Journey to Queen's Tower

wulfgar

Creature heads off with the rest of the motley band of misfits to take the Green Line towards Queensth Tower. If he sees a pizza place along the way he'll will pick up a couple slices.

Max

Creature sets off for the Green Line even as the whirring vocaphone powers down, and the rest of you follow. The sturdy 'Stein pauses only long enough to grab a king-sized slice of pizza from a robodroid pushcart (today's special: jerk chicken with tealeaf and vinegar spices) before hopping onto a Sky-Bulb headed northeast toward Queen's Tower.

Rondo

On the way Buck recounts his conversation. "Well, which one of us is gonna be a damned Human Knight of Ooogy-boogy? Gee, tough choice..." he says looking around at his band of wooky-ape-frankie-droogs...."Nice. How the hell did I get in this mess? All I wanna do is make some money, now I'm playing the husband of who or WHAT I don't know, to a 'woman' I've never seen, with a lisping, hair-lipped son.....real nice."

Dr Rotwang!

"I'll tell her I had an accident."

Rondo

"Yea! No, offense, but you better hope she's got some wild tastes there, my midget donkey friend!" Buck grins and rubs Quazzer on the noggin.

[First round of hurricanes was nothing....this one looks like it might be rough, so you guys will know what's going on if i can't post...should be over by the time the weekend ends..]

Dr Rotwang!

"Sir," Quazarn snaps, "if we are to have a successful adventuring partnership, you will kindly keep your hands off my head."

Max

[Indeed. That's how slashfic happens, Rondo ]

wulfgar

[So says the conehead making groping gestures and jumping in people's laps!!]

Rondo

Buck grins at Quazarn, "I'm just ribbing you bud, relax."

Max

The Bulb door slam-bangs shut behind the four of you, and with a grunt the dwarf tram-smith releases the brake. After a grinding lurch and a shower of electro-magic sparks your convoy of Sky Bulbs ascends along its guidewire to the tramway above.

[I've got the day off, and after I go get a damn haircut I'll be back and able to post as substantially as needed. If anybody has anything they want to do before getting on the Green Line feel free to chime in now.

[A few other notes:

[Sadly Gorgo Ubar's trance was but the first symptom of Degenerative Aura Contamination, and he has succumbed to Astral Peristalsis, swallowed up by unknown extra-dimensional forces. None can say whether he'll be seen again....

[JM note: I'm relying on you players to keep an accounting of your wealth at least adequate for horseshoes & hand grenades. Unless I tell you differently for a given purchase, let's keep it stupid, simples, and say everything costs 1 GC.]

Max

The Sky Bulb convoy slides easily along tramway, rising to each anchor post and sinking again as it passes, trailing arcanostatic all the while.

There's a short wait for the intersecting Blue Line to clear the interchange and you have a moment to take in the sprawling vista of God City, from the nosecone shacks and jet booster tenements of the Rocket Town slums to the mossy palaces out past the Elvesbeard Heights. The rooftops and streets below, lit with the red and gold light of late afternoon, look like the rough sketches of a city planner with amnesia. Half-built skyscrapers jut from the stone fortifications of Dwarven Delve. Nearby a terraced hive of evolved apes shadows a meadow of cave hobling burrows. A few streets beyond, Gypsy Haints have set up a ghost carnival in the rubble of a leveled city block. In the far distant hills glowers the unfinished Viraxis Pyramid, its upper floors still blackened from the fires of the Boxcar Rebellion.


wulfgar

Creature rides standing, holding onto one of the poles in the middle of the car. His other hand is nonchalantly at the hilt of his black hole metal riot baton, as he keeps his eyes open for pickpockets or cannibalistic hobos.

Rondo

Buck, being ever germ conscious, keeps his gloves on, and eyes peeled for the same. I might point out that he keeps his .38 "cross-draw" style on the holster under his left arm...he's keeping the snap down on that for sure, and watching distances for any knuckleheads in his breathing space.

Max

As it turns out you have the Bulb mostly to yourselves, save for a sleepy orgoyle ¹ nodding over the day's broadsheet. Buck spots neither germs nor knuckleheads.

The Sky Bulb sways as the Green Line continues on, and you soon arrive at your stop. Queens Tower is just a few blocks away, a six story spire in the high Galactic Medieval style. White pennants and flags bearing a purple crown on a field argent ² hang from the battlements.

Rondo

Buck starts looking for a little store of some sort, "Aw nerts! I forgot to get the hair-lipped kid some kind of gift! Maybe I'll just give him my 'Hobling Army Knife.' Every kid wants one of those.....kid will probably turn out to be 42 years old and living in the basement."

Max

It's a fairly swank residential neighborhood, so there's a few classy restaurants and the kind of corner bar where the tables are so clean and glossy you can almost see your reflection in the wood grain. But no shops to be seen.

Dr Rotwang!

"No matter!" Quazarn beams. "Any random piece of crap will do. Lest we all forget," he says conspiratorially, "...I am a warlock."

¹ Dear Dave Hargrave: I love you, man.
² In true scientific fashion I did no research on heraldry -- or castles for that matter. Do not seek to trouble me with facts.

A Talk with Darryl

...In which Buck lies to a child

wulfgar

Creature takes the phone off the hook and hands the receiver to Buck. "Call..Darryl's..Mom...now."

Max

The phone rings four times before an impatient voice answers, "Thith ith Darryl."

Dr Rotwang!

wulfgar
Creature takes the phone off the hook and hands the receiver to Buck. "Call..Darryl's..Mom...now."

"Ah," says Quazarn. "Before we do that, perhaps I sh-"

The JM
The phone rings four times before an impatient voice answers, "Thith ith Darryl."

"- or not." He sits back down.

He turns to Creature, however, and gives him a very confident thumbs-up.

wulfgar

Just to be clear, Creature is not on the phone, he dialed and then handed it to Buck. He might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he knows he's not the most eloquent speaker.

Max

[gotcha, Wulf.

[Sorry if I jumped the gun on you, Doc. Something you want to do before the party talks to Darryl?]

rondo

Yea? Let me know, I'm fixing to be talkin!

(holdin' off until Doc gets a chance to make his move)

Dr Rotwang!

[Not at all, turkey! It gave me a chance for a bit of business, so we're good. Everyone please proceed.]

Max

"Hel-loo-o? Who is thith?" whinges the voice on the vocaphone. "I'm kind of in the middle of thomething here?"

Rondo

Buck starts grinning and running his forefinger over his moustache, "Hello son! Perhaps your mother is home? We have some good news for her...I have a distant relative here to speak with her." He winks at the party.

Max

"Yeah, right! All her relativth are fothsils," Darryl replies in a supercilious drawl. "Unleths...D-Dad...?"

Rondo

"Well, could be son, could be....all I know is that some friends of mine have someone here that needs to talk to her. Why don't you put her on, and then maybe you'll have some good news in a little bit! We have some gifts for you too."

Buck shrugs at this last bit of b.s. and grins at everyone (need me to roll for Seduce or Lie or Bullshit or anything?)

