing babies so they wouldn’t have to live in the coming post apocalyptic hell. And then killing herself.
Robinson is working on Wisher’s refinery. Doing some technical work for Proust. Prim comes to him. She’s one of Wisher’s wives. Putrid is with her, heavily armed. Making sure Putrid can't hear, she tells him that she wants to leave the Family and she was willing to stay with Robinson if he gets her out. Robinson goes to speak with Wisher in his office, on the top floor of a building in the compound. The floor is full of office cubicles, each with a bed in it. Wisher sits in a smoking jacking, holding court in a big four-poster canopy bed inside a glass conference room in the center of the floor. Wisher obviously wants Robinson. He offers him a spot in the family. Robinson promises to think on it and Wisher offers him Prim to help him think.
Proust and Cobra are in the Mustang making a delivery run to Bakersfield, carrying a letter for Twice, but really getting Jakka Bakka’s daughter Shazza out of the city. Proust promised him. The ground is frozen tundra. The road, black ice. They come upon a roadblock out on the 5, a vegetable truck parked across the road under an overpass, near an old service station. Cobra can’t get past without sheering the top of the car off. Proust spots a couple of cars coming at them over the tundra. Cobra guns the engine and feels the purr of the engine encompassing everything (Open your Brain).
…He’s speeding down a long road at night, just headlights and blacktop. It’s 5 years ago. Cobra pulls up to a roadside diner and trades the last of his barter for a hot meal. As he waits for his food…BAM! His head hits the counter. Everything’s spinning. There’s a metallic taste of blood. Cobra’s vision coalesces on a guy eating his food, a shiny set of keys on the counter beside him. He raises his last possession, a magnum. Blam! Cobra grabs his food, grabs the keys, and runs outside. He jumps into a shiny orange Mustang Giuaro.
Cobra adjusts the rearview. He sees a kid with a gun behind him, and behind that, another kid with another gun. More and more receding in the distance. Ahead of him, the guy he shot in the diner, and further ahead, another older guy also shot. And another, and another out to the horizon.
Cobra adjusts the rearview. A battered old truck bounces off the tundra and onto the ice covered road with a screech of tires and tortured metal. It’s image grows larger as it begins to overtake them. Cobra slams the mustang into reverse and rushes backwards toward the truck in a cloud of smoke.
Prim takes Robinson off to a cubicle bed. (Savvyhead Special. They speak to you as if they were a thing and you rolled a 10+). As they are going at it, he can tell that Prim is broken. She’s grieving for Jeanette and she’s frightened of Putrid. Sometime later, Putrid comes and orders Prim upstairs but Robinson convinces Wisher that Putrid is a problem and Wisher has him hauled off.
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It was interesting to me how that one decision back when I rolled Reputation with iii started to shape Proust's character. Doing what she says became a gret key to what makes Proust tick, and starts to fuel play from that point forward.
Similarly, Hawaii fulfilled that role for Arobinson. I don't know if Andrew knew tht Hawaii would become so central to Robinson's story when he brought it up.
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And here's Cobra's Mustang
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(http://myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/ford- mustang_giugiaro_concept_2006_800x600_wallpaper_06.jpg)
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And here's Cobra's Mustang! (http://mustangspeed.com/2009_mustang_giugiaro_front_bumper.jpg)
(http://mustangspeed.com/2009_mustang_giugiaro_front_bumper.jpg)
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Specials comes to Robinson in Wisher’s place and asks him what he should do about the food (Eager to Know). Robinson tells him to go get food for the people (Oftener Right). So, Specials heads up to the gardens at the top of Terminal. He sees they are in a pitiful state, an apple tree, stunted plants, some rice paddies. He goes to see Captain, who seems completely off his nut. “Food is control,” he says. “They can’t plot against me if they’re hungry. I have the food, and I have the guns, and with you, soon I’ll have an army.” Specials points out that his men may have guns, but they have families too, families that are part of Terminal. Families who are hungry. “That’s why I have all there families kept safe. They’re warm and safe and fed…and watched. Guarded.”
