Isle Del Sol Session II

[15:06] <%Somber> The six friends had been yanked from their homes clear around the world to a mysterious bunker under attack by strange reptilian men called geckoes.  They'd proven to be almost rediculously resilient, regenerating wounds as fast as they were inflicted!  They'd ripped out several vital components from the targeting computer that ran the teleportation device.
[15:08] <%Somber> They'd also discovered a Griffon technician named Condeza who had survived the attack.  A brief survey of the missile silo revealed that she'd been the only survivor, but there were three bodies missing.  Since many of the scientists and workers here had been shot and mutilated beyond recognition, it was impossible to tell who was absent.  The door to the
[15:10] <%Somber> silo's launch tube was closed with a secret code... somehow these primitive lizardmen had had help.  Fortunately, Condeza had found a password in the project director's office to the door.  The six friends could come and go from the Silo while they tried to find the stolen parts.  "I'll stay here and try to figure out how to get everything to work again when
[15:10] <%Somber> you find the parts.  Then we can all get off this island."
[15:11] * Calamine nods. "Thank you, Condeza, but please stay safe as well."
[15:11] * Sedgewick nods. But the echos of accusatory screams still ring in his ears. "That's good and all, but first... First we have to care for the victims of this murder. They deserve rest."
[15:12] * Candlelight_Sonata smiles reassuringly to Sedgewick.  "Let's get done with that, then.  Would give us a spell to check to see if we have any other survivors about.  And figure out where we are..."
[15:12] * Calamine seems very somber. "Yes, the spirits here are very restless and particularly angry at you, Mr. Griffin."
[15:12] <%Somber> "You can do into town to try and find leads.  The road from Costa Del Sol to Costa Del Luna runs right past the silo."  And she gave a grateful smile and chirp to Sedgewick.  "Yes.  That would be most appreciated."
[15:12] * Lazer_Blazer trots to the way out "We'll need to get them outside, if where going to put them to rets."
[15:13] * Sedgewick looks ashamed. "I'm so sorry, Calamine. I'm not very good with words, and sometimes they come out wrong... I didn't mean to offend them."
[15:13] * Strifer nods at Sedgewick. "Oh yeah, and they dun need any of their stuff either eh. Dibs on any shinies!" She grins and hops to looting.
[15:14] <%Somber> She nods and opens the door to the silo.  The shaft that had once housed balefire missiles was empty.  Going up along the edge of the silo was a staircase that snaked up the hundred foot deep shaft.  At the very top... something was off.  Something... very... unwastelandy.  There was light pouring through the gap at the top of the shaft between the massive
[15:15] * Sedgewick glares at Strifer. "Take nothing of personal significance. Money and ammo and weapons are fine, but nothing else."
[15:16] * Strifer gives a dismissive tailflick in Sedgewicks direction. "Yeah yeah, whatever man."
[15:16] * Candlelight_Sonata blinks up at the light.  "Well... that'll make things a might harder..."  She looks back to Sedgewick and Strifer.  "Mind what he says, hoofclaws."
[15:16] <%Somber> blast door and the edge.  Golden light; brilliantly bright, dazzled their eyes... but beyond was something more.  Green.  Green grass.  Green bushes.  Green trees.  And flowers... oh so many flowers.  They covered almost every surface.  Birds sang in the jungle canopy.  Insects buzzed.  A rough paved road barely cut through the folliage.  And the sky was a
[15:16] <%Somber> brilliant blue that could never be imaged by anypony who'd never seen above the clouds.
[15:17] * Calamine looks around at the others. "Why are you all so stunned? It is just sunlight."
[15:17] * Strifer without looking up from looting the bodies. "Name is Strifer, batty. Aight?"
[15:17] * Naphthalena fidgets a little bit as she begins to ascend the staircase, looking up at the distant light curiously. She blinked a few moments upon stepping out into the light. "I knew this place was far from Equestria... But I hadn't imagined it'd be so. Untouched?" She bit her lower lip slightly and glanced around again, as if expecting to find something horrible lurking just waiting
[15:17] * Naphthalena for someone to let their guard down.
[15:18] * Lazer_Blazer cover her eyes as the brilliant light of the sun and whistles "Will you look at that."
[15:18] * Candlelight_Sonata soars silently up the shaft to land next to Naphthalena.  "Wow..."  she says, her pupils contracting to catlike slits.  "Bright and green.  Shiney!"
[15:18] * Sedgewick "No, I'm serious. If you take these late ponies' and zebras' belongings, they'll never help us figure out what they were doing, and we'll never be able to finish it for them. Mind your hooves and don't take any personal trinkets, Strifer. Or else we might never be able to leave."
[15:20] * Candlelight_Sonata calls back down the shaft.  "If Sedgewick and Callie can talk to their ghosts, all the better, Strifer.  So you be real nice-like to their affects, ya hear?"
[15:20] <Calamine> "So the rumors that Equestria has become a land without the sun since Princess Celestia's passing. I am sorry."
[15:21] * Strifer looks up at Sedgewick giving him a leveld stare. "Look, I don't want any of their personal shit anyway. But if they have valuable stuff,  caps or whatever Im having it, aight? A mare gotta eat!"
[15:21] * Calamine follows on hoof as she tries to bring the bodies as respectfully as she can to into the sunlight and onto buriable land.
[15:23] * Sedgewick "Right, fine. I'd rather not spend the rest of my days listening to angry ghosts, if that's alright with you."
[15:23] * Lazer_Blazer see's the zerba start to move the bodies, thinking that would be better then burning out her eyes "Here let me lend a horn with that." as she helps Calamine
[15:23] * Sedgewick peers outside and begins to search for an out-of-the-way patch of ground, with soft soil. A place for graves.
[15:24] <%Somber> The jungle covered almost everything, but there was a natural trench that would do for a mass grave.  Otherwise they'd be burying for days.
[15:25] * Strifer groans loudly, stomping a hoof. "And it aint like they have shit worth looting anyway. Those lizard fuckers must have took all the good stuff." Eyerolling at Calamine she takes one of the corpses up on her own back and starts to make her way up the shaft. As she gets closer to the surface she squints her eyes, getting to the top, seeing the scenery, her mouth is agape. "Woah.. fuck me..."
[15:27] * Calamine blinks as they arrive on the surface. "Reminds me a little of home, although I tended not to journey this far into the tropical forests at the center of the island. Legends and all."
[15:28] * Candlelight_Sonata wanders around the perimeter, looking for signs of the geckos.  Stopping at what appears to be a slightly malformed flower, she shakes her head.  "East?  Alrighty then..."
[15:28] * Naphthalena scratches her head. "no. I'm pretty sure Equestria still has a sun. Just... Lots and lots of clouds. There's got to be something up there keeping things bright during the day, after all." She frowns a little, looking back and forth. "So... Uh. Which way's which?"
[15:29] * Strifer shrugs of the body from her back heads back down to fetch another one. Heh, fetch.
[15:29] * Calamine shudders. "Although, I must say that the spirits all across these lands seem to be very angry. I get the feeling they want the jungle to... eat us?"
[15:30] * Candlelight_Sonata frowns at Calamine's observation.  "Well, that ain't a good sign.  Sure we're on Isla del Sol and not Isla Sorna?"
[15:31] * Lazer_Blazer gently lifts up some the bodies in her magic "Well I for one don't plan on being on that menu."
[15:31] <%Somber> Condeza points east.  "Costa Del Sol."  Then she points the other direction.  "Costa Del Luna.  Both are relatively neutral towns."
[15:33] * Candlelight_Sonata nods her thanks to Condeza.  "I'm pretty sure those geckos are headed toward Costa Del Sol."  She informs the party.  "Let's give the dead their rights, then be on our merry."
[15:33] <%Somber> "Costa Del Sol is a quiet little town and my sister lives there.  Costa Del Luna is... well... it caters to 'tourists'... she said with a faint blush."
