Wednesday, June 16, 2021

A Nemesis for Rex - The City at the Edge of the Universe, Chapter 6

The tiny caravan of two four-by-four pickups and a Mercedes van drove east towards Buck's Head and turned left towards Gerard Air Force Base. It was just after midnight. Rex's pickup developed engine trouble as they crossed the railroad tracks before the turn to the air force base. Rex pulled off and told the others he might be a while fixing this. They should go on and he'd catch up at the trading post.

The remaining two vehicles turned left on the county road and drove through the forest towards Lake Wilma. At the next intersection they found a pickup. It had been shot by lasers and exploded, parts lay everywhere. There was a man lying in the road unconscious. They stopped a few dozen feet back and advanced cautiously, weapons out, in case it was a trap.

Scout reached the man. The decal on the what was left of the side of his truck said "Allen Poulson, General Contractor". He was alive but in bad shape. Scout gave him first aid but it wasn't going to be enough. The man had serious injuries - broken legs and arms and possibly other. Plus it was near zero degrees outside. He wouldn't survive. They made a makeshift stretcher and put him in the back of the truck.

They reached the edge of the forest from Earth-Prime and crossed over into the desert of Earth-25. It was a fifty mile trip through rugged terrain at night. They weren't taking chances, driving no faster than 3-5 miles per hour. This would take a while.

Chapter 6 - A Nemesis for Rex

What follows is a play-through of an adventure scenario I'm writing for Overlords of Dimension-25. The scenario is a survival hex-crawl where the player characters and their entire town are transported to a strange new dimension, only to be attacked by armored invaders intent on rounding up the townsfolk for a mysterious and nefarious purpose.

This week, the team rescues Rex's old nemesis - Allen Poulson - who turns out to be kind of a jerk!

Dramatis Personae

Officer Bocephus "J.T." Tucker - Williamsburg police department - Level 2 Warrior
Rex Werthy - construction worker - Level 3 Engineer
Professor Thadeus Putnam - retired professor of anthropology - Level 2 Expert
Felix Silla-Rossi - 15 year-old juvenile delinquent - Level 2 Rogue
Scout Thomas - 16 year-old outdoorsman and YouTube personality - Level 2 Scout
Officer Steve - a German Shepherd, Officer Tucker's partner.
Vera - retired nurse - NPC
Mabel - Professor Putnam's elderly housekeeper - NPC
Ivana Soraya - elementary school teacher - NPC
Auguste Kristijan - locksmith - NPC
Qarma Blaze - teenager and retail sales clerk - NPC
Farah Subhash - retired truck driver - NPC
Alan Poulson - general contractor - NPC

Are We There Yet?

The truck and the van drove through the night, crossing difficult hilly terrain strewn with boulders and gullies. By dawn they were still only halfway to their destination - the Wasteland Trading Post.

Alan Poulson regained consciousness. The caravan stopped to check on him. He thanked them for saving him but immediately demanded to be taken back into town - there was something there he needed to retrieve. Scout told him that was impossible and that they were headed somewhere safe. Alan was dissatisfied with that answer and complained the rest of the trip.

A few hours outside of the Wasteland Trading Post, Felix caught sight of a wrecked vehicle - it was the size of a small house! Parts and debris were strewn all around it. Felix pointed it out to Officer Tucker and they diverted towards the wreck. Once they were about 800 feet out a lone humanoid figure - a woman - jumped up on top of the wreck and pointed a rifle at them. A laser beam flashed through the air from her rifle, striking the ground in front of Officer Tucker's truck. Felix readied his hunting rifle to return fire. Officer Tucker stopped and turned. Felix said, "We're not going to fight?"

"No, she's defending her salvage. We have no problem with her. She can have it."

They drove past. Felix waved at the woman. She watched them warily but eventually gave a hesitant wave in return. Felix, emboldened, gave her a thumbs up. She returned the gesture. This made Felix smile.

They arrived at the trading post at around 4 in the afternoon. The cold January sun was setting in the west beneath a hazy orange sky. To their surprise, Rex was waiting there to greet them.

"What took you so long?" he asked.

"How did you get here before us?" countered Tucker.

"I was in a 4x4 so I decided to pick up the pace. I got here like eight hours ago!"

"We've got the van. It's not made for off-road so we took it more slowly."

DM- The Overland Turns are eight hours long. A vehicle can Creep at 6mph (3mph in the hills) or Drive at 12mph (6 mph in the hills). Creeping is slower but the Driving skill roll is Easy. However, because of the slow pace, you'll have to make two rolls. Driving is faster but the Driving skill roll is Average. The faster pace meant Rex only had to make one roll.

Wasteland Trading Post

Qarma, the teenager rescued from Williamsburg on the previous night, saw the green-furred gorilla-hybrids guarding the entrance and became frozen with fear. When Rex and Vera took Alan Poulson's stretcher into the five story partially-disassembled rocket parked in the center of a large crater, her eyes grew wide and she began to stammer. When the purple-furred monkey-man came bounding out to greet them, she screamed and fainted.

Rex helped carry Alan Poulson to the field hospital inside the old rocket. Vera came down to help. Vera was a retired nurse and had decided to help earn her keep at the trading post by working for Brigid at the field hospital.

Rex and Alan went way back. They were both general contractors and were professional rivals. Rex had a very low opinion of Alan's work ethic.

Alan rolled his eyes, "Great. You escaped too. How did an idiot like you manage that?"

Rex said, "Nice to see you too. I managed to escape with the help of my friends, the ones who rescued your sorry ass."

"Where are you taking me?"

"To a doctor. She'll be able to fix your broken arms and legs. She's not free, though. What do you have to trade?"

Alan was confused, "What are you talking about? I have insurance? I can afford it, unlike you."

"Nope. Not any more. It doesn't work like that here. Don't worry about it. I'll cover you."

"I don't want your goddamned charity, Werthy."

"Too bad. I said don't worry about it. I'll cover you."

Shopping: the Role-Playing Game

Scout and Officer Tucker introduced the new arrivals to the Wasteland Trading Post. They took their newly acquired loot - 50 cartons of cigarettes, 125 bottles of alcohol at various levels of consumption, a month of coffee, some tea - to Mister Kubera's Curios and Knick-Knacks. Mister Kubera was a diminutive human, bald with a rotund belly, "Ah! Welcome back!" he said with a voice that dripped with honey and decadence, "What strange delicacy have you brought for me today?"