Max

"She...she won't talk on the vocaphone. You have to see her in persthon," he quavers. No longer sneering, Darryl's voice is thin, high-pitched but not quite a child's. He lets out his breath with a soft hiss.

"Ith my Dad there? Can I. Can I talk to him?"

Rondo

"Well, it's been a long time son, and we're not sure this would be your dad....what do you remember about your dad...? Maybe that will help us?"

Max

"I never knew my dad. Mother never talks about him," his voice lowers conspiratorially, "exthept to warn me not to follow his footstepth. But I'm pretty sure he wath a great warrior. Hey! are you fighting in the Bigtime Brawl?!"

Rondo

"Well, son we would like to! In fact, we have a fighter here that is a 'mean machine,' and there's a good chance he's your father. Part of the reason we want to talk to your mother is to find out some answers about getting into this brawl. If our fighter turns out to be your old man, then that would sure be great news wouldn't it? What does your mom look like? How would you describe her...does she have a little Frankenstein blood in her?"

Dr Rotwang!

[Just so you know, this is HILARIOUS.]

Max

"Frankensthein!? Is thith thome kind of joke? Oh ha-ha. And I fell for it like thome kind of asssth-hole," Darryl hisses in exasperation. "My father was a Human Knight of Olden Haragorn. My Mother ith..."

After a short breath Darryl continues, "Queensth Tower. It'sth on the Green Line. If you want to talk to Mother you have to see her in persthon. Thanks sthooo much for calling, 'Dad.' "

With a chirp of static the vocaphone cuts off.

[The Green Line is one of several aerial tramways that crisscross God City, kept running with spare parts, chewing gum and prayers to various godlings by a clan of Sky Dwarfs. There's a stop in the piazza down the street.]

wulfgar

[I too heartily approve of the hilariousness going on And am I the only one who reads "piazza" and thinks "hmmm, pizza does sound good right now"]

Pratfalls & Donkey Business at the Omerta Cafe

Max

The alley opens onto a wide cobbled street lined with pink stone buildings. As is faddish in God City, the architecture is EthnoTerran -- in this case ersatz Italian. A congeries of gift shops and knick-knackeries wilt in the afternoon sun. Across the way and north a half block is the Omerta Cafe. To the south is a piazza overwhelmed by a hideously out of place cyberkinetic sculpture, like a rosy-cheeked peasant wench afflicted with a robot goiter.

Rondo

Buck pats Gorgo on the back, "A scrap of map eh? Well, let's see what you got there, Gorgo my friend." (Buck is more than relieved to figure out that Gorgo isn't a cop! Whew! I just shot a guy after all! Well, not a guy...it was more like a....ugly ....eh......).

Buck continues to walk along with the others....what is this bit of map? Anything worth noting?

Dr Rotwang!

Edsan A hint of a smile adorns the ape's face when he sees Quazarn clamping his mouth shut "My name is Gorgo, Gorgo Ubar."

Quazarn waves. He's everybody's pal!

wulfgar

Creature checks out the men's water closet at the cafe.

Max

The burger bunch plus one ambles up the street toward the Omerta. It's a tacky little place, walls covered with black and white photos of Terrans with heavy features and aggressive eyebrows. A wiry elf in a gaudy silk shirt yells angrily into a voicephone. Despite his nasty threats and impressive profanity you get the feeling it's all for show.

While the Creature checks out the men's room Buck peers at the map. Hand drawn and smudged, Buck decides it could be a map of just about anywhere from Petoskey to Petaluma, let alone God City.

.................
Meanwhile, Creature gets lucky in the men's room. So to speak. On the wall above the urinal is written

Big or small
Stand tall
Bigby Small's Bigtime Brawls
Call Darryl's Mom the HAWT
903-5768

please dont eat the big pink mint

.................
Back at the entrance to the Omerta, a husky hobling in a dark suit and open collar approaches. "Youse guys wanna table, or you gonna stand aroun' with your thumbs up yer butts all day? Ha! I'm a funny guy. You think I'm funny? Do ya?"

Coffee

"Yeah, you're so funny I forgot to laugh," Zarko says.

Max

The hobling blusters, puffing out his chest, "I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? Or like I don't make you laugh, I'm not here to amuse you?" He looks from Zarko to the others, and his voice edges up into a whine. "What do you mean not funny? How am I not funny?"¹

"Aw let it go, Tommy," barks the elf. "Just pipe down and show the nice people to a table if they wanna."

Rondo

"Hilarous....and don't be 'short' with us, Winky Dink," Buck gives the midget a sneer. "Whatcha got to drink around this place?"

[I am totally not touching the reference to not eating the "pink meat"]

Max

[Hey, you're the one who read "meat" when I wrote "mint," smart guy]

rondo

[Ha! Sorry, i SWEAR i thought it was meat because of the last barfing incident....I swear!! ha....ah, well it should have said "meat"...]

wulfgar

[I'm pretty sure it orginally said meat...at least that's what I read it as the first time. I think the JM is ret-conning this adventure!!!]

Max

[Pfftt. Just 'cause you chuckleheads have meat on the brains don't make it so. Big pink mint = urinal cake, comprende?]

Max

The hobling, now sniveling, shows you to a table. He waves his hand bleakly at a chalkboard behind the counter listing a wide variety of fancy coffee drinks, Romulard teas, wine spritzers, lemon adder punch and suchlike. Creature seems to be taking a long time in the john.

[Throwing back to you guys now. A few questions:
Creature: Despite your strength you can't pry loose the tile with D's HAWT Mom's digits. What now?
Buck and the rest: You gonna eat?
Quazarn: Where is your donkey??]

Rondo

"What's holding up Creature?", Buck says having a seat.

(Eat?! Are you jokin'? After the circle-hurl of 20 minutes ago? Buck ain't feelin' up to lunch, I can tell you that. Bucks gonna look the menu over for a double martini. If there's some bar peanuts or some "beer beetles" or some other bar food he might munch a handful of that.)

Buck removes his helmet and gloves and sets 'em on the bar, "Say, Chuckles..." he speaks to the disgruntled hobling, "What do you guys do for fun around here?" Bucks surveys the joint, specifically looking for Clues to possibly get in on this scrapping for dollars gig, or maybe some pool, or some way to hook up with some of the guys around here for some information or to make a few dollars. Buck is turning over in his mind a plan for gathering some henchmen to get us on to the 'Monster Magnet' gig....

Dr Rotwang!

Seated at the table, Quazarn quietly reaches into his pocket and extracts a REAL, LIVE 8-CENTIMETER-TALL DONKEY. Placed upon the table, it brays in a tiny voice and clops its hooves. Quazarn points to it most magnificently, and wiggles his eyebrows with a self-satisfied smirk.

"I shra-" he says, then remembers his breath, and stops. Frowning eyes scan the table for a glass of hydrofluid or PotaBest!, the mint-flavored electrolyte-laden thirst solution in a can. Seeing none, he pockets the donkey and looks for the restroom.