[15:34] * Naphthalena fidgets a little. "This place still gets tourists?" She frowns slightly then looks back and forth up and down the road. "Um... Maybe we should go to Costa Del Sol first? If there's people there who might help..."
[15:34] * Sedgewick carries the bodies of the recently deceased gently to the grave.
[15:35] <%Somber> "Pirates.  Traders.  It's the only place where ships are allowed to land on the island.  The only place where there's a gap in the sea wall."
[15:35] * Candlelight_Sonata flops on ear down as she considers how Condeza said 'tourists'.
[15:36] * Strifer returns outside with another body, dumping it next to wherever Sedgewick carries his. "What the hell is a tourist anyway? Can we eat it?"
[15:36] * Calamine agrees. "I do not know pony rites, but I can give a proper burial to my fellow zebra. It is a shaman's duty after all."
[15:37] <%Somber> They come from elsewhere.  Saddle Arabia... the zebra lands... Cervinia...  bringing goods to trade.  It is a... roudy place."
[15:37] * Candlelight_Sonata shifts on her hooves anxiously as Calamine speaks.  She looks to Lazer Blazer.  "Uh... I know a few things I could say.  Ain't much, just some quiet sermony speechifying.  Do you know anything that may be a mite more poetical?"
[15:38] * Calamine thinks for a moment. "I believe I heard an older pony saying about death before, but I think it was of the Earth Pony tribe."
[15:38] * Sedgewick nods. "Thank you, Calamine. I don't know much about pony rites either, but I do know they're not particularly set on spirituality. Though I did meet that one odd ghoul unicorn... He was a strange one."
[15:39] * Lazer_Blazer shrugs "Thet best we give back home, is a grave and afew kind words. Never much more. And maybe a marker."
[15:41] * Naphthalena scratches her head and looks down quietly a few moments. She wasn't really in a position to make a decision for the group, after all.
[15:41] <%Somber> Condeza shook her head.  "I did not know many of them well.  They were people of science, looking to find a safe way to a better life.  I think that when the proper things are done, they will move on."
[15:41] * Lazer_Blazer holds here head low
[15:41] <Lazer_Blazer> her*
[15:41] * Sedgewick "I hope so, anyways. Calamine, why don't you start?"
[15:42] * Strifer goes to look down the shaft down to the bunker. Not really interested in the groups planning or rites. "Echo! Heyyooo!?"
[15:42] <%Somber> "Yoooo.... you.... you....."
[15:43] * Candlelight_Sonata takes off her cowpony hat and waits for Calamine to speak.
[15:43] * Strifer grins, looking up at the rest of  the group. "Woah, this is cool."
[15:44] * Calamine helps Sedgewick and the others bury the dead before closing her eyes, taking to a strange standing position, and takes her shaman staff in the crook of her right forehoof. Speaking in native zebra, she begins by shaking her staff while speaking before going into a ceremonial dance to calm the spirits and usher them towards the other side. When she finishes, she looks down at the graves of the ponies and takes a deep bre
[15:45] <Calamine> "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. We are all of the earth and now we return you to it. Go in peace."
[15:46] * Strifer tailflick and frowns as she is ignored. Returning to the shaft she tries to make a loud ghostish sounding noise. "Oooooo~"
[15:46] * Sedgewick intones the last in time with Calamine. "...in peace." He opens his eyes. "It is done."
[15:48] * Candlelight_Sonata closes her eyes and sings quietly.  "Love is from no distance calling, faithful as the rising sun./ Warms the bitter heart and heartache, till the east of Equ'stria's gone./ Clouds of fear and misconception, wax and wane as if the moon./ So is in a sense forsaken, till the Goddess' will be known."
[15:49] <%Somber> The angry mutters of the dead decrease bit by bit as they let go their anger of not being aloud to finish their work.  It's hard, but they pass on, going from slain ponies and zebras to simple corpses to be buried.
[15:49] * Sedgewick "Ahh... peace at last. The loudest rain forest is quiet compared to the unhappy howls of the dead."
[15:49] <%Somber> Condeza looks from one to the next.  "Do you have anything else to ask.  I do not know much.  I never travelled far beyond Costa del Sol.
[15:50] * Candlelight_Sonata looks up at Calamine and Sedgewick as she finishes singing.  "How're they?"  She asks.  She may not be able to see or hear spirits, but she's not one to test the waters so far as they are concerned.
[15:50] * Sedgewick "Earlier, you mentioned a 'Baron'. Who is this 'Baron'?
[15:50] * Calamine smiles softly at Candlelight_Sonata. "They are well now. They have passed on to the other side."
[15:51] * Sedgewick pauses. "Actually, I take that back. This jungle seems very angry."
[15:52] * Candlelight_Sonata frowns.  "Don't think I know enough lullabies to fix that, Sedgewick."
[15:52] * Lazer_Blazer nods "Now thats over with." she looks to the rest "What say we head to this Costa Del Sol town?"
[15:52] <%Somber> "Baron Guadalupe.  He rules Isla del Sol from Costa del Nord on the northern tip of the island.  He has many guns and many men and controls most of the towns.  He's being opposed by Colonel Curse.  He hides in the jungles, and has soldiers attacking the Baron's holdings wherever and however he can.  It is almost civil war here."
[15:53] * Candlelight_Sonata twitches an ear.  "Well, that might explain your jungle feelings, you two,"  she says, looking to Calamine and Sedgewick.  She smiles sadly.  "Sounds like them flowers been raised on blood."
[15:54] <%Somber> "Yes.  The fighting has been going on for a generation, and it only gets worse."
[15:54] * Calamine looks around. "Yes, this jungles' spirits are in great disorder. It would take a hundred shamans many years to try to calm them."
[15:54] * Naphthalena swallows nervously. "Maybe... Maybe we should focus on just getting out of here..? I don't think getting caught up in a civil war would help much..."
[15:55] * Strifer rocks back and forth. Muttering something. With an eyeroll she stands up and walks over to the rest of the gathering. "This is fascinating and all, and Im sure the flowers love it anyway. But can't want talk about this on teh way to whatever the place, I could use some food, booze ya know."
[15:56] <%Somber> "That is why the scientists and I were trying to get the teleporter to work.  So we could flee.  Leaving the island is perilous."
[15:57] * Candlelight_Sonata nods to Naphthalena.  "That's the idea, Naph.  Get out, get us home."  She smiles to the baby dragon.  "See if we can't find your parents when we're back."  She tries her best to not glare at Strifer.  "Alright, Strifer.  Just a spell more."
[15:57] <Calamine> "I believe now that the rites are finished and the spirits appeased, Strifer if correct in saying we should find a more safe location to discuss things."
[15:58] * Naphthalena blinks and looks up to Candlelight_Sonata. "I doubt it... There's almost no dragons in Equestria. All the ones I've ever heard of or met were... Well, not exactly friendly."
[15:58] <%Somber> Condeza hands them a radio.  "It does not always work well, but you ca use this to contact me here.  I will try and help if I can."
[15:58] * Strifer raises an eyebrow at Candlelight_Sonata. "Sure, yeah, whatever you say Batty."
[16:00] * Candlelight_Sonata frowns at Strifer as she takes the radio from Condeza.  "Thank you, Condeza."  She turns to the party.  "Let's go."  She trots toward Naphthalena and headtilts in the direction of Costa Del Luna.
[16:01] * Naphthalena nods her head and moves to walk alongside Candlelight_Sonata. She wasn't complaining either way.
[16:01] * Calamine follows slowly, taking a quick glance back towards the graves, bows respectfully, and continues following again.
[16:02] * Strifer smirks at Candlelight_Sonata, huzzah, a reaction! She bounces onwards next to the group.
[16:03] * Sedgewick "Condenza, how far is it to Costa del Sol?"
[16:04] * Candlelight_Sonata realizes she was going the wrong way and turns on a hoof, hoping hthat nopony noticed.
[16:04] <%Somber> "Mmm... a few hours walking.  OH!"  She blinks.  "Do not fly too high.  There are harpies in the jungles and they would think nothing of eating you."
