The bandit died before he could give us any more information. But at least he left us with his unneeded equipment: a grenade, a sawn-off shotgun, and 10 shells. Combined with the AKS-74U and two magazines we recovered from the other dead bandit, it was ultimately better than going away empty-handed. We hit the road again, heading north towards the Army Warehouses and encountering little trouble. As we neared Freedom territory, we spotted an oddity among some tumbledown buildings off to the right of the main road. What we eventually realized was that this was a tank suspended in some sort of powerful gravity anomaly - a fact we found out painfully, as a well-thrown bolt looped back at us at high speed and hit Bosse directly in the head, damaging his helmet and possibly concussing him. This brush with death set aside, we approached the anomaly with caution. Our detector did indeed indicate that there was an artifact present - in the suspended tank itself.

Our initial plan involved making a long pole to push the tank out of the anomaly; we found supplies easily enough, but the anomaly didn't like being prodded. A fluctuation in the gravity field tore the pole from our hands and hurled it in Twitch's direction; he only barely managed to drop out of the twisted, ruined pole's path before it demolished a house and the rotting husk of an eastern bloc car parked nearby. We had our own problems: we had been pulled off balance and into the anomaly itself. Preparing for a painful end, we were surprised and relieved to find ourselves gently floating in the anomaly, no signs of instability in evidence. We "swam" up to the tank, pausing to give a pose, then climbed inside and retrieved a curious artifact.

Bird identified it as a "Bender," a type of artifact that comes in two varieties. The crusher variant is durable and easy to activate when exposed to high energy sources (kinetic, electric, thermal). It produces a superpowerful local gravity field for an instant that is incredibly destructive. The bouncer variant is fragile and activates of its own accord; exposure to the sort of energy that activates a crusher would merely destroy a bouncer. Bouncers apparently reflect high-velocity objects in their general locale, though not always. Resolving not to fiddle around with our well-earned new toy, we stowed it and headed on to the Army Warehouses without further incident.

Once we got past the friendly guard, we went directly to Screw, the local fix-it guy. He and Bird are apparently friendly enough from the old days, and he agreed to get one of his guys to decrypt the spetsnaz PDA we were carrying at a discount - 2000 RU to Barkeep's estimated 3000+ RU - and did not prod at the nature of the discovery more than a small bit. Now, we're left with a decision to make...

Equipment:
-cold weather clothes (partially worn)
-heavy stalker suit
-moldy Red Army officer's cap
-lead-lined backpack
-flashlight
-utility knife
-night vision goggles (integrated into suit)
-trail rations
-PDA x2 (ours; spetsnaz)
- good anomaly detector
-compass
-8 bandages (+2 in group)
-1 first aid kit (+2 in group)
-2 scientific aid kit
-m1911
-Mossberg 88
-AKS-74
-AKS-74U
-sawn-off shotgun
-1 grenade (+3 in group)
-jellyfish artifact
-30 shells, 39 slugs, 12 flech, 14 .45, 5 30-round 5.45 magazines
-8064 RU

(I've noticed some new faces poking, so I'll introduce the characters.)

Twitch
Twitch (real name: Alexander) is the first zone-goer you got acquainted with. Short (at 5'5"), thin, and balding, his nickname is fairly-self evident; he's got a rather noticable facial tic that increases in severity when he's stressed out or upset. Apparently, he came to the Zone to flee problems in his past life with gambling debts and criminal activity he got involved in trying to pay them (specifically, burglary). A genuinely nice and helpful guy, he's put his life on the line for you and the others several times, and makes a genuine effort to get along with most folks he makes. When there is conflict between people in the group, he will usually try to deflect it onto another topic Twitch seems to suffer from uncanny and persistent bad luck, however, and has faced almost certain death on more occasions than anyone else in your group, except perhaps the far-more-experienced Bird. Twitch is flexible in combat, though he trends towards close range or medium range combat with rifles and SMGs. Like you, he is a relatively new stalker. Early 20s.

(Character drawings courtesy of our drawfriend benefactor.)