His cohorts, of course, are amazed at him -- he carries a REAL, LIVE 8-CENTIMETER-TALL DONKEY in his pocket. WOW! What a guy! As soon as he takes care of his deathbreath, he's gonna be covered in chicks.

Rondo

Buck sees Quazran and the miraculous donkey, "Wha...!?!" then he arches one eyebrow and stares ahead in a daze, like he just witnessed a fat guy eating his own leg while wearing a clown suit.

Coffee

Zarko will order a straight coffee. (He doesn't hold with those fancy-schmancy "coffee drinks".)

Max

The elf sidles behind the counter and begins rummaging through a rack of glassware till he finds a martini glass and a chipped coffee mug. Buck's martini is shaken, stirred, strained, decanted via an alembic, and served with an olive, a clove of garlic, a cinnamon stick and a tadpole. The coffee's just poured from a dented tin carafe.

Rondo Buck removes his helmet and gloves and sets 'em on the bar, "Say, Chuckles...", he speaks to the disgruntled hobling, "What do you guys do for fun around here?" Bucks surveys the joint, specifically looking for Clues to possibly get in on this scrapping for dollars gig...

"Eh, what kinda fun youse lookin' for? We're very importan' guys, we got Our Own Thing." The elf looks sheepish but lets the hobling go on, "Yeah, see, we're in the SCA, you heard of it? Society for Criminal Affectation? We reenact the great crimes of the galaxy, see. You wanna see my boffer pistol?"

Zarko sips his coffee, which is bitter but strong [and thanks to an Alchemy roll will allow him to add 10% to his chances on any single INT or ESP roll!]. ² His fellow ape Gorgo appears to have entered some sort of slack-jawed trance.

Dr Rotwang!

Max [Quazarn] pockets the donkey and looks for the restroom.... Creature is standing at the urinal, staring hard at the graffiti'd wall in front of him.

Quazarn rinses his mouth out and, without looking at Creature, says, "You, uh...you see something interesting, there, Creature?"

Rondo

"Boffer pistol? I'm sort of a firearms nut myself...let's take a look at that thing. What is it you guys do; "re-enact" galaxian crimes?! Is there a big audience for that?"...Buck is sipping on his martini.

Max

"Yeah, all the great crimes, stagecoach robberies, the Valentime's Massacre, Kessel smuggling runs, the Wookie Shave 'n' Haircut, alla them," replies the hobling as he trots behind the counter.

A moment later he returns cradling a small pistol. He sets it gently on the counter next to Buck. The craftsmanship is impressive, but Buck quickly realizes the pistol is carved entirely from squishy foam. "Here's the ammo," says the hobling eagerly, holding up a bag of pink foam pellets. "We meet up in the piazza sometimes, but our chapter's kinda small. Exclusive, like."

wulfgar

Creature finishes emptying his monster size bladder and then remembers the other reason he came into the restroom. "Darryl's...Mom" He utters in a gravelly monotone to Quazarn as he points at the writing on the wall.

[Sorry for the hold up guys, been travelling back from across the pond for work.]

Rondo

"Boy," says Buck, "This is the weirdest place I've ever been, and I say that with all due respect". Buck finishes off his drink, "Well, that's somethin' else...I'll have to take in your show sometime....sounds like a real humdinger." Buck throws a G.C. on the bar, picks up his helmet and gloves and turns to rejoin his friends at the table.

Dr Rotwang!

Quazarn gargles profusely while a look of cogitation adorns his handsome face. He spits out the fouled water and leans on the sink. "Huh. We keep seeing references to..." He trails off, and makes his way out of the public bog. "I'll catch you out there, Creature."

He ambles up to Buck. "Say, do we have any idea who Darryl's Mom is? I'm beginning to feel -- " He holds out his hands in slight claws, slowly, dramatically. " -- a presence."

[Quazarn rolls to Seduce (78%) the others into beli-uh, he impresses upon the others that he is a keen master of the mystic arts. Something tells me it ain't goin' over with the crowd...(Roll: 100)]

wulfgar

Creature returns to the rest of the group.

"9..0..3..5..7..6..8...Darry's Mom" He informs them.

While creature's monstrous visage does not reveal so, inwardly he's disturbed by what seems to be an attempt by Quazarn to seduce Buck.

Max

Dr Rotwang!
[Quazarn] ambles up to Buck. "Say, do we have any idea who Darryl's Mom is? I'm beginning to feel -- " He holds out his hands in slight claws, slowly, dramatically. " -- a presence."

Mumbling something about how he feels in Buck's presence, Quazarn makes what appears to be a fondling gesture with his outstretched hands. As he nears the table he slips on a stray boffer pellet, does a graceless one-legged pirouette and lands in the spaceman's lap.

[Nice crit fumble there, conehead. Smooth move, ex-lax.

[Thanks for the lead-in, Wulfgar. I wasn't sure how this was gonna play out. Just for that I won't make you roll Scholarship to correctly remember that number ]

Rondo

"SAY, WISEGUY!! WHAT IS THIS!?", Buck jumps up so Quazzie can hit the floor..."What gives...you loopy or somethin'?"

Buck glances around red-faced to everyone TOTALLY confused by what's going on.

Dr Rotwang!

Quazarn stands up with all the grace and poise of a master of the arcane who meant to do that.

"Sorry, Buck," he says in the manliest tone. "The Arcane works in....mysterious ways."

[Was I wrong in surmising that Seduce is for general convincing and stuff?]

Max

wulfgar
Creature returns to the rest of the group. "9..0..3..5..7..6..8...Darry's Mom"

The elf gives a low whistle, "Darryl's Mom? Aitch Ay Double Yew Tee." Shaking his head, he adds, "There's a phone out front if you mooks think you got the goods."

Dr Rotwang!
[Was I wrong in surmising that Seduce is for general convincing and stuff?]

[re The Skill That Dare Not Speak Its Name: Your only crime was rolling double zeros. (You could've used Argue if you'd wanted to try a more intellectual approach.) ]

Rondo

Buck glares at Quazzie, his eyebrows bent in dissatisfaction. Slowly a grin creeps to his face, and he starts chuckling, "Well I've gotta say, you and the donkey weigh a lot less than I realized, and nobody sits in my lap without buying me a drink first!" he helps the Quazzer dust himself off and he resumes his seat, "That hocus pocus stuff sorta gives me the creeps."

"Okay, gang. Buck needs some action...Creature seems bent on 'Daryl's Mom.' I know about this 'Monster Magnet' ship, and I'm thinking we can make some dough if we investigate it...maybe even get in a tussle or two. What do we do gang?"

Rondo

"We have a number, right? Maybe we should call this dame up and see what the big deal is? Solve this little mystery once and for all," Buck mutters as he scribbles the word "Daryl" on a cocktail napkin.

Coffee

Zarko points at the napkin and nods his head vigorously. He can't talk, because he's still laughing at Quazarn and his antics. (And he's already plotting ways to duck the cleaning bill for anyone who got a coffee-blast when that happened.)