[16:05] * Candlelight_Sonata nods.  "Too bright out for flying anyways..."
[16:06] * Calamine purses her lips and furrows her brow. "I did not know pegasi had an aversion to sunlight. I thought they used to live in the clouds?"
[16:06] * Lazer_Blazer grasps her machete ready to make her way "So how bad it this trip going to be for us, as we never been here?" she asks Condeza
[16:07] * Strifer looks up into the sky.  Taking a sip of her bottled, dirty water "Yeah, what the hell is wrong with your cloud layer anyway. It's like all messed up." She says with a wave upwards.
[16:07] * Candlelight_Sonata looks a bit awkwardly at Calamine.  "Well... normal pegasi do.  I'm a daughter of the Moon, Callie.  Hence the batwings.  And the eyes.  Well, the pupils I mean.  The mismatched thing is sort of a family trait."  She explains.
[16:08] <%Somber> The road east was, like many roads in the wasteland, over engineered.  This one was no different.  Though the jungle was trying hard to consume it, travellers had hacked and cut most of the undergrowth.  Occasionally, they came across skulls mounted on spikes.  Fortunately, the further east they travelled, the thick growth began to peel back, to reveal more
[16:08] <Calamine> "Oh. Thank you for clarifying that. I have very little knowledge of pony kind, most of it being second or third hoofed."
[16:08] * Naphthalena fidgets a little. "Heterochromia is a rare trait among ponies that has been known to be inherited..." She mumbles quietly, mostly to herself.
[16:09] <%Somber> widely and lightly forested grasslands.  Some of the trees, though, had bodies hanging from nooses.  Some still had their stuff!
[16:10] * Candlelight_Sonata holds up a hoof.  "Ok.  Does this scream trap to anypony else?"
[16:10] * Naphthalena looks up at the remains. "It screams 'criminal' to me..." She swallows nervously. "Or maybe warning..."
[16:11] * Lazer_Blazer looks up to the bodies "More like raider shit if you ask me."
[16:11] * Candlelight_Sonata shoots a look to Strifer.  "Do. Not. Touch. Deadponies."
[16:11] * Strifer smirks. "It screams free shit to m- AUW, but it's right fucking there!" She sits down and points at the dead ponies with both forehooves. "Right for the taking!"
[16:11] <%Somber> Ugh... not only had they been hung, but wrapped in barbed wire to keep the bodies together.  A sign on the front read 'Baron's men'.
[16:12] * Sedgewick "It's a warning. I don't think the Colonel would care if we looted them, but they might be booby trapped anyways."
[16:12] * Calamine pales at the sight. "Why would someone do this to another?"
[16:12] * Candlelight_Sonata smiles to Sedgewick.  "Thank you for offering a voice o' reason, Sedgewick."  She gives Strifer another look.  "See.  Trap."
[16:13] * Strifer blows a raspberry at Candlelight_Sonata and Sedgewick. "Soooo boooring."
[16:13] * Lazer_Blazer looks to Strifer "And no one else as looted them. So they may be a trap, or stuffs not that hard to find here."
[16:13] * Sedgewick "Like I said. A warning. The sign says they were the Baron's men, so obviously they were strung up by the Colonel's men. They died a long time ago though."
[16:13] * Candlelight_Sonata turns to Calamine.  "Folks... sometimes ain't right about the way they treat each other.  Kindness sadly's been sorta lost when ponies fight."
[16:13] * Calamine looks down sadly as she walks. "Oh..."
[16:14] * Naphthalena fidgets and blanches at the long-dead remains, looking towards the ground and hoping to put it out of her mind.
[16:14] * Strifer flicks a hoof at Lazer_Blazer's horn. "Well, hornhead, why don't ya shake them a bit if nothing happens its all good to go, ye?"
[16:15] * Sedgewick looks at Strifer in disgust. "Really? You're so eager that you're going to take down months old corpses in the hopes of finding a few caps?"
[16:15] * Candlelight_Sonata puts a wing around Naphthalena.  "Look, let's be careful and keep moving."  She says, trying to shield the dragon from viewing the bodies any further.
[16:16] * Lazer_Blazer keeps her glare at the earth pony "Why don't I just lift you up there and you can have your fill."
[16:16] * Calamine looks to Sedgewick. "What are these caps you keep speaking of?"
[16:16] <Strifer> "Look featherbrain, they aint using it, we might need it to survive. Where  the hell did you guys get coddled into being so goddamn nice eh?"
[16:17] * Sedgewick "Caps. Money. To buy stuff with? The traders guarantee caps with fresh water."
[16:18] * Naphthalena fidgets a little more and swallows nervously. "Would you try to loot the remains of someone left whole and intact outside a raider camp? I'd expect them to have land mines stuffed in their saddle bags so the first poor sod who came to claim their things got blown to smithereens..." Her voice was quiet and nervous, as though afraid she might actually draw Strifer's attention.
[16:18] <Calamine> "From what I had read, ponies used golden bits as money. What is so special about these caps that they are rarer and more valuable than gold?"
[16:19] * Sedgewick "Can you eat gold?"
[16:20] * Strifer walks right up to and under the bodies "Arrgh! There aint no trap see?!"
[16:20] <Calamine> "Oh! So caps are edible?"
[16:20] * Candlelight_Sonata eyetwitches as Sedgewick's question.  "Uh... techinically you can, but it might give you heavy metal poisoning."
[16:20] * Sedgewick "No? But you can drink water, right? That's why. The traders guarantee pure water for bottle caps. It's silly, I know. But true."
[16:20] * Naphthalena swallows quietly. "Bottlecaps were very common in the years leading up to the war, and they're close enough to gold bits that some pre-war machines of lacking design would accept them anyway. A-and since the techniques to paint and treat bottlecaps aren't easy to replicate, they're hard to fake, but they're plentiful enough to act as a basic trading system..." She fidgets
[16:20] * Naphthalena again and sighs quietly.
[16:21] <%Somber> The bodies swung slowly in a breeze.  The wired together corpses reeked quite badly.
[16:21] * Lazer_Blazer shakes her head and trots down the path "Lets move it. If we need there stuff," as she waves her machete at the bodies "we can come back. It like their going any place."
[16:21] * Sedgewick "Right. I'm not that desperate for money yet."
[16:22] * Naphthalena gags at the scent, moving off down the road as quickly as she could.
[16:23] * Strifer frowns. "What if somepony 'else' takes what they have while we're gone eh? Thought about that? No, din't think so." She stands up on her rearlegs and see if she can reach to pull the b odies down or something.
[16:23] * Candlelight_Sonata trots next to Naphthalena.  "You seem to know a lot more than you let on, little one."  She says quietly to the dragon.
[16:24] * Naphthalena struggles a few moments to swallow the bile threatening to escape. One didn't usually see a dragon vomit, and it was probably for the best, considering their usual diet. "W-well... I read a lot of books. And no one really pays that much attention to someone who doesn't talk much and stays out of the way. S-so I've heard a lot of things too..."
[16:25] <%Somber> The branch holding the weight of three bodies snapped with the pulling.  They landed with a wet, mushy sound... like overripe fruit.  A second later, the grenades hidden in the bodies went off too.
[16:26] * Candlelight_Sonata nods.  "That's right clever."  She says.  "Are you going-" she's cut off by the sounds of explosions.
[16:26] * Sedgewick is spattered with... bits. "Eugh."
[16:28] * Lazer_Blazer truns around at the sound of explosions "Ah... what the buck did that ijit do."
[16:28] <%Somber> The grenade boquette should have been enough to vaporize Strifer, but the bodies and her own quick movements shielded her from much of the fragmentation that should have liquified her.  A cloud of putrid meat settled over the lot of them... and something else.  Bright and shiny brass buttons?  One of the corpses had a  small rotten bag full of the things!
[16:28] <%Somber> There was the profile of a mule on them!
