Piss Poor Group Session 46

[18:24] * Rabtar  our group has just salvaged a strange spider tank thing..... And they are now on there way back to Harmony Heights to re-pick up the trail of the slavers who took many of the residents of the town...
[18:25] * Ragebrew hung from the front of the tank, watching ahead of it, flashlight sweeping side to side with it's stride "Ya good to ride into the night and mornin' Elektron?!" She yelled over the stomping of the walker
[18:25] * Elektron raises the tilts the tank up and down
[18:26] <+Elektron> tilts the*
[18:26] * Spectre` continues to fly a few hundred feet up
[18:27] * Swamp_Shadow is in sleep mode. And by sleep mode, she means sleeping. Sleep Mode sounds more cyborgy after all.
[18:29] * Ragebrew blinked as the mech tilted "Huh. That helmets pretty weird stuff, Elektron?"
[18:29] * Elektron repeats the same motion
[18:31] * Ragebrew shook her head, chuckling. "Can only think of what yer planning to make with it."
[18:33] * Elektron whirs some motors in response
[18:34] * Ragebrew smacked the chassis with her hoof. "Feel that?"
[18:37] * Elektron steps to the side for a moment, spinning the motors to make a grinding sound
[18:38] * Ragebrew nodded "Sorry. Guess so. Looks like we're gonna have to keep ya from getting shot up in fights then."
[18:41] * Elektron nods as they continue moving forward
[18:45] * Mad_Modd  the group reach Harmony Heights in short order...
[18:47] * Ragebrew pointed towards the tracks leading to Old App. "Alright. Full speed ahead. I doubt they are gonna make any effort to hide their tracks, so I should be able to keep track of them."
[18:49] * Spectre` keeps flying ahead every now and then
[18:51] * Elektron maintains the course towards Old App
[18:54] * Mad_Modd  3 Ragebrew easily picks the trail back up, leading there spider tank towards Old Apploosa. Elektron driving the stompy machine long into the night and early morning. They are now probably only an hour behind the slavers, but they are now dangerously close to Old App...
[18:55] * Ragebrew narrows her eyes against the coming dawn. "Far too close... Alright. We taking the tank in or hoofing it? Tank is tank, but hoofing it is quiet."
[18:57] * Elektron stops the tank and takes off the helmet, holding a hoof to his head "Either is fine..." he says, giving a large yawn "I could do with a break though..."
[18:58] * Mad_Modd  the terrain has become a bit hilly with scattered large rock outcroppings
[18:59] * Spectre` zips down "CAnt see anything immediately ahead. SHould i go higher and start peeking over the hills?"
[19:00] * Ragebrew looked around the area, hopping off the tank to eye the tracks. "No dice. Chug a pot of coffee and press on. We wait any longer, they'll be caged and collared for sure. Look around for their camp. No way they'd be up at dawn..."
[19:01] * Spectre` nods and flies ahead again, rather high up this time
[19:02] * Elektron nods, poking his head out to take a look around
[19:02] * Ragebrew jumped off the tank "Alright, keep to valleys and ravines. Don't crest any hills. I'm gonna move ahead on hoof, keep following the trails.
[19:05] * Mad_Modd  Spectre spots a plum of smoke off in the distance, towards Old Apploosa...
[19:06] * Spectre` flies down again "Found them, not sure how far but they are not at Appleloosa yet at least"
[19:07] <Spectre`> "Tank should be able to make a straight shot"
[19:08] <+Ragebrew> "Alright. Move it along Elektron. Keep off the ridges. Hopefully we can caught 'em with that shoes off."
[19:10] * Elektron nods and puts the helmet back on, starting the machine once more
[19:11] <Spectre`> "Should i go low and fly ahead to scout them out?"
[19:11] * Swamp_Shadow yawns. "So what Ah miss on our little road trip?"
[19:12] * Elektron starts moving the tank towards Old Apploosa
[19:13] * Ragebrew moved as a quick trot infront of the tank, moving along with the tracks.
[19:14] <+Ragebrew> "Just don't get shot to shit."
[19:19] * Mad_Modd  the batpony comes up on the remains of a recently vacated camp sights....