Scout and Tucker explained that nothing was free. This trading post functioned on barter. You bring in items and if one of the six shop owners buys it, you get credit that you can use at any or all of the other shops. Mister Kubera paid extra credits for vices and delicacies - alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, etc. This current haul from yesterday's trip into Buck's Head and Williamsburg netted them a staggering haul: 19,565 credits!

Scout and Officer Tucker had Mister Kubera split the scrip five ways - 3913 credits each!

Their first stop was to Brigid's Medical Services to give Rex his share. Rex immediately paid to have Brigid use her auto-surgeon to repair Alan Poulson's broken bones.

Scout, Tucker, and Rex next visited Sobeki's Arms and Armor. Sobeki had in his collection two suits of what looked like armor for an ancient knight. Sobeki explained that they were battle-suits - not merely suits of armor but powered exoskeletons that supported their own weight and could integrate with smart-suit accessories. Officer Tucker and Rex both purchased their own suit.

DM - The Wasteland Trading Post allows player characters to purchase any item from the Wasteland Scavenging Table. Roll d100. If the roll is less than the item's Availability rating, it is in stock for that day and can be purchased. Once someone fails a roll, that's it. No more of that item is in stock.

Item	Availability	Cost
Agricultural Equipment	60%	50
Alcohol, Bottle	60%	150
Backpack	80%	50
Battle Armor	40%	2500
Bio-Fuel Still	20%	3000
Bioscanner	30%	400
Body Armor, Light	90%	250
Bolt Gun	25%	250
Breather Helmet	2%	40
Camp Light	60%	30
Canteen	80%	1
Carry all	80%	10
Coffee, Preserved, 1 month	80%	100
Crawler	30%	50
Crossbow	40%	100
Cutlass	60%	100
Cutters	80%	20
Cutting Torch, Hand-held	10%	60
Dagger	80%	15
Dart	70%	15
Digging tools (5)	80%	40
Educational Computer	5%	500
Emergency Distress Beacon	20%	500
Entrenching Tool	40%	5
Fire Extinguisher	25%	10
Flier	5%	35000
Flight Pod	15%	15000
Floodlight	25%	15000
Food, Preserved, 1 meal	75%	5
Food, Preserved, 1 month	35%	120
Force Field	20%	900
Garments, 1 container	60%	50
Gillmask	60%	200
Goggles	75%	2
Grenade	50%	50
Grenade Launcher	45%	500
Grenade, Aerosol Mist	5%	50
Hand Light	60%	2
Heat Gun	20%	400
Heavy Gloves	70%	2
Hoverchair	15%	1500
Ice axe	75%	20
Jetcar	2%	20000
Knife	90%	10
Laser Gun	15%	300
Laser Rifle	10%	600
Laser Saw	25%	600
Load Lifter	25%	250
Locator	25%	70
Macroglasses	35%	150
Magnetic Keycard	45%	100
Mess Kit	65%	5
Microwave Gun	10%	350
Mono Knife	25%	200
Mono Sword	20%	2000
Needle Gun	35%	200
Net	60%	20
Night Vision Goggles	25%	50
Personal Communicator	40%	10
Personal Computer	35%	200
Personal Scooter	55%	200
Plasma Thrower	25%	800
Plasma Welder	25%	800
Plastic Crate	65%	2
Pole arm	75%	120
Power Generator	15%	600
Powerpack Charger	20%	200
Pressurized Tent	65%	250
Projector	55%	250
Rations, 1 week	75%	30
Remote Control	50%	30
Rocket Harness	60%	1000
Rocket Launcher	50%	1000
Rocket Pistol	40%	400
Rocket Rifle	30%	500
Rope, 50 ft	75%	25
Security Locker	85%	50
Shell, Aerosol Mist (5)	5%	50
Shells, Chaff (5)	5%	50
Signal Scrambler	55%	200
Sleeping Bag	60%	100
Small back-hoe	45%	500
Smartsuit	60%	1000
Snow Shoes	75%	30
Sonic Stunner	40%	300
Sports Ball	50%	5
Steel Cable, 100ft	80%	50
Swim Fins	65%	60
Sword	75%	150
Tarpaulin	65%	5
Technical Scanner	50%	500
Technical Tools	40%	150
Timer	30%	150
Tracer	25%	50
Traffic Regulator	65%	5
Translator	45%	40
Velocipede	55%	40
Watchbox	40%	400
Water, 10-gallon Container	20%	20
Water, 5-gallon Container	90%	10

In Roll20, each player typed what item they were rolling for. That kept it honest.

This created a fun little mini-game as the players went shopping. It also led to a little rule whereby a player could not ask me what an item was or did if it wasn't in stock. So a lot of rolls were just to see if one was in stock or not.

Officer Bocephus J.T. Tucker: Rolling for Battle Armor = 26
Rex Werthy: Rolling for Battle Armour = 12
Felix: Rolling for Monotread = 55
Rex Werthy: NOICE!
Felix: Rolling for tech scanner = 72
Rex Werthy: Rolling for a Powerpack Charger = 10
Felix: rolling for smart suit = 87
Rex Werthy: ALL - I have enough money left to buy a Small back hoe. Thoughts? : D
Prof. Thadeus Putnam: Smartsuit = 26
Rex Werthy: nice roll, Prof!
Prof. Thadeus Putnam: rolling for Night Vision Goggles = 35
Fail
rolling for Signal Scrambler = 74
Fail
Prof. Thadeus Putnam: rolling for smart suit Security Package 35 cr = 75
Fail
Scout: Spacesuit Enhancement
Scout: rolling d100 = 93
Rex Werthy: Rolling for Technical Tools
Rex Werthy: rolling d100 = 37
BOOOM SHAKALA!!!!!
Rex Werthy: I AM ON FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Scout: Backup Power Pack
Scout: rolling d100 = 73
Prof. Thadeus Putnam: Stealth Enhancement 25 cr = 26
Rex Werthy: Can't hit shit, but I can buy like a mutha fucker. : D
Scout: rolling d100 = 96
Electronic Warfare Enhancement = 97
Stealth Enhancement
Security Package = 9
Scout: Finally got one.
Communications Package = 27
Prof. Thadeus Putnam: Backup Power Pack 25 c = 68
No. Sigh
Officer Bocephus J.T. Tucker: Laser Gun = 27
Fail
Prof. Thadeus Putnam: Watchbox = 30
Felix: rolling for bio scanner = 38
Officer Bocephus J.T. Tucker: Grenade = 2
Officer Bocephus J.T. Tucker: Found one
Felix: rolling for macroglasses
Felix: rolling d100 = 57
Felix: rolling d100 = 10 = 47
Prof. Thadeus Putnam: Force Field = 97
Very much no
Heavy Gloves = 40
Officer Bocephus J.T. Tucker: Microwave Gun = 69
Fail
Felix: rolling twice for pressurized tent
Scout: Plasma Thrower = 60
Officer Bocephus J.T. Tucker: Plasma Thrower = 91
fail
Prof. Thadeus Putnam: Bioscanner = 59
Felix: rolling for night vision goggles = 11
Officer Bocephus J.T. Tucker: Rocket Pistol = 14