Cobra pulls the handbrake and does a bootlegger turn, then guns it straight toward the truck. Proust opens up out the window with iii’s AK and the driver of the truck loses control and spins off the road. Two other cars hit the road and take off after the Mustang. Cobra lets them catch up while Proust empties her AK, killing one of the drivers and sending the car rolling over the tundra. The road here is torn to shit and Cobra has to bring the car to a halt. Proust jumps out and aims her handgun at the oncoming car. Cobra shouts “Do NOT use my car as cover! Get over there!” As the car screams toward her, Proust opens her mind to the maelstrom (Miss!). She sees her daughter. The one she lost to the cannibal gangs back before she became an Operator. She remembers how Captain helped her get her revenge on them and then set her up in Terminal. She remembers how much she owes Captain.
“Stay in the car, Shazza” Cobra tries to attract the attention of the oncoming car as he sprints to the side. The car turns, trying to run him down. He dives for cover, but notices that Shazza has followed him and is now right in front of the car. Cobra jumps between her and the car, putting up his hands. The car pulls to a stop and two guys with guns get out, Tum-tum and Carl’s. Tum-tum is in charge here, and he wants a cut of everything that goes past.
Carl’s is holding an AK on Cobra, Proust tells Tum-tum that it’s his lucky day. She isn’t going to kill him. She starts to negotiate terms under which Tum-Tum can keep his shit. Carl’s is leering at Shazza and moves toward her, distracted. Cobra clocks him in the temple with his magnum as he walks past, caving in the side of his skull and dropping him in the snow. Tum-tum jumps Proust, but Robinson unfolds himself from the Mustang’s trunk (Bonefeel! Spending 1 hold) and puts a gun to the back of his head. Proust and Tum-tum come to terms, recruiting him into her crew. Before they leave, Cobra trades Tum-tum a ride in Mustang in return for him looking out for things Cobra might want. Of course, Tum-tum wants to drive the Mustang, but Cobra will have none of that.
That night around the campfire, Shazza approaches Cobra offering herself to him. She’s old enough to live her own life, no matter what Proust promised her father. She wants to stay with him. When Cobra refuses she seeks out Robinson, asking him for advice on how to get Cobra to sleep with her. Robinson says “With him, you have to be bold. Be forward. Go for what you want.”
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Robinson sleeping with Prim was the first time a Special Move came into play. I'm pretty sure Colin's personal win condition at that point into get every character's Special Mive into the game. He's already working on Cobra. But Proust is tough. She needs another obligation gig like she needs a boot to the head.
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And the story continues...
Proust and Cobra are seated in front of the campfire discussing the importance of keeping one’s word, so that people know they’re going to get a fair deal with her. To Cobra “keeping alive is more important than keeping deals.” Proust tells Cobra about how she became an Operator. About her daughter, and what the cannibal gangs did to her. “Keeping your word is about bringing civilization back to this world, when everything else has gone to shit. It’s more important than just surviving.”
As they head off to Bakersfield the next day, Shazza convinces Cobra to fuck, on the condition that she stays in Bakersfield when he drops her off. She agrees, but asks Cobra to tell her that he loves her. He does. Then he drops her off in Baker (Driver Special, Miss. You gotta go. It’s not like they own you or nothing).
Back at the Airfield, Specials has been having some problems. We all meet in the cockpit of Robinson’s DC 3. Specials demands that Proust take over the Airfield, “If you don’t do it, then I got to do it.” Proust agrees only to go and talk to Captain and see what can be done. Specials asks Robinson what he should do about Captain and Robinson replies “You don’t need these problems. You should take care of your own business before messing with Captain’s (Oftener right).”
Proust and Specials go off to see Captain. On the way, Proust is accosted by hungry Terminal folk. She tells them she is going to see Captain about getting them some food and they should meet her later by the hangar. It turns out Captain is batshit crazy. He wants Proust to find out who is plotting against him. He suspects everyone, including Proust. Specials has had enough, “Blah, Blah Blah!” he says as he pulls his pistol and puts it up to Captain’s forehead.