[19:20] * Spectre` frowns and continues to sneak off towards Appleloosa
[19:21] * Mad_Modd  after a bit he comes up on a large group of ponies moving slowly, many of them gagged with shackles around their necks, each connected to the pony next to them, a few armed guards trot along side keeping them moving and in line
[19:22] * Spectre` closes in a bit
[19:23] * Mad_Modd  one of the armed ponies whips his rifle up and fires a shot at Spectre`
[19:23] * Mad_Modd thankfully missing him
[19:24] * Spectre` flees! Heading east for a few hundred yards before hightailing it south back towards the party
[19:25] * Ragebrew just kept trekking forward at a steady pace.
[19:26] * Mad_Modd  no pony follows Spectre` .... probably just thinking the slaver was jumpy or high...
[19:27] * Spectre` returns to the group "One of them saw me, but hopefully they dont know about us" he explain, plopping down onto the tank "MOre than a three dozen i wager, including the slaves. No power armor though"
[19:28] * Ragebrew was huffing and puffing a bit as she jog "Right then. Hard fast and disorderly then. Figure tank can distract from a good distance while we move up for the kill."
[19:30] <Spectre`> "We wont be sneaking up on them..." he mutters and allows himself to relax a bit "Elektron, can you keep the tank casting a large shadow by the way?"
[19:31] * Elektron slows the tank slightly to ask "We're awfully close to Old Appleloosa, won't they be able to get help?"
[19:31] <+Elektron> "And I can try, I suppose..."
[19:31] <Spectre`> "THe fight will long be over before any reinforcements arrive"
[19:32] <+Ragebrew> "Take 'em an hour on hoof if we move now. Put that thing into high gear."
[19:33] * Merciful_Devotion snorts and looks up, somehow having managed to fall asleep while riding the tank. "Huh? What's going on?"
[19:33] * Elektron gulps and nods, making the machine go as fast as possible
[19:35] * Spectre` nods "If you dont mind, im gonna nap a bit. Figure the tank will get shot at long before us and because of that they can make a great alarm"
[19:35] <+Ragebrew> "Someone wake up Swampie. Need her on the main gun."
[19:36] * Spectre` retreats behind the turret and settles down.
[19:36] * Mad_Modd  Sarsaparilla raises a hoof from her spot in the back of the turret "And what about me?"
[19:37] <+Ragebrew> "Ya wanna fight or ya wanna get snuck behind some rocks with my shotgun?"
[19:38] * Mad_Modd  she ponders that for a moment "I think I'll stay with this here contraption and keep boarders off of ol cuties back."
[19:39] <+Merciful_Devotion> "I got it, Rage." She clambers over and taps on Swamp_Shadow's brow gently. "Wakie wakie, we need you on the gun."
[19:39] <+Ragebrew> "No bucking till yer hindquarters work again, missie. Otherwise, enjoy. Merci can tell ya stories I'm sure." She still gave the mare her double barrel. "Alright, lets hit it!"
[19:40] * Swamp_Shadow grumbles at him. "Ah've been awake! Y'all just ignored me and did you techie stuff.
[19:41] * Merciful_Devotion blinks. "Oh... Whoops! I fell asleep myself, so..."
[19:48] <+Ragebrew> "I ain't no techie! Just smart enough to go "Ooo, shiny! What else can we do with it?" Main gun missy, and don't waste those shells!" Rage added a burst of speed to her stride, looking to close the distance.
[19:53] * Merciful_Devotion hops off the tank and follows after Rage
[19:53] * Mad_Modd  the group catch up to the slavers, finally getting close enough to get a count. They have seven slavers and over twenty new slaves with them. The slavers are lightly armed... and don't seem to notice the rhythmic stomping sound of the approaching tank...
[19:54] * Spectre` snoozes. Waiting for the alarm sound of bullets flying
[19:55] * Ragebrew counted her blessings as she looked over the crest of a ridge, moving as close as she could. Omega in her mouth, Samaritan in her holster. "Close as we can, then drop the grunts. No booms. Trying to save folks, not bury 'em."
