After discovering a startling clue about her AWOL parents on a hidden holotape inside of the Pinegrail Lodge north of Vault 73, Gwendolyn Corner does battle with the local nemesis: a very old, and extremely angry Yao Guai. She climbs the Lodge for a better vantage point and wounds it with a few well placed throwing knives, only to be knocked down to ground level in a heap of ruined wood by the raging mutant ursine. A lucky strike from inside the fallen debris kills the bear, and she claims its head and some meat as a trophy to curry favour with the maker of the holotape: one Louise Powell of The Bluffs to the east.

Sleeping the night away inside of the Lodge, Gwendy is dismayed to discover that the carcass of the rad-bear has attracted a pack of hungry hounds that mean to add her to the disgusting buffet. Unable to sneak away from them, she is forced to fight all three in what was a taxing and dangerous encounter, though the end result is a pack full of yummy dog burgers.

With a few scars to tell the tale she continues to search for the source of the strange transmission.

THe Bluffs

Travel: East to Map Cell #8 'The Bluffs'
@ Gwendy travels east to The Bluffs
-> -1 Supply (noted)

Encounter: The Bluffs (Settlement)
d: 1d20=2 Security -> Whatever passes for for the law is questioning residents. They demand to see your 'papers', credentials of some sort. 
=> Who are the Creeps? What papers would they want you to have?
=> The Creeps are members of Pastor Anthony Clement's church and are highly motivated recruiters of their faith.
=> No major bartering with The Nest is allowed without the Pastor's say-so, and only certain services may be provided unless you attend The Mass in the Underground Church.
=> Church members are defined by a mark (TBD)

The sun has crossed the sky from morning well into twilight by the time Gwendy catches sight of what must be The Bluffs: a long ragged line of steep rocky slopes that fall away into a blood red lake stretching as far north as the eye can see. The water looks black in the failing light.

A densely wooded path away from the Lodge took her up hills and down into swampy valleys before the waves of land became more drawn out and easy to walk, the distorted forest giving way to clusters of sad irradiated growth and the occasional hulking silver tree. They look very old, she thinks while examining the smooth trunks. No leaves seem to grow on the wavering branches. They undulate like a heat distortion but are solid in the breeze coming off of the lake. Looking into the distance she can see several of the same sort. They dominate the low scrub that peppers the land between the break in the southern forest and the long downward slide to the edge of the water. To the right the slope leaps up again and forms a crescent around the lake where the Bluffs look out over the shore. Gwendy shudders, imagining the earth falling away and crashing into that horrible rusty water.

Louise Powell said her home was a shipping container in one of the trees on the bluffs, and as she scans the ridge in the gloom she spots what could be the place... a huge tree that doesn't fade into bare branches but sort of clusters. In the shadows one might have thought it a healthy, leafy tree. She is reluctant to approach the site as the light fades, risking some sort of bullet-based misunderstanding, so she decides to take a note from the holotape maker and find a spot above the ground to rest.

Survival Action - Find/Make Shelter
@ Gwendy hauls her tired bones up into the nearest, largest tree she can find, hoping to make a comfortable and safe spot to sleep
d: (INT)SURVIVAL vs (TN=9) 2d20=7,13 -> HIT
=> Three branches come together to make a pretty decent hammock

It doesn't take her long to center herself in the tree. She is even able to lay her sleeping bag under her, confident the divot where the branches come together will keep her from falling out. As she settles in to sleep the muted whisper of the distant shore drifts up pleasantly from the coast. Turning to face it she notices lights twinkling down near the water, all clustered together, maybe two kilometers away.

"Must be the Nest," she thinks. Then, "...nest of what?" before succumbing to sleep.

Rest Action - No Skill Test Required
@ Gwendy falls asleep in the tree near the coast of The Bluffs
d: Spend 2x Supplies to heal 2x HP -> HP at maximum (10)
=> Sleeping the whole night, Gwendy awakens with the light and builds a small fire to cook with

THEY COME WITH THE LIGHT

It's as small of a fire as she can make, just a little flame to slowly roast one of her dog steaks over, but it must have made enough smoke to spot at a distance because she's barely through the meal when she sees figures advancing from the west.