Bird
The most veteran member of your party, Bird was one of Sidorovich's contractors and operated out of the newbie village prior to and during your arrival to the Zone. A seemingly altruistic guy, he stands up for weaker stalkers and doles out advice where people will take it, not unlike his fellow Stalker, Fanatic. He joined your group after helping you to rescue another newly-arrived stalker, Damsel, and being thereafter impressed with your conduct. Bird isn't as outgoing as Twitch or as given to humor as Damsel, but he works easily and unabrasively with others; he is a calm and realistic personality. Bird is ex-Freedom, having left that group in disgust over the faction wars not long after the Brain Scorcher went down. His name derives from a senile old Zone resident who constantly admonished him for his light eating habits, claiming he "ate like a bird." Unlike most stalkers, he doesn't seem particularly driven by wealth, but by the "rough" lifestyle and an urge to explore strange frontiers. Bird has a realistic outlook on his capabilities and will readily admit when he does not know something or cannot accomplish a task. He distrusts government and military personnel due to his experiences with them, and is highly confrontational when dealing with them. Bird prefers long range combat when possible, but not afraid to fight up close. A very experienced stalker, though he ceased his explorations of the deeper areas of the Zone when the Brain Scorcher came down and he left Freedom. Mid to late 30s.

Damsel
A female stalker who came to the Zone in the same party that you and Twitch entered in some time ago. She soon found out first-hand that the Zone's dangers are no joke, however, and was dragged back to an anomaly-spawned cave formation by a female bloodsucker. Thanks to your efforts, however, she was rescued before she became mutant chow, and helped you deal with a couple of apparent bandits in your impromptu rescue party that had decided to betray you. A brief companion in her rescue gave Damsel her nickname - a "damsel in distress" - she finds it generally annoying and instead introduces herself by her real name, Katerina. Not that it does any good. Damsel has an abrasive personality and is prone to barbed humor, but she rarely means anything bad by it. Seems to have taken a liking to heavier weapons since your earlier adventures together, and has a definite affinity for explosives that predates her entry in the Zone. You're not really sure of her story, save that she's been to prison and was involved in some radical political movement. Somewhat distrustful and surly towards strangers. Damsel prefers to be in the thick of combat. A new stalker, but she seems to have some sort of prior experience with firearms. Fairly tall at 5'11", and athletically built. Early 20s.

Vladimir
Ex-Ukranian army on his first Zone deployment, this former corporal joined your group for the time being after you and the others rescued him from a Space anomaly, only for him and his remaining squaddies to be betrayed by military stalkers shortly thereafter. While you weren't able to find out why his unit had been betrayed, you were able to kill several of the military kill team and slip the pursuit of the rest, despite their best efforts. Vlad seems to have been badly shaken by the deaths of his comrades-in-arms and his betrayal by the army, and he has joined you out of partially having no options - he doubts he can safely leave the zone - and partially out of a desire to find out why his unit was betrayed. A serious man, he cared for those he served with. Does not seem particularly ambitious. Generally an even-keeled person, though he and Bird clashed early on due to mutually-held enmity; they still get on each others' nerves, though less frequently and with less intensity. Lacks a "stalker name." A professionally-trained soldier adept with rifles, pistols, and grenades, he is weak perhaps in that he has very little first-hand knowledge of the Zone - its anomalies, powers-that-be, mutants, and other dangers. Late 20s.

Viking
This is you, the de facto leader of your group. Your real name is Bosse. You are a stalker of Swedish descent with a background as a military grunt, dishonorably discharged after assaulting a superior officer under circumstances that you've not elaborated upon. You came to the Zone because you'd essentially burned your bridges in your old life, and hoped to find what it would take to start anew again in the Zone. Your true motives are thus far obscured (perhaps even to yourself). Throughout your adventures in the Zone, you have shown yourself to be compassionate and basically decent, willing to risk life and limb for fellow stalkers even where profit is not guaranteed. You're loyal to your group and have always stuck your neck out for them when they were in danger, even when you could've run. You're not afraid to get violent when necessary and love a good one-liner, but you're not particularly bloodthirsty, either. You tend to lead from the front, equipped for close encounters with heavy protection and appropriate weaponry. Your signature weapon is your pump-action Mossberg 88, which has split a few skulls in its time. Perhaps all of this will change, though. It's up to you.

>>16457376
We have a PnP system for stalker, homebrewed. (Though, it's supposed to have issues.)

Awesome, STALKERQUEST. BEST QUEST

alright, lets do this.