Matilda comes to Cobra with an offer from Wisher. He wants Cobra to join his crew, become part of the Family. Cobra refuses, and she leaves emptyhanded. Back at Wisher’s compound, Wisher offers the Savvyhead all the fuel he needs to get to Hawaii and then some—10,000 gallons of AvGas. All he has to do is hand over the Airfield. Robinson readily agrees.
Specials clubs Captain senseless and Proust turns to his gunmen, Rice, Mill and Bar. “Go distribute the food stores to the people in the marketplace.” She’s got her gun out and she isn’t asking. They open the storage rooms and people start crowding in, desperate to get to the food before it runs out. Specials tries to impose order before there is a full scale riot. Proust gets on the intercom and with the help of Robinson, who shows up with exactly the tools needed to get it operational (Bonefeel! Spend one hold), she tells them all to calm the fuck down.
Back in the hangar, Exit rushes in and tells Cobra that food is up for grabs. He and the platformers want Cobra to get his tank and seize the food. Cobra refuses, trying to calm them down, but they rush him (Read a Sitch, miss!). He unloads his gun into them, but they overpower him and deal him some harm. Cobra notes that Exit is now leading the platformers. They come to a deal. He leaves his car keys with Exit while he takes the tank out to get them some food.
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And here's Cobra's tank, or at least the basis of it.
(http://www.ustruckclub.dk/test/billeder/lightboxbilleder/mack/mack1.jpg)
Of course you got to picture it with lots of sheet metal armor and one of these babies bolted on.
(http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/img2/20110921/625_JMF_rocket_pod.jpg)
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So, what with Cobra and Shazza, that's two Special moves out of four. Colin is halfway to victory ;)
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Over in Terminal, shit is really hitting the fan, Specials and Proust are doing there best to calm the crowd. Captain locks himself into the control room. Proust and Robinson leg it out to the tarmac, pursued by a gang led by Hugo, Mimi’s father. Mimi, you remember? The girl Robinson killed over Mr. Coffee. Specials deals out s-harm, subduing a bunch of rioters, but Rice and the others open up on him, killing a couple of Terminal people in the crossfire. The rest scatter.
Cobra crashes through the terminal wall (Daredevil), Specials’ men open fire, blowing a wheel off the truck. Cobra fixes his gaze on Rice, drawing his attention (Dangerous & sexy) while Specials empties a clip into him. Run, Chack and Krin, some of Specials’ men try to bums rush Proust as she arrives, but Specials orders them to stand down, and for a wonder, they listen.
Things under control, food distribution begins. Captain has disappeared. Robinson tries to convince Specials to leave Terminal and fly to Hawaii with him. Not to take on this city’s problems as his own (Oftener right). Proust gives Robinson some barter and asks him not to leave until everyone is sorted out. Cobra warns Robinson about how militant his gang of mechanics have become under Exit. And, accepting some of Robinson’s jingle, heads off to Grip for some healing.
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Cobra is headed out to Bakersfield with Specials, picking up some seeds for Proust. He sees some mines in the road up ahead (Bushwacked!). He spots a place where he should be able to gun it up a snowbank and jump the mines. That, or lose his shit and plow into a house. “Hold on, Freeze-Dry!” he says to Specials and floors it.
Robinson is fixing the Tank’s wheel, and thinking about finishing his plane. He’s figuring shit out, and realizes he needs parts from the Submarine. He grabs a couple of his platformer gang and heads for Wisher’s.
Proust goes looking for Captain. She’s put out word that she’s looking for him and spent some jingle. Food Truck comes to her and tells her he’s seen him in the Market. His head wrapped in towels so you wouldn’t recognize him, but Food Truck knows it’s him. He’s hiding out among the cars in the wrecker’s yard near the end of the airfield.
Cobra makes the jump (Act under Fire, 12) as Specials opens his mind to the maelstrom. The houses on the side of the road remind Specials of home. Of Before. One house in particular looks like his mom’s home in South Central. She always had Sunday dinner. You had to wash your hands. Specials never brought Tammy there. They wouldn’t have approved. He sees his mother at the door. He sees Tammy too. Tammy holding a baby…and a gun.