There are three or four of them. Humans as far as she can tell, which doesn't mean much but makes her relax just a bit. She's packed up and kicked out her campfire by the time their eyes and mouths are visible and she debates beating a sneaky retreat, but something in their stride makes Gwendy realize that they aren't looking to fight. Still, she keeps her palm on the hilt of a throwing knife and puts the big tree to her shoulder when they finally approach.

Of the group (four, she confirms now) half are men, the other half women. A glance between them seems to be enough for them to decide who will step forward and address her. Like the other three, the woman in front is as clean as folk can get with an infinite supply of dirty water, which is to say not very, but Gwendolyn can see that an effort was made. Their clothes are simple scavenged shirts, skirts and trousers and her first impression is that these look like good people. People who care and want you to care too. Their eyes are welcoming, their smiles proud, almost beatific.

Woman: "Hail, outlander, and welcome to the Bluffs," she says, opening her arms and turning slightly as if to display the rolling, descending hills and sharp sloping bluffs to the east, north.

Woman: "My name is Rebecca, my companions are George, John and Prattlepot. We are sheep in the flock of the Pastor Anthony Clement. You look thirsty, would you like to join us in our home? All are welcome, and it's just over there..."

Gwendy hikes the shoulder strap of her Vault Tek pack over the thick black hide of her Dad's leather jacket and tries to press her lips into a smile, but it's difficult.

When she was very young a man came to the Fort with religion and was insistent, then dismayed when the folk from the Vault didn't respond to his uninvited and very loud 24 hour ministrations. Eventually Esmeralda and the other guards had to haul him away, tossing him out of the gate and into the mud to much commotion. Some of the traders laughed, but others had a dark expression, as if they were offended by the Vault's desire to be rid of the mad spiritualist. When she asked her parents about it her Dad just told her that "Sometimes people need something to cling to out there, and what they find takes root and clings to them, uses them, and it often wants to spread. Gets mad when it can't." The Mrs. Classroom teacher-bot had a few facts to regurgitate about religion when she asked about it in school, but the facts sounded like the weirdest Old World ideas to her young ears. Left behind in better days when the world was fresh, hope in deep supply.

Gwendy: "Gee, wow thank you, that sounds really nice," she says with a strained politeness. All nods and smiles from them as if she agreed to join their family right then and there.

Gwendy: "but, the thing is... I got somewhere to be and its in the opposite direction, over yonder," She points to the spine of sliced stone that dives into the dirty red lake, around the bay opposite to the Nest.

Rebecca takes two steps forward in the grass and Gwendy can see for the first time that she's barefoot, her feet and ankles black with ink or frostbite. Closer now and the beatific look on her face is inflated with the same glistening zealotous glee the mad preacher in her memory possessed. The whites of her eyes are threaded with red, sore at the corners with what could be dried tears. Gwendy suddenly wants very much to have the tree between her and these increasingly unwelcome missionaries.

Rebecca: "That's okay, we can be back here in no time after you get a drink, but I doubt you'll want to leave so quick after you sample our hospitality! My my, but you DO look thirsty!"

Gwendy takes a quick look at the other three in the group: On the left the one named George stands still with his hands at his sides, squinting in the morning light. His hair, skin and clothes the same colour as the dead grass at their feet.

The woman on the right must be Prattlepot, her chestnut brown hair in the loosest, messiest bun Gwendy has ever seen. She smiles around a hair-lip that exposes a row of very small teeth.

John must be the one in the very back, hidden slightly by Rebecca. Handsome features with a dark complexion, he smiles as well but the eyes in his bruised sockets are flinty and serious. Gwendy doesn't like that she can't see his hands.