[16:29] * Candlelight_Sonata rushes over to Strifer, covering the distance in a short flight.  She takes a moment to assess the stupid mare's injuries.
[16:29] * Naphthalena looked up towards Candlelight_Sonata, just in time for the explosions to detonate. She was suddenly very glad she'd rushed off down the road, as being coated in week-old rotten meat sounded like one of the most horrible things ever to her.
[16:29] * Strifer flies through the air from the explosion, sliding across the road with a scream. She goes down in a heap bleading profusely from numerous wounds. "Ow.. fuck.. ow.."
[16:30] * Candlelight_Sonata calls out "CALLIE!" as she pulls bandages from her saddlebags
[16:31] * Sedgewick shivers. "Oh, this is really nasty... I need a bath. Strifer! Don't frigging do that anymore! Or at least give us some warning!"
[16:31] * Calamine gasps and runs to Strifer, pulling out some bandages as well. "Lay still."
[16:31] * Strifer coughs up some blood, as she lays there shaking her head.
[16:32] <Strifer> "I.. I was right.. Ughh." *she lifts a weak leg pointing at the shiny brass buttons."
[16:32] <%Somber> Bright and shiny... and icky... brass buttons gleamed in the dirt around the remains of the tree.
[16:32] * Lazer_Blazer see's that the earth pony is still alive, she set here gaze to the surrounding jungle "Someone or thing would have to heard that." as she scans the jungle with her rifle
[16:33] <%Somber> Fortunately the jungle was far enough back that she doesn't see anything coming for them... but it had been a pretty loud bang
[16:33] * Calamine wraps Strifer in bandages, realizing that the medicine she had packed was running out and she would need to find medicinal herbs. "What is so important about buttons?"
[16:34] * Candlelight_Sonata shakes her head.  She leans down and whispers something in Strifer's ear.
[16:34] * Strifer gets blood all over Calamine's coat. Coughing again, ears still ringing. "Huh?"
[16:35] * Lazer_Blazer quikly looks at one as it slides down the side of her armour "Their shiny."
[16:35] * Candlelight_Sonata gives Strifer a hard look then trots back to Naphthalena
[16:36] * Naphthalena fidgets, moving slowly closer and looking at the weird buttons. "Um.. They're probably money of some kind... I can't think of why else someone would carry around a whole bag of buttons with the exact same face on them. L-like the way old Equestrian bits have symbols on them... Makes sure they're genuine."
[16:36] * Sedgewick wipes a button off on a tuft of grass and holds it up to his eye.
[16:37] * Strifer blinks and shakes her head sitting up with a groan. After a moment she stands up looking around at the buttons. "Hey! Hooves off the.. woah.." She stumbles to the side, okay, bloodloss, gotcha.
[16:38] * Sedgewick "I guess this could be money. Looks shiny enough. I hate to say this, but we should probably hold on to them. Can't hurt."
[16:38] <%Somber> After searching, everypony can find a hundred of the assorted brass buttons.
[16:39] <%Somber> All of them depicted a mule of some kind.
[16:39] * Calamine furrows her brow. "What an odd looking pony."
[16:39] * Strifer just sat there while the others gathered buttons. Trying to get steady again, breathing, thats the key.
[16:39] * Candlelight_Sonata looks at the button Calamine is holding.  "I think that's a mule."
[16:40] * Calamine cocks an eyebrow. "A mule? I've never heard of such creatures."
[16:40] * Sedgewick shakes his head. "Me neither."
[16:41] <%Somber> Some actually showed the mule with a crown and scepter, many had him grinning.   Had to be the ugliest equine ever seen
[16:42] * Candlelight_Sonata thinks a moment.  "Know what a donkey is?"  she asks.  "Well, like Zebras and ponies, Donkeys and ponies are closely related enough to have kids.  Few glasses of wild P and several months later... you get a mule."
[16:42] * Strifer eventually gets up, the ringing in her head stopped. "Aight, hoof them over. I was blown up, they're mine." She shoots the group a glare.
[16:44] * Sedgewick flicks the brass button he'd picked up into the air and at Strifer. The button makes a sharp pinging sound against his talons, and lands in front of Strifer with a damp thud. "Fine, fine."
[16:44] * Candlelight_Sonata points to a few buttons in the hoofclawed mare's mane.  "You may have those."
[16:44] * Calamine blinks. "Zebra and ponies can mate!?" she gasps.
[16:45] * Sedgewick shrugs. "If the tools fit, why not? Nature finds a way."
[16:45] * Lazer_Blazer looks to Calamine "What you never seen a zony befor?"
[16:45] * Candlelight_Sonata turns bright red at Calamine's exclamation.  "I... well... I was assuming... ya'll knew what I meant.  That's if'n you have time for such shennanigans."
[16:45] * Naphthalena fidgets nervously and looks on down the road. She wasn't keen on picking up rot-encrusted tokens from some poor dead soul.
[16:45] * Strifer shakes her mane. Gathering up the buttons.
[16:45] * Calamine shakes her head. "My tribe hasn't seen a pony in almost two hundred years besides when shamans go on their spiritual quest."
[16:46] * Candlelight_Sonata trots over to Naphthalena, looking horribly embarassed.  "Shall we be on our way?  Costa Del Sol awaits..."
[16:46] * Lazer_Blazer smiles "Heck I've eveny seen a Zonky. He was nice with that light brown coat and zebra stiped legs of his."
[16:46] * Naphthalena swallows nervously and nods her head. She'd very much like to move on.
[16:47] * Calamine blushes as well. "I know of how my own people mate, although not personally."
[16:47] * Candlelight_Sonata looks down at Naphthalena.  "Are you doing alright?  Not too tuckered yet?"
[16:48] * Strifer now that she got her price starts to move along the road again, okay limping a little but still. Grinning somewhat, yay money!
[16:49] * Lazer_Blazer ([email protected]) Quit ( Connection closed )
[16:49] * Naphthalena shakes her head. "I'm not tired... Just a little sick."
[16:49] <%Somber> The further east they went, the further away the jungle was.  They started to come across ruins: burned down farm houses and fields of overgrown weeds.  And unlike back home, this destruction had come a generation ago, not centuries.  The further east they went, the more and more recent the attacks were.  Then they spotted farm houses that looked as if they'd
[16:51] <%Somber> been fortified against attacks.  Signs witten in a multitude of languages warned anyone who approached would be shot.  zebras on watch towers kept guns trained on the six as they walked by.  Still, they hadn't been attacked.  Up ahead, to the east, they saw something else new... water.  A great mass of water stretching from horizon to horizon.  It appeared
[16:51] <%Somber> nearly endless.
[16:51] * Sedgewick looks gloomily at the ruins. "All this is more recent than the big war. Probably from the start of the civil war."
[16:52] * Strifer frowns at the zebras as they walk past.
[16:52] * Lazer_Blazer ([email protected]) has joined #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[16:53] * Candlelight_Sonata smiles at the expanse of water.  "Ah... the sea!  Always a charm to see such vasty bunches of water in one place.  Kinda reminds me of home."
[16:53] * Sedgewick "The 'C'? Huh?"
[16:53] <%Somber> Over the next rise they saw the end of the road, and the small round town built on the edge beside a few small piers.
[16:54] * Calamine mopes a little. "The lights destroyed my boat..."
[16:54] * Strifer forgets about her wounds for a moment. She sits down hard. Pointing her forehooves at the massive expanse of water. Mouth open as she tries to say something. "..."
[16:54] * Candlelight_Sonata pats Calamine gently with a wing.
[16:54] * Sedgewick stares out at the big expanse of water. "I want to bathe. Right now."
[16:54] * Candlelight_Sonata looks to Strifer.  "Use your words, honey."
[16:56] * Strifer mutters. "What the fuck.. This is a sea? Never seen one before. It's pretty.. Cool."
[16:57] * Naphthalena swallows nervously. "Um... I guess that's why it's so hard for things to get here..? Oceans are huge. There's no way anyone could swim or fly across it without somewhere to rest..."
