Shanghai in Abernathy

The small settlement of Abernathy sat on a hill with only a small tower to provide protection. Alistair noticed two sentries standing within it as opposed to the usual one. When he walked past them, he tipped his hat and proceeded to the Town Well in the center. A man stood there waiting for him and almost lost his footing when he saw the wanderer. He immediately began talking while showing a sketch of what appeared to be a teenage girl, "Graves, thank The Lord! This is her, you have to help us, the Garrets are distraught!"

Alistair raised his hand to calm the man before patting his shoulder, "Relax, Gary, and breath." He removed the cigarette from his mouth and breathed into the sky before looking back, "now tell me, how did they take her?"

"Shadows in the night, an arrow hit Dennis in the throat and killed him instantly, without the guard they simply walked into the Garret's house and took Annabelle. Ronald tried to stop them but he got his head split something awful." Alistair stared at the man in front of him for several seconds without blinking before replacing his cigarette and taking a long puff, "are you shitting me? You realize those would have been slavers who were informed of an eighteen year old girl's existence and made aware of the defenses in this town?"

"Oh trust me, I know the implications. You should have heard Annabelle's stepmother. She was like a banshee screaming last night and she has yet to stop crying today. Tell ya' what? We'll pay you to find lil' ol' Anne and give you a bonus if you can find out who was the heartless snake that sold her out in the first place."

Alistair thought it over for a second before nodding, "Alright, Gary, here's my side of it. You happen to be the third town in the county to get hit. none as bad as you, but enough that I suspect a ring going on here. I'll have to add an extra 100 caps to my usual price because I'm going to need some help here."

Gary began to argue until he noticed the smile on Alistair's face. After a second he nodded and folded the sketch of the girl, "Alright, I get it. What do you need me to do?"

"For starters, keep quiet to anyone here. You would be a pretty stupid slaver to have invited me so I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt. Get a few of your runners to put the word out to the neighboring settlements, anyone looking for caps and a good deed, head to Sonora." Alistair dropped his cigarette and stomped it out before finishing, "if anyone needs more details, tell them the Grave Twins are digging."

With those last words Gary sprang into action getting the word out as Alistair made his way south to the Town of Sonora.

Aeris stands in the back of a store when a man runs in and starts yelling about work to head towards Sonora, after the man left she followed out and headed toward the town. As she walks around she see the posters of the missing girl and the reward right under it it says the Grave Twins are digging.

Vlachs licked his dry and cracking lips as he traversed a wide expanse of desert, his obscured vision set onto a destination not too far: A ruined road which sat atop a hill. Though now drastically mangled and perverted, the road served the same purpose now as it did decades ago. A path in which to follow.
   
Each step was a test of endurance. The heat beat mercilessly down onto the nomad, the gusts of wind tore at the tattered clothing that clung to his form, and every footfall that grinded into the sand strained his tired muscles.
   
Pushing his way to the top of the hill, Vlachs rested his bandaged hands against the asphalt; feeling it's coarse surface. With a metallic exhale, the tribesman looked up from the ground to see a settlement just up ahead. He took mental note of it and surveyed the area, spying a wooden beacon in the distance. One whose purpose has long since been lost. Pinned against it was a paper, which too was being ravaged by the winds. With his curiosity aroused, Vlachs approached it.
 
A young woman's face was sketched on the parchment, and the message beneath the portrait pleaded for her safe return. The nomad slung his backpack from his shoulder, and glanced within. Most noticeable was the pathetic amount of food that was stuffed among other, less important, supplies. Silently lamenting, Vlachs decided both he and the settlement could benefit from his visiting there.

Sun looming above, Maeve moved her way through the wastes, having just gotten the news about this 'kidnapping' or whatever it was. Letting out a low sigh, she'd finally reached her destination: Sonora. This was the place apparently, although it hardly looked like her kind of party. Entering the town, she'd give a quick glance around, having heard of these 'Grave Twins'. Tapping her foot against the tarnished ground, she awaited for what was to follow, whether it be conversation or confrontation.

Alistair strolled into Sonora as the sun began to set. The settlement was little more then a few houses gathered around a communal crop field. A tower in the town center served as a gathering point for special events and it was where Alistair expected to find anyone who had shown interest in the job to gather. He made his way past the villagers tipping his hat to those that greeted him. Five minutes later he approached  a small hut overlooking the settlement. As he prepared to knock on the door, the telltale sounds of squeaking springs and moans made him change his mind. With a sigh, he drew his Sequoia and shot the lock before kicking the door open. Alistair holstered the revolver as his sister stood next to the bed with her own revolver in hand. She stood with the bed sheets wrapped around both of them and at an angle that protected the second individual from the door, "rise and shine, we got some work to do."

