Rifts - DMH - Journey to Rifle Ridge - Lysanthra
Rifts - DMH - Journey to Rifle Ridge - Lysanthra
After the Summer Festival, Lysanthra accompanied Ingrid to the sheriff’s office to report the murder. Before she could learn anything, deputies escorted Liz back to her foster parents, where Emily and Marshal waited with thinly veiled irritation. They drove home in silence. Ahead of them, Sam, Steve, and Maya followed the long, weaving convoy of festival‑goers returning to Smith Falls... with many of them drunk.
With the deputies tied up between Teddy’s beating and the murder investigation, no one was out patrolling the roads. Liz watched several minor accidents along the way, but nothing fatal, but enough to make her grip the door handle. Just before reaching town, a cluster of police cars had pulled over more than half the returning travelers, running sobriety tests at a hastily assembled roadblock. By some miracle, Marshal and Liz were waved through without being checked.
The next few weeks were miserable. Liz was grounded for wandering away from the main festival and “getting herself mixed up in drama,” as Max put it. With little else to do, she buried herself in her parents’ old notes on holistic treatments, remedies, and experimental techniques. They had even cataloged alien vegetation and fungi, detailing their effects on the human body. By the time her punishment ended, she had absorbed a small library’s worth of knowledge.
Max encouraged her to start looking for work: “preparing for adulthood,” as he called it. Liz agreed, mostly because it meant more time away from the house. During her search, she ran into Sam, who told her that Megana had vanished the same night as the festival and hadn’t been seen since. He spent most weekends traveling to Fort Hammer, visiting Teddy, who'd miraculously recovered from his injuries, chasing any lead that might point to where Meg had gone.
She spotted Steve one afternoon, pedaling home on his bike. He’d landed stunt‑double work on a popular local show, Eagle Rock Spuds. Kendal, from Fort Hammer, was apparently one of its stars. Liz wasn’t allowed to watch it, of course; too many adult themes... While scanning the classifieds in the Smith Falls Tribune, she noticed several articles written by Maya, who's now clearly thriving.
Marshal spent his days sulking unless he was also helping Teddy search for Ted’s girlfriend, who had been arrested and later escaped alongside the same murderer Ingrid had seen: Mr. Sky. Emily, meanwhile, devoted herself to screaming matches with Max and Bryan, shrieking, “You’re not my REAL parents!” at every opportunity. Job‑hunting trips quickly became Liz’s favorite escape.
Months passed with no luck. Eventually she tried the local clinic, but without any formal medical training, they turned her away. As she stepped outside, she nearly collided with Brad Greenwood. He was studying for his doctorate and had recently acquired a mobile clinic. He needed employees. After a barrage of questions, and Liz’s enthusiastic rambling about natural remedies, Brad hired her. Four days a week on an emergency response team. The pay wasn’t great, but it was something. She occasionally glimpsed Ingrid working in her glass shop in Fort Hammer, though she never found the time, or courage, to stop and talk.
One weekend, Sam mentioned he’d picked up work with Frank, whose parents own the bar in Fort Hammer. Frank had become a chef and was catering a wedding, and Sam said Liz’s herbal knowledge would be useful. She meant to follow up, but work kept her too busy, especially since Brad finally achieved his doctorate in medicine and surgery.
Then, on a whim, Liz bought a lottery ticket. The jackpot had climbed to 15,000 credits. She won! Athough Mayor Lee’s brutal taxes reduced her prize to 10,000. Combined with her savings, she now had around 13,000 credits. She stored it all on her new Universal Identification Card, just in case her foster parents decided she “owed” them something. With the extra money, she started kickboxing and self‑defense classes. She loved it. Soon she’d be ready to test for her black belt.
A few days ago, Brad received a week‑long job offer in a place southeast of Smith Falls called Rifle Ridge, which is a four‑day journey. He asked Liz to come along as his assistant, promising extra pay and covering all travel expenses. She agreed immediately. Even her foster parents seemed excited for her. Brad explained that a large group would be traveling there for a wedding featuring Frank’s cooking and Larry Elmore’s infamous obstacle course.