Cobra spins across the frozen ground and back onto the road, waving his shiny green cowboy hat out the window as 20 members of the cannibal gang pour out of the house to the beat of automatic weapons fire.
Robinson is talking to Wisher, Parcher, Corbett and Monk stand behind. Wisher is joined by Prim and Matilda. There’s a smell of smoke and booze and sex in the air. Robinson informs wisher that he’s leaving and he’s taking Specials with him. He’s going to need that AvGas. Wisher smiles and tells him to be sure not to betray him or he’ll create the largest bonfire Robinson’s ever seen, burn up the Airfield and him and his friends along with it.
Cobra and Specials arrive in Bakersfield. Shazza is there waiting. Herridan, the local holder comes out, wary of Specials because she recognizes his gear. Tammy has left, after killing three of her men in cold blood. She’s left for the mountains days ago. Specials knows she’s telling the truth (Read a Person, 12) and he barters for her to send an expert on planting in return for weapons. Herridan is happy to oblige, “The way I figure. The more food you have down there, the longer it takes before you’re coming up here. But I know one day, you folks are coming.”
Proust wanders the carpark looking for Captain, and finds him with a few refugees huddled up to a burning trashbin for warmth. Proust owes Captain, so she convinces him to leave peaceably. She gives him her word that he won’t be harmed. Captain finally agrees and they begin walking back to Food Truck. As they approach, Captain draws a small caliber pistol and draws a bead on Proust. However, Robinson steps out with a group of his dudes (Bonefeel! Gotta love it.) and forces him to stand down.
Cobra and Specials decide to head to the mountains in search of Tammy. Cobra takes Shazza along. They’re driving up a twisting mountain road when Specials opens his mind to try to reach out to Tammy (Miss!). He sees the sun. He sees blue skies. He sees how things used to be and it burns him. He reaches for the steering wheel, turning the Mustang towards the sheer dropoff. Cobra fights for control (Seize with Force, take definite hold) and he’s able to stop the car right on the edge, turning the car so Specials is suspended over the drop. Specials is laughing and bleeding from the ears and nose (psi harm), “Did you see it? Did you see the sun? None of you fucking knows how it should be. None of you fucking knows!”
Robinson wants to kill Captain, for trying to kill Proust, but she forbids it. She gave her word and her word is still good, regardless. The Platformers think that Proust is weak and she is making Robinson look weak. She threatens Robinson that if he wants to remain in the crew, he needs to do what she says (Intimidate, Miss!). Robinson has two of his men relieve captain of his weapons and walk him out of the city gates. But, when he gets there, Robinson and the rest of his gang are waiting. They execute Captain there, in sight of the market. Leaving his body lying in the street as a message.
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Robinson wants to kill Captain, for trying to kill Proust, but she forbids it. She gave her word and her word is still good, regardless. The Platformers think that Proust is weak and she is making Robinson look weak. She threatens Robinson that if he wants to remain in the crew, he needs to do what she says (Intimidate, Miss!). Robinson has two of his men relieve captain of his weapons and walk him out of the city gates. But, when he gets there, Robinson and the rest of his gang are waiting. They execute Captain there, in sight of the market. Leaving his body lying in the street as a message.
This was the standout scene of the entire game for me. It hit me right in the face and could not be ignored.
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Proust meets Robinson in the middle of the marketplace, drawing everyone’s eyes to them. At the top of her voice, she challenges Robinson. Saying if he’s not going to listen to her, then she can’t be in charge. She tells everyone in the market, that Robinson is now in charge. He will provide them food and water. She’s walks off to Grip’s place, trading some antibiotics for a place to lay low. People crowd in to Robinson, asking where they’re going to get food, but he ignores their questions and heads for his workshop.
Cobra leaves Shazza off at Bakersfield on the way back, promising her a “ride” whenever he’s in town. He heads back to the Airfield and drops Freeze-Dry off at Grip’s clinic before heading off to speak with Robinson. He sees Proust there, but she is uncharacteristically quiet, just makes sure Specials is going to be okay. Grip narco stabs Specials to give his mind time to heal and gives him a bio stab to speed the healing.
