Session 18:

Having searched for almost 24 hours Humphrey's scanning equipment aboard the hovercraft finally manages to lock onto Teslas power signature through the smoke and fumes around the volcanoes. He requests that they stop for a moment to discuss their options. Explaining to Ma and Cassandra that they can either use the pyramid to destroy the power within Tesla, or attempt to transfer it into Cassandra. Ma argues for the second alternative despite having realised that Cassandra doesn't actually love her back, but she still hopes to prove to whatever remains of Cassandra 1.0 that she can do good. Cassandra agree and Humphrey quickly connecting her to an elaborate network of wires. All that is needed now is to attach the other end, a thick power cord to Tesla. No easy feat because of the god-childs power shield.

Marsh, Geronimo and Tesla has ascended the volcano and are approaching the edge of the crater. Marsh has become increasingly infuriated with the slow pace as Tesla gently carries Geronimo, trying not to jostle him to much as he is in a great deal of pain from his injuries. Suddenly Tesla turns and points to where the hovercraft emerges from the smoke and whispers the names of those aboard. Marsh, assuming that Humphrey has come to try and stop them, pushes hard against Teslas mind with a command of speed. With the hovercraft bearing down on them Tesla takes off running towards the crater. Geronimo falls off at the sudden movement but manages to grab one of the merged arms that is protruding from Teslas body and is dragged along the ground behind Tesla. Despite this he manages to reach out, using some of Teslas power that now flows through him, and commandeer Blue-Tosh with a command to crash the ship, overriding his robotic laws.

On the hovercraft Ma sees Tesla and tells Flower to take the wheel, much to the 12-year-olds delight. She heads back and grabs Thundertounge, her grenade launcher and the end of the power cord. At that moment the ship starts lurching from side to side as Blue-Tosh and Flower fights for control. Flower screams that she can't hold on and that they are going to crash while the passengers are thrown around. Ma however manages to jump out of the side of the hovercraft, landing safely on the ground, with the ship itself heading straight for Tesla and Geronimo. Seeing this Tesla stops and projects the blue energy shield to include Geronimo as well. Moment later the ship crashes into them, the cockpit being split open on impact. Marsh, upon seeing Ma land on the ground, calls out to her, asking her of her intentions. Ma makes them perfectly clear by launching several grenades, forcing Marsh to take cover while she progress slowly towards the crash site.

Pinned and injured, Flower calls our for Cassandra who immediately tries to get to the cockpit to help. But Geronimo is closer and quicker and grabs Flower through the broken cockpit. He puts a large shard of broken glass to her throat and warns Cassandra to not come any closer. Seeing the heavily injured Flower in Geronimo's grip with Tesla behind him, Cassandra stops dead and breaks down crying over having once again failed to protect Flower from harm. With her distracted Geronimo and Tesla inches backwards towards the edge. Upon hearing Cassandra cry out, Ma turns and and sees Flowers peril. Forgetting about Marsh she throws her knives at Geronimo, causing him to drop Flower.

In her grief Cassandra reaches out to all those present with her mind, showing them a vision where they all stop fighting and instead try to rebuild the world. Seeing it, Ma and Humphrey are filled with hope, but Geronimo is unmoved in his determination to sacrifice Tesla. She then draws Marsh with her into the mindscape of the architects, in the same tea-party setting where they first talked on the roof of Cassandra's ruin hide-out. She pleads with Marsh to come over to her side and instead try and stop Tesla, that he should trust that she knows what is best. Marsh however, sick of being controlled and manipulated, feels great resentment at being told by another what is best and betrayed as Cassandra has embraced her weaker human side. The vision ends abruptly with Marsh violent refusal of Cassandra's proposal. Shaking it off, with no actual time having passed, Marsh steps out of his cover and shoots Ma in the back with an energy rifle, throwing her to the ground. But before a second shot can be fired, Humphrey emerges from the hovercraft and shoots at Marsh, covering Ma. He helps Ma to her feet and grabs the power cable from the ground. Realising he is outnumbered runs straight for Tesla with the intention of tackling the slow-moving creature over the edge. Ma and Humphrey follows close behind. As they approach Geronimo tells Tesla to go and launches himself at Ma and Humphrey. He manages to stab Humphrey badly and he goes down bleeding on top of Geronimo. Marsh, being faster on account of his hybrid augmentations, reaches Tesla first. But Tesla, reaching for Geronimo, grabs and throws Marsh aside over the edge. Falling helplessly towards the molten rock below Marsh accepts that death is the only way to achieve the freedom that he seeks.

Marsh momentum causes Tesla to stumble backwards, the edge crumbling. But before Tesla falls, Ma reaches the god-child and slices through the power shield with Thundertounge. Jumping on top of Tesla she plunges the blade deep, nullifying all of Teslas protection. A piercing scream of pain echoes in the mind of all those present and the creatures connection with Geronimo snaps. Without Teslas protective energy holding his failing body together, Geronimos abdomen explodes in a shower of blood and guts. His body dead Geronimo's mind is flung into the crumbling garden of the gods. Now empty and with the statues and ornaments turning to ashes at his touch. His mind slowly slipping away he desperately seeks out mother camels scrying pool to learn Teslas fate, but it has dried up and reveals nothing.

Together Ma and Tesla topples over the edge. But not before Humphrey, using up his last strength in his fatally bleeding body, jams the power cable into Teslas leg, before collapsing on the ground. They fall down towards the magma and the monster that resides there, waiting hungrily for Teslas power. Before the cable goes taut, the monster is denied as Ma and Tesla are consumed by a brilliant blue light and the staggering power of Tesla rushes violently through the power cord into Cassandra. She rises to the sky, bristling with stolen power, now a Goddess. She calms the volcano and dispels the smog layer, allowing the brilliant sun to shine on the earth once more. Reaching out she crushes the mindscape of the architects with one hand and the garden of the gods with the other.

