Fallout: Sunshine Wasteland (Soru)

[jondude]

Getting up quickly you head down stairs toward the bar, soon passing by another woman with dirty blonde hair who was heading up the stairs and to her room. You two exchange quick glances, but otherwise she keeps going her own way, not at all aware of your peaking.

Heading downstairs the bar is still fairly active, though seems to be winding down. The same bald handlebared mustache man is behind the bar counter, serving a drink a pair of regular unchanged people sitting on the end. Inside the bar, a group appears to be playing pool and another group playing poker, while a few other tables are occupied by small groups of friends simple socializing and drinking. Somewhat curiously you see a canine anthro girl you recognize from the convoy, though you never ended up talking too, serving drinks. Dressed in a simple tank top and tight short shorts its pretty clear like many she was just trying to make a few extra caps tonight to help recoup from the losses of losing all her gear on the road. You suppose if you really needed to or wanted too, you could consider such work in the future.

Alternatively though you could just head to the bar and get a snack or something. Maybe you could ask the bartender where he got a dog such as Kane?

[Soru]

Joy gives a quick glance to the woman she passes by but keeps going and tries to calm her heated up body a bit. Down in the bar she looks around, seeing people playing games or just socializing and all just enjoying themselves. It was a bit nicer than most bars she's been too, usually full of drunks causing trouble. She then spots a canine girl serving drinks and Joy recognizes her from the caravan but she doesn't recall ever talking to her before. The canine girl is probably working for extra caps, probably to replace lost gear, and Joy remembers the many times she's done odd jobs when she couldn't find good salvage to sell and jobs she could handle. Sure there's always job to kill mutant creatures but she was manly a scavenger, not an exterminator.

After looking around a bit she goes to the bar and sits down, now in more proper clothes and not a tiny bikini. "Hey, can I get some snacks please?" She asked the bartender as she sat down. Once he told her what was available and orders she asks him, "Hey, where did that dog come from? Kane, right? He seems... a bit weird for a place like this."

[jondude]

"Sure, we don't have a ton of variety but I do have a few things.", The bartender says, handing a little menu to peruse. Looking at it has some decent options though, such as fried pickles, or nachos with salsa. There was also pre-war stuff, such as freeze dried fruits or sealed potato chips.

Asking about Kane though the Bartender let's out a little wistful sigh, but rather then sad seems like he's recalling a rather good memory. "Truth be told I took him in from a similar group from what happened to yourselves. A little over five years ago now though. Was one of the very first kidnapped and transformed trade convoys those vault folks took, back when we suspect they hadn't nailed down their process yet. In those days some people were transformed and others only slightly, getting only ears and a tail and such. If you were lucky you might not be notably different at all. At the same time though, sometimes people would disappear from those convoys entirely. Failed experiments is the going theory to explain those.

"Anyway though, Kane was with them. Shivering and terrified despite being a rather big dog. He fits in well here though. Certainly is a... draw of his own... makes a little envious sometimes.", The bartender then says, very much implying he knows what a lot of his female customers like to do with Kane.

[Soru]

"Hmm... I'll try the nachos and then a bag of potato chips to munch on later." Joy orders before handing him back the menu. "Good selection, by the way. It's rare to find the selection I've been seeing in this town." She comments before the bartender tells her about Kane.

After hearing the story Joy wonders a couple things... Kane reminded her of the dogs that were used to... 'test' her when she was first transformed. Considering how... bold he is towards women maybe he was from the vault and also used to 'test' other transformed women. It was the only thing that made sense to her off the top of her head and would explain how skilled he was at pleasuring women. "I see..." Blushing lightly as the bartended seemed to know about Kane's antics. "Honestly can't see Kane looking terrified with his size and how... friendly he seems to be. At least he seems happy here now."

When Joy gets her food she decides to stay sitting at the bar, lightly snacking on her nachos and simply just enjoying her food. If nothing else happens by the time she finishes eating she plans to take her chips back to her room and get ready for bed.

[jondude]

"Thanks. We have decent options being on a major trade route here, even despite the danger. Though the selection might dry up if this vaulters keep scaring even from the highway. For now though things seem to holding...", the bartender explains as compliment the selection. He gives you the potato chips right away, while he starts putting together a few things for the nachos behind the counter, throwing chips onto a tray before opening a fridge and getting what appears to be already cooked containers of meat and along with some cheese and sprinkling it on top to make the nachos. As you comment about struggling to imagine Kane all scared, he puts the tray of nachos into an oven.

"Yeah believe it or not, he was though. Awfully skittish dog back then. Rather clumsy too. Sometimes he'd got spooked and and he'd be scrambling all over like he forgot how to run or something!", the man explains, chuckling a little at some memory.