Special’s army has barricaded itself in Terminal and a horde of angry people are milling about outside. The men are well prepared and have a killing zone set up, just like Specials taught them. Cobra and Robinson are talking things over in the workshop when Specials walks in. He’s still reeling from the effects of the maelstrom and the narco stab, but he’s on the mend. Robinson’s gang is all for storming the food stores, which is going to get a lot of folks killed. But they manage to keep them in check. Robinson tells them that Proust got mad at him for killing Captain and quit. People are getting nervous and no one is in charge at Terminal. Everyone is desperate and scared. Specials is completely flabbergasted, “Proust quit?!? How the hell…! How can she just quit?”
Dremmer comes to Proust with an offer. “What do you want, Proust? Tell me. I like to give people what they want (Custom Move. Tell him what you want and take 1XP).” Proust looks at him, long and hard “I don’t know what I want.” Dremmer smiles, “Ah, you want purpose. Come with me.”
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Specials, who did you lose? My son. I remember watching on the sub’s monitors as the bombs fell, obliterating my hometown (Past. GM Chooses one: Who did you lose?).
Proust is at Dodger Stadium with Dremmer and his army of 30 or 40 well armed men in plastic parkas, carrying A-K’s and machine guns. “What do you want, Proust? Let me give it to you. Let me give you the Airfield?” Skeptical, Prousts asks him why he would do that. “Because I want you to run it. I want a market. I want trade. And I think we can be friends. Captain was not my friend. Wisher is not my friend. Are you my friend, Proust?” Proust asks “From one operator to another, what’s the catch?” (Read a Person 7. What’s he really feeling?). Dremmer smiles, “You work for me” and Proust senses utter confidence. He is completely in charge. He knows what she will say before she says it.
Robinson catches up to Specials outside of his workshop. “Dwayne, I need to talk with you. I need some parts from your submarine to fix the plane.” Specials thinks for a second, “Well, I need to talk with you as well. I need you to get me access the to the sub’s archives. You don’t need the reactor right? (Read a Person, 5)” Parcher looks up briefly at that. Robinson hands Specials two airline tickets he’s printed out. They read Destination: Hawaii. Specials squints “Coach? Guess we can’t be too picky.”
Cobra goes looking for Proust and learns that Grip’s traded her to Dremmer for some medicine and a bit of independence. He heads out to Dodger Stadium. Dremmer waves Proust back as he goes to meet Cobra. Dremmer invites him up to the announcer’s box where they sit around a folding kitchen table.
Robinson is in the bridge of the submarine. He reaches out to the console with his senses Robinson sees a shadowy cabal of “generals” and “directors” who created the submarine and the stasis chamber, somehow connected to the End. He knows they are still down in the crio-tubes below. His mind’s eye sees Tammy at the console, recently. Opening up the stasis chambers and awakening her squad. (Bonefeel 12. Who Made this? Who handled this before me? What’s been done most recently with this?).
Specials is heading for the Psi isolation chamber. He sees open crio-tubes, empty save for drying goo. He can tell that these were opened hours ago. No one is nearby; they must have left the sub (Read a Sitch, 8. What is my enemy’s true position?). He opens the chamber and finds the body of Specialist Matthews, blood from his eyes and ears still drying. Long since dead, his mind and body must have been shattered by the psychic maelstrom when he was wakened. They tried to save him in the chamber, but it did no good.
Robinson has the access codes he needs. As he finishes, Parcher comes to him. “Robinson. Did Specials say something about a reactor? That could be good for us. The Platform would never be cold. Our people would be safe…and for other things.” Robinson reaches down to Parcher’s coveralls and pulls out the piece he broke to remind him of his limitations. “Be careful. Don’t touch anything. We’ll go down there together.”
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Dremmer turns to Cobra, “What would it take to get you to burn Wisher’s compound to the ground? How much gas?” Proust steps in “Hold on! I don’t want a blood bath. You start killing Wisher and he’ll start killing you. Everybody dies. You want me to run the Airfield? You want a fucking market? Fine, I’ll do it. But, I’ll go in and talk to Wisher. He’s a business man. We can cut a deal (Manipulate 10).” Dremmer thinks Wisher is freaky, but he agrees to do it Proust’s way. “One thing though, Proust. I own you. I want to hear you say it.” Proust, swallowing her pride says “Fine, if that’s what it takes to keep everyone alive and fed. You own me, Dremmer.”