"Fucking hell, Al! Don't you have any common courtesy!?" Valkyrie lowered the gun and let her ward go. The woman kept the sheets tied around her and crawled back to the bed away from the siblings. Alistair tipped his hat at her before addressing his sister, "evening, melody, and I had no time for screwing around, pun not intended, since this needs to happen ASAP if we're gonna get anywhere with it."

Valkyrie glared at her brother as she put on her clothes, "you want to head out at night? Visibility will be okay, but a lot of the predators are nocturnal, remember?"

"We leave before dawn, I need to head into the square and gather anyone willing to search. Once the Posse's rounded up, we form an attack plan." Valkyrie cocked her hip while holstering her rifle and raised an eyebrow, "and you need me for all of that? Dawn don't come until ten hours from now."

Alistair turned to his sister with a wide grin, "Sorry, sis. If I'm not having fun, nobody is." Valkyrie gave him the finger salute before turning back to her guest, "Sorry to dash on you, Mel, but apparently duty calls. Let's pick this up later, kay?" The girl nodded as the siblings began to head out, "There's some Salisbury Steak in the fridge. Just go ahead and make yourself at home."

Valkyrie turned around to her brother once outside the hut and pointed at her door, "and exactly how am I suppose to close my door now, you shit?"

Alistair continued into town and answered without breaking stride, "put a bookcase in front of it." With a sigh, Valkyrie joined her brother on the way to the town center.

(Open Tutorial Quest, Party size Unlimited, awaiting Participants)

Aeris arrives  in the town to see a watch tower in the middle of a couple houses, she walks by some crows as she passe they fly off. Aeris looks around to wounder why the Graves decided to have a meeting in such a small town if you could call it that. Aeris thinks in her head "I hope they're nice." As she makes her way to the tower there are not many people in here even though there are only farm houses there are little people. Aeris stands at the tower waiting for the Graves.

Having been in the town for quite a bit of time, Maeve was propped up against the tower in the middle of the town, her foot idly rapping against the ground as she awaited the group that would most likely show. "This better be worth my time." She grunted, spitting at the ground. Spotting the two headed in the general direction, she figured they were the Graves siblings. Kicking herself off from the wall, she'd moved a bit in their direction. It sure did seem like they waited a little late for this job. Shrugging to herself, she waited for them to close the distance.

From the warped horizon came a sand-torn individual marked by his metal mask. A rusted machete hung from his belt, and a crumpled piece of paper was clutched in a tattooed hand. He rolled his shoulders, shifting his backpack, and scanned the area.

The town wasn't exactly lively, but the man and woman walking together seemed the knowledgeable sort. Deciding they were his best bet for a lead, and in turn food, Vlachs started forth.

Solomon rolls out of bed and falls through the hatch door of the tower. He looks up at the Hatch, I thought I closed that this morning,as he looks around he see's people gathering around. Well I didn't expect to see two fine women down here so late, care to join me upstairs for my watch tonight?

The Grave siblings walked into the square where a group began to gather. They covertly eyed everyone before approaching, never once breaking stride, "Do you see anything promising?"

"At least two look like they can fight, I just hope they at least have a sparkling personality." Alistair shot a glance at his sister next to him and smirked, "will you be able to play with strangers?"

Valkyrie smiled as she eyed the group. A sparkle shined off her violet eye when her gaze settled on a red head standing by the tower, "I think I'll manage."

Alistair spoke up when the duo was close enough to the group, "All those here for a missing persons case, arise; the honorable Alistair Graves presiding! Who are you and why should I trust you?"

Aeris looked at the man with a startled face when he asked that question her face turned red and she  took a few steps back and bumped into the man talking to the group she froze up looked behind her to see the Graves standing there she jumped and ran to the side of one of the buildings after she regained some of her ccomposer she talked a little "I.
I'm trust worthy. I have sniped for the NCR before as you can ask the 7th platoon and I'm worried about all the kidnappings that have happened lately." Aeris stands behind the house with about half of her face showing"and can you keap that man away from me he looks the sort that would leap at the chance of getting you in bed with him" as she points towards the man who fell out of the tower.

Sparing no words, the nomad walked towards Alistair, shoving the crumpled parchment into the spokesman's chest. Upon inspection, it would be an obvious wanted poster for the missing woman.

"Vlachs." The masked man said in a rough and metallic voice which rung ever so faintly. The dark eyes-holes stared forward, mere inches from Alistair. Perhaps it was some form of staring contest? Or maybe Vlachs was simply too socially inept to realize the inappropriateness of his actions?

As they neared, she finally caught a good glimpse of them both. The man seemed...manly enough, while the woman looked rather appealing. She quickly diverted her gaze, and proceeded to respond to his question. "Fairly certain I was already standing here, sugar. So what's the deal?" She quipped, running a hand through her locks. "Th' name's Maeve, but you can call me May if you'd like."