Rondo

(HA!...Coffee, good 'un)

--------------------------
¹ Seems like I've heard this speech somewhere before.

² Zarko never did use this. Is it still in effect? Who knows?

Exit Rollo's, hastily. Enter Gorgo, briefly.

Dr Rotwang!

Quazarn clears his throat, and motions to the door with the prodigious point of his head.

Max

The four of you make your way through the swinging doors and into the kitchen. Flies have begun to gather on a platter of ground beef next to the griddle. The lizard man barkeep and a hobling dishwasher huddle in a corner near the walk-in. Squeezing through a narrow hallway cluttered with cleaning supplies you exit into the back alley.

wulfgar

"Bye Bye Pixie," Creature waves goodbye to the Vulcan. What other buildings are around that we can see? Creature is looking for someplace with a public restroom that he might find Darryl's Mom's phone number in.

Rondo

"She has a band? Wow, I didn't know women played in bands!" Buck says embarrassing himself in true out-of-date and out-of-fashion style. "Well guys now what? I'm gonna quit asking questions around here...seems to always get me nowhere pretty fast, so it's your call gents: what's our plan?"

Max

This being an alley, Creature sees any number of places the could semi-publicly relieve himself, and a variety of tags, oaths and crudely scrawled sigils on the walls, but no telephone numbers. To your left the alley opens on the street in front of Rollo's, to your right is a stone wall -- about 6' high.

wulfgar

Creature attempts to walk through the stone wall in true Frankenstein fashion, leaving a monstrous silhouette cut in the stone.......

Feat roll......81%..(good for lesser/not so good for great)....hopefully the wall was built by some shoddy masons.

Max

[Roll Happenstance and we'll see]

wulfgar

Happenstance roll 86% (rated at 23%......uh oh...looks like Creature is going end up with a sore noggin.)

Rondo

[Just a quick note off the record just in case I disappear on here for a short time as far as postings go: there's a hurricane heading towards this stupid sewer of a town..it's unlikely to hit us full force, but last time this happened we lost power for several weeks, and couldn't even get to work. I'm not foreseeing any of this happening, as it usually dodges us, but just wanted to let you guys know...Max, run Buck for me if something happens and I can't get on!]

Max

[Stay safe, Rondo. My thoughts are with you and your wife and your crew.]

Coffee

Zarko will take the lead out of the alley, being highly experienced with alleys of all types.

Rondo

[thanks Max!] "Hmm..maybe we should locate this 'Heebie Jeebies' club...just in case we need to check it out."

Rondo

Buck and the gang: right behind Zarko...

Max

Zarko knuckle walks down the alley, eyes alert. The Creature follows close behind, lumbering into the wall with a heavy thump. The wall thumps him back, and he stumbles backward, slipping on a rusted iron spike and landing hindward in a crate of rotting arugula. From beyond the wall Zarko hears the sound of quickly receding footsteps.

Dr Rotwang!

[Dang internet at work again! I'm TOTALLY not shirking this, guys, I'm just inconvenienced. GRRR!]

Suddenly, Quazarn stops in his tracks! With a most imperious and outstanding flourish, he whips his fingertips up to his mighty temples! His eyes narrow, his gaze dissociates, and he peers where mortal men cannot see --

THE FUTURE!

[My See The Future roll is a 75. My skill, however, is 3%. Take it away, Max!]

Max

Quazarn squints hard, hoping for a glimpse of the future. Inasmuch as time passes while he peers foolishly about the alley, he succeeds.

wulfgar

Creature wipes the arugula off his rear and continues onward with his newfound associates. He'll be checking public restrooms along the way for any information about Darryl's mom.

[May be unable to post for 24 hours or so. Will check back when I can.]

Coffee

"Hmm, Heebie Jeebies club," Zarko muses, shifting the toothpick to the other side of his mouth. "Lessee now, I used to know where that was..."

Max

[Well, it closed down for a while but you should be able to find it once you get out of this alley and get your bearings. In the meantime, two points worth considering: First, it's Moonday, probably nothing scheduled tonight. Second...]

From the street in front of Rollo's you hear the wailing sound of goxhorn trumpets and the whir of approaching triphase-cycles...

Rondo

"Alright boys...serious evasion!" says Buck. "We better 23 skidoo!" Buck starts ahead of the alley-line and turns backwards. He starts laughing, "Remember guys: we're just a troupe of boy scouts that got lost while camping!"

Max

[Gone all day today. Just need to know which way you fellows are going. Out toward the front of Rollo's or over the wall.]

Rondo

[I vote for over the wall myself...we could walk into a blind-spot, but in FRONT of the place we just did a "job" in, doesn't seem to smart to me, unless there's a huge crowd of folks we can get lost in....what do you fellas think?]

wulfgar

Creature will boost one of the others other the wall.

Rondo

I'll go first.

Coffee

Zarko, as an ape, is already on his way up and scouting the opposite side.

Climb does not appear on my character sheet, so I'll roll a Feat. I got 24.

My Lesser Feat is 74, so I made that (if that's it.)

My Greater Feat is only 16, so if that's the one, I'm struggling.

Anyway, assuming I make it to the top, what's on the other side?

Max

As Quazarn squints queerly this way and that, Zarko springs lightly to the top of the wall. The Creature forms a stirrup with his blunt hands to hoist up Buck and a second later the spaceman's helmeted head pops up beside the ape. Buck steadies himself with his forearms.

The alley beyond the wall is scattered with a few neatly stacked crates. Standing halfway to the street is a sturdy ape in a rather outlandish blue sarong and vest, scratching his head as he studies a scrap of paper. He turns your way, his puzzled frown framed by two jug-like ears.

Rondo

"Ooops! Seen a small poodle come this way?", Buck says to the simian flatfoot. Buck jumps on over with Zarko (Zarko: get ready...I think we're going to have to take this chump out).

wulfgar

Creature boosts over his conehead friend and then vaults himself over the wall.

Dr Rotwang!

Quazarn scrambles over the wall and lands with an unflattering stumble. He steadies himself -- and eyes Zarko carefully.

"Wait," he says, "who are y-" and IMMEDIATELY clamps his mouth shut.

Edsan

The blue-attired planetary ape is slightly surprised at the arrival of the newcomers. He shifts his position and all can see the large revolver he carries.

But he makes no gestures towards it. There is a moment of silence as Gorgo’s eyes examine the others intensely and then he responds.

“I have seen no dogs, no.” - and after clearing his throat - “As a matter of fact I must confess I am lost, as I’m new here. I am looking for a pair of persons but can’t make heads or tails of this scrap that passes for a map. Maybe you can help?”

A hint of a smile adorns the ape's face when he sees Quazarn clamping his mouth shut "My name is Gorgo, Gorgo Ubar." ¹

Max

The Creature follows the others over the wall, landing heavily on his square boots and setting off toward the mouth of the alley with a single-mindedness born of his inability to think more than one thought at a time. The rest of the group follows, new acquaintance Gorgo falling in step.