Int Roll:

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

18+ 1 = 19

Those are all some very curious choice of words. Kane had been scared after a vault attack, and seemed very clumsy, as if unused to his body. Given that this all happened back when these transforming raids first happened it's possible that he could just be from the vault. But could it be... could he be an experiment that instead went to far?

As your nachos are place in front of you you can't help but dwell on that a bit, munching away as your lost in thought. During this time nothing else really happens at the bar, so you pay the ten caps or so for the food and head back to your room, ready to get some decent sleep.

[Soru]

When hearing a bit more about Kane, certain words made something click in her head... He was found from around the time shortly after the vaulters began transforming people and didn't have the process down yet... The Bartender mentioned that some only had ears and/or tails... What if it went the opposite way, going too far. Is Kane... A person turned into a dog?! The thought alone made her feel a bit sick... but it did make a lot of sense if it was true. Maybe if she encounters Kane later on she might be able to test that theory of hers... At least something to keep in mind.

"Thanks for the food." She told the bartender once she finished her nachos before she heads back to her room, ready to get some sleep and push those thoughts away for now. Once in her room she strips off her shorts and shirt before deciding to also take off the bikini and sleep naked in the bed; it looked clean enough for her to sleep naked in it. Once under the covers she closes her eyes and tries to sleep after such a long day.

[jondude]

The bartender nods when you thank him for the food, but you pay the man ten caps or so for the food before heading back to your room to head to bed. Somewhat mercifully as you pass the shower room you don't hear any moaning anymore, though the shower was still running so it seemed like that raven haired girl was actually cleaning herself now.

In your room you lock the door then strip down, sighing happily as you lay down on a clean bed that was relatively soft and comfortable compared to most of the sleeping arrangements you had out while scavenging for look out in the wastelands. You slip into the covers, lay your head down on the pillows, and find sleep claims you within minutes. After all the physical activity of today, you're not shocked sleep finds you so readily.

Somewhat mercifully, your sleep is dreamless and uneventful. You do sleep for nearly ten hours though, and quite deeply! When you awake at first light you feel wonderfully refreshed and find yourself feeling fantastic, as if you can take on the world!

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

level up!
Choose one SPECIAL stat and gain a +1

Pick a perk! Either a pre-existing one from any fallout game, or make one up a reasonable one yourself.

[Soru]

With everything that's happened to her today it only takes minutes before she falls asleep. Thankfully for her Joy's sleep is dreamless, no lewd dreams to make her toss and turn through the night, and ends up sleeping a bit late too. When she awakens she yawns and stretches a bit before checking the clock on the wall to see that she's slept for around ten hours. It's been a while since she's had such a deep sleep. She felt the benefits of such sleep too as she feels rather well rested, ready to take on the day!

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

I don't quite recall what perks she had so hopefully this one isn't the same

New Perk: Sex Appeal - Her body's sexy curves and large assets draws eyes and makes convincing others easier. When trying to barter or persuade gain a bonus towards success but also increases odds of being asked for sexual favors.

She dresses herself in her new clothes and gets her gear together before heading out, ready to get her day started. She had time before she meets with Liam at noon and then Devin's party later in the day. Joy remembers the notice board and decides to check it out, seeing if the radstag request is still there or if there was anything else new that she can get done before meeting up with Liam.

[jondude]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Amusingly, that basically is the same as one of the two you have already. You can see your perks on the first post/front page on your character sheet there! If you want, I can modify that one a little to include everything rather then just beasts. That being said though, I'll need you to think of something else for your new perk.

And don't forget to give me a special stat you'd like to increase by 1!

You get dressed in your still somewhat skimpy clothes, but given the ordeals of the last few days it feels rather conservative given to what you had to work with in the mean time. You sling on your pack, check your weapons, and then head out, eager to make some more money!

Heading over to that notice board from yesterday, the scene is much the same before with a bunch of people examining all the various notices. You look for the one you recall about the rad stag, and for a moment find yourself slightly disappointed as it seems to be missing, but soon discover why as you find a newly updated notice it! It seems the reward has gone up from 300 to now 500 caps! That's seems like a crazy amount to hunt a rad stag, so there had to be some kind of catch to it for sure. The notice says you should talk Miss Julia Kholer, who was a big horner rancher about a mile to the north east from here for extra details.

[Soru]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

I did take a look and thought mine might have been different enough but you can modify the original one so it sort of fits the one I made.

New Perk: Scavenger - Due to her many years being a scavenger, Joy is better at finding valuable or useful things, whether from containers, piles of scrap, old machinery, or corpses. Higher chance for more loot from containers or enemies.

