open Fallout Equestria: Endeavor

[Defender of Tomorrow 323]

"Like I said, some ponies don't like Zebras, and if we're trying to be diplomatic then we should try to do the least number of things that might upset somepony-" she glanced at Crackshot's shotgun then added "-As it is, we already have our weapons out so that would already put them on alert" She understood very well how the wastelands worked but knew that caravans never took on liking anyponies but their own having weapons out. "I just hope that hood is enough" she bit her lip as his actions suggested he wanted to tag along anyway.

[Unicorncob 5,696]

"No offence," Crackshot muttered, looking toward Aile, "but I'd rather not get my head blown off for the sake of diplomacy. But if it cheers you up, I'll put my gun away when I know this guy's legit." He added, in a more snarky tone.

 

He'd been in the middle of many ambushes before, and had even helped cause a number of them, so he could tell the signs of one. A lone pony was often a red flag, because you never know how many of their friends are in shouting range and readying to pounce out and blow your brains out.

[Defender of Tomorrow 323]

"They're just suggestions, don't feel compelled to put your weapons away if you feel you're endangering yourself." She responded as she trotted towards the dark figurines in the distance, hopeful that the group was a caravan and not a group of slavers.

 

After a few minutes of traveling they had reached what was indeed caravaneers, however they were more antsy than your typical caravan group. 

"What's your business travelers?" one of the guards said anxiously, the words coming out fast like he wanted to be anywhere but there. 

"If it's nothing then be on your way, we don't take kindly to solicitors." the other guard chimed in, his eyes glancing back and forth between the party and general direction of east, both of them had their weapons in a position similar to Crackshot's. 

Edited May 16, 2015 by Defender of Tomorrow

[Unicorncob 5,696]

Crackshot followed Aile up to the caravanners, raising an eyebrow at their anxiety.

 

"You'll be happy to know we're not solicitors then," he snarked, looking in the eyes of the second guard, "we're here to do some business, that's all. We buy some shit, you guys stay civil, we all go home happy."

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

Dashia continues on, while waiting for Virtue's answer. She has her receiver set to the secure channel for her home. She hopes within a day or two they would be close enough to receive a signal from this channel. She looks around to make sure they are currently in the clear.

Edited May 19, 2015 by Midnight_Aurora

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Chip continues on with Dashia curious as to Vituosity's silence, judging by how much she was talking in ponyville one would think she wouldn't be quiet at all.

 

While they continued down the path Chip continued to scan the are to make sure there were no threats around.

[Defender of Tomorrow 323]

The funky looking caravan merchant wearing a creme colored duster and safety goggles emerged from behind his guards, shoving his way past them. 

 

"So what is it that you want to purchase? I have plenty of bullets, assorted eh....materials, food. The stuff that I am much lower on is energy bullets and medicine, that's gonna cost you a lot more than the bullets. Also, I apologize for the rudeness of my guards, take this complementary water bottle for the inconvenience!"   

 

The caravan merchant seemingly shoved the dirty and irradiated water bottle into Crackshot's hooves and then signaled his guards to leave him to conduct business and patrol the immediate area for threats, they grunted in response as they left. 

 

"Uh thanks? I'm not interested in supplies, but I am interested in something else, information." Aile coughed as the merchant seemed to just stand there, awkwardly staring at Crackshot. "Hello?" Aile waved her hoof in front of his eyes for a few moments before he recoiled back and coughed.

 

"Ah, information you say? What do you want to know? Of course, the price will be adjusted accordingly." He spoke promptly, like this was something he sold as casually as his bullets or junk."

 

"I want to know where to find some pony, a cyberpony, with an electric sword." Aile coughed as the merchant erupted in a loud laughter, this laughing continued for what seemed like minutes until he recomposed himself and looked her in the eye.

 

"What on Equestria would you want to do with that pony missy?" -He paused and then quickly added- "Nevermind on what you want with him, I'm not gonna be the one responsible for your death too." The merchant's quirky attitude quickly changed to a distant, lifeless one and he turned away from her and looked at his guards. "Boys, these ponies are done conducting business with us, lets move out!" He announced loudly.

 

"C-can't you at least tell us if we're going in the right direction? I'll pay you caps!" Aile protested as the guards rushed back to their employer. "Please! It's important that we find him, he has something of ours that we need to get back!" She pleaded to the merchant, the guards sneered at her attempt "Didn't you hear the boss squirt, get lost!"

 

As the caravan traveled further and further away from her and crackshot the merchant shouted at them "You can find him in a small house-looking thing just outside of Manehattan, its quite a-ways from the road!"

[Unicorncob 5,696]

"Uh, thanks...?" Crackshot muttered, taking the dirty-ass water and placing it in his saddlebag, all while the merchant continued to stare at him.

He was actually starting to get freaked out. "Stop looking at me."

 

Thank the Goddesses for Aile.

 

He raised an eyebrow at the merchant's sudden change of attitude, and watched as Aile desperately tried to get more info, but nothing doing.

 

Perhaps it was Crackshot raising up Persuasion as a warning that got the merchant to talk?