-----------------------------
¹ Sadly this was to be Edsan's one and only post. His com-put-or croaked, and he's not been heard from since.

After the Barf

Rondo

Buck surveys the damage around Rollo's. (what's the scene? People wiggin' out, er what?) Buck goes over to the Creature, "Good boy....!" pats him on the shoulder..."You okay?"

Buck turns to Pixie, "How about gigging with us? We could use some brains and brawn. Pay may not be perfecto right this second, but I plan on making some dough in this town pretty quick. If you ain't interested in tagging along with us, I bet I could get you hired over at Churchy's in about five seconds, after this, but then again you seem like you might be a little too bright for any of this slopping hash biz."

Coffee

"Churchy's?" Zarko asks, innocently. "What, they open that dive again?" He rolls his eyes, then throws Pixie a wink.

wulfgar

Creature shakes the ogress's head a little bit (like Kong shaking the dead T-Rex whose jaw he just snapped). Satisfied that she is dead, he intones: "Creature no like this place. Creature no eat here anymore. Where is Bigby Smalls."

Dr Rotwang!

"Sorry," bleats Quazarn to the Verminatrix. "I didn't -- " His face contorts into the kind of look you see in cheap slapstick holos. "Toss me a Sensor Ring", he mutters, "is that stink coming out of me...?"

Bemused by the, umn, proceedings, Quazarn, The Cool Guy, straightens himself out, shakes out his collar, brushes a speck off of his sleeve and casually (though with an unmistakable look of surprise on his face) leans against a nearby pole.

He holds up his hand in the Universal "I'm Cool" sign, and nods consensually at Buck and The Creature.

Max

In the aftermath of the puke fest and punch-up the burger shack that used to be Rollo's is quiet. The Honchos are gathering up their leather trenchcoats to leave, one of them clearly still on the edge of hysterics despite his efforts to look tough. The dwarfess at the bar coughs up a final butterfly. Here and there a dry heave or a wretched gasp interrupts the low murmuring of voices.

"Blasted she-goat had it coming...."
"...thought she was a him?..."
"...the hell's an Entropian anyway?"
"...getting so's ya can't eat a burger in this town..."
"...hooked on polymorphine..."
"...the cops?"
"Ppfft. GCPD couldn't find dirt if that there frankenstein were standin' on thur heads"

"Maybe you're right," says Pixie to Buck and Zarko, rubbing the back of her neck. "Slinging suds and cuds is just a day job anyway. Sure as hell not going to Churchy's." She calls out to the Creature, "If you want Bigby you'll need to talk to Darryl's Mom."

Gold and purple butterflies swoop lazily around the room, flashing like neon in the late afternoon sunlight shining through a high window.

[Sorry boys, Critical Failure vs. Poetaster at the end there. I'll try not to let it happen again ;D]

wulfgar

"Darryl's mom....Darryl's Mom is hawt" remembering the writing on the bathroom stall. "Where is Darryl's Mom?" Creature asks Pixie as he makes his way toward the rear exit of the restaurant.

Rondo

Buck turns to Zarko, "You know much about this Bigby Smalls? We need to get Creature to this character. Whaddya think?"

To Pixie: "We're glad to have you aboard. Do YOU know anything about either Smalls or Daryl's Mom? You know what gang, let's get out of here. I don't think it's a good idea for all of us to be hanging around."

Coffee

[Do I know anything about Bigby Smalls?]

Rondo

[Yea, anyone that does know anything, let's figger this out...I'm not sure who knows what either...I also vote that we get the hell out of this bar pretty quick.]

wulfgar

[Creature has already shared what he knows. He's heard some other rumors as well, but they don't seem relevant to our current situation.]

Rondo

"Hey Pixie...you know this situation better than us....where can we find 'Daryl's Mom,' and for that matter, who the heck is she?"

Max

[Zarko knows about what the others do: Bigby runs the premier underground battle royale this side of the Sea of Peril. This is the first he's heard it's in God City this year.]

Rondo
"We're glad to have you aboard Pixie. Do YOU know anything about either Smalls or Daryl's Mom? You know what gang, let's get out of here. I don't think it's a good idea for all of us to be hanging around."

"Wait a minute there, ace," Pixie shakes her head, untying her apron and using the clean inner surface to wipe her face and arms. "Two off-worlders, a frankenstein and an ape bust down my crazy tweaker boss, fine. You did me a solid, thanks. But you think I'm gonna run off with you? Have a team up?" She drops the crumpled apron to the floor. "Un Unh. I lost a job, not my mind."

Rondo
"Hey Pixie...you know this situation better than us....where can we find "Daryl's Mom", and for that matter, who the heck is she?"

"I heard you twice the first time," the Vulkin says irritatedly, then shrugs. "Dunno who she is, but her name and number's written on half the bathroom walls in the city." Her voice softens. "Look, you fellas seem okay to me, but like I said this is just a day job. My band is really my thing. The Electric Bugbear? We're playing a show on Freeday¹, down at Heebee Jeebee's Warehouse. Maybe I'll see you guys there."

She raises her palm in her own gesture of Cool. "Get rich, boys, but don't die tryin.' "

--------------------------------------
¹ Days of the week, Vanth

Bad Luck Upchuck Action Hour, in Glorious Psychedelo-Tone!

Rondo
Buck says....calling over Pixie..."Gorgeous! You know where we can find Mr. Smalls? I'm the manager for "The Creature Feature" here....we have some biz with this guy, Mr. Smalls..."

Max

The Vulkin turns to answer, but never gets a chance. As she passes a nearby table, a cloaked hobling suddenly drops his half-eaten burger and spews his lunch at her feet. She slips in the sick and thuds to the floor, as bedlam erupts in the burger shack.

Lunches are lost and cookies tossed in every corner of the room. Quazarn gives forth with a keening wail as he de-gulps his goxburger onto the floor between his legs. His nausea passes quickly, but is followed by a belch so acrid it makes his eyes water.

At his side the Creature bites his lip and puffs out his cheeks in a mighty show of self-control. He rummages through his pouch till he finds the policeman's cap he borrowed on his way into town, gently shakes loose the bit of scalp still sticking to the brim, then finally coughs up his hamburger into the hat. He immediately begins to hiccup loudly.

Buck stands dumbfounded amid the tumult. Most of those lucky enough to keep their food down race for the exit, skidding on slick floorboards. The unlucky choke and gasp all around him. The dwarfess at the bar hacks up a stream of butterflies. One of the Honchos huddles under the table weeping hysterically, and another slowly turns a florescent shade of green. Nearby the Honchos table Buck spots the one other fellow still standing: the ape who'd been eating at the end of the bar.

Buck and the ape are still surveying the carnage when the swinging doors to the kitchen bang open and an ogress in a greasy apron bellows forth, brandishing a half-gnawed haunch of beef and an improbably large cleaver.

"More Meeeat," roars the ogress, lunging for one of the goblin bike messengers...

