Ivy and Chrome PbP Forums

“Maybe,” Shep says evenly. “First, we need to retrieve something. We’re not here to cause trouble. Just asking permission to enter.” His tone carries the kind of calm that comes with age. Two more men exit the warehouse and lean against the wall. A sickeningly skinny woman also exits, carrying what looks to be a newborn.

The scarred man steps forwards, "What do you have in exchange to enter our home and take this... something? We need to eat and usually your type comes here and steals from or murders us."

Reggie catches the flash of metal from one of the men near the door. He isn't sure what, but his hand is behind his back. Jack remains calm as he steps down from Twilight. Mazur remains on the horse; as usual thinking ahead in case of a need to escape.

OOC: Gonna wait on Tim for this bit. Kinda jumped ahead of him.

OOC: sorry for the delay, been pretty busy this last week or so.

IC:
Reggie has been on edge for the whole trip. Both worried of something else attacking them and because he can't recall ever actually going to Lake Crenshaw. He's heard plenty of outlandish stories about the wonders to be seen there though.

Preventing the couple on the Motorcycle from stumbling into the chaos back in town raises his spirits a bit. They've saved a couple more lives already.

Apparently the guards recognize Shep, as they are let through quickly, Reggie nods to the guards as they pass.

moving through the city is both wonderous and nerve wracking. The black power armour roaring through the sky seems like a storybook made real, but the attention from passersby seems concerning. If there's a fight, would he even be able to hit anything with the gun his dad gave him? He's barely competent with the little .22 his dad sometimes lets him try out, but this one looks like it'd have loads more recoil.

As Shep talks to the local leader, Reggie dismounts to back him up (besides, he doubts his aim would be improved on horseback), keeping an eye on the guys by the door, the one in particular.

OOC: Nice Post
IC:
“We don’t have much,” Shep says evenly, “but we’re willing to leave some food and water—whatever we can spare.” His eyes shift to the woman and the baby. “Maybe some medical supplies too. Looks like you need them more than we do.”

He doesn’t like the idea of parting with essentials, but time matters more than comfort. They need to get in, find what they came for, and get out. The ride here hadn’t taken as long as he feared—they could afford to go home a little hungry if it meant avoiding a fight.

Reggie has been on edge for the whole trip. Both worried of something else attacking them and because he can't recall ever actually going to Lake Crenshaw. He's heard plenty of outlandish stories about the wonders to be seen there though.

Preventing the couple on the motorcycle from stumbling into the chaos back in town raises his spirits a bit. They've saved a couple more lives already.

Apparently the guards recognize Shep, as they're let through quickly, Reggie nods to the guards as they pass. Moving through the city is both wonderous and nerve wracking. The black power armour roaring through the sky seems like a storybook made real, but the attention from passersby seems concerning. If there's a fight, would he even be able to hit anything with the gun his dad gave him? He's barely competent with the little .22 his dad sometimes lets him try out, but this one looks like it'd have loads more recoil.

As Shep talks to the local leader, Reggie dismounts to back him up (besides, he doubts his aim would be improved on horseback), keeping an eye on the guys by the door, the one in particular.

“We don’t have much,” Shep says evenly, “but we’re willing to leave some food and water—whatever we can spare.” His eyes shift to the woman and the baby. “Maybe some medical supplies too. Looks like you need them more than we do.” He doesn’t like the idea of parting with essentials, but time matters more than comfort. They need to get in, find what they came for, and get out. The ride here hadn’t taken as long as he feared—they could afford to go home a little hungry if it meant avoiding a fight.

Scarface seems in thought for a moment as his associates seem increasingly uncomfortable. He then nods slowly, "Yes, for food and supplies, I can definitely allow you to search for whatever it is you think is here." He turns and nods to the guy with his arm behind his back. The guy complies, keeping his hand out of sight as he turns to open the door for them. Scarface walks ahead of them with the woman and her baby. Leading the way inside.