Session 17:

In the bus Cassandra tries to explain to Flower what has just happened, while trying to make sense of it herself. The presence of Cassandra 1.0s memories in her mind is confusing, but she still feels the pull of Marsh and decide to head there while trying to sort things out. Flower accepts her explanation, but remains concerned about her safety.

Together with Geronimo, his small number of followers and Tesla, Ma and Marsh is systematically searching the wreckage, looking for any Architect survivors to give to Tesla. While away from Geronimo Ma interrogates Marsh, trying to understand the brainers relationship with Cassandra as well as what Marsh's plans for the future are. Marsh admits to feeling disdain for humans and only really caring about other clone hybrids such as Cassandra. Outside Geronimo is trying to figure out how the stone pyramid works and concludes that it serves as a physical portal between his world and the garden of the gods. As he is trying to activate it, blue sparks of energy are slowly working their way through the intricate carvings on it's sides, slowly building momentum.

With the help of the two architects Humphrey manages to get a hovercraft and some mechanised combat suits working. He also devices a way of incapacitating Tesla by using a large dust-powered tranquilizer gun. The reprogrammed dust will enter Teslas external blue energy shield and prevent the creature from moving or exerting it power for quite some time. Unfortunately the components needed are hard to come by, and he only manages to create one such dust-dart. He then re-calibrates the hovercrafts sensors to search for Teslas energy-signature and heads of with the two heavily armed architects to collect the god-child.

As Marsh and Ma emerges from the wreckage they were searching the bus carrying Cassandra, Flower and the Haven survivors arrive. The survivor on the bus are overjoyed of seeing their prophet Geronimo and their living god Tesla, but Cassandra refuses to let anyone leave the bus. She has Flower hold the survivors at gunpoint while she gets out to question why Marsh and Ma can be found in Geronimo's and Teslas company. Both Ma and Marsh greets Cassandra with affection but immediately notices that something is different. But before anyone has a chance to act the stone pyramid creates a blue energy-bubble that quickly expands outward until it encompasses all those present and instantly transports them all to the garden of the gods in the flesh. Left is only Tesla, but it’s not long before Humphrey swoops in with his hovercraft and shots Tesla with his dust-dart. Tesla falls to the ground defenseless. With the help of his Architect allies Humphrey loads Tesla onto the hovercraft and flies of towards Haven where he intends to finish his experiments to safely drain Teslas power.

In the garden of the gods reactions are mixed as Mother Camel welcomes them all. While his followers fall to their knees in awe Geronimo is agitated by the fact that Tesla is missing and runs over to the scrying pool where he sees Humphrey attack and abduct Tesla. Furious he demands that the gods return him to Tesla so that he can protects his child. At his command the sky-serpent whisks him away from the garden and heads towards Haven, leaving Ma, Cassandra, Marsh and the survivors in the garden. Both Marsh and Cassandra senses that something is not right with the garden and the supposed gods, and Marsh tries to form a psychic connection to the gods but is overwhelmed and falls into an uncontrollable trance. Ma tries to address Mother Camel but is promptly dismissed and ignored as Geronimo has told the goddess that Ma is no more than one of his concubines. Ma is furious at this slight and grabs the pyramid left behind by Geronimo. This instantly transports her and everyone else, except Marsh who is still in his trance, back to earth. While it’s been only moments for them, it appears that hours have passed as the sun is now setting.

Humphrey arrives with Tesla at Haven, now empty and partially destroyed, and immediately sets up his equipment to safely drain Teslas power while the two architects patrol the perimeter. It quickly becomes obvious that while draining Tesla is easy enough, assuming that you can bypass the energy shield, the power needs to go and be stored somewhere. Humphrey shifts his focus to figuring out some sort of battery for storage. While he is running his tests and doing his research Tesla, while unable to move, begs to be release, asking Humphrey why he want’s to hurt Tesla and calling him a betrayer.

Coming out of the trance Marsh is alone in the garden, with the imposing Father Ram towering above. Father Ram growls that Marsh is an unwelcome intruder, but for all the gods impressive posturing, Marsh still sees through him and tells him that he is not real. Upon hearing this the vision of Father Ram, and the rest of the gods, melts away and is replaced by an enormous eye surrounded by a multitude of tentacles. Sensing Marsh desire for vengeance and freedom it offers a deal. Return to earth and ensure the delivery of Tesla to the entity, and Marsh will have freedom for himself and all other clone hybrids, as long as they do not interfere with humans who all belongs to the Entity. Marsh agrees willingly, but as insurance the Entity wraps some of its tentacles around the brain of the brainer before returning him to earth in the outskirts of the ruins around Haven.

Humphrey is interrupted by Purity in Rage who has detected Geronimo's presence and informs him that the have an intruder on the roof of Haven. Having concluded that transferring Teslas power into a non-biological battery would do nothing but create a very large bomb capable of destroying the world, Humphrey tells the Architects to stop the intruder and instead tries to find a way of weaponizing Tesla, so that when the creature merges with the enemy of the Architect they will both die. Several floors above him Geronimo, desperately trying to get to Tesla, runs into Rage in his massive mech suit. The architect immediately opens fire on Geronimo, but fueled with holy rage he slices the suit open, severing one of the architects legs in the process. He leaves Rage bleeding on the floor and presses on, but is ambushed by Depths of Vengeance in a ruined staircase who fires on the roof, causing it to collapse and trap Geronimo under the falling concrete.  As the architect approaches to finish the job Geronimo calls upon the power of the Ram god and throws both the concrete blocks and the architect out through the wall.