[Quazarn has toxic halitosis, 5' radius, and will suffer a 10% penalty to all LEA abilities for the next 4 hours. The Creature will take a 5% penalty to all ability and attack % rolls due to debilitative hiccups, also for 4 hours]

Rondo

"Well.....there you have it...." sighs Buck doing his best Oliver Hardy. "Shall we retire to another portion of the room, gentlemen? Oh I dunno...something with a little less V O M I T perhaps?" He removes a glove, and runs a finger deftly under both sides of his moustache. "Why is it I can't get a straight answer from anyone these days?"

(They better not DREAM of sticking us with a check either!!)

Buck looks over at the ape at the bar who isn't heaving..."How about you buddy? Since you seemed to have enough dignity NOT to eat one of these monstrosities perhaps YOU would like to have a drink with me...maybe give me a NORMAL response concerning this rather bleak abode, maybe shoot a game of billiards?"

Buck keeps his hand near his holster in case he has to draw down on the Ogress or even the ape.....but he doesn't like to appear concerned, so he converses but is on the draw in his mind.

wulfgar

"Creature..here..to..eat lunch......not to BE lunch! Creature not like mean ogress!! AAAAAAARGH!!!"

The creature intends to lift the ogress and send her sliding head first down the bar crashing into glasses, plates, customers, and vomit as she goes- wild west saloon fight style!

Let me know if that's a attack roll, lesser feat, or greater feat, or whatever else.

Max

[The Creature needs to roll an attack and a Feat roll -- just tell me the % on the second roll.

[I'll wait for Doc and Coffee to chime in before resolving actions, hits, etc.]

wulfgar

Creature rolls....

Melee Attack (rated 107%) rolls 27% !

Feat (rated 100% Lesser/ 31% Greater) rolls 33%

edit- forgot to add in my hiccup adjustment. So the attack roll is a 32%, still easily within my rating, and the feat roll is a 38% and awaits the Journey Master's adjudication.

Rondo

(If nobody is taking a swing at Buck, he's just gonna fold his arms and check this out. If this thing starts turning into a saloon fight, I'm in...otherwise, just gonna step over the burger-bits and IF Pixie is still on her ass in the muck, maybe offer to help her up.)

Coffee

Zarko, his meal finished and retained, gets out of the Ogress's landing zone. He sidles up to Buck, shoves a toothpick in his mouth, and says:

"Yeah, we could get a drink." He gestures back toward the action. "But let's see how this turns out first, okay?"

He grins.

Rondo

"Let's watch our boy in action here," Buck says to Zarko with a grin, pointing at The Creature.

Max

Buck keeps a wary eye on the ogress as he checks on Pixie. He helps her roll out from beneath the hobling who'd fainted across her, and pulls her to her feet. She gives him a quick grin.

Across the bar the messenger goblins scatter as the slavering cook charges them. One of them is not quite fast enough, and the ogress snatches him up by the strap of his shoulder bag and neatly decapitates him with her cleaver.

"Meeaat," she groans, drooling.

She's about to sink her fangs into the limp goblin's shoulder when the Creature slams into her. Dropping the goblin she reels around to face her attacker, even as he grunts and hoists her onto the bar. The Creature tries to slide the ogress across he bartop with a monstrous heave, but she wraps her gnarled and hairy thighs around his waist, smooshing his face into her belly. Her stomach growls loudly.

wulfgar

The Creature says something, but "Gfpmph...Uggmpha" is all anyone can make out as his face is firmly planted in the Ogress's beer gut.

He tries to lift the Ogress up off the bar and then slam her back down.

Melee Attack Roll: 60% Success!

Feat Roll: 30% Success!...but then the Creature looses his grip for a second as he hiccups...35%..only good for a lesser feat!

Rondo

Buck quits grinning. He makes sure Pixie is standing and alright then he leaps towards the action to help Creature. Buck thinks to himself, "Too much confusion...might accidentally hit a bystander or Creature," as he removes his hand from his holster... [Might I roll against "Clue" or something, to see if there's any formidable chopping or slashing weapons in all this foray laying around?]

Max

[Buck and Zarko are at the opposite end of the bar from the Creature and the ogress. You guess you have a pretty clear shot. If you want to roll Clue go for it.]

rondo

Hell with it, I'm gonna give a shot. Buck pulls his .38 out and, arm outstretched, fires a round towards the ogress's head.

Jeez, man....dice at the house.....somebody hip me to a darned virtual dice roller!

Found one....I have a 71% Missile Attack...2-7 Damage if I hit....I roll..........................Got a 43%....think i hit.

Dr Rotwang!

Like a retching dog, Quazarn backs away from the "burger," hacking and clawing at his mouth -- as if he could remove the taste. "AAAAAH!" he blares, "GYEEEAAGH! Moons of Meepzor, what in the Stink-Pits of Groobloid was THAT?!"

He stumbles toward the nearest being, clutching at his or her shoulders, and wheezes, "Water! Please, WATER!"

This action, as it happens, is bound to have disastrous results.

Rondo

(Haaa! HA!!..man, brilliant shit...."Moons of Meepzor...Stink-Pits of Groobloid"!! HA!)

Max

Quazarn stumbles into an Amazon verminator two tables over, who gasps at his garbage-mouth and shoves him away. He collides heavily with her table, and watches with fascination as the iron cage resting there clangs to the floor. He thinks he smells the whiff of doom, but it turns out to be his breath*.

At the bar the Creature still wrestles with the crazed ogress. Using her alarmingly strong thighs she wrenches him over a sink behind the bar, grabs a flexible tap and sprays him full in the face with skunked ale. "Maaarinade," she growls.

Before the ogress can shove the beer tap down the Creature's throat Buck's bullet slams into her shoulder. Her grip slackens and the Creature clobbers her. She topples off and into the bar stools in a brawny heap.

Through it all Zarko watches, cool as a chimp in carbonite, rolling his toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other.

[*Rolled See the Future on Quazarn's behalf, but his prediction of disaster did not come true. Alas? The ogress rolled a Great Feat to oppose Creature's Lesser Feat, hence his hosedown. Because of Buck's bullet I ruled Creature could still make his melee ATT.

[I rolled damage for Buck & the Creature to keep things moving. Please feel free to roll your own damage along with a successful attack.]

wulfgar

Based on "her" appearance and incredible strength, the Creature suspects there might be more to this Ogress than meets the eye and give a quick kick to the junk...well assuming there is junk to kick.

Melee Attack roll 99%+5% Hiccup penalty=104% Success!

Damage=11 (plus any junk related special effects)

Max

The Creature learns that the ogre is indeed female. Also, quite thoroughly deceased.

"Guess it's time to look for a new gig," sighs Pixie. "You guys just greased Rollo."

Some Dudes Meet at a Burger Joint

wulfgar

The Creature goes looking for someplace to eat. He's in the mood for a big hamburger, and asks the nearest local for the best hamburger joint in God City.

Dr Rotwang!

Quazarn, Best Of All The Guys, eyes The Creature disdainfully.

"Hamburger? Hamburger, you say? Humph." He cocks an eyebrow. "Hamburger. Well...Rollo the Entropian makes hamburgers -- 'course he makes rats on a stick and some kind of green, slimy liquor, too, so you're on your own.