 

He snorted and returned the shotgun to his back once the info was gathered.

"Was that so hard?" He snarked quietly.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

"Well that was bizarre, at least we know our destination, is it far?" Ezekiel asked, not knowing where Manehatten itself was. He had not been long for the Wasteland before meeting his new friends so most of the geographical locations were lost on him.

[Defender of Tomorrow 323]

"I'm not too familiar with the place, but I do know for a fact that the roads near Manehattan are the most dangerous, same goes for the places off the road, hell they're probably dangerous. Crackshot, didn't you say have knowledge on Manehattan?" Aile asked to her companion as they awkwardly stood a-ways from the road and then added "We should get a move on, whatever made that caravan so anxious isn't something I'd like to encounter anytime soon."

[Unicorncob 5,696]

"Yeah, I know the place," Crackshot confirmed, "looks like shit and probably crawling with fuck-knows-what. If we run into a bunch of houses, we're heading in the right direction."

 

He continued as they moved on. "There're two places there to consider safe. One is Tenpony Tower, though good luck getting in. You either have to be a big fuckin' deal, or bribe the guards. And even then they disarm you at the gate. You can guess I've never been there, but I've heard it's fancy as fuck, and probably full of assholes. The second is Friendship City, which is much easier to get into. Look for a huge beat-up pony statue, the city is literally built inside it."

 

He glanced aside as he finished, "And I wouldn't drink the river water, if I were you."

Edited May 20, 2015 by Unicorncob

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Ezekiel spoke as they trotted to their destination.

 

"Come now Crackshot good sir, you can't claim a pony you've never met's nature. I'm sure there are plenty in the tower of Tenpony that are fair and even friendly. True they might hold themselves up and act with excessive caution, but wouldn't you yourself hold such a keep if given the option?"

[Scribblegroove 565]

@@Chip Circuit, @@Midnight_Aurora

 

Listening to Chip's story, Virtue smiled "You must be rather clever then. I've met plenty of lab-rats in my life, and they all amazed me with their ingenuity." Looking back at Dashia, she grinned. "They're often quite creative with their attempts at wooing mares, though they lack execution." Snickering to herself, she looked up to the sky a bit dreamily.

 

"I have been to The Pitt, but I haven't taken any jobs from there." She squinted her eyes trying to remember what it was like. "It was very long ago, so I doubt they'd recognise me. I just stole one measily thing and then left..." Looking at the two of them with a glare of fake innocence, she giggled. "Ok maybe not one measily thing, but they didn't notice."

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

Dashia lets out a sigh of relief. She yhen says, "At least you weren't one of the Fighters. I was and it was beyond a nightmare in my eyes. I am glade they haven't found me yet. It would be bad for us if they do."

 

Dashia continues on but keeps a constant lookout for any sign of trouble. (Perception Check.)

[Unicorncob 5,696]

"I'm not saying the guards are assholes," Crackshot confirmed, glancing over to Ezekiel, "I'm saying the ponies they guard are. All hoity-toity and holed up in that big flashy hotel. Most of them probably haven't even looked at a gun, let alone held one."

 

He glanced away from the zebra. "Though, DJ Pon-3 broadcasts there, so there's at least one not-asshole among them. He's probably one of the few ponies alive who actually knows what the fuck goes on out here."

[Steel Accord 6,660]

"I'm not saying the guards are assholes," Crackshot confirmed, glancing over to Ezekiel, "I'm saying the ponies they guard are. All hoity-toity and holed up in that big flashy hotel. Most of them probably haven't even looked at a gun, let alone held one."

 

He glanced away from the zebra. "Though, DJ Pon-3 broadcasts there, so there's at least one not-asshole among them. He's probably one of the few ponies alive who actually knows what the fuck goes on out here."

 

"I was referring to the . . . hoity-toity ponies as well, population in total. One cannot claim an entire group wholly to be damned nor noble. In every herd there are saints and sinners to be found, wisdom is not allowing your prejudice to let your judgment be bound. I'm sure if lead to this tower of elites, I would find more than just the named one to be open and sweet." Ezekiel claimed with confidence.

[Unicorncob 5,696]

"I was referring to the . . . hoity-toity ponies as well, population in total. One cannot claim an entire group wholly to be damned nor noble. In every herd there are saints and sinners to be found, wisdom is not allowing your prejudice to let your judgment be bound. I'm sure if lead to this tower of elites, I would find more than just the named one to be open and sweet." Ezekiel claimed with confidence.

 

Crackshot let out a ghost of a smirk at Ezekiel's wise words.

"Well, you're right about one thing," he answered, "there's saints and sinners everywhere. There just happens to be more sinners."

 

He glanced over to the zebra, looking him in the eyes. "You'll be lucky to even see the front doors, let alone get inside. There's two types of ponies they let in; those who mean a damn to them, and those who can bribe their way in."

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Crackshot let out a ghost of a smirk at Ezekiel's wise words.

"Well, you're right about one thing," he answered, "there's saints and sinners everywhere. There just happens to be more sinners."