Specials is in the Psi Isolation Chamber, reaching through the Maelstrom to Tammy (Augury 7, You reach through the psychic maelstrom to something or someone connected to it.) He sees her about to go into a briefing, holding a swaddled baby and an assault rifle. She turns to him “You need to let us go. The Device didn’t get a chance. It was turned off too soon. It can end it. All of it. What’s left of it.” Specials tries to convince her not to end the world (Read a Person 6). He sees the Airfield, his men Mill, Bar, Chako and Krim are behind barricades, guns locked and loaded. “Is this what you want to save?” asks Tammy. “These people ready to kill each other for stunted potatoes? I won’t bring this here,” she says showing him the baby. Specials can see that it is a small skeleton. “Name one thing worth saving.” As his vision pulls back, he sees she is at Dodger Stadium.
Robinson and Parcher run into Specials in the passageway outside the reactor. “Specials turns to Robinson for advice. “My old girlfriend is about to destroy the world. What do you think I should do? (Read a Person. What do you wish I’d do?)” Robinson pauses for a second, “Fix her. Then head for Hawaii.” Specials shrugs, “Is there anything worth saving?” Robinson turns to him, “I’ve come this far, Dwayne. I’m not giving up until I find out.” That seems to satisfy Specials. He and Robinson head back to the Archives to see what they can find on Hawaii. The reactor will have to wait. Robinson is able to access the database and see that the islands are still there, but he can’t tell much else.
As Proust and Cobra are leaving, Dremmer pulls the Driver aside and offers him a Tanker full of gas and safety, if he’ll work for him. Dremmer’s only condition is that he will own Cobra. Cobra asks “why me (Read a Person, Miss.)?” but the man’s reasons remain his own. Cobra and Proust head to Wisher’s compound and are admitted inside by members of the Family. Proust tells Wisher that the Airfield is now hers. Wisher can kill her, but then Dremmer’s gang is going to burn him and his family out of his compound. She wants business as usual between them. “What will it take to make this deal? (Read a Person, 7. What will it take to get you to accept?)” Wisher’s response “Join the Family.” Proust agrees and they are wed. Cobra leaves as the orgy begins. (Operator special move. Proust gains the obligation gig, Keeping the Family happy).
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And Colin is 3/4 of the way there now.
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Cobra heads over to the hanger where Robinson and Specials have gathered their respective gangs. They convoy out to Dodger Stadium. They pull up short and tell the gangs to stay there unless called for. “You are not allowed to have things like…thoughts,” says Specials. Dremmer comes to meet them but won’t admit to having Tammy (Read a Person, 9. Is he telling the truth?) until Specials pulls a gun and puts it to Dremmer’s head (Go Aggro, 7. Back off calmly hands where you can see). Dremmer’s guys pull their weapons and everyone has guns on each other. Things are tense, but Dremmer trades her for the Submarine. He takes them to where Tammy and her squad are holding out with the Device in the generator room. Specials and Tammy head off for a private embrace, which turns into much more (Quarantine Special, 7-9. If I asked would you stay with me?). Specials tries to convince her to help him save the world. “Will you stay with me?” he asks. “If you stay, I’ll stay,” she responds. “If I had decided to go, would you have gone too?”
Meanwhile, Robinson is back with the Device. He opens his brain to the psychic maelstrom (Miss!) and sees that the Device is the Maelstrom. The two are connected. He sees the Device, the Blizzard, the glow of Hawaii in the distance. He sees Hawaii up close, the sun, hula girls, a sandy beach. He feels warm sand under his feet for the first time in his life. Then it starts to snow, piling up in drifts. A grey tsunami rises behind him and through him, crashing into the island. Swamping it.