[19:56] * Swamp_Shadow loads up her crossbow and bandolier. "Ah'm sneaking on ahead. See y'all in the battlefield," she says before jumping out to sneak away.
[19:57] * Ragebrew hopped off the tank, and moved into position. "North and south style. Spectre', wakey wakey."
[19:57] * Elektron continues approaching, all the while questioning the integrity of the plan
[19:58] * Spectre` groans and gets up "Swamp, wait up!" he groans and sets off after her
[19:58] * Mad_Modd  as the spider tank crest the next hill only about a hundred yards away from the slavers they all just kinda freeze and stare at it, not quite sure what to make of the strange contraption...
[20:02] * Ragebrew is the stealthiest pile of ceramic and metal plating as she moves up closer to the slavers. Once she was confident she could peg 'em, she lined up Omega with whoever looked like the boss, and BLAM, let battle commence!
[20:06] * Mad_Modd  two of the slavers just explode! Causing the every slaver just panic and scatter as they are splattered with the blood and guts of there comrades. Leaving the slaves to there apparent fate, the slaves seeming to struggle and panic as the shooting and screaming starts...
[20:07] * Ragebrew rose from her position, lifting her sunglasses to smile. "Hunt 'em down ya two."
[20:07] * Spectre` chuckles and zooms ahead, spreading his wings to speed up after them
[20:09] * Swamp_Shadow pops up next to the slaves. "Howdy, folks. Who's ready to be rescused?"
[20:10] * Ragebrew trotted up slowly from behind her cover pile. She popped open Omega and pulled out the two empty shells, slipping them into her saddle bags. "What she said."
[20:10] * Merciful_Devotion rushes down to the group of slaves, her horn glowing as she casts Soft Light. "Hey, it's alright! We're here to rescue you!"
[20:11] * Elektron powers down the tank and plops down to take a nap
[20:12] <Spectre`> Snicker snack, 4 out of the five die as specter chops off the tail of the final fleeing stallion "Ill cut off more if you dont turn around right now.... I figure the boss mare will want to chat" he says menacingly around the katana grip
[20:13] * Mad_Modd  the buck just squeals and runs faster, tears running down his face as he flees in even greater panic...
[20:14] * Mad_Modd  the bound ponies squirm and panic a bit more, she can hear muffled cries come from many of them
[20:15] * Mad_Modd  Spectre` trips the poor buck and he faceplants, bleeding from where his tail used to be...
[20:15] * Spectre` growls and places the blade at his neck "Do i need to repeat myself? The only way you're not gonna turn into a corpse is by coming with me. Now do i need to start cutting off limbs or will you cooperate?"
[20:17] * Ragebrew trotted up beside the squirming mare and pulled out her kitchen knife, slicing the gags off. "Check the corpses for keys."
[20:17] * Mad_Modd  he screams and grabs up a beat up looking pistol, trying to point it at the evil batpony
[20:17] * Swamp_Shadow starts looking around the corpses for keys.
[20:20] * Mad_Modd  the batpony slaps the weapon out of his mouth. The buck starting to sob as the victorious Spectre` looms over him...
[20:20] <Spectre`> "Rage! Get over here!" he yells and just waits , blade still at the bucks throat
[20:21] * Merciful_Devotion sighs softly. "Please... It's alright. I promise, we aren't here to hurt you." She gives the panicking slaves her most sincere smile. "I give you my word that none of my group will harm any of you."
[20:21] * Ragebrew perked up her head, and took off towards the yell from Spectre.
[20:22] * Spectre` looks at the mare "You have any questions you want to ask these fucks? Alternatively hed make a great messenger
[20:23] * Mad_Modd  they just cower at Mercy's words...
[20:25] * Ragebrew looked at the cowering buck, kneeling down infront of him. "Ya know who I am?"
[20:26] * Merciful_Devotion sits and folds her ears back, frowning. "Did I say something wrong...?" She seems genuinely upset that her words only frightened the group even more
[20:26] * Mad_Modd  he shakes his head no...