We're taking the PDA to Freedom. hopefully they'll have some hacker who can pop it open for us for a nominal fee while not letting the Spetz in on our location, even if they do, we're doing it in Freedom town which we dont really have any solid ties to so we'll just have to leg it and hope for the best.
Burning bridges sure but hey, better than a backflip tomahawk to the face.

wait, im a thread behind. fuck.

>>16457527
You're actually already talking to a guy - Screw, Freedom's fix-it guru - about using one of his contractors to break into the thing. He's given you a discount on account of being old comrades with Bird to the tune of 1,000 RU.

BAMPEN

>>16457274
holy shit awesome. Were pictures of this actually taken?

Also character portraits!

>>16457552
Sweet, ok, so how long is this going to take, and can we trust Screw to not hock it while we catch some rest?

>Law mentos

>>16457560
Yes, Twitch took a picture.

>>16457583
You dunno how long it will take (Screw can't, either, there's lots of levels of military encryption and you weren't specific about what you have). As to Screw betraying you, well, Bird obviously doesn't think he will, since he took you to the guy and they apparently go back some.

>Equipment:
>-heavy stalker suit
How much for a new helmet?
>-1 first aid kit (+2 in group)
Buy 5 more so we have two for each man - never can have enough medkits, especially considering the way we get into no less than 3 encounters with The Zone trying to assrape us between any point A and any point B.
>-AKS-74U
>-sawn-off shotgun
Give one to Twitch to replace his Mp5. Let him choose.
>-1 grenade (+3 in group)
6 more grenades, 2 for each man (and each Damsel).
>-30 shells, 39 slugs, 12 flech, 14 .45, 5 30-round 5.45 magazines
Running a bit low on the .45, buy 10 more rounds.
>-8064 RU
We should pay to have Screw crack the PDA. It probably contains Plot. Or, at least, can be sold to Duty for at least that much.
>Worn clothes
How much do spare clothes cost? The Zone has many supernatural dangers, but despite how mundane cold weather is, it will make you its bitch.

>>16457552
Which is still gonna cost us 2k Rubles. (There's no official Ruble symbol, did you know? Odd, isn't it?)

I say we ask how much of a discount proof of steel balls is.

If it gets us a discount, show him the picture of us tank surfing.

>>16457638
>sell PDA to Duty
>who have Military ties
>when we got it off a dead Military STALKER

Genius plan there.

so when is the usual schedule for this quest?

>>16457688
Monday, Tuesday, and/or Wednesday, plus Saturday this week, and others depending on SOOHG's schedule and level of inspiration.

>>16457748
ah, ok. just wondering

You decide to put aside the question of the PDA for now, "Actually, before that, I was wondering if you could take a look at this helmet of mine," you detatch and hand over your damaged helmet.

Screw turns the thing over in his hands, nodding appreciatively at what you're not sure, "This is one of Russkie's, isn't it?"

You're surprised - this is one of the only people besides Barkeep who've heard of the guy, "Yes," you say, "We did him a favor and he did us one in return."

Screw nods, not really surprised, "Well despite how hard-as-shit he makes his stuff, your helmet's pretty damn busted up here. Call it 500 to 700 roubles, depending on how badly it's damaged in ways I can't see. What the hell hit it, anyway? A truck?"

"A bolt, actually," Vlad says, sounding bemused. Screw raises an eyebrow.

"I'm going to guess an anomaly?"

You show Screw the photo Twitch took of you surfing the anomaly tank, and the fix-it man gives an appreciative, brief laugh, "I guess Bird always could pick 'em."

You decide to mull over that price point, posing another question while you think, "Do you sell ammo, grenades? Maybe cothing?" yours are getting a mite ratty.

Screw shakes his head, "Nah, you'll have to talk to one of the bums travelling through here hawking his junk. Or that old Jew Skinflint - his stuff's in better shape, but that miser'd sooner give up his thumb than a single frivolous rouble."

>>16457688
Roughly once weekly. This is an unusual (probably briefer) extra session due to having to end a bit abruptly on Monday. Saturday will be our next feature-length game.

>>16457774
Better to be poor and alive than rich and dead. Repair the helmet. Also, have Screw get the PDA cracked.
Next, head on over to Skinflint and ask if he has any work for us in exchange for lower prices on the usual stalkin' consumables.

You decide to part with your hard-earned roubles to get the PDA cracked and your helmet un-cracked; you don't fancy the idea of the helmet coming apart in a combat situation and you'd like to see that damn PDA opened up after trekking all the way out here.

