Group 1: Ehto, RoryHrikit just nods wordlessly as the two leave for the Headquarters. The building itself can be seen pretty easily from the gate, and the route is signposted, so it's an uneventful walk.
The area in front of the headquarters itself is abuzz with activity, though. Laborers move about supplies, Barons give orders and fix up equipment, and robots stand over the crowd, watching for anyone who might cause trouble.
A Spark Baron - one dressed similarly to Hrikit - approaches the two, introducing himself as the factory manager, Imiko. "Hrikit let me know you'd be heading here. If you'd like to put yourselves in harm's way instead of us, that's fine by me. Problem is, we're still tracking down the nest, and we're fighting a lot of fires right now. We've got intel of an upcoming attack on one of our storehouses, a Bogger camp, and there's tensions brewing at the Caffy. Don't know where the rest of your group wandered off to, but let them know what you've picked. Unless you think you can handle the situation yourselves."
Choose (any number of...) :
[] The storehouse attack: "We've been analyzing the intel our network's given us, and we believe an attack is imminent, though we don't know who exactly we'll be fighting. I'd like to have someone to support the forces there, since we've been spread pretty thin these past few days."
- "We don't know when the attack will happen, so if you're taking this job, get there ASAP."[] The Bogger camp: "The Boggers usually keep to themselves in the Deep Bog to the East, but... as of late, they've been growing more and more aggressive. We've found one of their camps - head there and clear the camp out."
= "The Boggers don't appear to be moving at the time being, so if you need to prepare to confront them, you should have the time to do so."
+ "The main goal is to get rid of the Boggers, but if you could get any intel from them about what they're planning, what their movements are, or what happened to the Deep Bog expedition, there's a bonus in it for you."[] The tensions at the Caffy: "I don't know how it started, but there's a bunch of disgruntled workers at the Caffy. Our most recent report said they're beginning to argue over the rations we've got - we should have enough for all the workers, but if things escalate, that'll be trouble for all of us."
- "Again, things are beginning to get tense already, so if you want to help, get there quick as you can." = "I don't know if the workers will be able to see reason, so... do what you have to..."
- "Just make sure you do not kill anyone. Understood?"[] Ask Imiko about:
[] A different set of missions: Perhaps your skills lie elsewhere?
[] The situation in Grout Bog: How did things get this bad in the first place? He did mention an expedition...
[] Who the Boggers are: This is the first you've heard of this group. Who are they, and what's their place in Grout Bog?
[] Something else: As someone trying to coordinate the Barons, Imiko probably has a good understanding of the situation. You hope.
Group 2: Sal, HibikiThe walk to the Last Stand is an uneventful one, though the bar itself has a raucous scene. Most of the tables are full, and it takes a while just for Sal to find a place for the two to sit. As the gruff bartender, Hebbel, serves the two a round (on Sal's tab, of course), they pick up a nearby conversation between two people about some cache of treasures within the Bog.
"And you want me to help you?"
"Of course! This isn't just something I can go in and take by myself. I've got a map and everything! We might not get another chance!"
"I... no. It's... too dangerous out there, Wikka. With the Boggers as riled up as they are, the Flead Queen, and the casualties rising every day..."
"Dad... I've planned for this. We'll be fine."
"It isn't a question of planning. It's... It's the Deep Bog. Anything could be out there - things none of us could prepare for. And if something happened to you..."
The conversation continues, with the father and daughter continuing to debate the risks of pursuing the cache.
[] Ask the two about the cache: You might be able to help them out.
[] Try to eavesdrop and figure out where the cache is yourself: If you beat them to the cache first (assuming they'll even go after it), you'll have its contents all to yourself.
[] Talk to Sal: She's mostly been looking around the bar with a slight frown on her face, though she has overheard the talk about heading into the Deep Bog. She seems worried, especially after hearing that the two are father and daughter.
[] Ignore them and listen for something else: Heading into the Deep Bog sounds dangerous, and whatever 'treasures' the Bog holds might not be worth the risk. Better not to get involved.
Group 3: Utzi, Friedhold and Nessa, TsubasaBoth Shel and Malo raise an eyebrow when Utzi comments on the creature's size, but the Shroke speaks up as soon as he finishes. "Exactly, and she's not a hunter of any kind! She's just some incompetent who drew the beast towards us in the first place!"
"I-I had nothing to do with it showing up!" Shel has trouble meeting Malo or Utzi' gazes as she says this.
"Oh yeah? Everything was perfectly fine until you started advertising your 'services' at the top of your lungs!"
"And I just demonstrated those services at great personal risk! I'm owed compensation! J-just give me what I'm owed, and I'll go, okay?"
Sensing weakness, Malo shakes his head. "You get to leave here unharmed. That's the only compensation you're getting."
After a few moments where he puts his hand on his face, he turns to Tsubasa. "You've never heard of the Rise, huh? Well, just know that we're freedom fighters. Fighting for the rights of workers everywhere. Grout Bog especially."
"And grifters don't count as workers?"
The Rise man sneers derisively. "Those workers are sweating and dying every day. All you're doing is swindling people after putting them in danger."
As Nessa approaches the beast's corpse and makes roaring noises, everyone jumps, and Malo points a finger at Friedhold, quaking with surprise and anger. "Hey, what's she doing here? This isn't a place for children!" As Nessa nears the beast's head, she might notice that it appears to be... twitching on the inside?
[] Try to resolve the situation: It's clear that the two might come to blows unless something is done.
[] Take a side: Something needs to be done to end this conflict before it gets worse.
- Whoever you side against probably won't be happy.
- Everyone seems tense. If you can't at least explain your decision a little bit, things might get violent... and messy.[] Attempt to fight off one of the two: It looks like things will get violent. Might as well get it over with.
- If you try to fight of Malo, his colleagues will defend him.
- Whoever you try to fight off will likely be furious.
- Both parties are prepared to draw weapons. While you're not at risk, the others are... and people's deaths will have consequences.[] Attempt to calm the two down: It's probably better to stop the two from going at each other's throats before you make your decision.
[] Leave the two to work out their differences: You didn't ask to get dragged into this mess. You're not going to help either of them. That's that.
Imiko, the factory manager
Wikka, the prospective explorer
Worrik, Wikka's father
Everyone will start the next boss with full HP. If they get in a fight, this may decrease.
The party grouping so far is:
Group 1: Ehto and Rory, choosing jobs from Imiko outside the Regional Headquarters.
Group 2: Sal and Hibiki, overhearing rumors of a Deep Bog cache at the Last Stand.
Group 3: Utzi, Friedhold and Nessa, and Tsubasa, mediating a dispute between a group of Rise fighters and an inexperienced Grifter.
The party has 75 Shills, the currency of Havaria. These are currently carried by Sal, though if other party members find Shills on their own, they will be counted separately from the rest of the party's.
Hrikit, Llullably, and Treena like the party - Helped protect them when swarmed at the gate. They may help the party if they happen to be in the same place as them.
Hrikit dislikes Rory - accused the Barons of slavery. She still likes the rest of the party, but if Rory is doing something, she might not help, or may even interfere.
Treena is indifferent to Rory - Behaved rather belligerently, even if he did help defend her at the gate. They may still help the other party members, but not him.
Llullably has asked the party for help tracking down a missing Luminari by the name of Mallowi. If the party finds any info on him, they should go visit her abode among the worker's shanties.
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Topic: [IC] Trespassers v2: Griftlands: The Bog Brawl (Read 16458 times)