Initiating the Final Combat Encounter

The trap was set. A lot had to go right in order for this plan to pay off, but it was the best that they'd got . She turned to Hawthorne's shadowy sh ape, barely visible behind a tree nearby. The bob of the silhouetted head, a confirmation. She took another deep breath, this time resting her left hand on the rough but crumbling tree bark of the arborel side Soskaid noted with satisfaction the barely perceptible glow of the moonlight on the dulled metal. Thanks, Saya, she thought to herself as she sided down the barrel at the huge, spiked raider sitting stoically by the campfire . Rami rez was chatting away at the side of the leader's cold face like a kid trying to fit in She slowly released her breath again and could have sworn she felt the nearby Hawthorne brace herself. She blinked once and pulled the trigger. Hello everybody, how are y'all? Get your dancing shoes on and welcome to the Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party. Hello and welcome back to A Wasteland Story, the show where I, PJ, play alone in the sandbox post-apocalyptic world that is Fallout. Following the story of Soskaid and her good boy companion Dogmeat as they attempt to right a few wrongs right a few wrong doesn't matter. And survive in the process. In the last episode of the show, Susqueheed found herself a prisoner again alongside the very person she was trying to save, tied up in the remains of a creepy drive-in cinema screen, at the mercy of a particularly sleazy raider. Will they escape? Will they track down their trail Will anyone else die surprisingly purely because a pair of dice decided they were having a contemptuous day? Eh ? Yeah. Let's see . Suskai could feel Hawthorne shivering next to her, although it wasn't cold . She was extremely conscious of the sound of her heartbeat and ragged breathing. She kept her eyes to the floor, trying to get said breathing under control, trying to think . There was a bright red stain on the double padding of her right knee, and she became acutely aware of a piece of grit between her kneecap and the floor, but she didn't dare shift . The presence of the raider standing above them was like a dark cloud in her thoughts, and she didn't trust herself to look up until she'd collected them. I'll be right back, little birds. Don't go anywhere. She heard the thin metal door slam andmed bounce for her left and the crunch of footsteps moving away . She took a deep breath around the stinking oily rag that had been unceremoniously jammed between her teeth and looked up, taking in her surroundings for the first time . Okay, back after a short break . Okay, so they get dragged into the um where the little camp was, in sort of the screen of the this drive-in cinema screen. Let's see what it looks like in there and see if there's anything in there they can get uh that they can maybe use to their advantage. I want to look at some objects and just see some of the kinds of things that are in there . Thirty-nine is fragrant . Forty-six is heavy . So I think Susque id and Hawthorne have never smelt anything so bad as this place. It's quite a small narrow little sp ace and I think at least five raiders had been living in there for a little while. And so it absolutely stinks. The smell hit her like a brick wall. Sweat, shit and, p iss, and the rusty odor of blood. Suskeed swallowed what felt like her whole heart and stomach and let her eyes adjust to the dim dank space. She focused, her heartbeat starting to slow to something below that of an overchoke generator. Okay , she thought as the clouding in her mind cleared slightly. We need a plan. In terms of heavy, I think maybe it means there've been collecting stuff. I wonder what they're collecting . Um I think they're trying to build something to give them advanta ge to attack the Brotherhood of Steel there, maybe. Okay, let's let's first find this out. Why are they there? I'm gonna ask Mythic for motivations . Character motivations. So I wanna know why the orn dogs. Okay, are they the ornd dogs? I'm just gonna say yes, I think I think they are. Well let's just let's call it uh very likely that the Orlandos' because they're the two big factions in there. Does he belong to the Orlando ? Yes, they belong to the Orndogs. Good. So now their motivations for setting up camp in the cinema so close to the NCR and the Brotherhood Outpost . That is ad venture . How does adventure fit with them? Through all that's control . The entrance to the inside of the giant screen was on the leftmost side of the room, positioning Suskade and Hawthorne with their backs to the majority of the space. The small space in front of them, however, appeared to make up the entirety of the gang's living area . She peered up into the looming, lofty space above and noted eight makeshift hammocks strung up in a crisscross fashion, rising into the dusty glow of the extremely high ceiling. A rusted ladder was built into the frame of the screen and ran up out of sight past the dizziness inducing sleeping arrangement. There was some shelving cobbled together in various spots up the frame, with crates and junk perched on them. They looked pretty unstable. Suskade shuffled around, cursing as the temporarily forgotten piece of grit caught a painful spot on her knee. She repositioned slightly so that she could see over her shoulder to the huge narrow space behind them. So I think um something about the town of Springfield or this area is really important to everyone. It must be a really defensible location, maybe. And also that's why the Brotherhood of Steel and the NCR are there as