"It'll take some time for me to get these taken care of," Screw says, "Come back in a few hours for your helmet. It'll probably take longer for me to get my most trustworthy guy and crack open this PDA, though. In the meantime - get known, get drunk, get stoned, or get dead; whatever suits your fancy!"

You're about to file out when the stalker speaks up again, "Oh and Bird? Good to see you didn't bite it yet."

"Same to you," Bird returns, smiling.

Once you've cleared the lean-to, you ask the still-loafing Freedomer guard for directions to Skinflint. He points you on your way readily enough, telling you much of what Screw had said of the guy, and goes back to smoking his joint.

"Can we trust this Screw?" Vlad asks, dubiously, "These fellows of yours seem a bit...er."

>>16457992
"Screw could build a tank out of a tin can," Bird says dryly, "And Freedom may be laid-back, but we - that is, they - don't tolerate dirty dealers."

Presently, you find Skinflint, making his shop in his own crummy lean-to. "He used to work out of the headquarters building," Bird observes, "Must've pissed someone off."

As you enter, a spectacled, bemoustached man you assume to be Skinflint looks up from whatever it was he was doing with wary, calculating eyes, "Oy, go bother one of your own kind," he says. How charming.

Skinflint gives a double take, though, when he notices Bird, "Oh, I remember you. Dog or Cat or something like that?"

"Bird," your ex-Freedomer replies, not without some amusement.

Skinflint waves a hand, "Dogs, cats, birds, fish, elephants; whatever. As long as I know you're not going to act like a damned used car salesman like half the loners we get these days. You looking to buy? Brought me something, perhaps?"

Fix the helmet and crack the PDA. leave Vlad or Damsel with Screw and go for a wander. browse the wares and overhear any gossip around camp. find a spot to sit down and rest our tired legs. grab some chow.

>>16458006
Appraise the Bender artefact. see if he can identify which type.

>>16458006
>>16458013
This, but see what Skinflint's got.

I personally want Bosse to have an OTS-33 Pernach. It's an awesome little machine pistol.

FUCKYEAH

STALKERQUEST

LIFE IS GOOD

"We do have something, actually," you say, bringing out your newly-acquired artifact. Skinflint takes it without asking, examines it, then retrieves a large, filthy binder and begins flipping through pages.

"It's a-" Bird begins.

"A Bender, yes, I know," Skinflint says, shutting the binder with a thud, "But what kind?"

(Do you tell Skinflint the truth or try to bluff him?)

rolled 6 = 6

>>16458140
Laugh at him and act like it's so obvious.

>>16458140
Do we even know?

>>16458153
ohgod that looks like a terrible bluff fail

>>16458194
You don't know. I do, based on a roll, though.

rolled 7 = 7

>>16458206
Well, admit we dont know, and ask if he knows.

Rolling for what type.

>>16458140
"We don't know, actually. You can gamble, or let it pass by-once we finished our business here, we were going to head to Yantar to get their opinions."

rolled 2 = 2

>>16458206
alright, fuck it.

bluff that shit.

>>16458140
Tell him we don't know and need to find out.

Also, ask him for the price of new medkits, grenades, ammo, clothes. You know, the usual.
Ask him if he's got any work for us that we can do to lower the price of the items he's selling.
Also, take a loot at his inventory. For only 6000 Rubles we probably can't buy anything new or interesting, but never hurts to check.
Give Twitch the spare AK-74U, sell the Sawn-off.

>>16458246
>>16458231
>>16458153
oh christ he is going to turn into somesort of monster and eat us GET OUT, GET OUT OF THERE STALKER!

>>16458251
this.

and, bump.

>>16458140
Try to imply you know, but in a vague enough manner that you could pass it off as a joke, should we need to.

rolled 18 = 18

>>16458438
Duurrrrrrrr

>>16458452
dat roll

rolled 2 = 2

"A veteran stalker at the 100Rads Bar thought it might be a Crusher, but im standing here none the worse for wear, and noones shot at us lately."

You decide not to bluff, "We're not sure," you say, "You?"

"Not without testing, and that costs money," Skinflint rubs his fingers in a recognizable gesture.

"Well, you could let it pass you buy - we were planning to show it to the guys at Yantar - or take a go at it, your call," you're not sure you want to sell it, but you still want to hear what it's worth.

Skinflint shrugs, "I'll give you 2000 for it."