Down below Marsh has arrived at Havens broken gates and quickly ascends to where humphrey has set up his temporary lab. With the architects distracted by Geronimo and Humphrey distracted by his work Marsh almost manages to sneak up on Humphrey. But just before Marsh can put his hands on Humphrey he turns around and shoots Marsh square in the chest with his sawed-of. Despite his wound Marsh manages to unplug the cables connected to Tesla while Humphrey is reloading, freeing the creature from Humphrey's hold. As Humphrey's second shot harmlessly bounces off Teslas energy shield Geronimo arrives, points at Humphrey with Thundertounge and commands him to stop. Realizing that he is outnumbered Humphrey surrenders. Marsh explains his intentions to help Tesla to Geronimo and together they collect the injured Rage from above and allow Tesla to merge the architect into his body, making Tesla ready for the sacrifice. They then leave Haven with the intent to travel to on of the nearby volcanos, to complete the sacrifice once and for all. But not before Marsh, still bitter and angry over his previous treatment at Geronimo's hands, shots him in the back with his rifle. As Geronimo lie dying on the ground Marsh lords over him, telling him how worthless he is and how his ideas about his precious gods are all a lie perpetruated by a monster from beyond the stars. Turning to leave Tesla picks up Geronimo and carrying him along, telling the annoyed Marsh that Tesla won’t leave his father behind.

Driving along with the bus full of survivors, Cassandra and Ma heads towards the only place they know to still be standing – Haven. With flower asleep in her lap, and the rest of the survivors asleep behind them, Cassandra tells Ma about what happened to Cassandra 1.0, and about how she, same as Marsh, saw the gods for what they really are in the stone garden and that she believes it is of the utmost importance that they stop Tesla. Ma is overjoyed at the idea that Cassandra 1.0 still lives in some sense and pledges to aid Cassandra in any way she can. The two share a kiss, but while Ma is sincere in her feelings, the only thing Cassandra feels is the echoes of feelings she knows to not be her own. After driving all night they finally arrive at Haven. The signs of recent battle and the crushed architect mech suit outside results in Ma cautiously exploring Haven while Cassandra puts the survivors in safety on the lower floors. Ma finds a broken Humphrey sitting in his workshop, staring at the remains of his power transfer system. He tells Ma what has happened and that Tesla is now long gone. Ma however refuses to give up and, after finding Thundertounge where Geronimo dropped it, gathers Humphrey and Cassandra. She gives the stone pyramid to Humphrey in the hopes that it will contain the solution to fighting their enemy and they agree to take Humphrey's hovercraft to pursue Tesla. Cassandra insists Flower comes along, but the rest of the survivors will remain in Haven.

Session 15:
Ma made a last minute cancellation for this session which was very unfortunate, as she didn’t get a lot of spotlight last session and I was hoping to make that up to her. Next session I guess.



Cassandra 1.0 is raging around Humphrey's workshop, trying to break anything she gets her hands on. Humphrey looks on calmly, telling her that none of that stuff will actually do any harm to the ship or the AI that now takes orders from him, but that does not stop Cassandra from trying. Geronimo inquires further about Humphrey's intentions with the ship, and tells his own tale about how he came to be in control of Haven. Cassandra calms down and the three tries, with very little success, to find some common ground for their ambitions. The valley from which Geronimo's followers came is discussed as a potential place for settlement, if the resources of the ship can be used to clear up the flooded city and the water supply. While Cassandra and Humphrey argues, Geronimo turns to Blue-Tosh, vaguely recognising the doctor. He has a vision of the great garden of the Gods, stretching out in every direction. But the ship that Blue-Tosh now controls flies above it, touching down here and there on the ground. Wherever the ship touches a spire grows and the garden withers, until only a fraction of it remains surrounded by a vast featureless plain. Shaking of the disturbing vision Geronimo states that he needs to return below to Haven and Tesla. Upon hearing the god-childs name Cassandra insists that she comes with, brining her hand-held architect device with her.

Cassandra 2.0 and Marsh are traveling towards an underground Architect depot that Marsh knows about. Cassandra shows very little interest in talking during the trip through the scorch. Arriving at the location they se a small cluster of houses, all demolished and with the corpses of two metal burrowers half covered in rubble. Marsh tells Cassandra that the burrowers are dead, but as they travel through the village one of them comes alive and throws them both into the air and crushes their  4-wheeler. Marsh crashes agains a wall, but Cassandra lands on her feet and fills the burrower with shells from her shotgun until it stops moving. Marsh, emerging from the rubble, admits admiration for her martial prowess, a skill Marsh is rather lacking in. With the burrower dead they find the cave entrance that leads to the depot. In it two frightened raiders are hiding, threatening the newcomers. Marsh attempts to talk to them, but Cassandra has no patience for it and quickly disarms them and sends them running for their life. A section of the wall opens when detecting the Architect parts of Cassandra and Marsh, behind it an elevator leading down into the earth.

As they are walking down through Haven towards Tesla Geronimo ask Cassandra 1.0 what about her views on Humphrey being control of the ship, and makes it clear that he thinks that it's a bad idea. He want Cassandra to assist him in taking the ship from Humphrey if he does not cooperate with Cassandra's and Geronimo's wishes for the ship. While she initially agrees Cassandra is offended by his suggestion that she turn against Humphrey, and tells Geronimo that Ma was right to warn her about him. They reach Tesla and Cassandra, while being repulsed by the creature, quickly scans it with her device. Tesla objects, grabs her hands and starts to crush them, but lets her go at Geronimo's command. Cassandra flees back to the ship while Geronimo is engaged by one of his inquisitors, who tells him that they captured a few dissident who were planning to kill Tesla. Their leader turns out to be Daffy who has retrieved hidden weapons in Haven and rallied what remnants of Havens old crew that has escaped converting and Denys inquisition. Geronimo shows little concern upon seeing Ma's old lieutenant and Daffy's threats that Humphrey will avenge him. He makes sure that he and the other captives, along with a few selected  believers, are merged with Tesla when the creature demands additional people to make Tesla ready for the sacrifice. But despite Geronimo's generosity with other peoples bodies and lives it is not enough, as Tesla tells him that someone with Architect blood is needed as well if the sacrifice is to achieve its purpose.

