(Gamma World) This is Not a Test #24 - Podogs Down by the River

Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers, off to possibly assist the Hissers of Notex

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Sneaky Pete: A mutated weasel scout.  Pete's telepathy and night vision take a backseat when he whips out his electrical powers.  Recovering from his injuries from the Glow near Ulmin.

Sonny Helianthus: a sentient sunflower artifact examiner with trusted Restorationist ties. 

Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles): a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble, and finding it often.  Recently "gave birth" to a litter of sentient earthworm babies.

Lathar Bracken: A pure-strain human from River Bend.  He's got the muscle, the face, and a mount for most encounters.  Lathar's trusty beast of burden, No Name, travels wherever he does. Looking for trouble in all the right places.  Recent jousting champion of Fair-Town and has been awarded... a peacock he has named Chambray.

Ramsay Kallax:  Mutated Ram from the far-off KIA Academy with a predilection for ancient treasures... and the occasional head-butt. \

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The explorers departed River Bend for the Hisser village of Notex in the lands of Huush.  The first day was uneventful, save a debate whether or not to encounter the first Hisser village (not Notex!) at dusk or after dawn. 

Deciding upon resting before before entering Hisser territory, they set up camp. After cooking a meal at beginning to rest, they all heard a large amount of splashing coming from upriver.  Pete sneak up the riverbank, encountering two podogs, gleefully splashing in the river, without riders.

Upon finding out their visitors, Lathar grabbed rations entered the river and whistled at the creatures.

Noticing the pure-strain human, the podogs stopped frolicking and investigated the rations thrown by the shore.  The podogs cautiously nibbled on the food and Lathar tried to approach.  The animals did not appear to be as sociable as they first appear, hackles rising.

Lathar was confused by their reaction and looked back at his compatriots, "What do I do know?"

Pete only offered one suggestion, "Don't run...."

Lathar stared the podogs dead in the eye, hands out and extended, stepping back and around the beasts.  The growling faded.

The rest of the crew got their feet wet, fingers on triggers, trying to distract the other podog.  

A young Squiggles....

Everyone on the river were in a uneasy truce, under a loud "BUUU-CAWWW" coming from atop No Name.  

The peacock seemed a bit jealous of all the attention being laid upon the mammals and was quite vocal in its displeasure. 

Pete, standing on a rock in the middle of the river, whooped accordingly, and while the podogs were distracted with him, he threw some of his meaty rations onto the riverbank.  The podogs jaunted over and continued to eat.

Sonny thought better of the efforts, "Guys, let's cut out losses..."

Pete agreed, as well as a Squiggles, struggling with No Name and the peacock.

Lathar was still hesitant, pondering a dozen different actions that none of his compatriots would agree with.  He slowly moved towards the beast to attempt to mount them.  Nearing the largest creature, he could finally spot a large collar around its neck.  The brass tag attached to the collar finally spun within view, revealing two words:   "JACKPOT STUD"

Lathar called out, "Jackpot!  Here boy!"

The podogs stared at Lathar and continued to move away slowly.

Pete was able to catch a glimmer off the tag, and notice the same tag, confirming that the pure-strain human was babbling.  Locating the tag on the second one revealed "ONYX ARMOR." 

Pete focused on Onyx with his telepathy, "Hey, we mean no harm."

Onyx's head shook, looking for something, Peter could hear him talking, "Who's talking?   Where? Where?"

"Good boy Onyx"

"Who's that?"

"Onyx, we're you're friends"

"If you're friends, get this food away.  It stinks."  The podog was still confused and began leaping in the river.

Onyx caught the eye of Jackpot, and with a glance, they both took off upriver.

Pete, caught one last conversation from Onyx:

"Bruno, these aren't the bad guys, but they aren't our guys.  They just have bad food.  I hear another voice, it must be our masters."

"Right Onyx, but I would have beaten that guy in a staring contest, you betcha."

Pete relayed his information with the other explorers, and they returned to camp.

The following day, they found no further sign of the Podogs... their masters, or the bad guys.  They made great space as they passed  the Hisser village where they first encountered Artemus, as well as the area near Level A.  No activity could be seen at either location.  

Another day's travel, and they came upon another stream to cross.  As they began to ford it, the water was unseasonably cold for the summer.   Further inspection of the grounds found interesting tracks, very large snake tracks in particular, heading upstream on the creek.  They followed a narrow, but well-worn path up hill.  While they did not see a village, upon emerging out of the woods for a spell, they easily spied a large object atop of a raised hill:  

GM Notes: Jim (Lathar's player) was going so specific in his maneuvers, that he ended up doing the Time Warp (a la Rocky Horror), and that took up 20 minutes of game play.

Next: #25 - The  Hisser Village of Notex