"That's a bullshit price and you know it," Bird says, annoyed. Skinflint again shrugs dismissively.

"Take it or leave it. I have costs."

You decide to leave it. For now, anyway. Instead, you pose another question, "What about guns, ammo, nades? What've you got?"

>>16458570
Skinflint takes you to a particular table, gesturing, "What's here is yours, provided you can pay for it." You're not seeing too much out of the ordinary - Makarovs, Fort-12s, some MP-5s, as well as the usual assortment of AK-74s, TOZ-34s, and butchered shotguns sawn down as easily-brandished close quarters weapons. A crate of grenades is also in evidence, the Soviet models you've been using for a while now. You do notice an Sa 25 in amongst the weapons, and seeing your gaze, Skinflint speaks up.

"That'd be the 9mm one. Works fine, wire stock makes for light carrying and maneuverability. Little more compact than the MP-5s, call all of 'em 700 each."

You also spot a KS-23M. Again, Skinflint speaks up, "Now that's a real beaut. Most powerful shotgun in the world. Not really practical for your average fight, but if you find youself with something really bad in your face, it'll make it go away. Russians use them during prison riots," Skinflint chuckles at this.

"What about prices on nades? Medkits? Ammunition?" you ask.

"Sixty each, One hundred and twenty each, and six per round, respectively. Unless it's something unusual - say, armor-piercing rounds or the shells for that shotgun. Double the price per, then."

You're beginning to see where this guy got his name.

(Brief AFK, guys, gotta get some food.)

>>16458581
Pick up both the KS-23M and Sa 25.

Uhm, an extra nade for everyone since we used some up at the gas station. And some AP rounds for the Sa 25.

I'm sure someone else will come up with something more comprehensive.

>>16458581
Those prices are bullshit. Ask him if he has any work for us that could result in 20% lower prices.

Also, ask the team members if there's anything here they'd want for less than 1200 RU (basically, our 6000 Ru split 5 ways = 1200 each). Better poor and alive etc.

>>16458581
examine the sa25, it might be a nice replacement for the MP5 we lost. apart from that im not willing to suggest anything, this guy seems to be abit of a greedy git and im familiar with the general price norms. if i had to suggest anything, i;d say replenish our grenade supply with a couple more.

>>16458748
i second the asking about work. i doubt he likes to get his own hands dirty.

>>16458581
Extra nade for all (300ru), medkit for all (600ru), 20 more .45 rounds (120ru). Pawn the sawn off shotty we got from the Bandit.
Inform him that 6ru per 5.45 x 39 is a bullshit price and ask him if he has anything more reasonable.
What's our group's loadout so far? Everyone got Pistol, Rifle, and either a Shotty or Smg?

rolled 8 = 8

Fuck the work and fuck this guy, we know what he's got, we can come back later.
we're here for the Plot in the PDA, not to risk our necks for some jewgold and lower priced scrap.

buy 2 medkits and replacement grenades and move on saying we'll keep him in mind.

check what the other freedom guys have, shop around. might find something.

rolling for chance encounter with loner loaded with gear he wants to get rid of. Or a free BBQ.

>>16458870
aye, this

>>16458809

sounds like a plan, he's a jew but will probably lower prices if you call him out on his shit.

>>16458870
>>16458911
Agreed. See what faction-neutral jobs they have for us, too. A STALKER can always use work.

>>16458957

True, a sale at a lower price is better than no sale at all. Make a scene of walking away, see what happens.

"These prices are bullshit," you announce, "I didn't come in here to get insulted."

"If you don't like it," Skinflint says, "Take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut."

You shrug, then turn to walk out. As you're placing your hand on the door, Skinflint sighs, then speaks again, "Okay, okay. I'll drop the ammo down to 5 per, 8 for special. Medkits to 110. Guns and such stay where they are, though - my stuff works, and that comes with a tag. I don't sell dud grenades or dud guns."

Well, that's something, anyway. You turn back, showing the penny-pinching merchant your salvaged AKS-74U and sawn-off, "You're beginning to sing the right tune. What about these?"

Skinflint readily takes the guns and examines them with expert eyes and hands; maybe he's not a total used car shark after all, "The AK's a piece of shit, sad to say. Call it 400. The sawn-off's basically worthless, but in decent enough shape, all things considered. 60 for it."