well. So there's something about this town or this area that makes it really valuable. What is it? Let's see where it is on the map . So the on dogs and the rent boys are a good week to two weeks south of this place, there's something about it which is really valuable. Okay . I think what it is is that uh Sal em, which is a few days to the north , Sal em must be a really important place. And so I think this is pretty much the last defensible spot before Salem. And the raiders want to get into Salem for some reason. We're not sure why, what's there? The Brotherhood of Steel want to defend that because they're trying to extend their line all the way up the coast from Vancouver. So that's why I think they all want to they all want to be here. So they want to control this region so that they so it was adventure and control. They want to be able to control this region so that they can push up into Salem. And Salem, I think, is probably completely overrun, and that's why no one's been able by by something. That's why no one's been able to get in there. Maybe it's maybe that is where maybe that's where the bigger super mutant FEV plot is, I'm not sure. Okay . So we'll get to that. Immediately behind the prisoners stood a chain link, fence, and gate, locked with some kind of keypad . And beyond that, she could make out a wall of racks that seemed to be bristling with presumably claimed weapons and ammunition. On the opposite side of the rack stood a number of half-constructed rusted suits of power armour. A couple of T-45s, most of a 60, and even a few scraps of an X01, she noticed . Her father had had an old military magazine listing all of the models, and as a kid she'd been obsessed with it. The XO1 wasn't even released at the time of printing. Suskade had always assumed that it never made it to production . She remembered measuring herself against the kitchen doorway nearly every day after her father had told her he wanted to teach her how to operate his suit, a T60, when she got tall enough. She was so frustrated with the slow progress that she'd tried hanging upside down on his chin-up bar holding a heavy mini generator at an attempt to stretch herself out, the pounding of the blood in her temples always forcing her down before long . They had definitely been busy, she thought, forgetting the danger they were in for just a second , they were preparing for something big. As her eyes adjusted further to the darkness, she saw the outline of a spray painted tag on the wall over the suits of armor. Her stomach went cold as she made out the scrawled writing. Dog s. The fear enveloped her again, this time entangled with anger and hatred. She heard the crunch of the boots returning, and she hurriedly returned her gaze to the ground, facing the doorway. It swung open again with a bang . For the meantime, Suskaid, I think the raider is gonna pat down Suskaid, and she's gonna see if she can keep her knife concealed . Um, that's gonna be nine plus three is twelve. Difficulty one . She does. Suscaid flinched as the metal door clattered again. Their captor strolled through with Suskayade's backpack slung over one shoulder and her hunting rifle in hand . He threw it on the small table perched next to the doorway, disturbing some small glass vials that were strewn across its wonky surface. He started digging through the backp ack . Suskey had risked a glance at Hawthorne and saw her eyes had seemed to go absent and glassy. The raider chuckled to himself as he pulled out the fragmines, set them on the table as well, and took a few strides over to the Eyes still to the floor, Susque had flinched as she felt the filthy fingernail under her chin. It lifted her head. You don't have any more nasties on you, do you? She went stiff as his left hand slid under her heavy coat, fingers crawling over her body, stopping for an endless moment on her right breast. Suske had held back the urge to spit in the man's face. The fingers continued to feel around and stopped at the crinkle of her map tucked into her vault suit. They tickled her playfully. She felt sick . The raider slid the map out from the open front of her clothing and chuckled again. Well, well, well, the raider said. What do we have here? All thoughts of the rest of the body search apparently forgotten, for now That'll help you get a help the on dogs get a advantage over the rent boys. Let's see if he believes her. That's gonna be a ch a check of four. Um we will spend an action point for another one . The raider knelt in front of her and began to study the map, tongue out of the side of his mouth clamped between his teeth in fierce concentration. His fettered breath hitting her face in little puffs. She saw his face change. His lopsided smile seemed to fall, his voice lower in pitch the next time he spoke. And how would a bird like you know the location of those fucking rent boys stronghold . He reached up and roughly pulled Susqueade's gag down from her mouth. The smell seemed to intensify. I killed one of their captains, she said quietly. The raider's face changed back to its familiar grin. No, you fucking didn't. He chuckled after a moment's pause. Not a little birdie like you . Soskeit shifted her knees slightly on the ground. Look again in my bag. She continued. Right down the bottom. There's a pocket to the right hand side. The raider looked at her, smiling for a moment before standing and returning to the bag. He dug around again and pulled out the small, ugly, bobble headed replica ornament that she'd taken from the raider under the bridge and studied it closely in silence. She waited a beat and then