Qarma's Really Bad Day

Qarma had regained consciousness but she was still having a nightmare. For three days she had to hide in a dirty stinky building with three old women. That was gross enough. Then, two days ago, they were rescued and taken in some rusty trucks across a dirty smelly wasteland. Now she was in this decrepit place surrounded by weird monsters. GROSS!

Felix checked in on her, "Feeling better?"

"No. Yes. I guess. Whatever."

"Can I get you anything?"

"Ew. No. Not from this disgusting truck stop - whatever it is. Hey, aren't you that weird kid with the skateboard?"

Felix introduced himself.

"Whatever. Hey, what's the deal with that other kid. I've seen him around high school. Isn't he like famous or something?"

"Scout? Yeah, I think he has a online video channel or something."

She stared off towards Scout and Officer Tucker as they led the others towards the trading post, "Yeah. Scout, huh?"

Felix scrunched his nose. "Yeah. Okay. Whatever. I'll check on you again later."

Felix went to look at the old junker vehicles for sale in Mister Gibbon's lot. Mister Gibbons wiped grease form his simian hands with an old rag and spoke in an accent like he was from Brooklyn.

Felix saw a strange vehicle - like a motorcycle but instead of two wheels it had a single long caterpillar tread. "What is this?"

"You got a good eye, kid. That there's a mono-tread. An older model. I put it back together myself. I tell ya what. If you want it, I can part with it for, say, 1250 credits."

Felix's eyes grew wide. "It needs more cargo capacity. Can you bolt on some cargo boxes?"

"You got it kid! I'll have that ready by the morning."

"SOLD!" Felix handed over his scrip receipt.

Norah Fernandez

Another mono-tread entered the gate through the crater wall. It pulled up to Mister Gibbon's lot. It was the woman from the vehicle earlier.

"Hey there, Gremlin!" she said towards Mister Gibbons, "I need a re-charge."

Felix called out, "Hey! You're the lady!"

"What are you talking about, kid?"

"You're the lady on that big wreck earlier. I waved! You waved back!"

"Yeah, I remember. You were smart to keep driving."

"You drive a mono-tread, just like me!"

"I do?"

"Yeah!" He showed off his new acquisition. The woman winced, "Kid, you might want to get some fireproof pants before you ride that old thing."

"Hey! I'm sorry! What's your name?" blurted Felix.

She hesitated before answering, "Norah. Norah Fernandez."

"What planet are YOU from?"

She paused and gestured towards her ragged green and white tunic, as if the question was stupid and that answered everything.

"I don't get it" admitted Felix.

"I'm from Earth. UEA."

"What's a UEA?" asked Felix.

"How can you know know what the UEA is?"

"Uh, we're kind of from a different planet."

"Which planet?" inquired Norah incredulously.

Felix thought carefully about his reply, "Earth. But not this Earth."

"What?"

Felix tried his best to explain but lacked the words, "Hold on. Let me introduce you to the Professor. HE can tell you! Professor!"

Felix led Norah to their camp and introduced the rest of the refugees from Earth-Prime.

"Professor. Tell her what happened!"

Professor Putnam embarked upon a long-winded technical explanation of what had occurred to the town of Williamsburg and surrounding area, including speculation regarding the involvement of the nearby research base.

Norah did her best to follow but it was all just too much, "Yeah. Uh, that's some story. So, what's your plan now?"

Officer Tucker said, "We're not sure. We came back here with trade loot to equip ourselves. We heard that Mister Kubera's always looking to buy artifacts from the ruins. We figure we'd hit there next."

"So what's the UEA?" asked Felix.

Norah said, "The United Earth Administration. They run the domes - what's left of civilization on Earth." She looked off into the darkness and sniffed, "They're just a puppet set up by the Consortium."

"What's the Consortium?"

"You really ARE from a different Earth, aren't you? The Consortium is a massive corporation owned by the ruling family of Mars. They're a bunch of imperialist fascist -" She cut herself off. "Anyway. That's the Consoritum."

"So what happened here? To Earth, I mean?" inquired the Professor.

"Well, a long time ago the entire Solar System was ruled by the Terran Empire here on Earth. They controlled the hypergate network that linked all the planets. Mars didn't like that so they rebelled. The Empire and Mars fought a huge war. The Empire controlled the hypergates but Mars had developed rockets. About five hundred years ago, the war ended when Mars sent an entire swarm of interplanetary neutron bombs to Earth. The Earth was devastated. As a result, the hypergate network was shut down for everybody. Forever. It hasn't been up since."

"What are the domes?"

"The domes were built by Martian colonizers about two hundred years ago. Part of what they called Reconstruction and Reparations. They set up the UEA as the government. The UEA is nominally in charge of Earth but really the Consortium is in charge. The Consortium was given exclusive charter by the UEA to exploit Earth's resources. It grants them legitimacy. So the Consortium set up these huge mining operations and big complexes like the one near Manhattan Island."

"That's where they took our people." said Officer Tucker.

"They what?"

"Armored soldiers from the Consortium flew in the day after we arrived and started stunning everyone. They rounded everybody up. Somebody told us they were being taken to Manhattan Island Complex."

Norah looked concerned, "I’m not sure why they attacked you and took your people, but the fact that they were stunned means they want to capture you alive. I wonder if they want to study you for some reason. That means there’s a strong chance you’ll be able to rescue your friends and loved ones."

Rex said, "Yeah! That's what I've been saying! Let's go rescue them!"

Officer Tucker admonished him, "With what? A cop, a construction worker, a retired professor, two teenagers, and a few stragglers? Where would we go after that? We need to find a way home!"

Norah said, “Yeah, no offense, there’s no way you’re going to help them in your shape. You’re going to need friends and allies. If I were you, I’d stay as far away from the Consortium as possible. I wouldn't go near the domes either. They’re just the puppets of the Consortium. No, your best bet is to contact the Earth Resistance."