Gwendy - First the Talkin' Then the Walkin'
@ Gwendy attempts to smooth talk the Creeps, trying to extricate herself from their invitation
d: Difficulty 2 (Base 1 + The Creeps have orders to collect people)
d: (CHA)SPEECH(T) (TN=9) Dif=2 2d20=10,20 -> MISS + COMPLICATION
=> Rebecca steals the Pioneer Scout Bowie Knife from Gwendy

Gwendy: "Thanks, but I'd rather be on my way if its all the same to you."

George and Prattlepot continue smiling placidly as Rebecca takes another step towards Gwendy. Before she can back away, the Creep darts a hand out and deftly snatches the Bowie Knife from Gwendy's belt sheath leaping backwards with a mischievous giggle.

Rebecca: "Oh what a lovely blade! It must be very special... I think I'll borrow it until you come visit our home. You will won't you? Come to the Nest and ask for me, I'll get you that drink and give this back," She says, looking at the painted hilt of the vintage blade, "Scout's Honor."

Gwendy draws a throwing knife from inside her jacket and nearly makes to toss it when John moves to back up Rebecca, a 10mm Pistol in his right hand. It is George who speaks next, however, his voice surprisingly smooth and deep. That dumb smile still paints his drab face.

George: "Careful outlander, it's a fair trade: Your knife for a short visit. We promise you'll like it."

A blush blooms on Gwendy's freckled cheeks and she grinds her teeth, fuming at the audacity of these supposedly friendly people stealing from her and making demands.

Gwendy - One Last Chance To Talk It Out
@ Gwendy can play the holier-than-thou game, if that's what they want.
d: (INT)SPEECH(T) vs (TN=10) Dif=2 2d20=17,2 -> MISS
d: ReRoll Fail Dice (-1AP) 1d20=6 -> HIT
=> Gwendy thinks about the scripture-talk the Mad Preacher used when she was a kid, and what she was able to learn about religion in school
=> Reputation with the Creeps falls from NEUTRAL to CAUTIOUS

She might not be an expert on the specific brand of spirituality the 'sheep' or Creeps of the Nest subscribe to, but she's heard enough to know that stealing and coercion aren't considered Good or Nice or Things You Should Do if you believe in God.

Gwendy: "Doesn't the Good Book say that 'Thou Shall Not Steal'? You took that from me to try and force me to do what you say. I might not go to your church but I know right from wrong and that is wrong, Rebecca. That's..." She digs for the right word, "That's a sin and its a bad thing to do."

The woman named Rebecca presses the point of the bowie knife against her index finger and sneers at Gwendy, obviously un-enchanted with the attempt for moral superiority. She opens her mouth and takes a breath, ready to spit vehemence and contradiction when John raises his free and and places it on Rebecca's shoulder, causing her to keep her silence.

John: "Sister," he says, his voice dry like the trees, a warm whisper. "She does speak true about what it says in the Book, I've heard it from the Pastor's own mouth at The Mass. Return her knife to her." He says it in a slightly strange way, an inflection she can't quite pin down.

The effect on the other woman is immediate, causing her to round on the taller, man with both fists clenched and Gwendy thinks she is going to stab him for the interruption. They hold each other's eyes a moment, all four standing still, only their loose ragged clothing moving in the breeze, then Rebecca spins around and suddenly tosses the bowie knife at Gwendolyn's feet, blade sinking into the brown grass.

Rebecca: "Very well then, Outlander, go about your business. When the time is right you will come to us and ask for succour," She says, falling back beside the others who now stand in a line, like a wall. "We may even find you worthy of it."

John: "You won't mind if we use your campsite while you're away? The view is wonderful."

Gwendy shakes her head and retrieves the knife from the ground, her eyes never leaving the Creeps. John has put his pistol away, but she can feel it when she retreats, another cold and dark pupil tracking her progress down, then back up the slope to the east where the ground begins to fall away sharply into the lake.

She doubts this is the last she'll see of the weird people from The Nest, merely delaying what now feels inevitable.

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