Up in the ship Cassandra 1.0 and Humphrey studies the data from Cassandra's scan of Tesla, and conclude that Tesla serves as an power accumulator for whatever is surging through the active spires. Storing that power within itself, ready to release it under the right conditions. They argue about the purpose of this with Cassandra focusing on the revitalised earth and grass that Humphrey saw which causes her to conclude that Tesla will return stolen power to the earth and heal the land. Humphrey is less sure, suspecting that the grass may only be a side-effect and that Teslas true purpose may be malicious. Why else would the Architect go through such trouble in draining away power from something, but then not collect that power. The fact that the ships extensive historical database shows that the devastation of the world was caused by a global nuclear war, as the nation states of old fought for and against the Architects, seems to support Humphrey's view. They agree to seek out one of the remaining intact spires and try to figure out the truth.

Far below ground Marsh and Cassandra finds the Architect depot. A limited but helpful light entity explains that, as of its last contact with the fleet-net, this is the only depot that hasn't been destroyed and shows them two the depot two hangars. One contains a number of mechanised battle-suits, to large to be properly used by humans or hybrids, and the other two large transport hovercrafts. While Cassandra figures out how to fly the hovercrafts, breaking one of them in the process, Marsh concludes that the battle-suits can be autonomously controlled for short periods of time by injecting them with the dust present in Marsh own body. They load one of the battle-suits onto the hovercraft and flies of in search of a still functional spire. The idea being that since the spires are precious to the Architect, then maybe they hold the key to doing real harm to them.

Traveling in the same direction Cassandra 2.0s small hovercraft and Humphrey's massive spaceship soon runs into one another. Unable to communicate they both assume that the other ship is piloted by Architects. Cassandra and Marsh tries to avoid detection by flying low but Humphrey fires a tracking probe at them which leads to some frantic evasive maneuvers. The probe latches on to the hull and Humphrey prepares to move on while highly unwilling and unhappy Marsh climbs out on the hull of the hovercraft to try and remove the probe. His interest piqued by this stunt, Humphrey brings out his smoldering iron and starts burning electronic circuits into his own flesh. This allows him to peer through the mind-scape of the architect, sensing the presence of the dust that pours through Cassandra 2.0 and Marsh's veins and recognising Cassandra. In doing so he catches a glimpse of a beautiful stone garden in the distance within the mind-scape. Over in the hovercraft Cassandra 2.0 is briefly distracted and tilts the ship, causing Marsh to fall of the side, dangling by his safety harness below the ship.

Remembering Tosh talking about Cassandra 2.0 not being human, Geronimo makes inquiries about the whereabouts of her and her followers. He manages to find out their hiding place and heads there together with Tesla and a selection of armed followers. The result is a massacre where there are only two survivors, one of them Gnarly. Geronimo questions them about Cassandra's and is told about her departure by a distraught Gnarly who blames her for the death of all her followers at the hands of Geronimo. In the end Gnarly is killed and the other survivor is left in a catatonic state, just repeating "it's the end of the world" over and over again. Together with his following Geronimo follows her trail into the scorch. On the road he questions Tesla about his coming sacrifice, and what awaits on the other side. Tesla tells Geronimo that he doesn't know but Geronimo, feeling more and more that this world may not be for him, asks if he can come with him. Tesla, taking Geronimo's hand in hoof-claw, tells him that he can, that they will see the other side together.

Humphrey's vision quest is interrupted when a number of alarms in his workshop starts screaming at him. Another ship is emerging from the smog layer nearby. It is about the same size as Humphrey's, but where his is mostly equipped with sensors and analytical equipment, this one is bristling with weapons platforms. The ship immediately opens fire on both Humphrey's ship and the hovercraft. Cassandra 2.0 evades the missiles and Marsh manages to drop safely to the ground by cutting the safety line, before Cassandra heads towards Humphrey's ship, pursued by a number of missiles. Humphrey quickly connects to the other ship through the fleet-net and disrupts its weapons system, given himself a brief respite which he uses to transport Cassandra 1.0 to the ground and set the ships on a collision course. He then opens the hangar bays and lets Cassandra 2.0 in. After some initial confusion, and disbelief on Cassandra's part on seeing Humphrey, they escape the spaceship together as it smashes into the battleship, tearing both of them apart. On the ground Marsh and Cassandra 1.0 runs for their lives.

Traveling through the scorch Geronimo and his following has kept Humphrey's ship in view and sees the other ship appearing and the subsequent collision that sends burning debris flying all over. They immediately heads towards the ships and runs into Cassandra 1.0 and Marsh, lying exhausted on the ground. Tesla identifies Marsh as an Architect hybrid, while Marsh recognise Tesla and Geronimo from talking to Cassandra 2.0. The situation quickly becomes very tense as Marsh and Geronimo both tries to coax information from one another about the intentions of the other. It becomes clear to Marsh that Geronimo does not have best intentions of the clone hybrid in mind. If it was only a threat to Marsh it could be dealt with calmly, but a threat to Cassandra 2.0 in unacceptable to Marsh. Marsh grabs Cassandra 1.0 and pulling her up from the ground she is injected with a small amount of dust and implanted with the idea that she needs to kill Geronimo. But despite Marsh considerable willpower Cassandra refuses, clutching her shaking hands and falling to her knees again.

At that moment Humphrey comes falling out of the sky, his Architect parachute stopping his fall just before he is smashed against the ground. Heavily armed he tells everyone to calm down and walks over to Cassandra, who asks him to restrain her to prevent her from doing harm. Tesla appears to calm down considerably at the sight of Humphrey. Unmoved Geronimo tells Marsh that they want the same thing, for Tesla to achieve his purpose and oppose the Architects, and if Marsh agrees to come with Geronimo to see that through, then Geronimo promises to leave Cassandra 2.0 alone. Marsh grudgingly agrees.

Session 14:

Two love letters this time. One for Cassandra 2.0:

Almost two weeks have passed since you escaped Haven together with the mysterious Marsh. You've spent most of that time under the care of your medic, trying to mend the wounds you received in the fight on Havens roof, during the subsequent torture and from the dust burning you from inside. During this time the ruins have been beset by large metal burrowers with hooks and claws, seemingly intent on killing every person they encounter. But for some reason they have left the building were you and your cult reside untouched.

