Tuesday, November 26, 2024

(Gamma World) This is Not a Test #58 - O'Pinnery's Quest

Our heroes, the De Facto Explorers,  are at the KIA Academy.  They are looking for some money making opportunities to keep the Academy's roof over their heads for the winter.

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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.  

Sonny Helianthus: a sentient sunflower artifact examiner with trusted Restorationist ties. Knowledgeable,  but not a good one with device repairs or upgrades.  Very interested in a "Children's Alchemical Laser" he recently acquired.

Slitheran Wurmtail (aka Squiggles): a mutated earthworm scout, in impromptu power armor, looking for trouble, and finding it often.  Previously "gave birth" to a litter of sentient earthworm babies, but recently has been subject to genetic testing and developed super-human strength, a more human body, and a thick coat of shaggy white hair.

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.  No Name has recently been fitted for a artillery device of the Ancients that chucks spears further than any human.  Looking for trouble in all the right places.  Former jousting champion of Fair-Town and has been awarded... a peacock he has named Chambray.  He's recently been struck by a weapon by a strange race of people and transformed into... something else.

RHA-9: A lab assistant piece of "Living Metal" that seems to have befriended the group... for now!  Currently getting repairs done by the Restorationists.

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The Explorers ventured down to Sub-Level 1, to find this "O'Pinnery's" establishment.  It was an old red shipping container, with a door cut out of the side, and a dated, painted sign that said, "O'Pinnery"

Sonny knocked on the door, which was answered with a "Come in."

The dimly lit room ran a number of tables with chairs.  Sitting on a couch along the wall was an extremely skinny and tall woman.  

"Greetings, we saw you had a bulletin about scavenging." Sonny said.

"I know you did..." the woman creepily implied.

"How did you know that," a puzzled Sonny asked.

"I saw you in my dreams, albeit it was brighter.  It's always brighter in my dreams... although one of you was green." she answered.   "Have a seat.  I am Sheena O'Pinnery."

Sheena O'Pinnery, KIA Academy, Sub-Level One
"Salvage Specialist is what the Academy forced me to put on the work request.  Anyone familiar with anthropological recovery?"  Sheena  asked.  

The looks on everyone's faces were answer enough.  Sheena continued "I am a freak within my family.  I am quite tall for most women, much less my family.   I have worked quite hard to get my position her on the first sub-level."

"Most of my family is deep within the sub-levels, and if you can return them, I'm sure it will help you spend the winter upstairs."

Pete needed more info, "How many should we rescue?"

"As many as you can."

Unsatisfied, Pete pressed, "How many though, is it five or fifty?"

Sheena stood up, walked back to a rear room, and return with a large burlap sack, "As many as you can fit into there, whatever bits and pieces."

Sonny realized it first,  "Wait, are they..."

"Yes, they're all dead.  I'm simply asking you to transport the bones of my ancestors back here so I can properly bury them.  I just don't fit down there anymore."

Pete kept pressing "Why haven't you had others do this for you?"

"I have... multiple times.  Most only make one trip and are satisfied with their payment.  Sub-Level Seven doesn't have any obvious threats, or at least some of the people would mention it when they came back."

GM Notes:  Recovering bones as a mission immediately brought up the Paleontologist's Song from They Might Be Giants.

Next:  #59 - Below Sub-Level Two

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