[20:28] <+Ragebrew> "Surprised yer boss doesn't have me kill on site." She shrugged. "Well, I'm Ragebrew, and yer the lucky fuck out of all these that get to go home and whimper to yer boss about how we butchered ya like radroachs. Now strip and get galloping back to yer friends before I decide to buy myself some time and blow yer leg off."
[20:28] * Spectre` stands off to the side for a moment and keeps an eye on the buck
[20:29] * Mad_Modd he's shaking pretty badly "w... what?"
[20:30] <+Ragebrew> "And, well, wondering why there was a gut and flayed pony in the middlle of that town. Sure that wasn't yer doing. So, care to explain that, or shall I ventilate yer skull to let more air get to it?"
[20:33] * Mad_Modd "It... it wasn't us! Those weird Rangers the b-boss started working with a few months back did it!"
[20:34] <+Ragebrew> "Oooh, now see, that has my interest." She grabbed the slaver by the scruff of the neck and started hauling him back. "Yer gonna tell me alll about that, and then some, or I leave ya for carrion birds. My grudge isn't worth giving up intel bout us, ya know?"
[20:35] * Mad_Modd  he whimpers and nods his head "I'll answer anything!"
[20:36] * Mad_Modd  Swamp_Shadow finds the keys on some headless slavers body
[20:36] * Ragebrew nodded, bobbing him up and down in her mouth "Good."
[20:36] * Swamp_Shadow takes the keys and starts ungagging and freeing slaves.
[20:37] * Mad_Modd  many dart off into the desert as they are released, only a few stay, seeming to understand what has happened...
[20:38] * Ragebrew dropped the slaver and yelled to the scattering ponies "AYE! HOME IS THATTA WAY!" Pointing off towards Harmony Heights.
[20:39] * Ragebrew sighed and looked over the rest that remained. "Well, lets get ya'll home them. We got a tank to escort ya, although driver needs a nap..."
[20:41] * Mad_Modd  the last slaver tries to crawl away as Ragebrew is distracted
[20:41] * Ragebrew pointed Omega at him "I'd warn ya, but these rounds are expensive. Killing ya's worth the caps though."
[20:42] <+Ragebrew> "Try and run. Try. See how far ya get. I dare ya."
[20:43] * Mad_Modd  the buck just freezes and whimpers some more
[20:44] * Ragebrew grabbed one of the iron collars and clapped it on the buck, tying the lead to her armor. "Alright... Lets get back to Double H before folks come and wonder what that ruckus was, yes?"
[20:45] <+Ragebrew> "Actually.. Harmony Heights is picked clean. Figure Newton's a better bet. Pick the corpses of useful stuff, we'll make a few hours there before setitng up... We need a nap."
[20:46] * Mad_Modd  Ragebrew can see the buck pulling out another weapon from a pocket....
[20:47] * Swamp_Shadow watches the slaves run off into the desert. "Well, ain't that gratitude for ya."
[20:47] * Ragebrew looked at the buck, smirking before smacking him with her stonehoof.
[20:49] <+Ragebrew> "Getting tired of yer shit. Ya wanna die or not?
[20:49] * Ragebrew flagged down Elektron and the tank.
[20:50] * Mad_Modd  the buck doubles over as Ragebrew hits him in the gut with her stone hoof and drops his small holdout weapon, he flops to the ground gasping for breath...
[20:51] * Elektron the tank remains powered down
[20:52] * Ragebrew sighed, looking to the slaves "Yer welcome to tag along with us to Newton, or make way for Harmony. Up to ya'll. We got a mare to fix and cultists to thwart." She went about picking over the slaver corpses for loot.
[20:54] <+Ragebrew> "Bah,  worthless." She looked to the freed slaves "Yer welcome to this stuff, not worth the weight to us. If yer not coming, best of luck, if ya are, well, follow the tank." She picked up the slaver and trotted back towards the tank, lashing the slaver to it. "We're gonna chat on the way to Newton."
[20:56] <+Ragebrew> She looked at the little auto pistol "Seriously? That wouldn't even pierce my plating..."