[16:58] <%Somber> Way out at sea, there was also something else odd.  A white tower sticking out of the water a few miles out.  There were at least ten of them, stretched out like pickets along the store.
[16:58] <%Somber> shore*
[16:59] * Candlelight_Sonata raises a hoof to her eyes and looks out at the towers.  "Are those lighthouses?  No... too small..."  She frowns.  "We didn't have anything like that back in Stormgate."
[17:00] * Sedgewick "They look like tufa towers."
[17:01] * Strifer sighs. "Hey Zebra.. Uh, Calam? Thanks for uh, this." She points at the bandages. She mutters, still looking out over the ocean.
[17:01] * Calamine nods. "You are quite welcome. My name is Calamine, by the way."
[17:01] * Candlelight_Sonata looks to Sedgewick.  "Tufa towers?  'Fraid I ain't heard of them before."
[17:02] <Strifer> "Calamine, right."
[17:02] * Lazer_Blazer looks over the flora of the island and has no idea what is good and bad here.
[17:02] * Sedgewick "Nevermind, they can't be tufa anyways. They just reminded me of home, is all..."
[17:02] <%Somber> As they approach the front gate, a donkey leans back in a chair, a hat covering his head.  He snored quite loudly, flies orbiting his wide brimmed hat.  The town has clearly been partally abandoned and drawn in.  A stockade surrounded the settlement.  Clearly, this place had once seen better days.  A sign adversizing for sparkle cola swung in the sea breeze.
[17:04] * Naphthalena fidgets a little bit. "This place doesn't look very inviting..." Then again, considering the way the places outside the town looked, it'd be a bit unusual if the town DID look inviting.
[17:05] * Sedgewick "Excuse me, mister? Where can I get a bath?"
[17:05] <%Somber> The donkey took a deep breath, snorted, and let out a long bout of flatulence.  It went on for almost half a minute!  Then the donkey smacked his lips.
[17:06] * Calamine gags, turning away and trying not to vomit.
[17:07] <%Somber> "Que?" he blinked and peered up at the six of them, his brown gap toothed mouth hanging wide.  He thrust his hooves into the air.  "I surrender!  Don't kill me!  Long live the Colonel... er... Baron... er..."  he leaned towards them, narrowing his eyes.  "Ehhh... who am I surrendering to again?"
[17:07] * Strifer grins. "I like this one, can we keep him!?"
[17:07] * Sedgewick looks pleadingly at the others for help.
[17:08] * Naphthalena groans a little and covers her face with her claws in an effort not to smell anything. "... why is everything here so disgusting..?"
[17:09] <%Somber> "Please!  Don't enslave me!  I would make a horrible slave.  I am fat and old and would make a horrible slave!  I have brothers in law though.  You can take them."
[17:09] * Candlelight_Sonata fans her wings to try to waft the scent away from the party.  "Sorry to wake you when it looks like you're supposed to be standin' guard, but we were looking to enter your fine town."
[17:09] <%Somber> "Que?"  He lowered his hooves.  "Oh, you're visitors?"
[17:09] <%Somber> The donkey seemed quite surprised by this.
[17:10] * Strifer eyes the town gate mutters. "... fine indeed."
[17:10] <Strifer> and*^
[17:12] * Candlelight_Sonata nods.  "Just travellers on our way through.  Don't want no trouble, don't intend to cause it."  She says, slipping a glance to Strifer.  "Just having a look around."
[17:13] * Strifer gives Candlelight_Sonata her best. "What?!" Expression. Shaking her head she starts to scratch in the ground with her hoofclaws.
[17:14] * Candlelight_Sonata gives back her best "You know exactly what." expression.  Having 8 younger siblings helps.
[17:15] * Lazer_Blazer steps to the donkey as she cast her spell on herself "My fiend, we mean you no harm. We'er but lost travlers looking for room and board."
[17:15] * Sedgewick "And a bath" Sedgewick adds. "Seriously. Need bathes."
[17:15] * Naphthalena fidgets nervously, but doesn't say anything.
[17:15] * Strifer snickers and keeps scratching into the ground. "Some of us more then others."
[17:16] * Calamine looks back nervously, hoping the strange mule like creature would not release it's defense mechanism again.
[17:16] <%Somber> "Eh.... hokay.  I guess it's alright.  Just don't cause no trouble.  Costa Del Sol doesn't want no trouble from nobody.  Politics.  Peh."  He leaned towards Sedgewick and sniffed.  "Eh... you don't smell so bad.  But we got this big bathtub behind the town called the ocean you can wash in if you want.  For free, even.  If you want to pay for it though, go to
[17:17] <%Somber> Sex on the Beech.  Is the local bar, yeah?"
[17:17] * Calamine stares, her eyes wide. "What on the beach?"
[17:18] <%Somber> Sex on the beech.  Don't let the name fool you though, senorita.  Most of the fucking takes place inside.
[17:18] <%Somber> He grinned from ear to ear.
[17:18] * Calamine looks like she might faint.
[17:18] * Candlelight_Sonata facehooves.  She wonders if now she'll have to have the talk with Calamine.
[17:18] * Lazer_Blazer just goes on "And some answers if you could help. As who are this Baron and Colonel? And whom is your leader here?
[17:18] * Sedgewick doesn't care about the sex, or the beach. Only the bath.
[17:19] * Strifer grins wickedly, still scratching. Tail flicking from side to side.
[17:20] <%Somber> "You guys need anything else?"  Then he blinked.  "Information.  Fucking talk to Oro.  That slippery fuck knows everything going on around here."  he said with a scowl.  Then he looked at Lazer.  "Well... De Baron is... the baron!  He's been ruling us for... um... forever I tink.  There's always been a baron.  De Colonel, he used to work for the baron till
[17:20] * Candlelight_Sonata catches Strifer's tailflicks and rolls her eyes.
[17:20] <%Somber> fifteen years back... some say he quit... some say the Baron tried to kill him... but he ran off into the jungle and since then has been trying to overthrow the Baron."
[17:21] * Lazer_Blazer pulls out one of the brass buttons with the mule on them "And could you tell use whats the value of this, if you may?"
[17:23] <%Somber> "One button.  Five of these would get you a room and a bath at Sex on the Beach."  Normally he'd cheat her, but eh... she was okay.
[17:24] * Strifer looks up at that. Grins at the others.
[17:24] <%Somber> "Just be careful, senorita.  Carrying brass will get you in trouble with the Colonel's men.  And carrying the Colonel's bone money will get you in trouble with the baron.  So bad, most folks barter."  He shook his head.
[17:25] * Candlelight_Sonata looks to Sedgewick.  "Looks like you want the bar or the beach proper, hun.  Best places to get cleaned up round these parts."
[17:26] * Lazer_Blazer nods and gives him a smile "Thanks, you have been most helpful." then trots in to town
[17:26] * Sedgewick "Bathouse. The bar. I want some frigging /soap./ STRIFER! You owe me a bath!"
[17:28] * Strifer blinks, she starts to move into the town, tail flicking from side to side. Leaving behind, scrached into the ground was a c rude drawing of a very well endowed stallion. "What, why the fuck do I owe you anything?"
[17:28] * Candlelight_Sonata follows Lazer Blazer into town.  "Good work with your words.  You said things a far sight better than I would have, and I'm used to trying to make sure ponies like me before they shoot me."
[17:28] * Calamine sighs. "I could just a bed. Today has been long."
[17:30] * Sedgewick "Unless /you/ want to lick me clean!? You're the reason we're all covered in exploded rotten pony bits!"
[17:30] <%Somber> He nods and pulls his hat back down, then reaches down and tapps a button.  There's a beeping noise under their hooves, and then he taps a second button and the gate slowly ground open.  Costa Del Sol was much like most settlements in the wasteland.  One main street going to a town square where a second road running north and south cut through it.  At the
[17:31] * Strifer eyes Sedgewick up and down, considering that for a moment. "Sorry hun, not my type. 'sides, you can just do it for free in the ocean, sea, wet place, thing!"