"Pardon me," Quazarn then says, filled with sudden regret. "I'm afraid I may have been kind of unpleasant just now. Here...let me take you to -- I'll take you to Greebloid's. You can get a great burger at Greebloid's. And I'll pay."

[Q's Psychometric Morbidity has kicked in, and he's fighting it. I didn't roll it, I just decided.]

Coffee

Sure, Rollo the Entropian makes hamburgers, but he also makes beefburgers and that's what Zarko is eating. He's sitting at his usual place toward the end of the bar, not too far from the corner booth where the Honchos of the local crime syndicate make their social headquarters. (He has been useful to them in the past, in an errand-boy sort of way, and hopes to increase his usefulness someday, but they seem to be ignoring him.)

wulfgar

Creature pays the burger attendant a few credits and starts chomping away on his double bacon mushroom burger and curly fries. Being frozen in the arctic sure builds up an appetite.

Dr Rotwang!

"No, no, no," Quazarn insists. "I said I've got it." He stops The Creature from paying and hands over credits of his own.

"Why are we at Rollo's? I tried to warn you about --" and he points at a passing doxy, legs up to here, walking past with a fried rat on a stick. "Well, the food, not her."

Quazarn slumps over and sighs. "I wanted to go to Greebloid's." He takes a moment to regard The creature. "Don't talk much, huh? Yeah..." He leans back in his chair and drapes his elbows over the back of it. "I wouldn't talk to me, either." He sighs, and Vanth presses down harder upon him.

Rondo

Buck's at the bar...cold beer in hand and his helmet on the table. Turning slowly around to eye the doxy he spots the party. He takes his frosty one over and with his hand in his pocket, saunters up. "Where's the fun, boys? Can I buy anyone a cold one?"

"Here bud...looks like you could use this," he hands his beer to Quazarn and starts looking for the doxy waitress to flag another one for himself.

Dr Rotwang!

Quazarn looks at the beer as though it were a foot-long centipede, humming to itself and flossing its teeth. "I -- um --"

He sniffs the beer to see if it has Buck Spit on it. "Er...thanks, pal. Say!" he says, suddenly perking up -- and recognizing Buck as a potential friend to attach to. "I'm Quazarn. This," he says, wiggling a thumb at The Creature, "is a very hungry Frankenstein who doesn't talk much. That's a nice helmet. Who're you?"

Rondo

"Hey, Quazarn!.....Creature....nice to meet you both...Buck Pulsar...bored space cadet....." Buck spins a chair around and sits down. "Ah, the helmet!...yea, you won't find another one like this 'un." Buck drifts in thought for a second scratching his chin and thinking about the Academy and another time period....long ago...

"Say, I've been looking for some guys like you. Any chance you guys would want to follow-up on a little rumor I've heard going around? Seriously...I wanna make some scratch! This place is boring."

Dr Rotwang!

Quazarn grins at Rondo. "The ship?"

Rondo

"Yea! I heard that 'un too!" Buck grins and winks at Quazarn. "You know, we might oughta work up to that...there's money to be made right here...in this greasy spoon. I got a little plan that involves making some dough. If we had the money after this gig, we might have enough to hire enough henchmen to take that ship," Buck starts spinning a Gold Credit on the tabletop...." You know, that thing might be pretty stock fulla monsters, and we'd stand a hell of a better chance with some high end ray guns and a gang to back us up."

Dr Rotwang!

Quazarn narrows his bright, intelligent eyes at Buck. "What are you proposing, mister Pulsar?" he says, conspiratorially. It is very, very obvious to anyone observing Quazarn that he is astonishingly intelligent, charismatic and, above all, cool.

Max

The bargirl, a comprehensively tattooed Vulkin, sees Buck's raised hand and saunters over. "Don't know where you fellahs got the idea I was a doxy," she smirks knowingly, "But is there anything else I can help you with? Try and stick with what's on the menu."

Dr Rotwang!
It is very, very obvious to anyone observing Quazarn that he is astonishingly intelligent, charismatic and, above all, cool.

Sizing him up with a glance so piercing it's like she can read his mind, the Vulkin arches a single eyebrow in disbelief, tapping the menu impatiently.

Rondo

(Hey guys...watch what yer thinkin!...ESP chick?)

Buck holds a G.C. between his gloved finger and thumb, "Problems at this burger joint lately eh? What kinda stuff has been going on around here? Any scoop? And can I have a round of beers for my buddies?" He's gonna grin at her, wink and waggle that Ronald Coleman moustache a bit.. and try throwin' down with the Seduce for some answers (I'm rollin....I gotta 58%...."03"...whoo hoo! Off to a greeeat start.....well, if it's worth anything).

Dr Rotwang!

Quazarn eyes the menu disinterestedly, then hands it to her with a shrug. "Something select, yet proletariat."

Max

Looking Buck square in the face, the Vulkin bargirl purses her lips, cocks her hips saucily, and shoots him down: "Problems? You look like you might be a problem, flyboy. Pity about the moustache, though."

"He must hit his head a lot, huh? The helmet?" She says, turning to Quazarn. "Select yet proletariat? I'm sure you'll love the goxburger." Staring pointedly at the Remulaki's prodigiously bald head, she adds, "It might even put hair on your...chest. I'll bring it right up."

At the bar, a stout dwarfess drops her grog with a crash, swooning at the power of Buck's moustache.

[The Vulkin Psi-Resisted, so your critical got diverted. Careful where you point that thing.]

rondo

Buck grins and then laughs a bit. He looks away from the waitress no problem, and says, "Watch that goxburger...she's bringing it up, but you might 'bring it up' later¹....Okay, fair enough miss...." and he gives her a little wink. Then he looks over to the stout dwarfess and gives her a shiny smile. "Suppose I better stick to my airships," he grins to the waitress and then gives up on it. He looks over to the Creature, "Hey, buddy...don'tcha ever say anything?" ( I hadn't had a chance to look around till about now, but wondering: what's the scene behind the bar?)

Max

The dwarfess giggles and turns away, blushing. Behind the the bar a wide-mouthed lizard man grins back at Buck with a mouthful of chisel-like fangs. The bar is well-stocked, lacking nothing that a connoisseur of bottom shelf booze could want. To one side a swinging door leads to the kitchen.

The place is mostly quiet. A trio of goblin bike messengers loiter at the bar waiting for their next run. Late lunchers are scattered here and there, and loud barks of laughter rise up from a table of rough men in the corner -- street soldiers in the Honcho crime family, you suspect. Near them at the end of the bar a lone planetary ape hunches over his burger.

For an instant, Buck has a premonition of a robodroid cowboy, but it passes.²

Presently the Vulkin bargirl strolls out with Quazarn's goxburger. "The working man's better burger, rekilled fresh this morning. Anything else, boys?"

Dr Rotwang!

"Yes, miss. Should I have any trouble with this goxburger, is there a way that I can contact you about it later? Say, after your shift?"