[20:58] * Mad_Modd  the now free slaves scrounge up the slavers weapons and start heading back towards Harmony Heights, one of them trotting up "We'll manage. Those that ran off mite make it back to Harmony... we should be there for them. Thanks for the save..." and they leave
[20:59] * Spectre` stares at the slaver for a moment and trots over to Elektron "How good are you at metalworking?"
[20:59] * Ragebrew tipped her hat "Safe travels." before perching on the tank, looking at the slaver, who she had tied upsidedown.
[21:00] <+Ragebrew> "Onward and upward then. Lets get Smiles to a doc."
[21:01] * Mad_Modd  the now most likely former slaver just nods in agreement with Ragebrew
[21:01] * Swamp_Shadow frowns. "A heroes work usually goes thankless, Ah guess..." Then the slave thanks the group. "Oh. Nevermind."
[21:02] * Ragebrew snickered, looking to Swamp_Shadow "Aye, only out a couple caps and some sleep, and some folks get to go home free. Is thanks enough. Now on the tan with you."
[21:03] * Merciful_Devotion grumbles a little at how poorly she spoke to the slaves, no pony had ever reacted like that when she spoke before!
[21:08] <+Ragebrew> "Happens Merci. Scared ponies are irrational ponies."
[21:09] <+Merciful_Devotion> "Yeah yeah... Still a blow to my ego there, ya know?"
[21:10] * Elektron yawns, rubbing his eyes "Wha- its... okay, I suppose?"
[21:10] * Ragebrew hugged the little unicorn "Aye, ya've never had to silver tongue a buncha former slaves. Figure they thought we were worse slavers or something."
[21:11] <Spectre`> "Think you can fashion up a brand?"
[21:12] * Elektron blinks sleepily "What?"
[21:12] <Spectre`> "A brand. A chunk of metal that if pressed on flesh will leave a mark that says 'slaver' but small enough to be applied to a forehead"
[21:12] * Merciful_Devotion leans into the hug a little. "Thanks."
[21:13] * Elektron "I- I /suppose/ I could... what did I miss anyway? I think I fell asleep after turning it off..."
[21:14] <Spectre`> "Heading to Newton. Got a slaver to interrogate and i figure once thats done we let him go alive... But i want something to mark him for life as a slaver. Something he cant just get rid of"
[21:15] <+Merciful_Devotion> "Newton again? Finally... I need a stiff drink."
[21:17] * Elektron pauses "I know he deserves but I /really/ don't want to make something like that. It just seems so... barbaric."
[21:19] <Spectre`> "Got any better ideas?" he cants his head "I dont want him simply putting on a new uniform and walking away from his life without consequence. "
[21:21] * Ragebrew looked between the two. "Ya know, if anyone has any right to decide the fate of a slaver, is the former slave."
[21:21] * Elektron lays his head down "I'm sorry, I have no clue. I don't want him walking away either, but I don't know what he deserves."
[21:22] * Ragebrew looked to Spectre' "But I want ya to know I think that's a bit much." She looked to the slaver "Yer gonna become a caravan guard, help protect the weak and defenseless, RIGHT?" She leaned muzzle to muzzle, forehead to forehead with the slaver.
[21:23] * Mad_Modd  he nods vigorously
[21:23] * Merciful_Devotion giggles. "I could always lock him in a room with me for a week or two ~"
[21:23] <Spectre`> "Hes walking away with his life. Hes lucky i dont just drain him and leave him to rot" he growls "If you wont help me ill just carve the words into his forehead myself"
[21:24] * Spectre` unsheathes his blade
[21:25] * Elektron winces at the thought
[21:25] <Spectre`> "he is not walking away from this unscared"
[21:25] * Ragebrew looked at Spectre' at that statement, then to the slaver's bloody stump "He's already missing a tail."
[21:26] * Ragebrew snorted, looking over at Merci "We're not looking to reward him, at least at first. Figure after the first day or two it'd be hell."
[21:27] <Spectre`> "And? Its not like ponies missing limbs is a rarity in these lands" he mutters looking at Ragebrews stone hoof
[21:27] <+Merciful_Devotion> "Hey, who said anything about rewarding him?"
