It was time to return to the clan, to give the good news that things were more or less normal (for the given value that they ever reached around here). That and I was curious to see what kind of wandering merchant the token would cause to visit us. It was something I was looking forward to seeing... though not as much as processing the cattle I would freely admit. That I was looking forward to, or at least the end results of gathering all those graft points for great grafting power!
No seriously, I needed to give my small and smugly girl some upgrades as well as beef myself up and maybe enhance some of the clan? Taking out my notebook, I looked over some of the plans I had for making a Twi'lek bodyguard. Of course, if I had known that there would have been an EXP hike after launch, I would have tried my best to have ground out to level seven and thus access to Fantastic Mythos. More specifically, via krekeri, Mental-Lords' Unity and the ability to instill instincts into my creations. Yes, there were limits, but it would help reinforce the original personality they would be made with.
That it would also open up additional options via Organ-Tearing Freakish-Overlord and its manifestations. All important things to consider as I went up the hill and onto the bike, enjoying the crisp spring air as I returned along a somewhat different route. Mostly to avoid going up another hill. Even with mystical strength enhancements, I would rather not go up more hills than strictly needed, particularly not when I have to drag my trike and cargo cart up as well. Then again, I could just be thinking too much and instead should focus on the simple things.
Things like heading back, finding ways to level up and get good. Because getting good meant that there would be better chances of survival, which ironically meant that I would have more chances to increase my power which would mean that I would have better odds of survival. They fed into each other and increased my range of options as I hummed and pedaled down tree lined roads. Alas, I had plans for the next few days and would need to sketch out some upgrade paths.
And work out just what I could give the clan and how fast those rollouts would be. Which, come to think of it, came the matter of what we would do to organize ourselves, if there would be something like regional government, a continuation of the old or if there would be new warlord states cropping up? And most importantly, what would the new tax situation look like?
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As it is, I must have had my daily random encounter with the goblins and barghest, as I arrived to... well, most of the clan being asleep as it had been a long night. And if the dead would rise at night, best to get some sleep now. Yet, I smiled and nodded to cousin Tina, my supplies being... well, the simple fact was that with the fridges and freezers down, a lot of the supplies that people had were not going to last very long. On the other hand? I had gotten my shit assuming that there would be at least one EMP or for the grid collapsing. Not so paranoid now, was I!
That said, it was actually my hanging cookpot that was seeing more interest... for the predictable reasons that microwaves and modern stoves were so much scrap metal and glass at the moment. Of course, after unhitching the cargo cart... I was going to go and do a cattle drive!
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Luke
He woke up, and found that somehow, Matt had already left, returned and left again. Which given how it was hard for the lazy fucker to wake up before noon most of the year, made him wonder just what his brother was up to, what his angle was. Just what had Matt spooked... granted, that could just be because Matt actually knew the rules they were all now operating under. And he could be a paranoid ass at times, as he worried himself into spirals, creating ever more nonsensical ways that things could go wrong... before perking up at cheerfully saying at least it wasn't that bad yet.
So, he got up, stretched, kissed Terra on her forehead as she wrinkled her nose and muttered in her sleep and went into the kitchen. Only to be confronted by the Great Sin of the ROB's. The coffee maker was no longer working. Truly, there was no more clear a sign that the ones doing all of this were cruel and sadistic monsters than this! Glaring at the not working machine he sniffed, the smell of that heavenly brew drifting on the air.
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Light footed he moved to the back deck, to where under the pavilion tent, fire pits were dug and coffee was being brewed in a pot, along with what looked like oatmeal. So, he smiled at Tina, Cathi and Leah, all while asking if there was anything he could do to help... only to be shooed off and given a few directions. Fair, as breakfast was still being cooked up, and they were preparing things for the rest of the day... and wondering if Matt could make anything that could help.
It was frustrating, as he sat down, as he considered things, as all his investments, his electric car, his plans and dreams were... well, he had time to think about them and curse. Because this is like something they tried to trick Matt into believing, as the sure things crumbled away. None of his plans for his future would really work in a world gone mad, but at least, as he looked at his hand, electricity playing and jumping between the digits, there were... trade offs? Yeah, lets go with trade offs. He could get used to this.