"Would you think about dropping your prices if we did a job for you?" Twitch interjects suddenly, the thought apparently just occurring, "We're good at getting things done," he shows Skinflint the picture of you standing on the flying tank, and even Skinflint manages to look impressed.

"I would...but I don't got anything at the moment. If you're looking for cash, I'd say check out the bar - heard some hard-up stalker's been pesting passers-through to take up a job of some kind, courier work, I think. Besides that, I'd say talk to Gurkha in the HQ building, but don't expect any easy jobs out of that hardcase."

Someone asked about loadouts:

Bird
-AN-94 Abakan w/ scope
-sawn-off pump-action
-Fort-12
-1 grenade

Twitch
-AKS-74
-Beretta
-1 grenade

Damsel
-RPK-74
-Skorpion (chambered for makarov)
-Fort-12
-1 grenade

Vlad
-AKS-74
-Fort-12
-1 grenade

bah, fuck this retardo. leave.

try and find some decent chow, a hot meal and a beer. listen for a change instead of shooing off our mouths.

>>16459265
purchase the aforementioned supplies at the lowered price, sell the guns, and bugger off to the bar.

>>16459265
Might as well sell the AK and the Sawn off here. No point carrying 3 kilograms around the zone for 80 extra roubles.

Buy: 5 nades, 5 medkits, 20 ammo for the .45. Ask the team if any of them want to buy anything.

Don't buy the KS-23M because ammo for that thing is gonna be fucking rare.

>>16459321
Looks like Vlad and Twitch could use some sawn-off shotties. Ask 'em if they want one, 'cause sawn-offs are cheap as shit yet useful for close-quarters mutant hunts.

>>16459265
Let's sell the AK and ask Twitch if he wants an Sa or a new MP5, then grab the KS-23 for ourselves.

Then back to Bar for work and tales, then off to Yantar for an ID.

See if they'll give us means to field-test stuff too.

off to bed, so dont forget to archive ive this!

or i might cry.

Recalling Twitch's lost gun, you turn to him - and Vlad, who also lacks a close quarters weapon, "Do you guys want to pick up something for close encounters while we're here? Maybe some sawn-off shotguns?"

"I'd rather avoid those," Vlad says, "They tend to blow up in people's hands. Personally, I'm more comfortable with my rifle," fair enough. That is, after all, what he's trained on.

"I'd rather find something to replace my MP-5, myself," Twitch opines, "Particularly since I've got all this 9mm ammunition to work with, anyway. I'd say save the roubles for a rainy day."

That settles that, then. You turn back to Skinflint, "All right, the guns are yours. As for purchases on our part, well..."

Ultimately, you purchase five grenades, five basic aid kits, and twenty rounds for your m1911. A quick poll of the others finds them satisfied with the ammunition, and you conclude your business with Skinflint - you're 490 roubles down, but that's not too bad.

Skinflint gives his prefunctory thanks for your business, and you bid him an equally prefunctory farewell before heading back out into the camp proper. It's early evening as you make your way towards the bar - a good place to eat, drink, and maybe pick up some rumors or work - and you can see the evening's winding up. Freedomers and loners alike stream in and out of the large, noisy structure as you approach - the sober going in, the drunks stumbling out. Here or there knots of stalkers are discussing their private business, wary of unwelcome ears, while some trade crass jokes and tall tales.

Entering the bar with the others, you're assaulted by a wave of heat - the place is packed - as well as a thick smell of pot, the clatter of glasses, and the laughter of increasingly drunk patrons. Strangely, reggae music filters in through some old speakers in the roof - probably salvaged.

>>16459747
Head up to the Barkeep, see if there's work to be had and what there is to eat.

If there's free weed being handed out, take some, but keep it for later trading.

>>16459747
>"I'd rather find something to replace my MP-5, myself," Twitch opines, "Particularly since I've got all this 9mm ammunition to work with, anyway.
Buy Twitch an MP-5 before we leave.

>Entering Freedom's bar
Sit around, shoot the shit with everyone, show them the picture of us riding the Tank in the anomaly.

>>16459843
This. Grab an SAvz25 and the KS-23 on the way out.

Just imagine-how badass will it look for us to have two shotguns over our shoulders?

THIS is how badass we will look.

>>16459843
If you guys wanna retcon buying Twitch an MP-5 or the Sa 25 before you left, that's cool.