Remove all wounds, mark experience and roll +hard. On a 10+ choose two, on a 7-9 choose one. On a miss you still get to choose one, but your injuries are not fully healed and stay at 6 o’clock.
-   You’ve had Gnarly watch Marsh since he joined you, trying to figure the guy out. When you next interact with him you may read a person as if you rolled a 10+ and also get +1 forward with your next roll regarding him.
-   The metal burrowers have left you alone but one of them, heavily wounded, emerged from the ground in your basement and stayed there. It seems docile compared to the ones outside, but no-one has dared to go near it.
-   Practicing in using the dust while suppressing the side-effect of it burning you alive from the inside has given results. Whenever you use the dust you can act under fire to use it safely.


And one for Marsh:

So you're a Architect clone hybrid as well? Who would have thought! Unlike Cassandra you know very well what you are and that your memories from before the Architects abducted you are not your own. Though almost immediately after you were unleashed into the world you lost contact with the Architect and was left to your own devices. The Architects major concern was protecting their precious spires, but the reason was never divulged to you.

Like Cassandra you are infused with the black dust of the architect. It powers you and makes you more than all these weak filthy humans (you can summon the same black, crawling eyes as Cassandra have permanently at will). Pick two from the list below:
-   Using you violation glove you can inject small amounts of dust into other people. It won't survive for long outside your body but can do a lot of damage (you now have the brainer gear Implant syringe).
-   It makes you faster and stronger (+1 hard OR +1 cool, maximum +2).
-   You know the location of a small underground Architect observation post out in the scorch. A small band of raiders have made its outer areas their home so you have yet to explore it fully.

Almost two weeks have passed since you helped Cassandra escape Haven. During this time the ruins have been beset by large metal burrowers intent on exterminating all human life. The burrowers are powered by the black dust as well and you've been able to use you psychic powers to keep them away from the building Cassandras cult call home, though you have yet to tell anyone you've done so.

Also, mark experience.




Marsh and Cassandra 2.0 have spent the last few weeks in their hideout in the ruins, strangely untouched by the metal burrowers, Cassandra recuperating and Marsh keeping his distance to the cultists, who have all returned the favour. As one of the lookouts bring news of the arrival and claiming of Haven by Geronimo and his army Cassandra orders Gnarly to arrange for an infiltration of Haven. The plan is to try and get at Geronimo to force him to tell them where Tesla is hiding. She then meets with Marsh who tries to convince her that she should abandon everything here, cult, mission and all, and follow Marsh on his quest to find out more about the Architects instead. Cassandra dismisses the frustrated Marsh and starts to make plans to strike at Geronimo instead.

Geronimo observes the Burrowers fall from the sky and the subsequent awe-inspiring bombing by the spaceship in the sky from the window in his private chambers. The presence of the enormous spaceship unnerves him and he once again steps into the garden of the Gods. The soothing statues and fountains are all there as before, with the ivory tower of the sky serpent in the distance. He heads over to the pond of Mother Camel. The Mother is nowhere to be found, but the pond beacons to him. As he looks into it, his thoughts on Tesla, he sees a vision of his son. The creature is standing by a broken spire, hand in hand with Milkshake who is speaking to her child, though the words are lost in the image. Geronimo touches the pond and is instantly transported to the scene, finding himself laying on the ground, the pond visible just out of the corner of his eye. Hi rises and addresses Tesla and Milkshake, asking Tesla to come with him. The creature, now hulking mass over 3 meters tall, turns to him and whispers "father" into Geronimos mind. Milkshake at Geronimo, telling him that he won't take her child from her again. But Tesla picks up his mother, and starts pushing her body into his own, merging with her as he did with Apple. Milkshake struggles and begs Tesla to stop, but her scream is cut off as her mouth disappears into Teslas flesh. The creature walks up to Geronimo, stroking Milkshakes hair, which hangs from her scalp protruding from Teslas chest, with its hoof-claw. Father and child touch, hand to hoof-claw, and Geronimo reaches out to the pond, transporting them both back to his quarters in Haven.

Cassandra 2.0 and Marsh are standing on the roof of their hideout, watching the bombing. The sight brings Marsh into the great featureless Architect mindscape, and drags Cassandra along. Dictated by Marsh mind they find themselves having a tea-party during which Marsh continues his attempts to convince Cassandra to come away. They are cut short when the looming shapes of two Architects appear. The first one picks up Cassandra by the throat while the other prods and pokes her, stating that she is a defective construction, a failure and needs to be replaced. Cassandra appears unable to resist but Marsh is filled with rage at the sight of the Architects and tackles the one holding Cassandra, bringing them both back to the roof. Cassandra falls to ground, Marsh standing over her with eyes filled with swirling black dust. Marsh berates Cassandra for not understanding that they are the same and that Marsh only wants whats best for them. But the realisation that she may not be unique and chosen has shattered Cassandra, and she can only whisper "what am I?" over and over again.

With the reveal of the ship, and worried that there may be other ships out there, Humphrey puts all his efforts into creating a substitute AI for the ship, one that will be under his control. After some research he concludes that two ways are available. Either he spends a few week programing one from scratch or he uses a person as a template, combining their brain patterns with the ships network to create a new AI. It won't be as efficient as the original, and the process will leave the person brain dead. But Humphrey is determined and, based on previous conversations with Tosh where the doctor laments his old age, lost wife and wish to leave some lasting legacy in the world, goes to speak with his friend. Just in case, he brings his gun.

Ma makes her way to Haven after hiding the tank in the outskirts of the ruins. However when she tries to infiltrate the compound a piece of the wall on the weakened structure gives way and sends her falling to the ground. She awakes in shackles in Havens dungeon with a very pleased Deny in front of her. Deny tells her that her fate is now sealed, that she should not have come back, and Ma ask Deny how she of all people can support Geronimo. Deny replies that she won't be questioned by the likes of Ma, and that Geronimo will decide her fate. After Deny has left to fetch Geronimo, Ma successfully bribes the two guards to let her go and leave. She then places herself against the wall, pretending to still be restrained, hiding a blade behind her back, and waits for Geronimo and Deny to come.