+1 to Intelligence.

When she arrives at the board the sight was pretty much the same from yesterday, people examining it and covered with various jobs and information. As she looks it over she finds the radstag one again, though notices it's not the same from before as it looks newer. She finds out why as the reward has increased by 200 caps! Now Joy wanted to know about the job out of curiosity over the reward because how could someone be willing to pay that much for just a radstag? If it was a yao guai or something around the same size and threat she would understand but even when hostile radstags are still not as much as a threat. Reading the details she starts to head up to the ranch in the northeast to see just what the catch was with this radstag.

[jondude]

More then a little curious about this mysterious radstag problem who you head out to the aforementioned ranch to see what the big deal about it was. Luckily the walk there from town is uneventful given that it wasn't all that far, and with the area being fairly urban means there is plenty of roads to use even if most of the buildings are not collapsed or completely dilapidated. When you get to the ranch you see what actually seems to be a few newly, or least relatively new, constructed buildings using salvaged materials, consisting of a decent sized farmhouse, a what appears to be a couple barns and a few sheds. Meanwhile around it is a large grassy field that seems to be come from the cleared remains of nearly a whole neighborhood block! It strikes you like that must've been a lot of work, but then again if a family had been living here for many years then you suppose it makes sense. In the fields you spot several dozen bighorners, and get the impression it must be a rather successful ranch. It makes you understand how they could afford the reward money, if not why they needed help with a radstag of all things.

Heading to the farm house you see what appears to be a couple women on the porch enjoying a casual breakfast, both unchanged humans and sporting long brown hair. They notice you quickly enough and jump up, and while one makes a motion to hold a nearby rifle she makes no move to point at you. It appears they were just being cautious, which was just smart. "Oh! Um, hi! Good morning!", the older looking of the two women says. "I suppose you're here about the radstag flyer?", she tentatively asks. It seems she doesn't seem all that perturbed by your appearance, which makes sense given the situation with the transforming vault was been ongoing for a few years now.

[Soru]

Luckily for Joy the walk was rather short and she was able to just stick to the old urban roads to get there. Looking around she notices that the buildings weren't that old, some looking that they were only put up recently. She looks at the bighorners, watching them in their big open field. It was rare to see a farm for animals this big Joy notes as she marvels a bit at the size. "Must get a lot of business to have such a big farm... Guess that's how they can pay so much for a radstag." She continues on after looking around for a bit and finds herself approaching what she assumed to be the main farmhouse.

As she approaches she notices the two women on the porch and waves but stops when she sees one pick up the rifle. "G-Good morning." She replied slightly nervously though luckily the rifle wasn't being pointed at her so she continues walking up to them. "Yes, I'm here about it. While I do intend to take the job I'm here out of curiosity mostly. A radstag isn't exactly something most people would seek help handling, and not for the reward you're offering. So tell me about this radstag."

[jondude]

"Oh it's more then a little abnormal this radstag. That's for certain.", The woman holding onto the rifle says. Seeing that you come in peace though she leans it back up against the wall near the door to their house. "Our grand mother seems to think it's super natural. She's taken to calling it the Spirit of the Grove even.", she adds.

"But yeah. Your assumptions are correct. This radstag is very abnormal. Not only is it, like, huge it is also bizarrely stealthy. Down right ghost like even.", the other girl says. "It seems to hang out in a swampy mangrove tree copse near the property, and it's very territorial. It's killed 3 of our bulls already. Normally a bighorner bull should completely crush a radstag, but not this sucker. He's like... 5 times bigger then he has any right to be."

Well... that is certainly a little peculiar. Radiation to mess with critters in all sorts of wacky ways though.

A sudden loud explosion suddenly rings out, making you and the two women flinch as you look toward the source of the noise. Approximately a mile away you see a sudden plume of fire and smoke. "Well... as much as it might suck that you came out here for nothing miss, god willing mom just killed it right now with her trap. She told us to guard the house today, and we don't make mom mad, but if you go to the smoke plume you should find our mom Julia. At the very least if you could check is she's okay we'll get you lunch or something.", the first girl then asks.

[Soru]

"Spirit of the Grove?" Joy has come across many rumors of supernatural things, such as short grey aliens from space and and this one office building where people have seen visions... Dunwich or something? She doesn't quite recall. Joy didn't really believe in the supernatural and brushed it off as either people high on chems or drunk or some new mutation from radiation. Granted she did avoid those areas as clearly there might be something there that is dangerous. However this Radstag at least is real from what these women say. Though to be big enough to take down a bighorner and somehow be stealthy... If true it definitely very abnormal like they say.