-

You thread your way through the crowd, drawing fairly little attention as you make your way towards the bar; everyone's enjoying their own fun or attending their own business. You finally manage to wade through the crowd, taking some empty stools and calling over the tremendous, bearded bartender.

"Get you something?" he asks, friendly enough. The five of you order a mix of drinks and warm food - no soy sausage tonight, thank you very much - and dig in with much gusto after a hard day hoofing it through the Zone and nearly dying in anomalies. Once you've satisfied your appetite and thirst, you call over the bartender again, "I'd heard that one might be able to find work here?"

"That might be the case," the man rumbles, "Name's Iosef. Folks call me Bear, though," you can see why, "How about you?"

"I'm Bosse," you say, "This is Bird, Twitch, Damsel, and Vlad."

>>16460093
Your comrades give their courtesies and Bear rumbles them right back; Bird, you notice, elicits no reacton from the barkeep; probably Bird had left Freedom before he came on.

"Actually," Bear says, once introductions are finished, "I don't have much to offer you - I mostly just run the bar, and that's a handful enough between the potheads eating everything solid and Chef drinking everything else."

Bird snorts, "Chef still has a liver?"

"One of the Zone's miracles," Bear says dryly, "I take it you know him?"

"Yeah, though considering how he was always sloshed back then...good money isn't on him knowing me," that elicits a barked laugh from Bear.

"I suppose I might know one thing for you - assuming you already know about Gurkha - see that stalker over there?" he gestures to a morose, beady-eyed stalker in the corner, nursing a beer, "Guy came in a little while back, starts asking around for a courier for some letter or package. Skittish fella, doesn't talk to us Freedomers much, and he's not taken on any loners for his package, either. Yet, anyway."

(Gotta step away again for a bit, guys.)

>>16460113
I'm cool with Twitch having either an MP5 or the Sa 25, though the Sa 25 is an unreliable piece of shit and you'd be better served with the superior MP5.

Talk to Gurkha, ask him what the job involves. If it's the transport of a PDA then we facepalm and do it.

>>16460163
Agreed.

Though not on the Sa25. Dunno enough about it to say.

>>16460163
Gurkha and this stalker Bear's talking about are two different people. Gurkha appears to be - from what you've heard - some sort of Freedom officer. Might wanna ask Bird about that.

-

Thanking Bear for the tip, you disengage from the bar and make your way over to the table with the morose-looking stalker. He seems to mark you out immediately and perhaps even recognize you from somewhere, though he merely watches silently as you approach his table.

"I've heard you're looking for someone to do some delivery work for you," you say, standing before the man's table. The others keep their distance, not wanting to crowd the guy; Twitch seems to be absorbed in getting a contact high while Damsel is doing her best to get a rather chatty Freedomer to find someone else to bother.

"You may have heard correctly," the stalker says, neutrally, spotting out your comrades - all save Vlad, who he doesn't seem to realize is with you - and surveying the crowd for nosy parkers.

You wait for the man to continue, but he says nothing further, sipping his beer and looking at you levelly. He doesn't offer you a seat.

>>16460474
"We're in the Army Warehouses region for a few days while we wait for some repair work. Might as well earn some cash instead of sitting on our asses getting high. What's the job and how much does it pay?"

>>16460474
"Supposing we've heard correctly, what might this delivery entail?"

And yeah, we'll ask Bird once we know what he wants. It'd be a bit rude to stop mid-conversation.

Why are we calling ourselves Bosse? We picked the callsign Viking for a reason.

>>16460629
Well, I think it's because, since we first arrived in the Zone, we did a whole bunch of things. For example:
Rescue Damsel
LIKE A BOSSE
Kill Bloodsuckers
LIKE A BOSSE
Defend the Garbage
LIKE A BOSSE
Met Vladimir Putin
LIKE A BOSSE
Saved Twitch's life
LIKE A BOSSE
Survived some nerve gas
LIKE A BOSSE
Outsmarted Spetznas
LIKE A BOSSE
Went out to Rostok
LIKE A BOSSE
Survived psifuck anomalies
LIKE A BOSSE
Had a shootout
LIKE A BOSSE
Rode a flying tank
LIKE A BOSSE
Almost died a few times but didn't
LIKE A BOSSE
and now I'm here.
LIKE A BOSSE.