said, I know more about their stronghold. She lied. I can help you get an advantage. After all, they are rivals of the great Orndogs, aren't they? He looked at her with mild interest, eyes flickering to the graffiti behind them. The silence drew itself out like an impossibly long sp linter. We do not get it. So she's not able to convince me. He says, yeah, yeah, whatever, whatever. The raider burst into another bout of laughter. Ha! You didn't kill a renter, Captain! He said as he twisted an errand piece of wire on his mismatched armour around the neck of the small figure, pinning it to his chest like a half-assed brooch. I did. Ha ha ha This, however, will go nicely on my armor to show that he's killed the things. And he starts doing a check around the perimeter, making sure there's no one else around before he starts having fun with the girls. I say fun. So he leaves them alone for 15 minutes while he does a check. All of a sudden there was the sound of angry growling and barking from outside and a single shot. The Raider sighed . Ah well. Nothing like a bit of delayed satisfaction to get the juices running. He picked up a pipe pistol that was scattered on the table amongst the glass vials with one hand and fished through the mess with the other, finding one with a small amount of viscous orange liquid. He clicked it into a handheld device he pulled from his pocket, put it in his mouth, and inhaled. There was a little hiss. I'll be right back, he said, breath held as he spoke. He absentmindedly grabbed Soskade's backpack and rifle as he turned on his heel and headed back out the door with a sickening wink. This was their chance . They had to act now. So she says, um, I've got my knife, we need to get out of here and we need to take him down when he comes back in. Suskade is really flexible and agile, so she's able to get her hands back under her legs and she pulls the knife out and she manages to first cut the bonds of Hawthorne and then cut her own bonds. Quick, here's Suscade. Turn your back to me. Hawthorne obeyed and Suskade squeezed the knife from her thigh with difficulty. She fell blindly for Hawthorne's bonds. Thankfully, while Suskade's bonds were made of cutting twisted wire, the raiders had used rope to tie Hawthorne'ss hand. Suskade felt for the proffered wrists behind her and rubbed the knife between them. As soon as she felt the bonds give, she dropped the knife and tucked her legs up and over her own arms, bringing them in front of her. Hawthorne scrambled for her own gag and went to untwisting the wire around Soskaid's wrists. They came free, and Soskaed quickly reached for the knife lying on the floor. Another shot fired as she heard a muted instruction to their captor. Follow it up the to tree line. Make sure there's no one else creeping up. I'll cover you from here. I don't want any more interruptions. The raider was smart enough not to leave weapons in there . He's got her weapons on him and her backpack on him. And he's doing a check. Their legs are also bound, so they're gonna cut those things as well. So he wasn't very smart to leave them. But he didn't think he was gonna be long. Um and they're just girls, what are they gonna do? So I think uh they both they find something heavy in there . And I think because this is quite a vertical thing, there's kind of um you know wooden platforms and stuff built up in between the inside of this this screen, which is say maybe two meters wide, and so I think shes tell Hawthorne to get up high and to push that whatever it is that's up there, something heavy. Uh let's say it's a what would be inside? Soskade looked up into the hollow rise of the dry bin's interior. There, above the door was some kind of old air conditioning unit hanging wonkily from an overstressed corner. Hawthorne followed her gaze and nodded, seeming to understand . Can you get up there? Suskade said hastily. Hawthorne nodded and began to clamber up the footholds in the ancient wall. If you can't knock it down in time, you'll have to drop down on him while I come at him with my knife . All clear? She heard a voice shout from the outside. They were out of time. Suske had hurriedly repositioned herself to where she'd been, hands back behind her back, but this time gripping her knife tightly. I can't see from up here whispered Hawthorne, panicking her voice. Don't worry, replied Suskade. Just push as hard as you can on my signal . I mean just some piece of machinery that they've collected, I'm not sure, but something heavy. She says, okay, so when he comes back, you're gonna push that down on top of him, and then I'm gonna get him with the knife. She says, Are you ready? Hawthorne climbs up to the top, and she's ready to push thing which will fall down to the doorway, and Soskaid starts shouting, all damsel in the strells, help, help! Soscaid saw Hawthorne switch abruptly into operation mode as she leapt lively to the climbing rungs built into the frame of the huge cinema screen. Suska had watched and tried to slow her breathing, clutching her knife behind her back. Hawthorne made it up to the hanging air conditioning unit and struggled to position her back against the wall, planting her feet firmly to the back of it. She gave an experimental push. The tortured bolt holding the heavy unit creaked. Ready? Whispered Suskaid. Hawthorne gave a nod, and Suskayid drew a deep breath. She let out a blood curdling scream, hoping to throw a bit of confusion into the mix when the raid had re entered the room. A couple of moments hesitation could be all that we need. She tensed as she heard the footsteps crunch turn into a jog. She