Now, with her bags packed and her nerves buzzing, Liz is ready to go!
OOC: Don't post to this thread, post in "Rifts - DMH - Journey to Rifle Ridge"
With the deputies tied up between Teddy’s beating and the murder investigation, no one was out patrolling the roads. Liz watched several minor accidents along the way, but nothing fatal, but enough to make her grip the door handle. Just before reaching town, a cluster of police cars had pulled over more than half the returning travelers, running sobriety tests at a hastily assembled roadblock. By some miracle, Marshal and Liz were waved through without being checked.
The next few weeks were miserable. Liz was grounded for wandering away from the main festival and “getting herself mixed up in drama,” as Max put it. With little else to do, she buried herself in her parents’ old notes on holistic treatments, remedies, and experimental techniques. They had even cataloged alien vegetation and fungi, detailing their effects on the human body. By the time her punishment ended, she had absorbed a small library’s worth of knowledge.
Max encouraged her to start looking for work: “preparing for adulthood,” as he called it. Liz agreed, mostly because it meant more time away from the house. During her search, she ran into Sam, who told her that Megana had vanished the same night as the festival and hadn’t been seen since. He spent most weekends traveling to Fort Hammer, visiting Teddy, who'd miraculously recovered from his injuries, chasing any lead that might point to where Meg had gone.
She spotted Steve one afternoon, pedaling home on his bike. He’d landed stunt‑double work on a popular local show, Eagle Rock Spuds. Kendal, from Fort Hammer, was apparently one of its stars. Liz wasn’t allowed to watch it, of course; too many adult themes... While scanning the classifieds in the Smith Falls Tribune, she noticed several articles written by Maya, who's now clearly thriving.
Marshal spent his days sulking unless he was also helping Teddy search for Ted’s girlfriend, who had been arrested and later escaped alongside the same murderer Ingrid had seen: Mr. Sky. Emily, meanwhile, devoted herself to screaming matches with Max and Bryan, shrieking, “You’re not my REAL parents!” at every opportunity. Job‑hunting trips quickly became Liz’s favorite escape.
Months passed with no luck. Eventually she tried the local clinic, but without any formal medical training, they turned her away. As she stepped outside, she nearly collided with Brad Greenwood. He was studying for his doctorate and had recently acquired a mobile clinic. He needed employees. After a barrage of questions, and Liz’s enthusiastic rambling about natural remedies, Brad hired her. Four days a week on an emergency response team. The pay wasn’t great, but it was something. She occasionally glimpsed Ingrid working in her glass shop in Fort Hammer, though she never found the time, or courage, to stop and talk.
One weekend, Sam mentioned he’d picked up work with Frank, whose parents own the bar in Fort Hammer. Frank had become a chef and was catering a wedding, and Sam said Liz’s herbal knowledge would be useful. She meant to follow up, but work kept her too busy, especially since Brad finally achieved his doctorate in medicine and surgery.
Then, on a whim, Liz bought a lottery ticket. The jackpot had climbed to 15,000 credits. She won! Athough Mayor Lee’s brutal taxes reduced her prize to 10,000. Combined with her savings, she now had around 13,000 credits. She stored it all on her new Universal Identification Card, just in case her foster parents decided she “owed” them something. With the extra money, she started kickboxing and self‑defense classes. She loved it. Soon she’d be ready to test for her black belt.
A few days ago, Brad received a week‑long job offer in a place southeast of Smith Falls called Rifle Ridge, which is a four‑day journey. He asked Liz to come along as his assistant, promising extra pay and covering all travel expenses. She agreed immediately. Even her foster parents seemed excited for her. Brad explained that a large group would be traveling there for a wedding featuring Frank’s cooking and Larry Elmore’s infamous obstacle course.
Now, with her bags packed and her nerves buzzing, Liz is ready to go!
OOC: Don't post to this thread, post in "Rifts - DMH - Journey to Rifle Ridge"
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7