She paused to gauge their reaction. When they showed interest, she continued, "As it happens, I know someone who can help you out. I can introduce you. She’s a lady named Mack. She runs a hostel for exiles outside the ruins of Buffalo Springs. Hey, it’s a long way out of my way, but I’d be willing to take you there and introduce you. We can take off tomorrow.”

Officer Tucker narrowed his eyes, he could tell Norah was sincere but was also holding something back, "What's the charge?"

"No charge!"

Felix stood up, "Great! Sounds like a plan! Also - Hey, Scout! I think Qarma has the hots for you!"

Scout looked confused, "Uh, what?"

Qarma stormed out, "Ew! Gross!"

Buffalo Springs

That night, Rex was tinkering with modifying the Void-born translator they had purchased. He was trying to adapt it to translate Officer Steve into English! At one point he was able to translate Officer Steve's barks to the English word "Bark! Bark!" With some more tinkering he got it to "Woof! Woof!" Some more work got it to actually translate but all the words were backwards! He was SO CLOSE!

The next morning, the team assembled and packed their equipment into their vehicles. They were leaving the van behind with Vera and Mabel.

Alan, his legs and arms fully healed thanks to Brigid's futuristic autosurgeon, said that he was going back into Williamsburg. He had some things he needed to retrieve. Ivana, Auguste, and Farah decided to join him. Ivana wanted to sneak into the high school and find out more about where the townspeople were taken. Auguste wanted to sneak aboard a Consortium transport, if she could, and follow it back to wherever it took everyone. Farah, meanwhile, just wanted to kill some Martians.

Qarma was done with all this and ready to travel north with the expedition. Mabel would stay behind at the trading post with Vera and the van and the ATV.

DM- I created a new table to flesh out the townspeople better and give them more motivation. Players can use it for PCs also.

So now when they encounter a townsperson I roll on a few tables to find out what they did for a living, where they lived, how are they equipped, their disposition, and their goal/motivation. Suddenly the NPCs became much more interesting!

Where they lived:

1	Williamsburg - East Side Residential
2	Williamsburg - East Side Residential
3	Williamsburg - East Side Residential
4	Williamsburg - West Side Residential
5	Williamsburg - West Side Residential
6	Williamsburg - West Side Residential
7	Buck’s Head
8	Lake Wilma
9	Gerard Air Force Base
10	Rural Home

How are they equipped:

1	Unarmed
2	Unarmed
3	Unarmed
4	Unarmed
5	Unarmed
6	Unarmed
7	Unarmed
8	Unarmed
9	Club (1d4)
10	Club (1d4)
11	Knife (1d3)
12	Knife (1d3)
13	Revolver (1d8)
14	Revolver (1d8)
15	Rifle (2d6)
16	Rifle (2d6)
17	Shotgun (1d8)
18	Sawed-off shotgun (1d10)
19	Semiautomatic pistol (1d8)
20	Semiautomatic rifle (2d6)

Their disposition:

1	Panicked. At the first sign of trouble, this individual will freeze or collapse in fear. During any fight or any time the group is detected by Consortium forces they will neither fight nor flee. They freeze up, sometimes collapsing into a ball, sometimes screaming, sometimes crying or whimpering. Only an Etiquette skill check will spur them to action.
2	Wary. The individual is selfish and hesitant to help others. A Fast Talk/Convince skill check is required to get them to follow orders, help search, or carry gear.
3	Cooperative.The individual is friendly and cooperative. They will follow orders and help search or carry gear.
4	Gung ho. The individual is ready to take the fight to the Martians! Their loud and foolhardy disregard for stealth or caution increase the chance of detection each turn by +10%. The next time the group is detected, they will choose to fight. Only a Leadership skill test will convince them to do otherwise.
5	Traitorous. The individual will pretend to be cooperative but will try to betray the rest of the group at an opportune moment in order to steal a vehicle or piece of important equipment.
6	Despotic. The individual attempts to take control of the entire group. They expect their commands to be followed and will bully, intimidate, or attack anyone who does not comply. Other townspeople might choose to follow this individual. Only a Leadership skill test or sound thrashing will bring them into line.

Their goal/motivation

1	Capture and interrogate one of the invaders.
2	Get out of town as fast as possible - anywhere is safer than here!
3	Get to Gerard air force base, that’s where its safe!
4	Get to the hospital to rescue a sick loved one.
5	Get to the hospital to retrieve a prescription or important piece of medical equipment such as oxygen or brace.
6	Get to the Pennsylvania National Laboratory to confront the scientists and find out what’s going on.
7	Investigate the high school to find out what’s going on.
8	Raid the police station to obtain a firearm or vehicle.
9	Return home to rescue a loved one or pet.
10	Return home to retrieve a firearm or vehicle.
11	Return home to retrieve a photo album or photograph
12	Return home to retrieve a prescription or important piece of medical equipment such as oxygen or brace.
13	Return home to retrieve an heirloom or item of personal value.
14	Return home to retrieve an important document such as a deed, a birth certificate, or financial statements.
15	Return home to retrieve jewelry, gold, or a gemstone.
16	Set up a safe defensible shelter in an abandoned coal mine.
17	Set up a safe defensible shelter in an old hunting shack in the woods.
18	Shoot down or otherwise destroy a Consortium flier.
19	Sneak aboard a departing invader transport.
20	Steal something valuable from a location downtown.

The expedition set off north with Norah leading the way on her mono-tread. The two trucks followed with Felix on his mono-tread. Felix soon learned that his mono-tread was a lemon! The engine was missing entire parts and worked at only 25 percent power! On top of that, the steering was shot! Norah gave the others a radio frequency so everyone was able to communicate on the same channel.

The expedition drove out of the hills of the Iron Uplands and along the easier terrain for eight hours, covering about 50 miles.

They decided to stop early and set up a camp. Rex went to work making repairs to Felix's mono-tread. He would have to finish Officer Steve's translator later.

The next morning the expedition covered another 50 miles, travelling along the coast of what in Earth-Prime was called Lake Eerie, but Norah called it Lake Erielhonan. By 3 in the afternoon they were driving past the ruined city of Buffalo Springs.

In the distance they could see the twisted skeletons of ancient skyscrapers. The area pocked with massive craters. Norah turned right and led the expedition to a small collection of buildings.