[17:31] <%Somber> town square was a two story building with 'sex on the beach' painted across the front.  There was a blacksmith in the corner, next to a battered truck with its wheels off, the axle connected to a belt that ran into multiple buildings.  It chugged along anemicly as the zebra blacksmith hammered away.  On the third corner was a small one floor building marked
[17:32] <%Somber> with a pink cross and drop of blood.  And the last corner had some sort of trading post.  Most of the people living here were zebras, donkies, a few mixes, and a scattering of ponies.  They all watched the six warily.
[17:33] * Sedgewick looks at Strifer cockeyed. "You ever heard of something called 'soap'? Hmm, judging from your coat, maybe not. How about this: I'll pay for bathes for both of us. Maybe it'll civilize you a little."
[17:34] * Lazer_Blazer shakes herself as she ends her spell "Oh I'd mostly use my spells to work the crowd at are gigs. But that was back in the day, so lets see," as she truns counting the group by hoof "yup that six of us. So would you be so nice an pay for the rooms and bath Strifer? As you'er the one the got us all filthy."
[17:34] * Candlelight_Sonata smirks back to Sedgewick.  "Good luck with that, sweetheart."  she calls over her shoulder, eyeing the various zebras and donkeys about the town.
[17:35] * Calamine sighs. "I think I need to lie down. I guess I will follow you to the tavern."
[17:36] * Naphthalena sticks close to Candlelight_Sonata, trying to do her best not to attract too much attention.
[17:36] * Strifer groans and eyerolls. "I found the money, I got blown up for this money, and you want me to share it with you?! Why the hell should I do that?"
[17:37] <%Somber> Sex on the beach was a large, airy building.  Numerous fans turned from belts run in from the puttering truck, giving a slight breeze to cut the heat.  Inside there was a very... very... pretty green and red feathered griffon with bright yellow and black rosettes fur.  A half dozen bored looking ladies sat around, but perked up when they walked in, all of
[17:38] <%Somber> them smiling eagerly.  The colorful griffon smiled most of all.  Welcome to Sex on the Beach.  Will it be drinks?  Food?  Companio-"  she paused and sniffed the air, then her grin wilted a little.  "Ah, let me guess.  Bath?"
[17:39] * Lazer_Blazer shrugs as she lifts the earth pony in her telekinesis and trots to the beach "Well where getting clean some how. And theres not much else to do right now."
[17:40] * Calamine blinks. "Oh! Um, a drink would be most delightful. I am a bit parched."
[17:41] <%Somber> "Excellent.  We have many things to offer.  We have rum... er... rum... lemonade... rum... rum and lemonade... water...  water'd rum..."  The griffon seemed to be struggling for something else on her menu.
[17:42] * Strifer flails in the air. Struggling for any levrage, anywhere, floating is wierd.  "Hey Hornhead, what the fuck! Put me down! Oi!"
[17:42] * Sedgewick nods eagerly. "Yes, bath. And Strifer here" —he points— "will be paying."
[17:42] * Candlelight_Sonata watches as Lazer_Blazer lifts Strifer, and tries to stifle a smirk.  She mouths her thanks to Lazer_Blazer.
[17:42] <Calamine> "Rum? What is rum? Lemonade sounds delightful, but would mixing rum make it better? Is this an island specialty?"
[17:43] * Candlelight_Sonata speaks up.  "Uh, Rum is an alcohol, Callie.  Let's stick to lemonade for you and Naph.  If she wants some, that is."
[17:43] <%Somber> "Why, yes!  Ten buttons and we will give you all the rum and lemonade you can drink!"
[17:44] * Naphthalena fidgets a little bit. "That... That sounds pretty decent."
[17:44] * Lazer_Blazer stop mid step "Well If you would be so kind and pay we maynot have to test the water for critters that bite."
[17:44] <%Somber> She sighed.   "One button..." she muttered, her plumage falling.
[17:46] * Candlelight_Sonata smiles up at the griffess.  "Hey, I'm just counting it out for the two young ones.  Though you may want to limit the rather horrifical one's rum intake."  She says, motioning toward the floating Strifer.
[17:46] * Calamine smiles at Candlelight_Sonata. "Oh, thank you. We have some forms of alcohol back in Summerset, but I've never heard of rum," she says before pausing. "Although I've always wondered why the warrior caste members went to drink it after training or battle. Does is have restorative properties? Maybe Strifer or Sedgewick might like some!"
[17:46] <%Somber> The beach was empty, save for one lone massive zebra on the shore.  A huge spear was thrust into the sand besides him as the bearded zebra gazed out at sea.
[17:46] * Strifer flails more. "Fine, fuck! Bathhouse it is! Float me there!" Glaring at Lazer she adds. "I'll get you some day, when you least expect it."
[17:46] * Sedgewick "Bath first drink later."
[17:47] * Lazer_Blazer set down Strifer "Thank you, now lets get cleaned up and it would only cost you 30 of them buttons."
[17:49] * Calamine looks to Sedgewick. "Is it griffin custom to bathe before drinking or eating?"
[17:50] * Sedgewick "It's griffin custom to be clean. And we normally clean ourselves with our beaks and mouths. You understand why I want a bath now?"
[17:50] * Strifer is back in the bathhouse then, huzzah! Traveling by telekenisis could be nice when you wherent spinning. She trots up to the very, very, pretty Griffin. "Righto, I guess.. " She eyes the griffin up and down. "Wow.. Ah, I mean, yeah, bath, for all of us, aight? And drinks too, the whole lot. Kay? Kay!"
[17:51] <%Somber> The baths consisted of three large wooden tubs on top of a metal plate on top of an oven.  One of the mares, a unicorn, trotted out, loaded it with wood, and lit it up.  Compared to most of the wasteland, this was high luxury!
[17:52] * Lazer_Blazer nods "See that not so hard. And it was free caps... oh ah buttons."
[17:52] * Calamine nods. "It is a nice custom. Perhaps I should bathe as well. It might help relax my nerves. All this talk of inappropriate things and death is stressful."
[17:53] * Naphthalena sat down beside Candlelight_Sonata, watching the others in the room as they did... WHatever they were doing.
[17:53] * Candlelight_Sonata looks down at Naphthalena.  "Don't want a bath, Naph?"
[17:53] * Calamine looks to the others. "It appears some of us will have to share baths."
[17:54] * Naphthalena fidgets a little. "I wasn't really close enough to get covered in that... Stuff. And I don't think I want to get in a bath which has had its water used with that..."
[17:55] * Candlelight_Sonata nods in agreement.  "I figured I'll take a dip in the ocean if I really need it.  It worked just fine back home, no reason it can't here."  She looks thoughtful a moment.  "Though the water over here might be a touch warmer."
[17:55] * Lazer_Blazer get her gear off and flicks her tail "Oh its not so bad. Shareing a bath. Heck some time it's fun." as she lowers herself into a tub
[17:56] * Sedgewick climbs carefully into a tub and scrubs. Soap, soap, more soap. Scrub-a-dub-dub/one griff in a tub.
[17:56] <%Somber> When the baths were hot, one could pump a pump to add more water, replacing the foul stuff.
[17:57] <%Somber> It wasn't an ideal bathing situation, but compared to anything short of Tenpony, how could it be beter?
[17:57] * Calamine follows Lazer_Blazer's lead and starts removing her clothes and other gear.
[17:59] * Strifer pays the pretty pretty griffin lady, eyes drifting across her beutiful plumage. She wanders into the room with teh bathtubs themselves, eyeing the others and the water with a curious and doubtful look. "This is so stupid." She mutters as she wiggles out of her gear, unbuckling the leather armor and removing her horseshoes. Her body is covered in numerous scars, her cutiemark, a flaming tree hasnt gone untouched either.