 

He glanced over to the zebra, looking him in the eyes. "You'll be lucky to even see the front doors, let alone get inside. There's two types of ponies they let in; those who mean a damn to them, and those who can bribe their way in."

 

Ezekiel smiled, not getting that Crackshot was bemused by his "naivete" as the cynic would say allowed if he wasn't being polite.

 

"Who says either of us are not of worth? Different eyes see different values and more than one with us at the gate's berth. There is more than can be bargained with then caps take it from me, I have haggled with parties far more troublesome than mere ponies." Ezekiel tapped his talisman, it dimly flashed.

 

[barter 50]

[Defender of Tomorrow 323]

(Timeskip, Group 1, Aile, Crackshot, Greshken, Ezekiel)

A thick fog blanketed the wasteland, most especially the outskirts of Manehattan in which the group finds themselves in. A small, weak fire crackled between the group members as it desperately tried to keep itself alight, let alone cook the beans inside the pot that hovered over the pit. Pale Moonlight added to the eerie fog's creepiness and further worsened the visibility for those unequipped with technology to enhance their sight. Sinister bellowing could be heard from the restless creatures that inhabited the outskirts of Manehattan, their silhouettes obscured in the fog making it difficult for anypony to make out what they were from just appearance. A faint rumbling could also be heard from the encampment in which the group resided in as well, bright, but obscured claps of thunder could be made out from fog and were positioned in the general direction in which the other group would be located in.

 

(Timeskip, Group 2, Virtue, Chip, Dashia)

Brilliant Green Fungus populated the greater part of the land in which the group found themselves in, the prominent trait of the mutation being the neon light which illuminated the dark environment. Water droplets deposited themselves on the tip of the stalactites that occupied most of the ceiling, an occasional droplet of water would free itself from the tip and create a dripping sound that would emanate throughout the cave. Rusted, brown cylinder were littered along the scarce stalagmites, a small dosage of radiation still emanating in the immediate area. Faint roaring of creatures on the surface could be made out from inside the cave with a trained ear of course, otherwise the sound was too drowned out from the various sounds that resonated from inside the cavern. Thunderclaps dominated the sound-waves near the entrance of the cave but were drowned out in the area of the cave in which the group took refuge in, and were the main cause of the technological interferences. (Radio cannot be used to communicate with anypony and the hellhounds outside are currently frenzied, including the ones that are 'mind controled')

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Chip looked around the cave they had to take refuge in, noticing the mutated foliage that provided dim light to them. He looked back out of the opening of the cave as the weather was rather harsh. "So what should we do while we wait? If to want to sleep I'll take first watch if you like." He offered taking his rifle off his back levitating it in front of him.

[Unicorncob 5,696]

Crackshot stared as the beans cooked slowly and pathetically in the fog.

"We should be near Manehattan now," he informed the others, keeping his ears open for any potential attackers, "usually gets pretty foggy around the outskirts. We'll camp out here till it's clearer, I'll keep watch."

 

He had Persuasion levitated in his magic, which he swung around to aim at the nothingness at every howl of the dangerous wildlife.

 

"Nopony should go anywhere alone in this weather. If you got a problem with pissing in public, you'll have to deal with it."

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

Dashia sighs. "Just great. We are stuck here until this storm let's up. We are close enough to contact home but this storm is interfering with the signal making it useless right now. We don't have the power needed to fight the hounds and those ones with devices on their heads are our controlled. Any ideas?" Dashia was pacing. She doesn't know how long this will take and they are still about a day or two out from home.

 

Dashia looks to Chip and says, "Well I think that would be ok. But with the Hounds in a frenzy we should move deeper into the cave and cover our tracks. They got really good noses."

 

Dashia heads deeper in, her armor keeps her scent in check. She has also put some distance between herself and Chip for some odd reason.

Edited May 23, 2015 by Midnight_Aurora

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

"Not much we can do with our limited resources as to boosting the signal, if they come into the cave we may be able to control them once they are within proximity." He said looking back to Dashia.

 

Chip nodded at Dashia agreeing with her comment and headed deeper into the cave behind her, he noticed during their journey that Dashia had been acting and keeping a bit more distant from him. It upset him but he let her have her space. 

 

After trekking deep into the cave Chip rested up against the wall keeping away from Dashia to let her have her space.

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

It took a while but she eventually lays down. She falls asleep with her head close to him. She smiles and says, "You have a nice scent. Don't ever change it."

 

After a bit more she falls asleep. Her sleep is a bit restless and she looks a little hot under the collar. It doesn't look like she is sick but she does look uncomfortable.

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Chip was confused when Dashia came near him and set herself on the ground beside him. "For you, never." He said looking down at Dashia. "Good night." 

 

Soon Dashia was asleep, Chip definitely didn't understand Dashia's indecisiveness when it came to wanting space or wanting to be near him. He slid closer to her and set a hoof on the side of her neck trying to comfort her when she seemed to be uncomfortable. He kept his eyes peeled for anything that might move in the darkness.