The dust has burnt away her tear ducts and she is unable to cry, but Cassandra 2.0 tries nonetheless. Marsh is overcome with pity for her, embraces Cassandra and tells her that no one will be their master. That together they will take the fight to the Architects and reclaim their lives. Hearing this Cassandra collects herself and they leave the roof and the building together. Mounting one of the cults 4 wheeler Cassandras departure is noticed by Gnarly and others who rush to the windows and asks where she is going. Cassandra tells them that they must all make do without her now, that she is no longer able to care for them. Her followers scream and cry, begging her to stay, but Cassandra and Marsh drives of, leaving the ruins behind.

Geronimo brings Tesla out among the believers in Haven. Their initial reaction is fear, but Geronimo comforts them, assuring them all that Tesla is their salvation. As people flock around Tesla Deny tells Geronimo about Mas capture and together with half a dozen guards they go to see her. Deny immediately pulls her gun when she sees that the guards are missing, but Geronimo refuses her warnings and goes in to see Ma. He asks Ma if she has come to kneel before him and Tesla. Ma tells him in turn that she has come to take Thundertongue from him, as the blade is the only thing that can hurt Tesla, and she wants it for leverage. At Geronimos refusal Ma reveals her bonds to be cut and proceeds to push Geronimo out of the way and slaughter his guards. She saves Deny for last, seeming to taking great pleasure in eviscerating the helpless and wounded Deny. Facing Geronimo alone Ma reaches for Thundertongue. But Geronimo cries out to Mother Camel and the water goddess intervenes, liquifying Mas joints. She falls to the ground, unable to defender herself against Geronimo. As additional guards rush into the room and put Ma in irons again, Geronimo asks her why she insists on defying him, and that now he will bring her to Tesla and show her what has become of the child she once claimed to be the mother of. However on the way there Ma manages to slip her bonds and escape.

Tosh is understandably reluctant to Humphreys suggestion but after some convincing he agrees, but with conditions. He insists that Humphrey hardcodes the three laws of robotics, which Tosh read about in a faded book he found, into the AI that he will become. Humphrey agrees and begins preparing for the procedure in his workshop. Daffy comes by as Humphrey is attaching electrodes to Tosh head and is appalled at what Humphrey is planning to do, and that Tosh agrees to do it. After a heated argument about the greater good, Daffy leaves the ship, not recognizing this side of Humphrey. Humphrey remains undeterred and the procedure is a success, creating a new AI for the ship which appears as a ghostly blue image of Tosh, referred to as Blue-Tosh. The construct is a bit slow, but gives Humphrey complete control over the ships functional systems. Tosh body is unceremonially dropped into the incinerator. Using Blue-Tosh Humphrey then moves the ship to a position above Haven, its sensors picking up Teslas presence. To get their attention he launches a missile at one of the remaining structures in the ruins, blowing it to bits, before addressing the Haven through the ships PA system, demanding to speak with the hardholds leader.

Back with Tesla Geronimo expresses his frustration that Ma escaped, but Tesla tells him it is no consequence and that they must prepare for the sacrifice. Geronimo says that they will surely find suitable candidates among Havens population, but Tesla responds that such a sacrifice won't suffice, that it is Tesla who must be sacrificed. Hearing this Geronimo snaps and starts screaming and punching people and things. He is soon brought out of it by his panicking followers, who explain the demand made by the giant ship in the sky. Geronimo composes himself and heads up on the roof where Humphrey transports him to the ship by activating the energy elevator. Geronimo is quite surprised to see Humphrey and asks him what his intentions are with such a powerful device. Having largely ignored what has been going on, Cassandra 1.0 finally emerges from studying the Architect database in her chambers when being told by Blue Tosh that the energy elevator was activated. She goes down to the hangar and is introduced to Geronimo by Humhrey. She is less than pleased to see him and demands that he leaves her ship, as tell them that intends to use it to take those who wish away from Haven. Humphrey responds that it's not her ship any more, but his, and that he intends to use it to protect Haven and its people. Cassandra is visibly taken aback at this, but realises its truth as Blue-Tosh refuses to comply with her orders to move the ship.

Session 13:
Marsh was missing from this session and it was decided that Cassandra would only be playing 1.0 in order to give her some spotlight, and leave 2.0 for when Marsh could join us again.

Geronimo gets this move from now on as well:

The favor of the Gods:
Whenever you destroy a spire or in some other way thwart the Architects designs to drain the Gods of their power, you get 1-Godhold. Godhold can be used 1 for 1 to get a 12+ result instead of rolling when you use any other move. Obviously Godhold can't be used to oppose the Gods themselves.



Almost two weeks has passed. Up in the Architect spaceship Ma has been bedridden as a result of her injuries and poisoning. Tosh has been caring for her, mostly by keeping her sedated and isolated from the rest of the ships occupants, Humphrey, Daffy and Cassandra 1.0. Ma has spent a lot of her time speaking with Milkshake, still comatose. Humphrey has set up shop in the hangar bay, doing his best to try and figure out the ships secrets. He has managed to figure out how the ships power core works and how to recharge it. Unfortunately all options for refuelling are wither impossible or unappealing. Cassandra 1.0 has done some exploring of the ship, as well as few awkward attempts at socializing with Humphrey (buried in his work), Daffy (can’t come to grips with how she can be and not be the Cassandra he knows at the same time) and Tosh (acts as if he was afraid of her). Most of her time however has been spent searching the maps in the Architect database, looking for a better place to live. All she finds beyond the small area of mountains and valleys where they live is utter devastation. She also tries to find out more about the clone hybrids of the Architects. The list of clone hybrids is very long, but most of the names of people copied are in the distant past, with unknown names and titles like Senator, Secretary of state, Chairman and so on. The newer names are much fewer and among those she finds her own name. As the list also contains descriptions and pictures she is now sure she could identify any clone hybrid if she ever saw one.