[17:59] * Lazer_Blazer put her fore hoofs onto the edge of the bath "Whats the matter you two? The waters nice and warm." as she looks to Candlelight_Sonata and Naphthalena
[18:00] * Naphthalena fidgets a little. "I might try some... In a bit, I guess..."
[18:01] * Strifer fidgets "Oi, Calamine. Should I even do this shit with the bandages and wounds and all that, eh? Can't be fucking good for them, right?"
[18:01] * Candlelight_Sonata shrugs.  "Ya'll were closer to the explosion.  Figured you might want to go first."  She looks concerned at Strifer, especially with her scars.
[18:02] * Sedgewick finally finishes and climbs out of the tub, toweling off roughly. "Here, Naph. You can have this tub." He changes the water.
[18:02] * Calamine looks around for a moment, looking a bit embaressed as her eyes fall on Sedgewick. "Is there no divider between the boys and... Oh? Um, well, you should clean yourself. Perhaps a rag or sponge bath would be better. Would you like me to give you one?"
[18:02] * Candlelight_Sonata looks like she had a thought.  "Didn't Condeza say she had a sister who owned a tavern here... was... the griffess downstairs her, mayhap?"
[18:03] * Strifer waves to Calamine. "In a minute. "trots up to Candlelight_Sonata and Naph, frowning. "You and you."
[18:04] * Candlelight_Sonata looks at Strifer.  "Yes love?"
[18:04] * Lazer_Blazer just soaks in the bath for a bit
[18:04] <Strifer> "I payed for these baths, take a fucking bath. Aight?"
[18:05] * Naphthalena blinks and nods her head a little. She scurries up to take the bath offered by Sedgewick.
[18:05] * Strifer calls out after Naph. "Make sure to scrub everywhere! Get the money's worth!"
[18:05] * Candlelight_Sonata trots over to Sedgewick's bath and helps Naphthalena in.
[18:06] <%Somber> There was enough room in the three tubs for two, easily.  Soap on a rope was offered.  It wasn't the best baths ever, but far better than washing in the ocean.  The green and red macaw colored griffon trotted in.  "Is everything alright.  We're getting our three rooms read.  Clean sheets and no bedbugs."
[18:07] * Sedgewick shakes himself out and starts to put his feathers back in place. "Thank you. Getting covered in rotting body bits is not the highlight of my day."
[18:07] <%Somber> "You must have come across some poor souls.  Trapped with explosives?"
[18:08] * Naphthalena did her best to clean her scales, which was all things considered not too hard.
[18:08] * Strifer trots up to Calamine, nudging. "Get rid of these bandages, I'm going in." Looking back at the pretty pretty griffin. "Mhm, it was a great big explosion, but nothing this mare can't handle. See?" She points at the bandages.
[18:09] * Candlelight_Sonata waits patiently for Naphthalena to finish and shakes her head at Strifer.
[18:09] * Sedgewick pauses in his preening. "...Yes, actually. How did you know?"
[18:10] * Calamine slowly removes Strifer's bandages and helps her into the tub. "Would you like me to help wash you as not to open your wounds?"
[18:11] * Lazer_Blazer opens an eye at Candlelight_Sonata "There's room in here if you want." as she pats at the water
[18:12] <%Somber> "It is a common tactic by the Colonel's troops."  She shook her head.  "It rarely kills the Baron's soldiers, but it makes it impossible for the victim's family to taking them down.
[18:12] <%Somber> "
[18:12] * Strifer frowns slightly. Then sighingas she goes into the water, flinching as the waterlevel went past her wounds, woah, that was.. Nice. Huh. She closes her eyes. "Ah, yeah, sure, whatever Cala."
[18:12] * Candlelight_Sonata blushes at Lazer_Blazer's offer and looks conflictedly back and forth between her and Naphthalena.  "I... um..."  She stops as she listens to the griffeness' story.  "That's horrible.  Even for nowadays..."
[18:14] * Calamine nods, taking a wet rag and gently washing away the dirt and blood, being careful around Strifer's wounds.
[18:14] * Strifer opens one of her eyes half'nhalf, looking at the pretty pretty griffin. "Hey, whats your name?"
[18:15] * Lazer_Blazer just shrugs and goes back to just soaking the warmth of the water
[18:15] <%Somber> "It is tame compared to other acts.  Costa Del Sol works hard to stay neutral in these fights, but attackers come in the night.  And the Baron's men are not any better.  If one member in a family fights for the colonel, the Baron will have the whole family jailed till they surrender... which is, of course, a death sentence."  She looked at Strifer and smiled
[18:15] <%Somber> warmly, "Ah, excuse me.  I an Consuela."
[18:15] * Candlelight_Sonata takes off her duster and sets her rifle and saddlebags on the floor.  The party can tell that the freckles on her face continue in spotty patterns throughout her coat.  She bites her lip, a small pointed tooth sticking out as she does so.  "I think I'll join Naphthalena, give you some space to stretch, Lazer_Blazer."
[18:17] * Sedgewick "Hello, Consuela. Are you perhaps related to Condenza?"
[18:17] * Calamine looks at the dirty water that was spreading out across the bath around Strifer and says, "I'll join you when I'm done bathing Strifer."
[18:18] * Candlelight_Sonata slips cleanly into the tub next to Naphthalena.  "Ok... maybe this is a little better than the ocean..."  She admits sheepishly as she reaches for the soap.
[18:19] * Strifer smirks, closing her eyes again. "I'm Strifer, and I must say, you look fantastic." To Calamine. "Sure Cala, sure. Just replace the water whenever you want."
[18:19] * Naphthalena kept a grip on the edge of the tub, not particularly wanting to sink, after all. "You don't usually get this much clean water all in one place... I wonder if this place has some kind of desalination system..." she thinks aloud a little bit.
[18:19] <%Somber> "Si.  She is my little sister."  She gave an amused little chuckle.  "Did you run into her and her 'scientists' in their bunker along the road?"  She asked, making the marks with her fingers.
[18:20] <Strifer> "Mhm, most of them where dead though."
[18:20] * Calamine stops cleaning Strifer, looking a little pale as she says that. "Miss Strifer!"
[18:20] <%Somber> She started to answer naph, then then immediately looked at Strifer.  "What?!  What do you mean?  What happened?"
[18:21] * Strifer opens her eyes, giving Calamine a surprised look. "What, they where." Then at Consuela. "Yeah, lots of dead bodies in that bunker. Ah, not sure really, some fuckinglizard things. Your sister is fine though so it's all cool
[18:21] * Sedgewick gives Strifer the most cutting look he can muster. "She and her 'scientists' were responsible for our" he gestures to encompass the group "collective arrival. By, um. Magic. I think. It was chaos. There were geckos attacking, they killed everyone... Condenza is the only survivor."
[18:22] <%Somber> She sat down hard, hand pressed to her chest.  "Mi dios... I can't believe it.  I always thought she was safe in there because the doors were so thick.  But she is alive and well?"
[18:23] * Calamine nods. "Yes. We found her hiding inside a stall."
[18:23] <Strifer> "Yeah, said she would stay behind and.. Ah fuck if I know, clean up? Continue doing egghead stuff?"
[18:23] * Lazer_Blazer sinks into the water a little deeper
[18:24] <%Somber> "I see.  I will have to go to her soon.  But thank you for telling me.  It is good to know.  Your baths and rooms tonight are on the house."  She said as she rose.
[18:24] <Calamine> "She said the place she was going to was secure."
[18:26] * Strifer cheers. "Oh, fucking nice! Free food!" She splashes the water a little, giving the rest of the group a wide grin. So oblivious.
[18:26] * Lazer_Blazer pipes up at that "Well 'ant that nice for you."
[18:27] * Candlelight_Sonata shakes her head as she scrubs her mane.  "Least she won't be getting laid by Consuela, might be able to get some sleep tonight."  She says quietly to herself.
[18:29] <%Somber> The Griffoness looked at the six, speculatively.  "May I ask... why are you in Costa Del Sol?"