After her lovely introduction, she glanced to the airhead of a girl and the ass that fell to the ground. This certainly seemed to be quite the ragtag group. She wondered if anymore were going to show up...speak of the devil, as the large robed man thrust into the group, engaging with Alistair.

Solomon looks at graves. Missing people eh,then you are going after slavers a noble goal indeed.What is the pay, depending on how good it is i might just join you. He says as he stands up.

Cyrus sat at the bar, he had been there a couple of hours waiting for the one who was looking for a group of people. As he lifted his drink he heard a faint voice "All those here for a missing persons case, arise; the honorable Alistair Graves presiding! Who are you and why should I trust you?" He placed the half empty glass on the table. "Damn, appears I'm late, barkeep how about a prairie oyster, and Screwdriver on the edge to go. Oh and make sure it has about a rad in it, you know give it a kick." Cyrus downed his prairie oyster and carried his other drink outside.

After exiting the building he saw the rag tag little group of people gathering around the tower. He walked over to them. You look like you could use a drink, looking at Alistair, he consider it compensation for being late. He handed him the drink then turned around and looked at the group, "My name is Cyrus, nice to meet you." He said with a smile.

Alistair took the parchment shoved into his chest before staring down the stranger. He was surprised at the shine that still reflected of the mask which he used to examine his teeth as he picked them with his pinky finger, "Well, at least your straight forward, I can use that." He surveyed the rest of the group for a few seconds before throwing his arms in the air and shrugging, "fuck it, I've had worse! So you all know what the job is." Before he could brief the group, a new individual joined the group from the lonely bar. He introduced himself before as he offered Alistair a drink. The Rogue raised an eyebrow at the new party member before taking the drink and turning to the rest of the group, "Y'all better step up your game, because I'm liking this man's grit!"

As he swung his body with drink in hand, Valkyrie's hand gently grabbed hold of his shoulder and finished spinning him so that he was facing her. With a smile she gingerly took the drink from his hand and downed it in a gulp before discarding the cup into the air, "don't mind if I do!"

Alistair returned the smile albeit with more venom then her sister displayed, "beloved sister, would you be ever so kind as to man the tower in hopes of spotting any more would be comrades?"

Valkyrie patted his cheek, "it would be an honor, brother dearest." She immediately spun on her heels and walked passed a smiling Solomon before rolling her eyes and climbing the ladder he had failed to utilize.

With all distractions gone Alistair returned his attention to the group, "As I was saying, you all know the job, search and rescue. Now the girl ain't missing, she's in slaver custody. I ain't here to pass judgement on how anyone makes ends meet, but I do deeply apologize if my profession puts me at odds with yours, because I happen to be very, VERY, good at what I do. There will be bloodshed, lots. The job is bounty based, but you are all under my hire, so the reward is 50 caps flat. If you have qualms about mass shootings or the pay is too low, this is your chance to walk away, because when I kill the lights on this town, we're on the clock."

Aeris slowly walks out from behind the building with her head a tilted a little to the side "I..Its a fine pay. I just want to save the slaves even if I cant get all of them I can try." Aeris tilted her head back to the group and with a red face and nervous eye "My name is.. Aeris. Nice to meet all of you."  she looked at Alistair for a second then looked away quickly "Do we have any information on the whereabouts of the girl."

The faceless man took a step back, and spent a moment pondering the pay. Fifty coins for Slaver blood? Fair trade. Vlachs let out a stagnant sigh through the grill of his mask as Alistair continued with his speech.

"Why should he trust me?" Vlachs repeated the Rogue's question in his mind. "He shouldn't."

That in mind, the nomad decided to survey the others. His dry face twisted with disgust. They talked to much. They were too loud. Too cocky. Save for that white-haired woman. But she looked green, and judging by her peculiar appearance, radiation no doubt took its toll on her. But he's seen worse mutations.

For a moment, Vlachs considered committing their names to memory, but a moment later scoffed at the idea. Better groups of vigilantes has met their demise under similar circumstances. Perhaps if they prove their worth, he'd reconsider the importance of 'names.'

"How do we know she's still alive?" Vlachs said, speaking up after concluding his running thoughts. Trying to abolish any confusion in his words, he brought two fists to his neck, and quickly opened his palms; mimicking an exploding head. The message would be clear to those who've seen it first hand. Slave collars.

With no announcement, a light yet noticeable thud hit the ground right by the gathered group. Despite is sounding like a deliberate attempt at attention nothing was seen.
Suddenly, a light metallic sound rang as the strange figure finally appeared visible.