held Hawthorne's gaze for a moment before turning her focus back to the door. Breath held once more. And so this guy comes running back , and as he runs into the door, Soskayed says now , Hawthorne is gonna push. She's not very strong . But let's let's do a check on him if he can dodge it. So his agility is six and survival is one. So he needs to roll, he needs to get a seven in order to dodge this thing . The sound of the footsteps changed from a crunch to a metallic ring as the raider reached the screen's entrance. Now, shouted Saskade. Hawthorne heaved. A split second later, the thin metal door crashed open once more, and the raider was there. Wild-eyed with Saskade's hunting rifle in hand, pointing at the various corners of the room. Bitch! was all the raider got out before a sad twisting sound brought the rusted block of metal down from above. The raider instinctively leapt forward, determined grimace on his face, and Soskade heard another bark and a gunshot come from outside. And he does not. In fact he rolls a 20. So not only does this thing hit him as it falls down, but it actually I think it hits him in the tor so and not only does it hit him and do some damage I don't know four damage out of his eight hit poin ts, but it also pins him to the ground. And this and he drops his he's out of reach of his gun. That was the complication. The heavy air conditioning unit hit the man in his lower back as he leapt forward . There was a crunching sound as his spine gave way to the cruel rusty weight of the metal box. He screamed. Suskate heard more footsteps racing up to the door, and she rushed forward, deftly scooping up the rifle that was still sliding toward her. She stepped over the raider, dodging his weakly flailing arms, grabbing at her ankle as she did. Suske didn't hesitate. She lightly kicked the door open with her right foot as she brought the rifle to her eye. There was the zing as a bullet hit the door frame next to her. She didn't watch the last raider as he ran towards her, swearing, trying to reload his pistol. He looked up at her, hatred in his eyes, before suddenly looking skyward as his head snapped back from the impact of her shot and fell, sliding forward in the dust on his heels before hitting the ground. There was an eerie silence pierced only by the slight ringing inside. She turned and looked at the pathetic figure on the floor beside her. He was squirm ing. She stepped back inside, careful to crush the man's knuckle under her boot as she did. So then they get up and they say we're gonna have our fun with you now, you bastard. And they Susqueade holds her knife to his throat and she says tell us about like give us some useful information. Hawthorne had climbed down from her perch and was breathing heavily. Soska had met her eyes and the scribe nodded. The man was whimpering like a child left in the dark. Please he snuffled pathetically. I was never gonna hurt you. I was just having a laugh. I'm a good guy, really. I can help you. Soska had knelt in front of him and nodded to Hawthorne to check the man's body and what was visible of his legs for any hidden threat. A cascade of hot anger drove her fear into retreat and pushed her knife down swiftly through the back of the raider's left hand. Okay, does he cooperate and tell them anything? Yes, he does . So he cooperates and he's the tables have been turned. He's really not a big man when he doesn't have the girls tied up in front of him. And he explains that both raider clans are trying to get a stronghold on this place so that they can mount an assault on Sal em . Why? What's in Sal em that's so valuable? What's in Sal em? The Raider explained that the Orndogs had been pushing north and building up something of an army. They were setting up outposts like this one Non aligned groups along the way, with the promise of fortune and the threat of death for non compliance. Apparently the Orndogs were under the command of a f ierce leader known as Bath Bloodride, who'd spent years building the largest cooperating band of raiders the wasteland had ever seen. At least according to them. Proceed Elements Proceed Elements Elements proceed . Water . Maybe Sal em has a vault? I think Salem has a vault. Suskade listened carefully to the pathetic raider, making a few notes on her map, including the location of Salem and the apparent Vault seventeen. She tucked the map away again safely in her suit and turned back to the radar, wiping her knife clean on her sleeve and slotting it back into her leg-mounted sheath . She drew her pistol and clicked a bullet into the chamber with the pull of the well-oiled slide . Hawthorne didn't argue and collected a few bits and pieces before walking briskly out, not looking back. Salem has a vault which they know about and it has fresh water. I think it has maybe a water chip . And somehow they've found out about this, maybe they've killed another vault dweller before, but I think there's an important vault in Sal em . Suskade turned to look at the collection of weaponry locked away behind her. Most of it looked like she wouldn't even be able to carry it, let alone use it off ensively. She thought for a moment, keeping the now silent raider in the corner of her eye. She could do with some ammunition, but if they wanted to track Ramirez, they really couldn't waste any time. Plus, they'd have to get in somehow, and apparently only the captain had the security code. Okay, is the vault open ? Extreme yes . So yes, so the vault has been opened , probably but it's inaccessible because of whatever is infesting Sal em. Maybe it's Deathclaws, maybe it's