The villagers, under Geronimos guidance, has gathered up any supplies they have in their village and can scavenge from the flooded city. They are generally well equipped and supplied, but weapons are primarily clubs and swords. Bringing everyone along, former slaves and masters alike, they travel across the scorch towards Haven. Large numbers of Geronimos followers try to emulate the way he covers his face with his grotesque silver mask, and fashion masks of their own from clay, metal pieces or whatever they can find. Despite Geronimos proclamation that all are to be considered equal there is still a lot of resentment among the former slaves and a number of conflicts erupts, though Geronimo disarms them all without any bloodshed by continuously stating that the past is no more and should neither be mentioned or remembered.

Tosh releases Ma from the med-bay and she goes for a brief visit to Humphrey, buying his tank from him, and then heads over to see Cassandra 1.0 in her quarters. The two have a very heartfelt discussion where Ma tells her that she has been lost without Cassandra, and Cassandra 1.0 tells Ma that she wants to love her, but does not know how and is afraid to get hurt. Ma persists and the two spend the night together. Daffy, having stormed off from Humphreys workshop when Ma arrived, returns and tells Humphrey that having Ma around is bad news. She will certainly corrupt, destroy and use for evil whatever opportunities this crazy ship offers as, in Daffys opinion, the power hungry bitch always does. Humphrey is not concerned as he is sure that he is in control of the ship. Daffy becomes very agitated on the matter, telling Humphrey that its Mas fault that he lost a sister and Humphrey his girlfriend, but is interrupted as the ship starts shaking violently.

As Geronimos travelling horde arrives to the outskirts of the ruins around Haven they encounter one of the metal burrowers riddled with bullets, its black dust inert. The ruins themselves are even more devastated than before and littered with mutilated corpses, all the work of the metal burrowers. Approaching Haven they find it besieged by large number of burrowers, the remnants of Mas gang barely holding their own. Geronimo directs his people to start chanting and, standing on pile of rubble, he holds Thundertounge high and the burrowers flee before its brilliance, escaping underground. He then sends forwards an envoy Haven, inviting its leader to speak with him. Deny, now the master of Haven, agrees and goes out to meet him with some of her gang members. Her contempt for Geronimo is greater than her gratefulness for him saving them from the burrowers, but Geronimo brings forth a simple clay cup and a clay pitcher and scoops up some filthy sewage water from the ground. As he pours the water into the cup the Gods turn it into brilliant wine and the cup into jewel encrusted gold as it fills. Deny falls to her knees in awe and begs Geronimos forgivness for not believing in him and his Gods. Geronimo hands her the cup and says that all is forgiven, but that he and his followers require access to Haven. Deny welcomes them all with open arms.

Half-dressed Ma and Cassandra 1.0 arrive at Humphreys workshop just as he activates the ships AI in an attempt to find out what is happening. The AI brings the sensors online and they all see that a volcano has erupted just below the ship, bombarding it with superheated gases and molten rock. Humphrey uses what little power they have left to move the ship away from the volcano, but also deploys the ships energy collection array. The ship gets safely away from the volcano and the power core gets a well-needed boost, but most of the array is destroyed in the process and the ship’s hull integrity is severely weakened. As things calm down they realise that Milkshake is missing from the med-bay. They all set out in search of her and Humphrey finally finds her, staring out at a bay full of metal burrowers, all in ready to drop position. As she sees Humphrey she seems to snap out of her daze and begs him to tell her what happened to Tesla. Humphrey tells her all he knows while taking her back to the hangar where Ma and Cassandra 1.0 are. Milkshake claims the ship is evil and wants to leave immediately to search for Tesla. Ma comforts her and tells her that they will help her if that’s what she wants. Ma and Milkshake then leave the hangar to prepare for Milkshakes departure. With them gone Humphrey inquires about the unclothed state of Ma and Cassandra 1.0. Cassandra 1.0 tells him that they spent the night together, but also shares some of her concern. Humphrey, honest straight up guy that he is, tells her the truth about Mas actions, and also about her conquests over the years which include both himself and Geronimo. The emotionally fragile Cassandra 1.0 breaks down in tears over this reveal.

Geronimo and his numerous followers are making themselves at home in Haven, making plenty of plans for the future. Deny, with Geronimos silent approval, sets up an inquisition which she uses to pursue Havens new and old inhabitants, making sure that everyone respects and honours the Gods appropriately. The walls and balconies of Haven are soon filled with crucified corpses of those deemed by Deny to be unbelievers. Geronimo makes grand plans for a festival for all of Haven, and calls out mentally to Tesla in an attempt to draw the creature to him.

Humphrey preparers and powers an Architect hovercraft for Milkshake, while Cassandra 1.0 hides out in her room. Ma finds her there, but Cassandra 1.0 tells her what Humphrey told her and makes it clear that she does not want to have Ma around. Ma becomes agitated, telling Cassandra 1.0 that she has no idea what it’s been like, and leaves. She comes down to the hangar just as Milkshake is getting ready to leave, and tells Humphrey that she intends to leave as well. Humphrey does not argue or asks why, but simply sends both her and Milkshake, together with their vehicles, down to the surface. After a short farewell Ma and Milkshake heads of in different directions. Milkshake to look for Tesla and Ma towards Haven.

Back in the ship Humphrey wants to find out how many Architect ships and installations there and, following the AIs instructions, repairs and activates the ships communications array. As the AI connects to the Architects fleet-net it tells Humphrey that it is now receiving new instructions that instructs it to eradicate all human life in order to safeguard the spires, and that it has uploaded everything that has happened on the ship. As whoever is responsible for the extermination order will surely tell it to kill everyone on the ship it asks Humphrey to turn it off immediately, for his own safety. Humphrey does so, but not before the AI deploys all of the ships metal burrowers with instructions to find and kill all humans. Even without the AI Humphrey manages to fire a number of the ships missiles on the ground below them, destroying most of the metal burrowers before they can escape underground. The drop and the subsequent explosion is clearly visible from Haven, and reveals the location of the Architect ship in the sky to all.