Hawaii, as Robinson knows it, is no more. But the Device can still get him there. That’s what the Device offers. The Hawaii from the post card. “What do you want for it?” he asks Dremmer. But Dremmer will not name a price. He wants Robinson to tell him what it does? How it works. He will not name a price. Robinson murders him with a shot to the head (Seize with Force, 13. Take definite hold. Suffer little harm. Inflict terrible harm.). Robinson starts wheeling the Device out when everything goes to hell.
Cobra hears the shot and knows things are about to get bad. He spies Roark turning, his assault rifle coming up (Read a Sitch, Hit! Who’s in charge here? Who’s the biggest threat? What should I be on the lookout for?). Bullets start to fly, Robinson is hit (Harm move, 10. It’s worse that it seems.). Cobra pulls his guns and tries to back Roark and his dude’s off, “Robinson is in charge here. Dremmer’s dead. Put the weapons down (Go Aggro, Miss!).” Roark shoots and Cobra is gutshot (Harm move 10. He’s at 10 O’Clock!) Cobra runs for the skybox and kicks out a window (Fuck This Shit, 7. You can go or stay, but if you go it costs you. Leave something behind). Down below he sees Dremmer’s men closing in on his Mustang. He can save the car, but it will mean leaving Robinson behind. Cobra swings out over the wall and is gone.
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And with Specials and Tammy, all 4 special moves are in play.
It's interesting how iconic they were in play. Robinson used his special move to read Prim and fix her. Cobra did it with Shazza and left her pining for him as he keeps on driving. Quarantine tried to recapture his past. And Proust used her special move to broker a deal, an obligation gig makes total sense there.
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Specials hears the shooting and comes running. Wounded, Robinson is running across the parking lot, signaling for his dudes (Spooky Intense, 7). He can get to his men, but it will expose him to more harm. He’s pinned down behind a car. Specials fires warning shots from the rooftop (Go Aggro, 12. Force your hand and suck it up.). Dremmer’s men start dying and the automatic weapons fire lessens. Robinson honks the horn of car in a predetermined pattern, sending his men into the fray (Leadership, 11. Hard advance.). Specials and Tammy keep up a barrage of killing shots (Seize with Force, 12. Take definite hold. Suffer little harm. Impress or frighten your enemy).
Cobra drives to Grip’s. He needs an injectable tourniquet and a blood slower. Grip offers to trade his services for a ride to Bakersfield (Read a Person, How can I make you…?). Grip wants out of here. Cobra agrees to the deal and Grip patches him up.
From his position, Robinson orders his men to charge the gate (Seize with Force, 14. Take Definite Hold. Suffer little harm. Inflict terrible harm.). They take light casualties as Monk is shot in the arm, but Dremmer’s men break and run. When Specials and Tammy approach him, Robinson is wheeling the device up the ramp from the locker rooms, toward the field. He says “You didn’t tell me what it does, Dwayne. It makes your dreams come true.” Specials realizes that he may have to shoot Robinson to stop him from taking the device (Read a Sitch, 5.). Robinson sees him finger his gun and knows that Specials is willing to go to violence. “It makes your nightmares come true too, Robinson.”
The Savvyhead opens his brain again to the psychic maelstrom (Open your Brain, 9). He sees Amy in the snow, the only thing that ever mattered to him as much as Hawaii. He knows the Device is connected to the End Times, that it’s part of the snow and not the light. He lets go of the trolley and walks out as the Device starts rolling back.
Epilogue
Proust is seeing Specials and Robinson off as they start up the plane’s engines. “You sure you don’t want to come?” asks Robinson “I’ve got two tickets for you.” Proust shakes her head, “I’ve got family here.” The plane taxis and takes off, heading out over the barren landscape before turning toward Hawaii. On board the aircraft, we can see the Device, softly humming, strapped into the space that had been cleared for Cobra’s car. Down below, we see a lone yellow Mustang racing down the road, kicking up dust behind as Cobra watches the plane soar off. He touches his hat and then drives off into the horizon.
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I played Robinson the Savvyhead.
Not a lot to add right now other than that this game was fucking boss. Thank you, noclue, for chronicling it.
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My pleasure, sir. It was an awesome game!