[18:29] * Strifer changes the water in her basin and pulls Calamine in. "Cmere you. You've scrubbed enough. Thanks though."
[18:30] * Calamine was not ready to be pulled in and gives out a yelp as she falls into the fresh water with Strifer. Sitting up and wiping the water out of her eyes, she smiles nervously at the warrior mare. "You are welcome."
[18:30] * Lazer_Blazer gets to work with the soap and a washcloth "Your sister told us to come here."
[18:30] <%Somber> "But why?  What are you plans?"
[18:31] * Candlelight_Sonata pipes up.  "I was trying to track some of the geckos here.  I thought they came this way."
[18:31] * Lazer_Blazer sighs "Help her to help us get home is the plan so far. But that may change."
[18:31] * Naphthalena fidgets a little bit. "There were some geckos. They stole something important to making the machine that brought us here work... If we don't get it back, we can't leave. And this was the only place we knew which was, relatively, safe..."
[18:32] * Sedgewick nods. Naphthalena was telling the story just fine.
[18:33] <%Somber> She listens to them all with a small frown.  "I see.  Well, that is a fine long term plan, but how do you intend to survive in the meantime?  You need money, yes?  Weapons?  Food?"
[18:33] * Strifer smirks at Calamine's yelp. "Chillax Doc." Looking up at Consuela she adds with a much wider grin and a nudge in Calamine's side "All that, and get really, really drunk in your tavern?"
[18:34] * Candlelight_Sonata shrugs. "I have a few helpful skills I've picked up here and there.  And I can hunt.  Not... sure how many folks need that in their diet around here, though..."
[18:34] * Calamine sighs, taking in the warmth of the bath and allowing it to relax her. "Okay. I will chill and lax."
[18:35] * Sedgewick "I hunt as well. But you are right, we need to stay alive. And we need to figure out how to kill geckos. The ones we fought healed almost as fast as we could hurt them. It was a good thing they weren't interested in staying to fight."
[18:36] * Lazer_Blazer thinks for a bit "Well work would be nice. As the island has its own problems. We don't really need to add to them. But I don't see why we can't help out."
[18:36] <%Somber> "Well... hunting is a way to make money.  Farming too.  But it will be hard to pursue those missing parts in the mean time."  She rubbed her beak.  "I know there are a number of people who need work done and have the caps to pay."
[18:36] <%Somber> buttons*
[18:37] * Candlelight_Sonata looks about the party.  "How does that sound to everyone?"
[18:38] * Sedgewick shrugs. "Sounds okay, short term."
[18:38] * Strifer reaches out with her forehooves and starts to work a massage over Calamine's back. "Sure as hell beats getting blown up everything we need some buttons." She says with a snicker. "But we all know where the quick caps come from.."
[18:38] <Strifer> "Eh, buttons, whatever."
[18:38] * Lazer_Blazer srubs a hind leg sticking out of the water "Sound fine with me. As long we'er not burning a pilliging."
[18:39] * Naphthalena nods her head a little bit.
[18:39] * Candlelight_Sonata looks down at Naphthalena.  "We'll take small, safe ones.  Ones we can get by on, then go in search of those parts."
[18:40] * Calamine keeps her eyes closed, actually enjoying as Strifer worked her hooves over her back. "It is quite nice here. The spirits are even much more friendly and harmonious here. I could see if any of the spirits will aide us and give our equipment a boon or enchantment as we try to aide the people of this town."
[18:40] <%Somber> She smiled.  "Costa Del Sol isn't Del Luna.  You would not get rich quick peddling flesh.  There simply aren't enough randy young mares and stallions for such business."  She tapped her beak.  "I know four people who needs... favors."
[18:41] <%Somber> "Oro works for the Baron and always needs special work done.  He is slime... but well connected to others across the island."
[18:43] <%Somber> "Adai is the blacksmith.  He works closely with the Colonel's men, and I know he'd pay well for folks who can do work well.  I do not know how violent his work would be, but perhaps that'd be up to you."
[18:43] * Strifer starts working her hooves down Calamine's back and onto her flanks. "Adai huh.. "
[18:44] <%Somber> "Coupon is a pony in the trading post.  He's not political, and may be the best way to get money without angering either the Baron or the Colonel's men."
[18:45] <%Somber> "Lastly, I know some locals that need all kinds of different help.  It will give you money for goods and the opportunity to find information on these Geckos you seek."
[18:46] * Calamine tightens up slightly, but the massage feels too good and quickly relaxes again. It appeared to her that Strifer was trying to thank her for her medicial assistance and become friends.
[18:46] * Naphthalena swallows nervously. "Maybe we should check out the trader first..? I'd rather not go choosing sides in a fight that's not really ours."
[18:46] * Sedgewick "We need to know our enemy. All our enemies. Hum. Perhaps the locals? We need to know how these geckos heal so fast, find a way to counter it."
[18:47] * Candlelight_Sonata nods.  "I'm inclined to agree with Naphthalena and Sedegwick.
[18:47] * Strifer snorts. "Or we talk with all of them and make none of them know what they want to think of us! Fucking. Brilliant."
[18:48] <%Somber> Consuela nods.  "I can understand your sentiment and I will respect it... but I wish to just say... if this war does not end, in a few more years there will be no one left on Isla Del Sol but the dead.  Now I will leave you to decide your next action."
[18:48] * Lazer_Blazer nods "Yes the town folk and this Coupon sounds like a plan."
[18:48] * Candlelight_Sonata looks over at Strifer.  "I know you're a bruiser who doesn't mind knocking heads, but I'd rather avoid direct confrontation."  She sighs.  "Oro... might also be an option.  Good knowledge is always priceless.  Even if it comes from a spooky pony.  Or zebra."
[18:50] * Sedgewick "Or we could kill them both, I suppose. Might work."
[18:51] * Lazer_Blazer looks to Candlelight_Sonata "We can get more of an idea of this place with the local town folk. And they would get to know us. Then we could look into this Oro or Adai."
[18:52] * Candlelight_Sonata snorts at Sedgewick, the nods to Lazer_Blazer.  "I agree.  Get our bearings.  Don't want to jump into something needlessly.  I ain't at the point of misbehaving yet."
[18:52] * Strifer leans hear head ontop of Calamine's head. "Gee, fine I guess we can't just kill them all and not care about it. But lets atleast leave all that for tomorow ye? I've fucking payed for drinks tonight, so that's what Im going to do, drink."
[18:54] * Candlelight_Sonata watches Strifer and Calamine carefully.  "Just try to go easy there, Strifer.  Don't want to have to add busting you out of jail to our to do list."
[18:55] * Calamine opens her eyes, realizing Strifer was laying on to of her. "Why would she go to jail?"
[18:55] * Naphthalena swallows nervously. "I don't think either side seems very nice..." She sighs quietly. "But I wouldn't want to make a choice without knowing more about them."
[18:56] * Lazer_Blazer gives a laugh "I don't think this is the type of place that would have jails."
[18:56] <Strifer> "Batty, I always go easy. You'll know when I get worked up."
[18:56] * Sedgewick is grim. "No jails, I think. Only gibbets."
[18:56] * Candlelight_Sonata puts a hoof on Naphthalena's shoulder.  "Exactly.  Look into things before jumping to conclusions."
[19:06] * Somber ([email protected]) Quit ( Quit: http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client )
[19:07] * Strifer is now known as Pantzar
[19:07] * Candlelight_Sonata is now known as Heartshine
[19:09] * Sedgewick is now known as Scorch_Mechanic
[19:09] * Scorch_Mechanic is now known as Scorch_Mechanic[A]
[19:09] * Scorch_Mechanic[A] ([email protected]) has left #FalloutEquestriaPNP2 ("")
[19:10] * Heartshine ([email protected]) has left #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[19:10] * Lazer_Blazer is now known as Jackelmandingo
[19:10] * Calamine ([email protected]) Quit ( Connection closed )
[19:11] * Naphthalena is now known as Ilushia