>>16460629
You were using your proper name before you got and used your stalker one. I try to balance between the two, though many of the posters seem to favor Bosse.

-

"Well," you say, breaking the silence, "Me and mine are in the area while we get some business taken care of - repairs - we'd rather make money than sit around. I'd heard the job you were looking to get done was a delivery? What's the pay?"

The man stares for a second, then gives a nod, gesturing to the chair in front of him, "I'm Sergey. Folks call me Pacer. You? "

"People call me Viking; the name's Bosse," you gesture to your companions; Damsel seems to have driven off her annoyance for the time being, "These guys are Bird, Twitch, Damsel, and Vlad," Pacer seems to notice Vlad for the first time.

"We're met, then," the stalker says, "But, before I fill you in, why should I trust you?"

Pacer seems to have a rather guarded personality.

>>16460681
(incidentally guys, I'll be wrapping up this session soon out of necessity)

>>16460765
Shit, why shouldn't you?


This is basically what people like us do on our down time.

>>16460765
Trust us to do what? Take the package from here to its destination without dying?
Well we've seen some shit and survived lots of it. Bloodsuckers, Spetsnaz, Nerve gas, Anomalies (Show picture of tank surfing). We're not rookies and we can get from point A to point B without getting our asses shot.

>>16460810
"Well, why shouldn't you? You've got to trust someone with the job eventually, and we're your guys."

Pacer seems to consider this, then speaks up, grudgingly, "Alright. The delivery is a case, for my brother, hiding out in the Wild Zone," his gaze shifts from each of you, then to the crowd around you, "You'll understand why I've been careful about this - my bro managed to piss off Duty AND Freedom, and he's basically had to go to the middle of fucking nowhere to get his bacon safe," you're beginning to understand the man's paranoia.

"I think I'm being watched - I don't want to lead would-be bounty hunters down my bro's throat - and I'm not that handy with a gun, either," he admits. "I've been talking to a lot of stalkers - figure I'll throw them off - but how do I know they won't cotton to you? How do I know you're good enough to get the job done?"

There's that paranoia again.

>>16460875
We've got enough enemies ourselves, that it's highly unlikely anyone who catches us will be concerned over an errand we're running.

>>16460824
"Buddy," you say, "We've seen it and survived it all, at this point - bloodsuckers, military, bandits, nerve gas, the damn spetsnaz, and anomalies galore," you punctuate this last claim by sliding a photo of you astride the floating tank across the table top, "I think we can handle your brother's box. Provided the pay is right."

Pacer leans back, considering. Finally, after a moment, he speaks up, "Yes...yes, I think you'll do," the barest hint of a smile, "As for pay...well, let's just say my brother has a way of getting his hands on artifacts. With faction help. And not handing them over."

At that last bit, Pacer shakes his head frustratedly, "What can you do when it's family?"

>>16460765
Well the purpose of the call sign Viking is to use it with people we don't know.

>>16460940
Well then let's take this "package" and see to delivering it.

>>16460940
Tell him the less we know of it the better. We're trying not to piss off any of the Zone's major factions, for obvious reasons.
Grab the box, and it's off to the wild territory. Wherever the hell that is.

You're not sure how to answer that question - in fact, you have the feeling knowing less may be better - but the potential reward of artifacts for hauling a case to some holed-up stalker sounds worthwhile. Exchanging brief words with the others, you decide to give it a go.

"Well then, give us the coordinates, the package, and the go-ahead. We'll see to it that your brother gets what you're sending him."

Pacer puts out his hand, "You have a deal, Viking."

(Calling it there for the night, guys. Sorry for the slower/quieter session, but I wanted to get some of this stuff taken care of prior to the Saturday session. Note that you'll have time to screw around before heading out next session - or even change your mind and reject the mission - should you so desire.)

>>16461082
Accept the mission. But once we're out of here, we're opening this bitch up to see what it is. Don't want to go delivering some kind of serious bomb to someone.

Story about his brother could be a lie for all we know. Maybe we wants us to deliver a bomb to some target.

>>16461082
>>16461107
Accept mission, check package, buy KS-23 and a new MP5 on the way out.

>>16461082
Thanks Getter, see you saturday.

While the KS-23 is a nice bit of kit, I really think it would be a waste to buy. Ammo is going to be a bitch and a half to find for it, and it really is overkill for most things.

>>16461500
Then we keep it in our stash until we go Chimera hunting.