super mutants, I'm not sure. Suskade sighed and turned around. Were you at the village raid south of Newark? she said quietly. The raider looked confused for a second and then comprehension dawned on his face. No, no, I wasn't there. I swear. Bath led that raid personally. None of us knew the details. We've just been following our instructions up here . Toscaid nodded sadly and raised her pistol, pulling the trigger before the man's expression had a chance to change to fear. The ring on the inside of the metal screen was deafening. There was a hollow sound of the casing bouncing on the floor , and then nothing . Suskade holstered her pistol, slung her backpack and hunting rival over her shoulder, and walked towards the door. She stopped and thought for a minute before she And Soskade shoots him in the head . Hawthorne was standing outside, dog meat with her when Soskade emerged from the drive in a few minutes later. She had all of her gear and an extra duffel type bag she'd apparently found inside. She dropped the bag next to Hawthorne, caught her eye and nodded, before bending down to give dogmeat a firm squeeze around the neck. The puppy wagged his tail manically and squirmed to get out of her grip before looking disappointed in a tender she said, something catching as she did. Yeah, said Suskate emotionlessly. You? Yeah, replied Hawthorne. After a few moments she continued. What's in the bag? What did he have on him? Road leathers pipe gun to wealth one . There was another raider we killed it there. So we're gonna search the raiders . So we find 22 caps. So that's six . And we're gonna see what we can scavenge here . Scavenging. So I think this is it's untouched because they've been set up in here. So it's a small single room, it's gonna take 10 minutes. I think probably it's military because, they' ve been setting it up as a bit of a base . So that means we have ammo, clothing, weapons, and other . Which is six, seven, eight, nine, ten, three, oh, eight. Really, we need some 10 millimeter for arm or . They have 17 is they have some Volt Tech armor. Interesting. But that makes sense. They've clearly tor tured someone from the vault. That makes sense. There was no way into the lockup but I did manage to find some three oh eights for my rifle, said Soske, digging through the bag. Nothing for your laser pistol unfortunately. And this armour that looks a bit like my vault suit. Maybe there really is a vault in Salem, said Hawthorne as Suskade continued digging. But it's not on any of the Brotherhood charts. They both started walking towards the tree line keen to get as far away from the drive in as possible. I've made some notes for our records, said Hawthorne half to herself. There was Brotherhood Tech in there. We need to come back and secure it. Soske didn't meet her gaze, and the two kept walking. And other . I like other . And probably some food in there too . And we're gonna find iguana bits . Saskade, Hawthorne, and Dogmeat walked a few meters into the tree line before crouching behind a fallen log to collect their thoughts and make a plan. Okay, so then we discuss and said, okay, we gotta get. We gotta follow Ramirez and the other raiders to stop them attacking Kesha. Probably they are only three or four hours ahead. It's now afternoon. The increasingly overcast sky hid the sun's slow progress towards its daily resting place. A breeze had picked up and there was a slightly sticky quality to the air . Suskate and Hawthorne sat on another low ancient grey log, elbows to knees, looked intently at the map spread out in the ground in front of them. Dogmeat chewed on their discarded iguana sticks with every sign of enjoyment. They'd walked for an hour or so at the edge of the forest in order to put some distance between them and the drive-in in case anyone else showed up. There was a smoky quality in the air in the distance behind them . We follow the road, back the way they went, turn south and continue along the trees until we get to Kesha. Um, said Hawthorne, still apparently a little shaken. We went that way a few weeks ago, and we're picking up rads along the road, so we cut through here. Hawthorne gently nudged Suskade's finger out of the way and cut a line through the forest. This part here is completely burnt out and full of scorpions. Ramirez would have taken them through here, past that clearing, and out the other side. Suskade nodded. Okay, we'll take Dogmeat's lead, but assume that's the path in case he loses the trail. Suskade folded the map back up and tucked it away Suscaid says, okay, we've got to go and track them with Dogmead's help. And so I think and sh okay, so sh she asks, Sos caid asks about Ramirez . And she wants to know, is he a threat? I think it's likely No K ust one thing, said Hawthorne as Soskeyd slung her backpack and hunting rifle over her shoulder. Caleb Soskade looked blank. Rami rez. He's not a bad guy. Suske had raised an eyebrow. I mean he has some questionable views and doesn't hide it well when he doesn't like someone, but he is loyal to the Brotherhood and he is a good soldier, and he saved my life more than once. Suskade gave her a sceptical look, and when to mention the fact that he was willing to get a whole town of civilians murdered to save his own skin, but thought better of it. Okay , she said finally. I'll have to take your word for it. They took a few steps together back towards the road in silence. I mean don't get me wrong, said Hawthorne finally. He is a massive asshole. Sasuke chuckled. He's just an asshole. Some experience points. So I guess we get full experience for killing that one, that's