Shep motions for Reggie to come with him, grabbing a flashlight and a shovel from the gear. He turns to the others, keeping his voice low. “Stay with the horses and keep watch. If there’s trouble, get the guards—don’t worry about us,” he whispers.

Shep motions for Reggie to come with him, grabbing a flashlight and a shovel from the gear. He turns to the others, keeping his voice low. “Stay with the horses and keep watch. If there’s trouble, get the guards—don’t worry about us,” he whispers. Jack and Mazur both nod.

Reggie and Shep follow the woman with the baby inside a dimly lit, poorly ventilated warehouse. The floor is a mixture of concrete and in some places, dirt. Shep follows the map to a dirt covered spot in the floor, right next to an old defunct mysterious looking machine.

The rest of the men from outside have followed them. Scarface approaches, stopping several feet away, staring at the ground where Shep is standing. "What is it that you're searching for? If you don't mind me asking. If something's here, we would have found it by now."

Shep gives a small shrug, keeping his tone even. “Don’t know exactly,” he admits, then adds with a faint, rueful smile, “Ran into an old friend of my dad’s who said he left something here for me before he died. Left a map and everything. Whatever it is, apparently it’s keyed to me somehow — so Dad’s friend couldn’t come for it himself.”

He pauses, furrowing his brow as if uncertain, then looks up at Scarface. “You might want to step back a bit. No idea if it’s dangerous, but better to play it safe.”

He drops to one knee and sets the flashlight to the side, angling it toward the dirt as he starts to dig where X marks the spot, careful and deliberate.

Trying not to show how nervous he is, Reggie follows Shep inside.
Once the older man determines where the spot is, he also begins to dig.

Trying not to show how nervous he is, Reggie follows Shep inside. Once the older man determines where the spot is, he also begins to dig.

Shep gives a small shrug, keeping his tone even. “Don’t know exactly,” he admits, then adds with a faint, rueful smile, “Ran into an old friend of my dad’s who said he left something here for me before he died. Left a map and everything. Whatever it is, apparently it’s keyed to me somehow — so Dad’s friend couldn’t come for it himself.”

He pauses, furrowing his brow as if uncertain, then looks up at Scarface. “You might want to step back a bit. No idea if it’s dangerous, but better to play it safe.” Even with Shep's warning, no one really shows any concern. From the state of the people, nothing could be much worse than what they've already experienced. He drops to one knee and sets the flashlight to the side, angling it toward the dirt as he starts to dig where X marks the spot, careful and deliberate.

As Shep and Reggie dig, the inhabitants slowly, one by one, begin to relax. The woman with the child sits in a makeshift couch, made of wooden pallets and blankets sewn inside a cushion. She leisurely nurses her baby as the man who had a large knife, sheaths it and sits with her.

Meanwhile, two other men and an older lady begin a small fire and begin cooking what looks like a couple of dessert lizards. A few pigeon eggs are added to a piece of sheet metal, doubling as a frying plate. They then set a pot above, suspended by rope, to heat up some water. The elderly woman adds pine needles to the water, in an attempt to make pine needle tea, which has it's health benefits, but hardly nutritious. Even offering some to Shep and Reggie. Yet, both Shep and Reggie can tell that they're still alert for any danger.

Scarface never leaves Shep and Reggie's side; vigilantly watching as Shep digs through hardened soil and gravel. Half an hour passes as sweat drips from their brows and chins, only to be rapidly absorbed into the soil. Finally, Scarface decides to speak up, "My name's Cal. So when are we getting the food and medical supplies?"

“Shep,” he says, offering a short nod. “Don’t remember if I mentioned that before.” His voice stays steady, the same tone he’d use to calm a skittish horse.

Turning to Reggie, he adds quietly, “Why don’t you take a break? Check on the others and grab what food and first-aid supplies we can spare. Looks like they could use it more than we can right now.” He gives Reggie a small, approving nod before turning back to his work, shovel biting into the packed dirt once more.