So it was, that he opened his eyes, as something had likely having gone wrong given that the conversation between the three women had stopped. He looked at their eyes, where they were looking, and turned. Only for a vein in his head to throb. Because there was a column of cattle literally marching in military lockstep formation two abreast, Matt's figure somewhat visible as he poked them occasionally with what looked like a shower curtain rod to encourage them to move.
Did Matt just rustle a herd of cattle back here? He was going to electrocute that fat asshole!
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Jodi
I was... vexed by my eldest son. "So, you decided that instead of coming back for help, you would fight a soul eating monster by yourself." Really, she could feel some of her blood vessels straining, her head aching as her lovely idiot of a child seemed to actually be taking a moment or two to think about his response. Only for him to scratch his side, a look of relief crossing his face as he spoke, not a drop of guile in his tone, sulfur and oil on his breath.
"Pretty much, yup." And there it was again, as he would not stop talking, about how he figured he could handle it, and that there was even spoils and loot. A part of her was worried, because he was... calm. He was focused and relaxed... and he was not afraid. There was no fear, no unease... a part of her mind flashed back to several years ago. Because he was dangerous. Danger, her mind raced. Killer, her mind screamed. All of a sudden, the world seemed to shift and sway, and she wanted away from him.
"You all right mom?" His eyes were warm and flat behind their glasses, the eyes of a predator wondering if he saw weakness, of a berserker unsure if he smelled blood. Matthew was fitting into the insanity far too well. The violence almost seemed natural to him. She had to get away, she had to...
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Matt
Huh, wonder whats wrong with ma? I mean hey, I know she's not worried about me, because when Grammie died? All she said was... well, I was not going to repeat what she sneered. Mom was a bit on the crazy side, as in bi-polar before, and if she had done the automatic route? Given her stance on grudges, anything other than a dwarf would be shocking.
But still, it was time, as I moved over to one edge of the property and took out the token, pressing down on it... at which point it began to crumble, glowing and growing as it floated away. Eventually, the glow stopped and there was a collection of five wagons crewed by practically dressed (as in, studded leather armor, functional boots and hoods) half elves that happened to be dusky skin and with silver hair. In short? Half-drow.
I paused for a moment, as the one in the front spoke, their words not in time with the words in my head, just that faintest bit of reverberation from the telepathy. "Greetings! I am Mahzuz of the Silver Streams Trading Circle. Now my good fellow, I can tell you are somewhat nervous," all of this said while I was tensing, and in a friendly tone, "but I would be willing to assure you that our Merchant House does not follow the spider bitch. Instead, we are but humble merchant priests of Tar'vao, the Everflowing Coinlord."
The merchant-priest gives a half bow, a smile playing about his lips. "Of course, we are also under contract of the system and its managers to provide fair and mutually profitable business interactions." There is a quirk to his lips. "Of which, the primary clauses are that we shall not sell cursed items and will not seek to raid or enslave you and your holdings. Any slave's we have in stock will be from the system or sold to us by others on the route." I pause for a moment, as I look him over and I wonder... just what is the catch.
Still, better to ask and be corrected of ignorance than be a silent fool. "This seems to be..." Well... "I don't mean to be racist, but would I be correct in assuming you're half drow? And that given how you brought up the spider, that there is a bit of a reputation?" I hoped I phrased that correctly, as the currently nameless merchant-priest smiled, teeth like pale ivory.
"Why, that is simple enough. You see, one of the benefits of my religion is that you may pay to get a better afterlife and reincarnation. As such, being a regional traveling merchant to a world that used to be technologically advanced? Why, I stand to make a good deal of gold." There is a twinkle in his eye, as we weigh each other, as frankly... if he was telling the truth? That seemed to be like a good reason. "Of course, I will only be at this location for one local day per week."
He winked smugly, as he gave that predictable bit of news. "After all, I am a wandering merchant. Still, feel free to browse the caravan. At your communities current level of prestige I have only brought along the basics." Which was honestly fair, even if one of the wagons seemed to be slightly larger than the others, more of a wheelhouse than a wagon.
All in all, it would seem that the wagons offered a Blacksmith (weapons and armor), general goods, a collection of crafting tools, food supplies and what seemed to be, based on the description plate by the door, a combination tavern and brothel that was larger on the inside. That, or based on what my eyes were telling me, that was deflection for a portal. All in all... I considered things, and looked over my loot.
Well, I had a pretty good idea of what I'd be spending some of my loot on.