Buffalo Springs Respite

Norah led them to a ramshackle structure constructed from scavenged concrete blocks and rusted metal sheets. A sign outside the establishment read “Buffalo Springs Respite - All are Welcome”. There were a variety of mounts and vehicles outside including 4 giant coyotes with saddles, 2 monotreads, and a hovercraft.

The expedition exited their vehicles and entered the respite. Within they found a saloon that was one part Old West and one part Post-Apocalypse. A half-dozen surly looking patrons sat quietly at their tables. The man behind the bar eyed them suspiciously as they entered. He looked just as surly and as road-weary as the others - covered in dust and sores, unshaven and wind-blown.

Norah asked the man, "Where's Mack?"

The man hesitated before replying, "Mack is sick today, so I'm covering for her."

Officer Tucker, Rex, Professor Putnam, Felix, and Scout stood just inside the door. Felix and Scout looked at each other nervously. Felix said, "Hey, Scout. Let's talk outside real quick."

They turned to leave but they found the exit blocked by another two burly travelers, each carrying a hand-stunner.

Norah backed away from the bartender, "Yeah, we'll come back later." She turned to leave.

The bartender pulled a hand-stunner from under the bar. Simultaneously, the other patrons all pulled stunners from under their tables.

The bartender said, "You're not going anywhere!"

To Be Continued...

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Officer Steve - The City at the Edge of the Universe, Chapter 5

The team was hiking west through the woods as they returned to the location where they stashed their truck. Ahead of them, thirty feet through the bare trees of January, they saw the light of a headlight - it was a Martian trooper!

Scout immediately turned off his flashlight, dropped low, and found cover behind a nearby tree. The Martian moved closer and used his stunner against Rex but missed. Felix fired a shot from his hunting rifle, striking the Martian in the chest. Scout followed with a short burst from his assault rifle. The Martian fell to the ground with two bullet holes in his armor.

They had killed their first Martian invader!

Chapter 5 - Officer Steve

This week, the team reunites with Officer Tucker and head downtown to the police station to rescue Officer Tucker's colleague, Officer Steve.

Dramatis Personae

Officer Bocephus "J.T." Tucker - Williamsburg police department - Level 1 Warrior
Rex Werthy - construction worker - Level 1 Engineer
Professor Thadeus Putnam - retired professor of anthropology - Level 1 Expert
Felix Silla-Rossi - 15 year-old juvenile delinquent - Level 1 Rogue
Scout Thomas - 16 year-old outdoorsman and YouTube personality - Level 1 Scout
Vera - elderly lady with a broken leg - NPC
Mabel - Professor Putnam's elderly housekeeper - NPC

Who's Kareem Abdul Jabar?

"Should we take his armor?" asked Scout.

"Are you Kareem Abdul Jabar?" asked Rex, "That guy's seven foot tall at least!"

"Who's Kareem Abdul Jabar?" asked the teenaged Scout.

"Never mind. Anyway, the armor has two bullet holes in it." said Rex.

Felix interrupted, "Hey, take his helmet and any radio it might be attached to. Maybe I can listen in on their radio chatter."

Rex looked at Felix, the juvenile delinquent, with incredulity, "What do you know about radios?"

"Yeah, what'd you do, watch Stranger Things and want to join the AV Club?" teased Scout.

"He used to listen to police broadcasts on his scanner to know what the cops were doing." said a voice from the darkness. It was Officer Tucker.

Felix smiled. Officer Tucker was right. "I know a lot about radios."

Rex grabbed one of the dead Martian's arms, "Alright. Officer Tucker, help me drag Andre the Giant here back to the truck. We can strip him there."

Professor Putnam picked up the hand weapon and examined it. It seemed to be some kind of sonic weapon.

Felix asked, "Anyone mind if I take the laser rifle?"

Rex looked at Officer Tucker. Officer Tucker shrugged, "Sure. Go for it."

"Sweet!"

Back to Town

The team took two trucks back to Williamsburg. It was 9pm at night. They parked a quarter mile east of town and walked to the industrial center. The Martian checkpoint that once blocked the highway in front of the industrial center was gone. Lights could be seen at the Martian camp to the south near the high school.

The industrial park consisted of a large structure made of corrugated steel and several smaller concrete structures. The large structure was home to a fully-equipped truck repair bay with a machine shop and parts warehouse. The smaller structures contained welding equipment, HVAC and water heating repair, a propane supply tank, a maintenance shop, and other small industrial applications.

They split up and each searched a different building. While searching a supply closet, Professor Putnam found four other survivors hiding within - all women.

Ivana Soraya, elementary school teacher
Auguste Kristijan, locksmith
Qarma Blaze, teenager and retail sales clerk
Farah Subhash, retiree

The team told them they were there to help. They shared food and water and offered to take them to the Wasteland Trading Post where it was safe. However, they had to stop off at the police department first.

Self Storage

The group, along with their four new members, crossed the highway and entered the self-storage facility. The local self storage facility consisted of a dozen buildings, each subdivided into ten storage garages. The facility was surrounded by a security fence topped by razor wire that been previously breached by the Martians.

Rex said, "The units are locked with padlocks."

Felix smiled and said, "I got this." He produced a small palm-sized device with a trigger. He inserted one end into a padlock, pulled the trigger a few times, and the lock opened.

Rex hissed, "Where'd you get that!"

Felix smiled, "Back at the Industrial complex! Pretty cool, huh?"

A quick search of a few units turned up some old electronics, one unit contained a ghillie suit and a rifle suppressor, a new Mercedes Sprinter van, a stockpile of canned and preserved food, and a bunch of boxes filled with dirty towels. They put everything they were carrying into the van.

As the team, accompanied by their new recruits, crossed the highway interchange past the bank and convenience store, a helmet-mounted spotlight caught them accompanied by the amplified voice of a Martian, "Stop! Surrender!" They took off running towards the northwest and didn't stop until they were out of sight and on the railroad tracks.

They took the railroad track south and cut back east towards downtown. As they hiked along the tracks, Felix fiddled with the Martian's helmet radio in order to listen in on Martian radio traffic. As he did so, he accidentally deleted all its channels. It would need to be reprogramed.

DM- He rolled a critical failure on his Radio Operations skill check.

The Police Station

The police station was located in the first floor of the city management building one block east of downtown. They approached the police station from the west. As they neared the street, Scout noticed movement in the upstairs window - the glass had blown out days earlier during the incident. It looked like they had a rifle and were monitoring the street. Scout signaled the others and and they huddled against a nearby building.