gonna be 17. I think we did a quest as well. Find out what happened to Scout. We did . That's gonna be 10, that's 27 . And new quest, track them down before they get to Kesha . The light was beginning to fade as the sun presumably dipped below the horizon behind them. Suskade whistled quietly for the hundredth time and pointed dogmeat's snout towards one of the footprints in the dirt, reminding him of what they were doing here. He'd been in too good of a mood and was constantly bringing things for them to throw, losing track of his job . Suskade sighed. Come on, boy, focus. I won't be able to see these soon. You have to lead the way. Dogmeat looked up at her, seemingly full of determination and understanding. He turned with purpose, picked up the stick again and dropped it in front of her, tail wagging proudly. Okay, that's it, Susuke had said, and frustratedly shoved the stick into her backpack. It's gonna be about a Two-day journey, so if they don't sleep, maybe they'll be able to catch up. Can we uh rest a bit? said Hawthorne. It was getting darker now, but a full moon was beginning to push its way through the clearing sky. There were the unsettling sounds of wasteland wilderness all around them. I don't feel so good . Some items of food and drink are irradiated, contaminated with the radiation that is all pervasive in the wasteland. When you consume a radiative food, roll a dice. If you roll an effect you suffer one radiation damage, which ignores any resistance from equipment or armor . Ah . Ouch. Radiation damage reduces a character's maximum health points . Wow . That's cool though. Okay, said Sosukaid, not feeling like a basket of fruit herself. But just for a little bit, we have to push into the night if we're gonna catch them or at least beat them there . The three retreated from the road to the tree line again, and Suskaya dug through her pack, locating a dusty plastic water bottle of purified w ater. She said to herself. This is the last of the pure stuff, so go easy on it. She handed the bottle to Hawthorne . Down to one purified water. We need more water . Okay . So I think that's the end of the scene. That's exciting. I can't wait to get to Kesha, hopefully save it, and then start modding some weapons. Dying to mod my hunt hunter ing rifle and uh perhaps my cool dus ter trench coat with ballistic weave or something so we can give ourselves a bit more defense. Although we've been pretty healthy so far. Maybe it's been too easy, maybe you have to make it harder, not sure. We'll see. So can you keep going? said Suskade, a hint of concern in her voice. Yeah, I'm fine , replied Hawthorne. Hopefully we can find some meds when we get to Kesha . Hawthorne nodded with effort and picked herself up from the forest floor. Back to the road, said Suskade. I think we're making good time. If we hit the crossroad in the next hour or so, we can cut through the forest where you said. Hopefully Dogmeat agrees. Suskade looked down. Dogmeat was curled up at her feet, snoring slightly. Come on, boy, she said softly. We are about three hours behind them, we've now eaten. Our plan is to walk is to walk through the night, hoping that they will camp along the way and that we can catch up with them. So the first thing I want to ask is: are we able to find their trail with Dog Meat's help? Now dog meat means we can reduce the difficulty by one. Let's see what the weather's doing now, because that may have an impact . Nine . The weather was overcast and it is now cool and clear. Excellent. They were both clearly tired now. Dogmeat had managed to stay on top of the trail, and they'd begun to cut through the forest. The progress was slower here, and neither of them had spoken a word in hours. It was very still . Suskade was only half paying attention, barely keeping Dogmeat's wagging tail in the sickly green light of her pit boy as they followed silently and slowly through the eerie toothpicks of trees. The moonlight was helping, though. According to her beauti Water without speaking. Suskade returned the now empty bottle to her backpack and continued to trudge through the forest. So this is scene number seventeen. We were in control in the last scene. Uh so that goes down to the chaos factor of five, and it is now cool and clear, which means we have an advantage to perception role. So I was gonna maybe make it difficulty two. Uh it's minus one difficulty because it's cool and clear, and because we have dog meat I think that means we're not going to have to worry at all about tracking them. Reduce the difficulty of all other perception tests by one to a minimum of zero. Excellent. So we are able to follow the trail. Let's see, let's write the expected scene . Track the raiders to their camp that night . Let's see if that in fact happens. Chaos factor of five. We got a six, so yes that is what happens. Another hour passed with no change, until suddenly Dogmead stopped and sunk a little lower to the ground, Snout leaving it for the first time in a while, sniffing the air in front of him. Soske had stopped suddenly, and Hawthorne bumped into her gently from behind. Soske had held up a hand, and they waited, straining their eyes and ears in the darkness. There was something up ahead. So I think we travel for the rest of the day . Um we don't run into anything we see the raiders sitting around a fire camped out. So I'm gonna just update that on the map. And sort of see where we are. So we're heading from Fall Creek, we're around the outside of the forest, and we're somewhere, it's sort of in the middle of nowhere . I would say that it's still slightly