[Quazarn is trying to seduce her, too -- or at least, get her to like him. He really needs to be liked! I'm rolling -- HOLY CRAP I GOT A 09. Even with my...what is it for Remulakis, -25%? Anyway, that's a base Seduce of 78%, so...you tell me.]

Rondo

Buck leans over to Quaz, "Hey bud...I'll be right back, I'm gonna check something out." He gets up and wanders casual over to the bar and the dwarfess...he sort of squats down and looks at her, "Would the one as pretty as a dainty flower care to let me in on some information? I'm new to around these parts, and I sure would like to find out a few things." He, sort of, half bows...smiling gently.

Max

Smiling indulgently the Vulkin bargirl bends over the table close to Quazarn, stretching her long arms around him from behind. Before he can think how to react, she picks up his knife and fork and cuts his burger into bite size pieces.

"There now. You think you can manage that without any trouble, lucky strike?" she croons, wiping off her hands on her apron. A chain of monkeys tattooed on her left bicep seems to flip him the bird en masse, but she winks and offers her hand. "I'm T'Pixeleen. Pixie. And you're cute, but where's the logic?"

Rondo
Buck...wanders casual over to the bar and the dwarfess...he sort of squats down and looks at her, "Would the one as pretty as a dainty flower care to let me in on some information? I'm new to around these parts, and I sure would like to find out a few things." He, sort of, half bows...smiling gently.

The dwarfess merely giggles, turning a shade of red as brilliant as molten iron in the forges of her forefathers.

Max

[GAME-RELATED: I'm fine with our pace so far -- your child-like attempts at Seducing Pixie have been most amusing. But since you and the Doc have been the most enthusiastic players so far don't be shy about moving things along -- the others can catch up when they catch on. Till then I'm ok if you choose to leave them here in the bar.

[Anyway, found a damn near perfect match for how I envision T'Pixeleen, here. Pigtails and everything, and I swear when I named T'Pixeleen I had no idea she had a doppelganger out there with the same nickname!³

[While searching for punk girls with full sleeve tattoos I also found this cutie (the picture is demure enough, but the url is not work-safe, FYI). Jack Skellington on one arm and a freaking skeksis on the other? Whoah.]

Dr Rotwang!

Quazarn smiles appreciatively at Pixie. "Thank you, miss," he says, "I think this will be splendid." He makes a mental note of her name, location and apparent skills, and having had a good look at her (which he hadn't had before), files her under "useful contact" instead of "hottie."

Waiting for the unpalatable female to walk away, he waits for Buck to return from his, um, intel-gathering excursion.

[This isn't really related to the game at all, but I'll mention it anyway: I think that one of the most tragic and horrifying things that an otherwise-attractive girl can do to herself is to shove ink under her skin. In other words, tattoos barf me out.]

Rondo

Buck's getting too weird a vibe from this bunch. Besides, he really woulda liked to have hit it off with the inked-up honey, so he's feeling kinda dejected...his vanity is easily bruised...he moseys back to the table. "Hmm...I don't know boys...this place may not be worth messing with. Maybe we should just get a crew together and look for that so-called 'Monster Magnet' ship."

[I'll refrain from ever posting a picture of me or my wife online...we got enough ink to keep you barfing for some time to come Doc!)

Max

[Sorry, Doc, I'll tag any future links IMCT if the Image linked Might Contain Tattoos!

[I'm unaligned myself on the topic, having no pressing urge to have anything permanently inked on myself but no particular objections to tats on other people. But I am vehemently pro pigtails and Dark Crystal. ]

wulfgar

With a monstrous gulp, the Creature finishes his burger and then licks his chops with his stitched together tongue.

"Burp."

In a guttural monotone he groans in the direction of the waitress, but he's loud enough for anyone else nearby to hear:

"Bigby......Smalls.........where....is.....he? "

Max

The entire bar seems to flinch at the grating rumble of the Creature's voice. The seemingly unflappable Pixie trips and drops a platter loaded with full beer glasses, but they stay upright and unspilled through some mysterious force.

The other patrons go back to their drinks and food. The noisy table in the corner is quiet for a moment, then their laughter resumes more loudly than ever.

[Oh, and I'll need Consume Alien Food rolls from the Creature and Zarko. Quazarn too, unless you can give me a good reason why he isn't eating the burger he just ordered.]

wulfgar

Creature Rolls:

Consume Alien (rated 2%) Rolls 85%

Unpleasant Order (which would seem to apply since he ordered the food! HA) (rated 84%) Rolls 22%

Rondo

Buck grabs the edge of the table, summoned out of his bored stupor, "BIGBY SMALLS!? He says something, and it's 'BIGBY SMALLS!?' Who is Mr. Smalls, Creature??"

Buck is grinning but shocked. :0

Dr Rotwang!

[I rolled a 50.]

wulfgar

Creature pulls an object out his pocket and shows it to Buck and Quazarn. After a moment of puzzlement, they realize it is a small piece of a bathroom stall dividing wall, which the Creature apparently ripped loose. Written in sharpie on the fragment is:

Bigby Smalls Bigtime Brawl
No blades or guns. Just fists and money to be won.
Think you got the stuff to be tops?
Try your hand, we'll clean up yer blood with some mops

Slightly lower and in different handwriting it says:

Darryl's Mom is hawt

and still further down and yet another set of handwriting:

ICUP

Dr Rotwang!

"I-cup?" Quazarn says. "Oh, dear. How would she even walk?"

rondo

Buck says, "Hmm, lemme see that..." he looks a bit closer. "Brother!" he says to Creature, "You indeed GOT THE GOODS! Lets go make some dough!" and with that he's calling over Pixie..."Gorgeous! You know where we can find Mr. Smalls? I'm the manager for 'The Creature Feature' here....we have some biz with this guy, Mr. Smalls..."

Coffee

Max
[Oh, and I'll need Consume Alien Food rolls from the Creature and Zarko. Quazarn too, unless you can give me a good reason why he isn't eating the burger he just ordered.]

[And here I am at work, without my dice! Don't worry; I won't let it happen again. And I'll get you that roll tonight.]

Zarko was just listening to the general conversation until Smalls came up. That sounds like something he could get into. He'll start to edge closer to the group.

Coffee

Okay, my Consume Alien Food is... 03. (Gulp).

And I roll ... 03! Holy cow! I made it!

[I can't believe that happened, but I'm keeping the roll. Of course, when I really need a good roll, I'll blow it spectacularly...]

--------------------------------------
¹ Buck alludes to a rumor he'd heard about the escalating rivalry between the burger joints of God City, including a bunch of people getting sick from Rollo's food. Why he wasn't more earnest in relating this info is something you'd have to take up with him.

² Another player was slated to join the group. He'd even rolled up his character, a robodroid cowboy I called The Droid with No Name, but he stopped posting on the RPG Site entirely just as the PbP was starting up. Falling out with Pundit I think?

³ She was named after a Steely Dan song. "Rave on my sleek and soulful cyberqueen -- Pixeleen"