Suddenly an explosion rings out and Joy immediately ducks down and pulls out her rifle, thinking they were under attack. However seeing the reaction from the other two women told her this was not too unexpected. "You guys set explosives to kill a radstag?! Well... if it's as big as you say then maybe it is necessary... Still I will go check it out." She said before she heads towards where the smoke is. While it might suck to have missed out on the reward she wasn't too against someone else taking this strange radstag out first.

[jondude]

"Like we said... it's no normal radstag. Appreciate your help.", one of the girls says as you pull out your rifle and head out toward the smoke is. As you go though you can't help but take note of the worried looks on the girls' faces. You suppose it's only natural given that seemed like a big explosion and their mother was the one that set it off.

You find a gate in the fence line and head in, a few bighorners grazing on the yellowish grasses in the distance. The distance is far enough that it takes you about five minutes of walking to get the site of the explosion, passing a few bighorners shuffling away as you go over the small rolling hills of the ranch's grazing field. Finally though you come to the crest of a hill and come across what what appears to be a sort of hunting blind. A simple camouflage net, set up on sticks, a couple of boxes and a set of binoculars. The blind over looks a sort of small valley between the hills, leading down ward to what appears to be one of Florida's many swampy estuaries and a decent source of water for the ranch, if likely not the cleanest. In that valley is a small blackened crater where all the smoke is coming from, but there was no immediate sign of any radstag anywhere.

Nor, however, did their seem to be any sign of this woman Julia.

[Soru]

Before she leaves she notices the worried look on their faces and hopes that it isn't a bad sign. Following the smoke she ends up walking for several minutes before she finds herself at the crest of a hill and some sort of camouflage set up. She remembers these being called hunting blinds from a time when she was helping some hunters for some quick caps. Looking past the blind she sees the valley and the swamp areas below before spotting the small crater where the smoke was coming from.

She heads own to it, not seeing the Radstag anywhere nor the woman she was trying to find. "Well... I don't see any body parts or blood so good news is Julia didn't get caught in the blast. Bad news, the Radstag is probably not dead..." With her hunting rifle held ready in her hands she starts looking around for Julia.

[jondude]

PER Roll: 2 + 1 = 3

Checking around the area you try piece together a picture of what might have happened here over the few minutes it took you to get here. You do notice some obvious things, such as the lack of a radstag corpse or a human woman, nor chunks there of. You can't even find any blood, so it seems unlikely anyone got hurt... so what set the explosive trap off? You check around the crater, and while were you a pretty good scavenger you're not exactly a bomb specialist. The explosion was big enough that you can't determine how it may have functioned at all, it's pieces firmly blasted to bits.

Looking around you decide to see if you can spot any tracks, but as you walk around you are also reminded your not exactly a hunter by trade either. Their are hoof marks everywhere, most of which are probably from bighorners. You sigh, knowing that trying to differentiate different styles of hooves would be a little difficult, but surely if you looked hard enough you could figure it out. It just had the to be the tracks that were the most different right? Surely a a huge radstags would stand out after a while?

A little easier said then done, but you do manage eventually. It nearly takes you five minutes, but soon you spot some unique tracks going around the far edge of the clearing, far away from the crater. You follow them, and they lead toward the blind, where you do notice some deeper imprints in the grass near it. Then they go back toward the swamp, along with some drag marks. Slightly further along though you notice year appears to be the torn remains of a simple cloth shirt of some kind, and further along still, some leather strips.

All in all, it seems the tracks disappear into the swampy area... hardly the most fun place to go, but you can spot more tracks on small higher spots of land between the shallow water ways.

[Soru]

Joy sighs and scratches her head; despite being part dog now didn't mean she became any better at tracking as she didn't really know how to use her heightened senses of hearing or smell to track. Checking the smoking crater she had no idea how the explosion functioned. Was it a proximity mine or a remote explosive? She had no idea. Then she tries to look for tracks but sees all kinds of hoof marks. "Right... this is a bighorn ranch after all..." She mutters as she just sees a bunch of different tracks all around.

Just when she was about to give up she finds some tracks that looked different than the others, a the shape and spacing slightly different but enough for her to notice. She follows the tracks and finds that it goes around, away from the crater and then back to the blind. She was starting to piece some things together... Did whatever this creature was actually go around and find the hunting blind? Then she notices the drag marks and then further down torn bits of cloth and leather strips. Did... Julia get snuck up on and dragged away? Joy wasn't sure but without any other clues she begins following the tracks and drag marks, going into the swampy area. "Ugh, really don't want to go in there..." With a sigh she ventures forward, trying to stay on the dryer land that was above the water whenever she could.