Officer Tucker laid out the plan - he and Rex would storm the upstairs via the emergency escape on the side of the building. The others would cover their approach.

Officer Tucker and Rex darted across the street while Felix entered the abandoned building next to them and found a position from which to fire his rifle. Professor Putnam followed the teen.

Two people in the upstairs windows opened fire, missing. Felix returned fire and hit one of the snipers.

Officer Tucker and Rex stormed up the old metal stairs on the side of the building. Officer Tucker used his keys to open the fire exit door. He heard someone approaching around the corner to the left at the end of the hall. He drew his pistol and covered. He ordered the man to surrender.

The man shouted back, "Fuck you! This is our shit! You ain't taking it!" He ran around the corner and Officer Tucker opened fire. The man fell, shotgun in his hand.

Officer Tucker heard shooters repositioning themselves from the window. He holstered his pistol and took out the two grenades that were taken off the Martian soldier. He tossed one down the hall. It exploded in a strange blue flash and vibrating electric hum.

He glanced around but saw that it had no effect.

DM- Both targets rolled 20 for their saving throw vs. stun. I felt like I had to apologize.

Rex and Tucker stormed the hallway. They entered into hand-to-hand fights with two of the occupiers. Rex took a rifle butt to the face and fell to the floor unconscious.

Meanwhile, Felix heard the gunshots and saw the blue flashes through the upstairs windows. He had no visible targets so he decided to run across the street and enter the building through the front door. Professor Putnam followed. They left the four ladies in the abandoned building behind them.

Felix entered the front door and saw a man running up the hall from the rear of the building, shouting, "What the hell's going on up there?" The man was burly but unarmed. He saw Felix and ran at him, fists swinging.

Felix defended himself with his rifle. Professor Putnam was knocked unconscious.

Meanwhile, Scout had run upstairs and had joined Officer Tucker in fighting the two occupiers. Scout checked on Rex. Rex was slowly coming around. He regained consciousness and Scout helped him to his feet.

Rex picked up his shovel and ran into the room where Officer Tucker was fighting off two occupiers. The fighting was arduous but the two occupiers were eventually shot to death or knocked out with a shovel.

They heard a heavy metal door close shut in another room towards the front of the building. Officer Tucker said, "Someone just closed the vault door. Scout go check it out."

Rex and Officer Tucker heard the fighting downstairs and ran to help. They found Felix locked in a similarly exhausting struggle with a muscular man. The professor lie unconscious on the stairs.

Rex leaped off the stairs and onto the muscular man. Rex ran down the stairs and attacked with his shovel. The man was soon defeated.

Officer Tucker recognized the occupiers - they were looters who had been arrested the night after the event. They had been locked up in the two holding cells in the back of the station. How did they get out?

Scout called from upstairs, "There's a guy locked in the vault. He's not coming out. He says he's injured and he doesn't want us to kill him."

Officer Tucker thought, "That answers that." He called back to Scout, "Leave him. We're secure down here. I'm going to go get Officer Steve."

Officer Tucker went to the garage at the back of the building. He found a kennel and opened it. A German Shepherd leaped out and began licking Officer Tucker's face.

Officer Tucker immediately gave the dog some food and water. "Gentlemen, this is Officer Steve. My partner."

"Unfortunately the gunfire is likely to draw some Martians. We don't have time to search. Lets get out of here."

To Be Continued...

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

The Baron of Buck's Head - The City at the Edge of the Universe, Chapter 4

Newly equipped with suits of futuristic armor and skin-tight garments called "smart-suits", Rex Werthy, Professor Putnam, Felix, and Scout, took one of the trucks on the fifty mile cross-country journey back to Rogers County. This time their destination was the small town of Buck's Head, twelve miles east of Williamsburg. Rex wanted to check in on his invalid mother who lived in the same trailer park as his own home. He also wished to check on his girlfriend's trailer to see if, by some miracle, she managed to escape the Martian attack.

The drive was uneventful as they skirted the eastern tree-line of the area transported to this strange new world. On their right, trees and forest. On their left, dry desolate hills, gullies, and boulders. They eventually found the state road that led towards Buck's Head and turned right.

They arrived at the "Northside Trailer Park" where Rex and his mother both lived. All the trailers looked as if they had been ransacked - their windows broken and their doors hanging open or busted off their hinges. Household items were strewn about.

They exited the truck and cautiously approached the trailer in which Rex's mother lived. Like the other trailers, the windows were broken and the door hung open. Rex entered first and was struck by a horrible smell of decay. He fought back tears and held his left arm over his face while he wielded his shovel in his right.

He entered her bedroom and was shocked to see her dead body covered in a swarm of giant rats - but rats unlike any he had ever seen! These rats were monstrous - the size of small dogs - and covered in bald patches as if they suffered from the mange. They appeared rabid with foaming mouths and bulging red eyes.

Rex choked back his revulsion as several of the rats scattered, escaping through the broken window and open back door. Several turned towards him and hissed. They hurled themselves at Rex in defense of their prize!

Chapter 4 - The Baron of Buck's Head

This week, after having escaped the town and found their way to the Wasteland Trading Post, the party heads back into Williamsburg to secure some valuable trade goods.

Dramatis Personae

Officer Bocephus "J.T." Tucker - Williamsburg police department - Level 1 Warrior
Rex Werthy - construction worker - Level 1 Engineer
Professor Thadeus Putnam - retired professor of anthropology - Level 1 Expert
Felix Silla-Rossi - 15 year-old juvenile delinquent - Level 1 Rogue
Scout Thomas - 16 year-old outdoorsman and YouTube personality - Level 1 Scout
Vera - elderly lady with a broken leg - NPC
Mabel - Professor Putnam's elderly housekeeper - NPC

DM - Officer J.T. Tucker's player was away this week. The rest decided to go to Buck's Head to check on Rex's mother and get some more supplies. There was some AMAZING role-playing this week between the players. My write-up cannot do justice to all the in-character interactions, interpersonal conflict, and just good acting that happened this week. It was fantastic!

Wasteland Rats

Rex found himself beset by giant mutant rants. He began hitting them with his shovel. Scout, waiting out by the truck, heard the commotion and ran up to the broken bedroom window of the trailer. He looked inside and saw the giant rats. Rex was in the hallway to his right. Scout opened fire into the bedroom with his assault rifle, killing two rats. Felix and the Professor ran into the living room and angled for a shot with their rifles but held their fire. Neither could take a shot without endangering Rex. Rex was bitten repeatedly before smashing the last rat attacking him. The remaining rats scurried past, escaping the bedroom and fleeing out the back and front doors and the other broken windows.