foresty. Um which means we can hide in the trees a little bit. Did they can't in the for est? I think it's 50-5 0. No, they didn't. So they camp in a clearing outside of the forest. We're skirting around the edge of the forest here. They followed dogmeat as he changed direction slightly to the west. He was moving low and slow. Suskade had lost track of where they were in the map hours earlier and had been hoping that Dogmeat was tracking the right thing. Her doubts were immediately assuaged, however, when she heard a cackle float through the trees and the apparent hissing of a fire. It was them. She motioned to Hawthorne to get low and held a finger up for Dogme to stay put and let her take the lead. He obeyed. The three moved slowly and quietly towards the edge of the tree line, clear starry sky opening out before them. She checked the bolt on her gun and moved a bit closer. They've lit a fire and they're all sitting around. There are four of them, including the ra ider boss and I think probably just normal raiders . So we have normal raiders um with pipe guns , road letters, so on. Now we have to raid a boss who's level 10. This guy is scary. Suskate and Hawthorne settled in at the edge of the clearing. The raiders were milling around, grunting at each other and throwing the occasional glass bottle at the fire. The raider boss was there too. They're usually equipped with better weapons and armor than their underlings and tend to be experienced combatants. They often earn their position through repeated displays of strength, leadership, and bloodshed to keep it in much the same way. He's gonna have thirty hit points and three other raiders. And Ramirez, who hopefully will stand up and fight on our side . But we're not sure. A hulking silhouette with his back to their position, moonlight glinting off the spiked shoulders of his armor. Hawthorne let out a purse lip breath. What's the plan? She said in a whisper. I think we're gonna do our tried and tested. We're gonna see if we can set up some frag mines on the edge of the forest and then we're gonna start sniping and see if we can get them to run into the mines. So we're gonna see if we can sneak and set a couple of fragmines. I've got two of them. We're gonna set both of them about five meters apart from the direction in which we're gonna be shooting. And then I'm gonna have Hawthorne be on the side. Okay, let's let's be smart about this. I still have two mines left, said Suskade, thinking as she spoke. If we can set them and draw the raiders in with gunfire , we might get lucky and take at least one out . Hawthorne nodded in the darkness, Soskade continued, but my rifle isn't going to be much good once they're in the trees. She thought for a moment more. Because Soskaid has the hunting rifle which is more powerful and she wants to use that. So I think Soskaid is going to be on one side of the clearing with the fragmines set up on the opposite side, and Hawthorne is going to take a shot at them from the trees and hopefully draw them that way before they run towards the explosives, and then Suskade will maybe have a chance to shoot a couple while they're still in the clearing. Once they're in the forest, it's gonna be more difficult to snipe them. So we have to hope that Hawthorne can maybe look after herself. Maybe that's too risky. If I can get over there and, you can take the opening shot, I can get them in the back as they come towards you before flanking back around with my pistol. Suskade saw Hawthorne stiffen. I'll be here on my own. She started a hint of panic in her voice. Does Hawthorne go along with that plan ? I think she trusts Soscae because she rescued her, so I say it's likely she goes along with the plan . She does not go along with that plan. I'm I'm sorry , I I can't do it, said Hawthorne meekly. I trust you, but it's it's just too dangerous. I'm not trained for that kind of close combat. Sosuke had pushed down her sudden sense of frustration. She wanted to say that as a Brotherhood member, Hawthorne literally So she's knocking she says no I'm not gonna do that I can't hold them off myself and Suskay ad says okay in that case um in that case we're gonna set the mines I'm gonna take a shot to distract them run back a little bit and we'll both get behind trees as cover and as they run towards the mines we'll shoot them as they come into the forest. That's the idea. So we're gonna do a sneak test to see if we can hide the mines. So let's call it a difficulty two test . Do they have someone on patrol around the camp ? Yes. After a brief discussion, Hawthorne agreed to the new plan. They would stay closer together on this side of the clearing, get a shot in to draw them towards the mines, then retreat back and to the sides, ready with their pistols. You take this one, dig a shallow hole, making sure that it's hard packed at the bottom . This side goes up, and after it's in place, pull this lever here all the way around. After it is placed. I'm gonna She paused as an argument seemed to be breaking out down by the fire. What the fuck, Grobo? That's my fucking drink! One of the figures stood and arched his back dramatically, bottle held vertically to his lips making exaggerated gulping sounds. There was a smash as the bottle was knocked out of the man's hand and a knife appeared at his neck. We all know you don't have the balls, skin, chuckled Grobbo. An instant later the leader had stood, clasped a massive hand around the knife holder's neck, and flung the man bodily to the ground, flat on his back. There was a gas ping sound from the winded raider and a laugh from Grobo, cut short by