EVENT ★ WELCOME TO PERDITION'S REST

[futurologists]

ARRIVAL Recruits leave Oska at midday, with about 10 minutes of final warning given from over jewelcomms. Then the white mist rises as rifts open, and Oska is left behind. When they arrive in the new world, they’ll find themselves aboard a train, specifically seated in the coach traveling compartments. The other passengers -- humanoids with muted skin tones and bright eyes -- have already been notified of their arrival, so although there will be a good deal of curious staring, particularly from children, no one is going to be very alarmed at the strange, eclectic assortment of aliens that suddenly show up on board. It seems that, for once, recruits will enjoy a peaceful arrival. The dusty scenery flashes by placidly outside the windows, the rumble of wheels is constant and soothing, and there’s even a snack cart that makes its way around (the snacks aren’t free, though -- recruits are provided a modest sum of Qorral currency, and the locals are already interested in getting in on it). BAD COMPANY The first sign of trouble appears about two hours after arrival when there’s a faint BOOM and each of the train cars gives a little shudder. That would be the rear train car’s back wall being blown open. The other passengers know exactly what this means, and some lock themselves into traveling compartments while others haul out previously put away shotguns and pistols, ready to do what needs doing. And what needs doing is to fend off the troupe of bandits that have decided that this train looks ripe for the plucking. They board from the gaping hole they blew in the last car and begin shooting their way up the length of the train, robbing as they go, but they also circle out on their horses (mechanical and only vaguely horse-shaped four-legged contraptions that easily keep pace with the train) to provide an armed and unfriendly escort. They’ll shoot through the windows if anyone looks like a troublemaker, and are old hands at ducking to the other side of their horses to use them as cover from any return fire. The conductor and all present passengers would really appreciate a hand from any recruits who feel like stepping up. Those not quite ready to engage in a shootout can always keep the civilians locked into the compartments company. They, especially the children, might need some calming words (and the sage advice to keep away from the windows, and stop making faces at the bandits). The bandits put up a pretty good fight, but will eventually be driven away (hopefully without having snagged too many ill-gotten goods from the hardworking citizens of Perdition’s Rest), and peace falls back over the train. The passengers will be a bit frazzled afterward, though, and no one can quite ignore that whistling sound caused by the missing back wall of the final train car. It’s a long two more hours before they reach their destination. WELCOME TO PERDITION’S REST A dusty wooden sign swings on rusted hinges overhead as the train pulls into the station: PERDITION'S REST. The engine finally stills with one puff of smoke, and as the passengers begin to disembark, recruits will find a small group awaits them. The Mayor, his aide, and the sheriff are gathered just outside the train station, and once everyone is more or less off the train and conveniently gathered, the Mayor will clear his throat for attention. "I'm guessing y'all had a long ride here, didn't you?" He addresses the crowd calmly, with the kind of voice that doesn't need to be raised much to be heard. "Heard about them bandits.They ain’t gonna trouble you here in town, but best mind your wanderin’. I'm Mayor Mordecai Jones, and Perdition's Rest welcomes your company. You'll find our businesses hospitable and our services ready. We're a quiet place, keep mostly to ourselves and don't bother none. You'll do just fine here if you abide that." The aide waits quietly as the Mayor speaks, while the sheriff eyes the gathered bunch with a resigned wariness. She, and a few other locals who would be willing to speak up if asked, are of the opinion that they've gotten by just fine for 30 years without anyone's help, and they don't figure they need it now. But they'll tolerate the meddling, so long as everyone plays nice. Mayor Jones's speech draws to a close with a last note that trouble can be brought to him or to Sheriff Rosamund Holladay, and he, his aide, and Sheriff Holladay break the meeting without further ceremony and head away. Welcome to Perdition's Rest. It's recommended that you look around a little, familiarize yourself with the place, and find lodgings. It's going to be home for a while. OOC NOTES Welcome to Mission: Perdition's Rest! This mission will last for around three months, currently slated to end in mid-December. Depending on developments, this schedule is subject to change at our discretion. You can view the dossier here, which contains information that is ICly known to all characters, no matter their arrival time. You can find locations here. Please direct all questions pertaining to the mission to the dossier page to keep questions and responses in one place for easy player reference. General game questions should be directed to the FAQ. The Bounty Board will be updated this weekend, so keep an eye out! Remember you can also request bounty missions or submit player plots at any time.

Comments

corbucci munitions!

[viscontree]

Try keeping your hand more steady. [ Julius did catch eye of Rey picking out weapons at the shop. He's minding himself so that he won't get in her way too much. ]

You can aim better that way. I think you have some talent for guns. Can you show me how you'd fire? [ So he just figures that he'll try to help Rey somehow. Maybe she doesn't want help?? It doesn't hurt to ask though.]

[forcevisions]

Who are you?

[ Rey bristles at the voice, spinning around to face it with the barrel still raised. She holds his gaze a moment, considering, before she decides to deliberately lower the pistol. It's mistrustful, but she's particularly on edge with the events of Oska fresh in her mind. ]

[viscontree]

My apologies. I am Julius Visconti. Currently I'm ALASTAIR member much like the rest of us here.

May I ask for your name in return? [Introductions are necessary before they get to anything else. It's understandable that she'd want to know him first. He speaks with a deep and clear tone indicating that he's not an enemy. ]

[forcevisions]

Rey.

[ She doesn't want to give him more than that because, teammate or not, she didn't invite the instruction and she can't help but bristle in response to it. Still, she's well enough aware of herself to question whether she's really bristling at his offer or because she's still cagey and sensitive from the time distortions. ]

I've used blasters before. I can figure it out.

[viscontree]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Rey. If you can figure it out I won't get in your way.

[He'll trust her judgment on that one. She seems reliable enough. ]

Are weapons like this common in your world?

[forcevisions]

Fairly, yeah.

[ From her hip, she drew Han's blaster and held it out—not for Julius to take, but for him to examine at least. ]

They're different than these, but the same idea, I think.

[viscontree]

[Yeah, he knows better than to touch things that are dangerous. He'll be careful and just examine the weapon at a fair distance.]

They look different at a glance, sure. Upon closer inspection you can see that they've got similar frame work. I know what you mean now. [That does raise a question for him though.]

Was this made with technology available in your world?

[forcevisions]

[ She nods, not understanding the curiosity he finds there—it's all too commonplace for her to find it exceptional. ]

To those who could afford it, sure.

[viscontree]

Weapons aren't cheap to make, right. That'll make it harder for commoners to obtain.

So how did you manage to afford one? [ Now this is prying so Rey doesn't have to answer if she doesn't want to. ]

[forcevisions]

I didn't.

[ She shuts down, almost like clockwork. She moves the edge of her vest to cover the handle of the blaster and lowers her gaze. She doesn't want to think about Han. The wound feels fresh yet. ]

[viscontree]

I see. If I asked you that and made you feel uncomfortable I apologize. Sometimes you shouldn't pry too deeply -- I won't. [He feels a little bad even without knowing Rey's circumstances.]

We'll just leave it at that then.

[forcevisions]

[ Her instincts tell her to get defensive, to rally with some bite back about how he couldn't make her uncomfortable, but there was no use in it, and defensiveness only made clearer the emotional impact. So instead, she reluctantly nodded her head, and turned back to the pistols she examined, her thoughts lingering on a smuggler left behind in a galaxy far, far away. ]