Rex looked at the mutilated body of his elderly mother in the bedroom and sighed. Professor Putnam put his hand on Rex's shoulder and offered his sympathy.

Abubakr Zangin, the Baron of Buck's Head

A voice called out from behind Scout, "Hey, what's going on?" Scout whirled around, rifle ready.

It was a young man of Turkish descent. He dressed like a preppy with a pastel Izod shirt and a white jacket. He held his hands up and said, "Don't shoot!" Something about him seemed disingenuous. He was standing in front of the next trailer over, about thirty feet from Scout.

Rex took a deep breath to steel himself and whispered, "Aw Hell no. Not today. Not now." He exited his mother's trailer through the open back door. He saw the man, It was Abubakr Zangin, the occupant of the trailer two spots down from his mother's. Rex was pretty sure Abubakr sold drugs. He lived in a trailer in Buck's Head yet drove a sports car. People visited his trailer all hours of the day and night. Rex's mother did not like Abubakr at all.

"Hey Abubakr," said Rex.

"Rex! How are you?" said Abubakr. To Abubakr's right, between the trailer and a pickup truck, were two of Abukar's cronies - the mechanic Caiden Norman and his creepy junkie girlfriend Iona Frank. A man holding a hunting rifle emerged from around the trailer to Abubakr's left - it was the trucker, Cian Butt. Cian spit his chew on the ground as he slowly walked around to the left.

Rex told Abubakr what had happened in town and that they escaped. He asked what happened.

Abubakr said that he saw some Martians come through Buck's Head a few days ago. They shot everybody with lasers and looted all the trailers - a story inconsistent with the behavior Rex and the others had witnessed in Williamsburg.

Abubakr began asking Rex some probing questions - Where were you camping? How many people were with you? How much supplies did they have? How many weapons? Rex replied with vague generalities, never mentioning the trading post.

Iona crept forward towards Scout, her head and shoulders jutting out in front of her while her hands and arms waved jerkily behind her. "That's a pretty rifle, kid. Do you know how to use it? Aren't you a pretty little thing?"

Caiden, his arm resting on the hood of the pickup twenty feet away, said, "Jesus, Iona! He's just a kid!"

Suddenly the sound of a rifle shot cracked the air from the other side of Rex's mother's trailer!

Shootout

Cian Butt fell to the ground, shot through the head.

DM- Natural 20!

Iona lunged forward in an attempt to grab Scout's rifle. Caiden drew a pistol from his waistband and drew a bead on scout but held his fire for fear of shooting Iona, "Get out of the fucking way!" Scout rammed his rifle butt against Iona's face.

Abubakr sneered as he kicked an old grill onto Rex. He leaped over it and began punching Rex. Rex counterattacked with his shovel, knocking Abubakr to the ground.

Felix darted from behind Rex's mother's trailer. He ran as fast as he could to get behind the next trailer over. Professor Putnam chased after Felix shouting, "Young man! Give me that rifle, right now!"

Felix shouted, "No way!" as he disappeared behind the other trailer.

Rex whacked Abubakr across the head with his shovel, knocking him unconscious.

Caiden gave up on shooting anyone and ran to help Iona, punching Scout. Iona escaped and ran away towards Rex's truck, jumping into the cab. Scout cracked Caiden across the jaw with the butt of his assault rifle. Caiden broke off and ran back the way he came, between the truck and the trailer.

There was another rifle shot. Caiden was shot in the head.

DM- Another natural 20!

Iona screamed, jumped out of truck, and ran away into the trees.

Felix was lying on the ground smoking rifle braced against the dirt. He had dropped and waited for Caiden to run this way before taking the shot.

Professor Putnam caught up with Felix. He stopped and gasped at what he just witnessed. Felix got up and handed him the rifle, "Here you go. Its out of ammo now anyway."

Aftermath

"What just happened? Who started shooting?" inquired Rex as he secured Abubakr in zip-ties.

Professor Putnam explained, "The gentleman there was taking a position behind the trailer-"

Felix interrupted, "He was trying to ambush us so I shot him!"

Rex stood up, "You shot FIRST?"

Felix said, "Yeah? So?"

Professor Putnam became stern, "Young man. What you just did was not self defense. It was cold-blooded murder. What you did was wrong!"

Felix became defensive, "So what? You all know they were going to try to steal our stuff. I shot him before he could shoot at me! What's the big deal? Scout, I did the right thing, right?"

Scout held up his hands, "Don't drag ME into your narrative!"

Rex barked, "We do not shoot first! You murdered that guy! And what about Caiden?"

Professor Putnam said, "He was running away. He posed no immediate threat."

Rex's eyes bulged, "You murdered him TOO?? That's two murders in less than a minute!"

Felix dismissed them, "Whatever," and stormed off towards Abubakr's trailer, "Which trailer is his? I bet he's got all the cool shit!"

Rex rubbed his forehead in frustration, "Two trailers down."

DM - This whole section led to some AMAZING role-play between the players - especially . My write up can't do it justice because there was just so much of it. I'll do my best to summarize and capture the spirit of it.

All the Cool Shit

Inside Abubakr's trailer they found piles of items hoarded from every trailer in the park and several other businesses and houses in Buck's Head.

Scout checked Caiden and Cian. He took their weapons and their belongings. He found a sandwich wrapped in cling-wrap, "Nice! Save that for later!" He stuffed it in the thigh-pocket of his cargo pants.

Felix found fifty cartons of cigarettes from various brands. He declared, "Dibs!"

Rex found a a five kilogram plastic bag of methamphetamines. Felix said, "Ooh! Take that back to the trading post! We can get a LOT of trade for that!"

Rex threw it in a paper bag, "No! I'm taking it outside and burning it."

Felix rolled his eyes and hauled an armload of cigarettes out to the truck.

Professor Putnam found 125 bottles of various alcoholic spirits in various stages of consumption. "He's not wrong. We hit the mother lode in terms of vice."

Rex replied, "Whisky and cigarettes are one thing. I'm not dealing meth." He took the paper bag outside, righted the grill, doused it in lighter fluid, and set it all on fire.

Felix shouted something obscene from the truck. Rex shouted, "Shut up and try not to murder anybody!"

Felix glared at Rex. He hopped into the cab of the truck to sulk. He took out a cigarette and started smoking it.

