I've not made many rolls so far in the story, so I thought I'd have Hammer Gather Information as he makes his way through the station to find out the Settlement Touble
Gather Information: roll +wits : 3 +3 vs 4 & 5 : strong hit
* discover something helpful and specific
* +2 momentum, now 10
Settlement Trouble: roll 4 & 71 (as I'm using Eric Bright's Starsmith Expanded Oracles, 1d6 is rolled well as 1d100)
* Outcast seeks revenge
Character Callsign: roll 5 & 13 - Bulldog
As Hammer wound his way through the station, he kept hearing the name Bulldog. Pausing to learn more by a couple chattering over a newsheet, he listened as surreptitiously as he could.
"Have you seen this?" the male asked. "They say Bulldog has come back and is on Bulwark!"
"Never!" replied the female, "How could he get past all that security?"
"Some of them were defence witnesses at his trial remember? I'll bet one of them got him onto the station," the man replied authoratively, certain of his opinion.
His curiousity sated for now, Hammer continued on his way. Although Bulldog was nothing to do with
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| Bulwark station |
him, the stir created by his presence might impact Hammer's actions, so he couldn't dismiss it entirely. Something to bear in mind though ...
Arriving outside Dropship's place - a non-descript shop that he lived above - Hammer opened the door, ringing the bell fixed to it (low-tech security, but it worked). The shelves were stacked with samples of a ship-chandler's wares, Dropship's public occupation. As there was already someone in the shop talking quietly with Dropshiop, Hammer busied himself gathering some items he needed.
Resupply: will be bartering, so roll +heart : 3 +2 vs 1 & 4 : strong hit
* +2 supply, now 5 (max)
The woman at Dropship's counter finished their conversation and left the shop, so Hammer walked to the counter and exchanged a friendly nod with Dropship.
"Hey, Cass, got your message," Hammer said.
"Good to see you Ed," replied Dropship, as old friends they were on first name terms. "Got a job for you," Dropship continued as he rang up Hammer's items on his old fashioned till.
Hammer noted the total and handed over the credits. "Yeah? What is it?," he asked.
"Well, let me finish explaining before you get riled up," Dropship began; "There's this Dr Strickland who wants a guide and guard to take him to Vesta so he can do a study of one of the apex predators there. Apparently, the guy's a complete arse - petty, vindictive and complains more than a bankrupt businessman ..."
"Then why the hell would I take the job?" interrupted Hammer incredulously.
"I said let me finish!" Dropship said loudly. "We're friends ain't we? I wouldn't steer a bum job like this your way if there wasn't a good reason would I?"
"No. No, you wouldn't," Hammer agreed calming down. "So why are you?"
"Well, the paper he published before his last one was called 'A Study of Contempary Clan Arata Politics'," revealed Dropship. "Seems the guy has a doctorate in modern politics as well as xenobiology. The paper was sponsored by the Arata so there's nothing new in it, but I'll bet he knows a place where you can find something ..."
"And all I'll need to do is sweet-talk it out of him," finished Hammer looking at his friend smiling; "Thank-you my friend!"
"The chip has his location, a copy of his paper and everything I could find on him, as usual," Dropship said and handed the datachip to Hammer.
Reach a Milestone: background vow "I will find the traitor who destroyed our Clan" : this is Hammer's first lead, so merits a tick; progress now 1 / 40
I was unsure whether Hammer would swear his vow to Dropship or Dr Strickland, having established a precedent by swearing to Prof Doyce. Then I thought that as Dropship's role is 'mercenary broker' he would be the escrow holder for this job, so Hammer swears the vow to Dropship
Swear an Iron Vow: formidable, "I will take Strickland to Vesta and bring him back to Lodurr" : roll +heart +1 connection : 3 +2 +1 vs 7 & 7 : miss with match
Burn momentum (reset to 2) : action total now 10 vs 7 & 7 : strong hit with a match
* it is clear what you must do next
* +2 momentum, now 4
* set Courier asset safety to 5
* the match - I'll use that in the next move
Develop Your Relationship: getting this lead is a big deal for Hammer, and Dropship is already his best (only?) friend; combining that with the hit with a match above, I'll mark progress twice on the connection with Dropship, making it 4 / 10
Hammer pulled out the piece of black iron that hung on a chain around his neck and held it in his right hand.
"I swear that I will take Strickland to Vesta for his study and bring him back to Lodurr."
"That's done then Ed," Dropship said with the appropriate solemnity. "I'll get your stuff delivered to Retribution."
"Thanks Cass," Hammer shook hands and walked to the door. "I'll be in touch," he said and left the shop.
* * * * * * *
Back aboard Retribution, Hammer sent his standard introductory message amended for the contract to Dr Strickland and busied himself stowing the supplies from Dropship as he waited for the reply.
Before long it came; Strickland proposed coming to the ship directly and leaving as soon as possible. Hammer had nothing to keep him on Bulwark, so his response confirmed acceptance and he prepared Retribution for departure.
Strickland arrived and buzzed to come aboard, but Hammer checked him out through the vidcams first. He had two other men with him - obviously guards - and a grav sled with a stack of gear on it. There was something odd about the men, but Hammer couldn't determine exaclty what it was through the camera, so he buzzed the intercom.
"Dr Strickland?" he asked.
"Yes that's me," came the reply.
"I'll open the cargo hold," announced Hammer and he made his way to the back of the ship and opened the hold door.
Character rolls for Dr Strickland: I say rolls, but as I'd already defined him in the narrative, I made appropriate choices; first look - immaculate + proud; initial disposition - prickly; roles - xenozoologist + scholar; goal - educate others
Strickland and his guards were there waiting, so Hammer stood aside and waved them aboard. They secured the grav sled firmly in the hold and then Hammer escorted them up to the staterooms.
"They will share a room," Strickland said indicating his guards as they traversed the corridor.
"Very well," said Hammer somewhat surprised. "I can reconfigure the double bed to bunks if you wish?"
"That is ... unnecessary," replied Strickland. "Their kind do not use beds in the same way as humans."
Hammer stopped and looked directly at the guards. There was definitely something ... wrong with their appearance - their features had a decided animal look. "Their kind?" he asked, uncomfortable talking about them as if they were not there.
"May I?" asked Strickland rhetorically as he reached past Hammer and opened the stateroom door. "Go in there and stay until I call you," he instructed his guards. They obediently entered the stateroom and Strickland closed the door. "Yes, they are Moreaus," he answered Hammer, "Specifically dog Moreaus - quite expensive but very, very loyal and capable combatants. Will this be my room?" he asked indicating the room opposite the one he had installed his guards in.
"Yes," Hammer told him. "What is a Moreau?" he asked as Strickland opened his room.