[21:27] <+Ragebrew> "And if ya really want to mark him for good, I could make some acidic dye. Sear all the fur off the spot, leave a nice colorful marking. Be pretty painful too."
[21:28] <Spectre`> "This isnt about torturing him! This is about letting other ponies knows hes a scum sucking slaver"
[21:28] <+Ragebrew> "Was. Figure after this little run in, he's reconsidering his choice in life."
[21:29] <Spectre`> "And thats why i say we mark him. He can move on scot free with just a uniform swap. "
[21:29] * Mad_Modd  the buck finally speaks up "Ummm... do I get any say in this?"
[21:30] * Ragebrew looked at the buck "Not really, but ya can humor us with what ya have to say."
[21:32] * Mad_Modd  "Ummmm.... just let me go?"
[21:34] <+Ragebrew> "That's the plan, after we're done with ya. I'd like to know about those power armor cultists, yer base layout in Old App, what kinda dakka ya got at hoof, anything nasty we're gonna end up dealing with when we blitz the place."
[21:34] <Spectre`> "Oh, ill let you go. But you know its not going to be unscarred"
[21:35] <Spectre`> "Or i could literally just 'let you go'... At about 2000 feet up"
[21:36] * Swamp_Shadow speaks up. "Uh, that kinda sounds like Dashite branding to me... Although Dashites usually did nothing wrong, but still..."
[21:37] * Mad_Modd  he tries to scoot away from Spectre` "S-sure! Only dealt with the Rangers once. Weird lot they are. Kept talking about this 'True Master' of theirs... They only took a pair of foals. Said they needed a 'pure' soul."
[21:39] * Mad_Modd  "As for Ol App.... I just know the old saloon is where most of the slavers spend there time when not lookin for or sellin. The big building by the gate is Shadow's... only him and his guest go in there."
[21:39] * Mad_Modd  "And what the hell is dakka?"
[21:39] * Spectre` rolls his eyes "Ive seen slaves treated to much worse than what im suggesting for him. " he mutters
[21:39] * Ragebrew pointed Omega at the slaver "This is dakka."
[21:40] <+Ragebrew> "Well, that'll make it easier to find the fuck. So, cultists to the south, slavers to the north. Figure they are packing some good heat, but nothing too scary. Question is, which is worse? Cultists in power armor making for a MAS hub... or a buncha slavers?"
[21:43] * Mad_Modd  "Oh.... weapons.... just the usual stuff... Ropes has a bazooka.... and there is the tank.... But no one has ever seen it move.... so maybe it's broken?"
[21:44] <Spectre`> "The slavers will be here when we return. THese cultists sound like whatever they are doing will be finishing up soon"
[21:45] <Spectre`> "And... To be honest" he smirks "The thought of you in a suit of power armor is horrifying Ragebrew"
[21:45] <+Ragebrew> "Tank doesn't need to move much to shot it's gun. Good to know. Zooka is annoying, but we got our own bomber." Looked to Spectre' "Pains me to say it, but yeah.  Newton, then the Glow. This isn't gonna be fun at all."
[21:45] <+Ragebrew> "Like I'd ever find a suit that fits me." She grumbled, looking skyward.
[21:46] * Ragebrew looked to Elektron "Ya ready to roll out?"
[21:46] <Spectre`> "EIther way. If we take them down all their equipment will be ours to take on Appleloosa"
[21:46] * Elektron snorts back awake "Right now?"
[21:47] <Spectre`> "Would be better if we could somehow get the two fighting one another"
[21:48] <+Ragebrew> "We can't crash this close to Old App. Someone'll find the mess, and us with it. Sure Shadow's got a flier or two at his command."
[21:49] * Elektron yawns "I guess... how far are we going?"
[21:50] <+Ragebrew> "Couple hours at least, or if we can spot a nice place to hide."
[21:51] * Elektron climbs back into the drivers seat "Alright then, just point me in the right direction."
[21:55] * Ragebrew pointed towards the... whatever! "Onward!"
[21:56] * Mad_Modd  and they stomp off into the day, arriving at Newton in the late afternoon.... for doing far better with this than I thought the group gets 3500xp