Scout returned after searching for keys for the other cars parked in the lot. He reported to Rex, "I found a few keys but those cars will never make it over the wasteland zone. Its too bad. Abubakr's sports car is pretty sweet! Look, I also found some more old people in their trailer. They had all been shot in their beds or in the hall."

Rex returned to Abubakr's trailer. The meth dealer was waking up but he was bound with zip ties and his mouth was duct taped closed. Rex felt guilty for what happened. Felix straight up gunned down two of Abubakr's fiends. Rex found some paper and started writing a note.

Look, Abu....I am sorry about what happened here today. This wasn't what I wanted or came here for.

But look, something bad and strange has happened here. Go 3 miles east and see for yourself. There are a lot of good people around here, and they don't need another predator...they need a leader who can give them some hope. Give them some hope...don't just steal their crap and roll them in a gutter.

Rex took a breath. He looked around the trailer. He noticed some of this mother's belongings. He realized that his mother hadn't been shot with a laser, she was shot with a pistol. It wasn't the Martians. The Martians weren't looting. Abubakr and his cronies had killed his mother.

.......I know now what you did to my mom, and the rest of these people - when I come back - and I will - I want to see that you've made lives better and protected them from the Red-coated Martians. If you haven't, then I WILL give you the same as Cian got. Do Better.

I will be watching!

He left the trailer. He quietly helped Professor Putnam and Scout drag the dead bodies of Cian and Caiden into his mother's trailer. He sprayed it down with lighter fluid and set the trailer on fire.

They rejoined the sulking Felix in the pickup truck and departed the burning pyre. Rex took the pack of cigarettes from Felix's hands, crumpled them, and threw them out the window.

DM - All that shit HAPPENED! It was epic! The note above is what Rex's player wrote, word for word.

Back Into Williamsburg

Rex stopped off at the Southside Trailer Park on the other side of the highway on the off-chance that his girlfriend Shayna had escaped and was hiding. He found it empty and ransacked, the windows broken and the front door busted open with a crowbar. He found a photo of the two of them together and put it in his satchel.

They continued to Williamsburg, stopping a mile out and hiding the truck off the side of the road. It was now around 4 pm and the sun was getting low in the January sky. They hiked through the bare trees and around the south side of the storage place. They took a look towards the east road - the roadblock was gone.

They continued cautiously through the trees towards the high school. When they left two days ago the Martians had established a base-camp at the high school and were rounding up townspeople. At that time there had been two rocket-planes and dozens of armored soldiers and several armored transport vehicles.

Now the roadblock was gone and a single armored transport vehicle sat in front of the high school. A handful of troopers, their helmets off, occupied a small bivouac with some inflatable tents.

"Ah HELL no! Where is everybody?" whispered Rex.

Professor Putnam answered, "They must have captured everyone and withdrew, leaving only a skeleton crew behind."

"This may work for us!" said Rex, "That means it should be easier to move around the town! Okay, where do we want to go first?"

Felix, still sore with Rex from earlier, suggested, "Well, I'd actually like to stop by my nanna Rossi's house. She's old and wasn't at the high school. I mean, Mabel hid out, right?"

Rex sighed, looking down at the ground. How could he say no to that? "Okay, Nanna Rossi's house. Where she live?"

"On the other side of the elementary school."

"Okay. But listen up everybody, just because it might be easier its no reason to take risks. We still move low and slow and stick to the trees."

Spotted

It was now dark. The sky had an eerie neon glow that illuminated everything in bright green moonlight. They darted across the southeast highway and moved around the south side of the high school. They were caught in the beam of a searchlight! An amplified Martian voice called out, "Stop! Surrender now!"

Rex shouted, "Run!" and they took off through the forest at top speed. They made it to the railroad. Felix started running north along the rails but Scout said, "No! Stay off the railroad! You'll be out in the open. Stick to the trees! This way!"

They kept running for half a mile before stopping to catch their breath in a densely wooded area. The leaves were gone and they could see a small aircraft hovering over the high school, its spotlight scanning the area they just fled. It hit the railroad and turned north.

"Told you!" said Scout.

"Shut up!" said Felix.

They crossed the South Highway by Woodlawn Cemetery. A stray dog started barking at them in the woods and they became concerned that it would draw their pursuers.

Rex said, "Hold on, I'm good with animals!" He cautiously approached the dog, his hands out, and tried to calm the poor thing.

It didn't work.

Rex stood and said, "Anybody else?"

Scout perked up and said, "Wait a minute!" He took the sandwich out of his pants pocket, unwrapped it, and gave it to the dog.

The dog took the sandwich in its mouth and ran away.

Rex said, "Nice!"

Nanna Rossi

They arrived at Nanna Rossi's house at 5:40 pm. The door was busted in. The windows were still broken so the inside of the house was frozen. It was dark and still.

Professor Putnam put his hand on Felix's shoulder to prepare him for what came next.

They went into the living room. There on the couch was lay Nanna Rossi. She had been killed by what appeared to be a laser blast.

Felix choked back tears, "Why didn't they stun her like the others?"

Professor Putnam said softly, "I'm sorry, Felix. She was elderly and had difficulty moving. For whatever reason, they're only stunning and capturing young and able people. She probably didn't meet their criteria."

Felix sniffed, "I- I guess that makes sense."

Scout asked, "So, what now? Hit a few more stores downtown?"

Felix said, quietly, "No. I- I kind of want to go back now."

Rex gave Felix a firm hug and looked at Scout and Professor Putnam, "We're headed back now. Let's go."

To Be Continued...

DM- PHEW! Man, wow! So much pathos! So much emotion! So much sullen teenagers making questionable choices in the heat of the moment! It's fantastic and I love it!

What happens next week? WHO KNOWS?! Part of the reason for leaving Williamsburg without further looting was story-appropriate, part was because Officer Tucker's player returns and it will be easier to integrate him back in if they're outside Williamsburg.

I mean, I know what happens to Williamsburg next. I've got a detailed timeline. But I have no idea what the PLAYERS are going to do next! I think that's exciting!

The encounter in Buck's Head was pretty much random. All the names were randomly generated. I just made up the meth dealer stuff, with help from the players, on the spot. It was so good that I decided to add it to the adventure itself - which is perfect because Buck's Head as-written was pretty boring. Now there's a cool story there!

Also, every character that took a risk and returned home got 750 XP quest award. Rex, Felix, and Professor Putnam are all 2nd level now!