"I understand this grouping of well suited and seemingly capable individuals are gathered for a mission that includes travel, and reward..." All remained silent in shock, bewilderment, or flat whatthefuck-ness.
The strange figure continued in his sharp, metallic voice, "... this is of my interest. What is needed of me?"
He looks around him moving his head only, side to side. He eases his stance and steps back meekly attempting to ease those around him. "I will attempt to work with others if need be."

Rubbing the back of her head, Maeve quietly listened to everyone's additional comments. "I don't suppose anyone else is coming plannin' on showing? This is definitely more than I expected in the first place." As Edward made his interesting appearance, she took a few steps forward to look closer at him. "You're a weird motherfucker, ya know that?"

Solomon's eyes trail Valkyrie as she ascends the ladder. Lass you have a very unsatisfied look in your eyes perhaps i can fix that for you, He says jokingly. he turns and looks at Her brother, Alistair was it? Your intent is noble and if it means the fine company of these three girls i will join you,allow me to grab my things. Finished speaking Solomon climes the ladder to retrieve his gear.

Edward turns to the woman, first of the lot to confront him.
"I am..." he hesitates and the lights in his visor align, "My name is Edward, I suppose that is relevant to everyone's interest so long as we are a unit." He looks around to everyone around, in their own colloquial interactions.
"What is your name?" he questions in a faux chipper tone. The lights in his visor turn off, leaving a single one focused on Maeve.

"50 caps to peel apart reality for some slavers. Sounds way to generous, but I like getting paid, so thanks I accept." Cyrus smiled. Then all of a sudden Edward's thump interrupted the group, and May made her opinion know. "Hey now play nice kids." Cyrus turned to Alistair, "Real bright bunch hope the live to collect their payment." Cyrus, turned back to the group and smiled, "But dont worry, I'll make sure you all come back."

Alistair studied his new found team and made sure they were all really on board. The sudden appearance of the automaton was registered with a nod while a smirk was given as he saw the snake Solomon climb up the tower. Satisfied with their conviction, he motioned over a man standing by the entrance to the bar. After whispering into the man's ear, he disappeared into the bar. After a few seconds the lights to the entire settlement were cut and the man reemerged with a doctor's bag before taking a seat behind Alistair next to the well. He loaded a Varmint Rifle and threw the bag at Alistair's feet.

"All right, ladies and vagabonds, I fear we're dealing with an organized ring. They're pathetically small time, but organized none the less. So far three different settlements have had girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-four go missing, all of them over night and with no trace of them leaving. I've noticed a pattern in their disappearances; they all happened within five miles of each other, they only dispatched the town guard, and the weapons were always tribal."

Alistair's briefing was interrupted when a smack was heard from atop the tower and Solomon was quickly dropped from the it. The man behind Alistair sighed and stood to go attend the wastelander. He examined him before turning back to Alistair, "a cracked rib and broken leg."

Alistair raised an eyebrow in surprise, "that all? Shit, I expected Val to effeminate him in a matter most unkind." The man looked back at Solomon and lifted his arm draped over his torso, "the fly's been zipped on skin, balls look swollen."

"That's my girl!" Alistair lifted the Doctor's bag and threw it back at the man, "I'll pay for the procedures, Sammy. My fault since I should have warned the man he was barking up the wrong tree, but damn was that just too funny to miss." Sammy took the bag and began treating Solomon while he offered the injured man a flask. Alistair returned his attention to the group, "I've eliminated a few possibilities and used some terrain knowledge to make a few educated guesses as to the whereabouts of their base. My top two picks are either Oasis Hotel ten miles off of the Boneyard's border and the sewage plant near the ruins of Santa Anita." He laid a map of the region onto the ground in front of everyone and turned on a flare which he put next to it so they could see.

Before he could point to one of the circles on the map, a shot rang from the top of the tower. Two more shots were fired in quick succession before Valkyrie joined the group. "Group of nine on their way to my safehouse, took out one but the others scattered behind bushes." Alistair nodded and drew his revolver while lifting the cloth that hung around his neck to cover his mouth, "alright, people, I hope your trigger fingers are itching, because the prey just walked into the trap." Alistair turned to Sammy who gave him a thumbs up before lifting Solomon up. Sam then climbed the ladder Valkyrie slid down from and disappeared into the tower.

Alistair led the group up the hill towards the isolated house where they could barely see shadows scurrying around the brush. Alistair ducked behind a rock and motioned everyone to get into a position. A shot was fired in their direction and suddenly the shadows began to growl.

(Combat Encounter! Enemy Unknown! Roll for Initiative!)
(Alistair rolled for Initiative!)
(Enemy rolled for Initiative!)

The member 'Alistair Graves' has done the following action : Outcome

#1 'Dice Roll' : 17

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#2 'Dice Roll' : 7, 20, 14, 17, 14, 10, 18, 18