the metallic backhanded slap to his face. Save it, said the leader calmly. You'll get your chance for blood tomorrow. Now pick your dick up and get out there and do a perimeter check. Extreme yes, they have someone on patrol around the camp. So I think that means Extreme Yes, we're gonna say two of them. You too, Skinner . The boss stepped over the prone figure and walked to the other side of the fire where a sitting man looked up for the first time. Rami rez, said Hawthorne quietly. At least he looks okay . We'll soon see which side he's on in any case, thought Suskade, as she slung the rifle over her shoulder and hefted the mine in one hand with her knife in the other. Hawthorne looked concerned. The boss and one of the normal raiders and Ramirez are sitting around the fire getting it going, maybe starting to put together a bit of a cook station. And then two in a pair, two are patrolling the perimeter of the forest and are very alert. So that means it is gonna be a s difficulty two sneak test to see if we can plant the frag min es . Running low on action points. Let's use one. So we're gonna need to hit agility and sneak, which is 12, and we need two successes . Um I wonder if she can assist me in this. She can try and lay one of them. So she needs to hit a seven and I need to hit a thirteen . So oh man . Go whispered Suskade. Focused on the job and trusting that Hawthorne would carry out her part, she crept forward into the half darkness, staying crouched low as she moved. She got about five meters out of the tree line and was painfully aware of her faint but definitely perceptible flickering shadow behind her. She lay flat on the ground as she heard a pause in the conversation. Fuck, she thought to herself. One success. Oh no. Two successes. Thank you, agility. So I've got 11 and a six, but that means we are able to successfully plant the uh fragmines. Suske had laid flat on the cool earth, listening intently. The conversation continued. As I said, they have a water operation, Rami rez was saying to the raider leader. A big one. The raider was silently crouched in front of his prisoner, knife casually but not without latent threat in his hand. Bramirez continued in the ongoing silence. Whoever controls it will have more than just water for themselves, but a powerful hold on the whole area, including New ark. Suske had turned the knife over in her hand and began to scratch into the hard ground, making a small bed for the mime to rest in. She looked over her shoulder and saw a shadowy shape slip back into the trees. We'll see, Soldier Boy, said the boss calmly, and then stood, casting a long shadow that stretched nearly all the way to Suskade's position. He cracked his neck and gave his knife a little flick into the air, catching it by its point. I'm sure I don't have to elaborate on your life expectancy if you're fucking with us, he said dispassionately, and with snake like speed, his knife suddenly protruded from between Ramirez's legs with a wooden sound. Suskade saw her chance and melted back into the trees. So we're gonna wait till they get to the opposite side of the clearing. Um Suskayad puts Hawthorne behind one of the trees and gets her to train her laser pistol at the entrance to the forest from the clearing. Let's see if she can get a clear shot from from two zones away. Can she get a clear shot from two zones away? I think it's unlikely because we're in the forest. Let's see . 57 no she can't so she has to be a little closer than she'd like which means actually her hunting rifle would be at a disadvantage uh making it extra difficulty to hit and she's gonna take a shot at the veteran. She can tell he's got the biggest armor and the biggest gear, so she wants to get a free shot on him. So we're gonna roll. We are gonna aim, which means we can re-roll one of the dice. We need to get two successes on agility small guns, which is happily a 14 . Two successes on a 14, I'm going to save my last action point and she's gonna take a shot . Suskade let out a slow breath, the cool evening air beginning to crystallize a long expanding cone in front of her. The trap was set. She turned to Hawthorne's shadowy shape, barely visible behind a tree about fifteen meters away. The barely perceptible silhouetted head bobbed slightly and, Suskade took it as a confirmation . She took another deep breath, this time resting her left hand on the rough but crumbling bark of the arboral skeleton in front of her, and propped the cool matte metal barrel of her hunting rifle on it. And pulled the trigger . Thank you for joining me on another episode of A Wasteland Story. If you're interested in more solo role-playing antics, you can check out my other show, The Solo RolePlayers Podcast, where I do interviews with content creators, play a bunch of RPGs on mic, and a few other bits and pieces as well. You can search the Solo RolePlayers podcast wherever you're listening to this, and if you want to get in touch with me directly ? You can email a wastelandstorypodcast at gmail.com, find me on Reddit or Blue Sky under PJ Sack, or better yet, head over to Patreon.com slash solo role players where you can join up as a free member and chat directly with me and the burgeoning solo RPG community we have growing over there. All the links are over in the show notes, as well as links and credits to all the fantastic music and sound effects used in this show. I hope that wherever you are and whatever you're doing, that you're rationing your water and not thinking too hard about the fact that there doesn't actually seem to be any iguanas in the wasteland. Until next time.