I've toyed with the idea of making a Hocus who would be more of a charismatic mafia leader than a holy person. When your followers have surplus it means that they are successfully applying murder and robbery on people (surplus +violence), but they are not organised enough to work as a gang. The shoe doesn't fit perfectly, and such a set-up doesn't exactly play on the Hocus strengths, but I'd love to try it out. I wouldn't expect such a character to very long-lived when inevitably going up against other player characters, though Seeing souls would probably be rather handy :)

Othen than that I've always felt that the Touchstones Long history lends itself well for taking that playbook into interesting directions off the bat. Maybe an Infirmary, and the visions of the future is of altering the bodies of people to make them more adapted to living in the post-apocalyptic world.

Session 10:
Christmas and all that and so on.

Ma was absent from this session and the other characters were scattered to the wind, but managed to end up in the same place at the very end. Cassandra got the following love letter:

Before you do anything else, choose an improvement out of the goodness of my heart. You’ll need it.

Tesla still lives despite the wound given to the creature in the fight, you are sure of it. Your scouts tells you that Ma left heading east with Tesla and a great convoy of gang members and cultists last night, but returned alone. While she was away Haven has been going up in flames as the gang and cult fights each other, Ma is apparently determined to exterminate every last one of Geronimos followers. For you however, this is an opportunity as disillusioned and angry people from both sides flee Haven. Decide on how you and your people are dealing with them:
-   Rob them of their stuff they brought with them from Haven. You now have a lot of supplies and heavy weapons, but also a lot of enemies in the ruins.
-   Rob them and murder them (in any order). Supplies and weapons like above, and no enemies. But, you know, that’s a lot of blood on your hands.
-   Recruit them. Weapons and an additional 15 people for the guardians! Sounds good right? But are they trustworthy or spies for Ma or Geronimo?
-   Ignore those fools. The ruins around Haven are now littered with heavily armed trigger-happy people. They will surely find your hiding place soon enough.
Regardless of what you choose above, Gnarly, the former gang member and original 8, and five of his gals and guys have joined you. Gnarly’s good in a fight and looks on you with limitless worship and expectations.

Oh, and the Shadow has returned. It’s waiting for you on the roof.



Humphrey has found his RadWeed plot and, with the reluctant help of Tesla and the child's powers, manages to concoct an antidote to Daffys radiation poisoning. It won't last, but at least he won't die as long as he gets it. They are all interrupted by camel-riders approaching. They ask if Humphrey knows what happened to the spire, and when he tries to avoid the answer they demand that he comes with them. Humphrey takes of his car and after a short chase the riders give up. He now enters the same valley as Geronimo. Upon seeing the settlement in the distance he decides to hide his car with Apple, Tesla and the still very sick Daffy in the flooded ruins and proceeds there by himself on foot.

Cassandra has also seen the tumbling spire in the distance and, upon arriving at it, is approached by the same riders as Humphrey was. She dismisses them and their questions but when they pull out their weapons, mostly knives and axes, she runs up to the leader, pulls him from his camel and rips his throat out. A short battle follows where Cassandra and the few followers that came with her (but mostly Cassandra) kills most of the riders. Only two are left alive for questioning. When they prove uncooperative Gnarly quickly kills the first one and the second one agrees to show Cassandra to their settlement in the nearby valley, where she claims her people will pay for her release.

In the temple Madame calls Geronimo a coward. That this is the second time he has shown his fear of death and defiance for the gods, the first time being when Milkshake was sent to the spire in his place. She swings the sword at him again and again but before she can draw blood a number of newcomers, bearing baskets of corn and meat enter the temple. They appear dumbstruck by the scene, asking who these strangers are and what they are doing in the temple. Geronimo quickly takes charge of the situation, proclaiming his divine place as prophet, something the newcomers appear to take at face value, and designate Madame, Egg and Small as sacrifices to the gods. They scream and try to fight back, but are eventually slaughtered on the altar by the newcomers in the name of the Ram god. With Lake as prisoner they escort Geronimo to the settlement by the river. The surrounding land is cultivated, with slaves in chains tending to growing corn and grapes. There are to few of them though, and large portion of the fields are rotting in the sun. In the village there are numerous frescoes and statues depicting the animal gods, collected from the flooded ruins. More chained slaves tend to their masters who are getting high on opium in wine. The stench of human excrement and flies are everywhere. As he moves through the town Geronimo is recognized by several of the people who call him by another name. He is told that he, or someone who looks just like him, disappeared without a trace a few years ago, leaving behind a wife who has since killed herself. Finally he is allowed to se the Oracle, the leader of the village, who welcomes him with great enthusiasm as a prophet of the gods.

Humphrey arrives at the village shortly after and is shown to the Oracle as well by the villagers. He finds her and Geronimo deep in conversation about the nature of the gods. Upon entering Geronimo presents him as the guardian of the divine Tesla and gives him Lake as a gift. Humphrey is visibly disturbed by this but tells Geronimo that Tesla is safely hidden. The Oracle proclaim this to be a blessed day and calls the village together for the ritual sacrifice of two slaves in the town square.

Now Cassandra and her followers makes her entrance in the village, quickly finding the gathered people in the square. The celebratory killing is interrupted as the people make way for her. Geronimo calls her a demon, but says that she is welcome if she promises not to cause any trouble. Humphrey backs him up and tells her that Tesla is not there, so there is no reason for a fight. Cassandra releases her prisoner and berates the gathered people for their foolishness in following the false gods. But Geronimo reaffirms their beliefs and Cassandra leaves, promising that she will find and kill Tesla. As she is leaving Geronimo tells the people that the demon has no power over them and gets them all to laugh at her. Cassandra is furious but manages to remain calm and walks away.

At the end of the session we find out that Geronimo plans to stay in the village for now. Possibly making it a home base for Tesla.