![]() Character Application |
![]() Player Handbook |
![]() ![]() Ships & Crews |
![]() Discord Live Chat |
|---|
| Welcome to Lost In Serenity. We hope you enjoy your visit. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community!. New Player's Guide. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| A Cold Trail | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Mar 5 2015, 02:52 PM (14,657 Views) | |
| PMD14 | Mar 5 2015, 02:52 PM Post #1 |
![]()
Lighthouse Keeper
![]()
|
It was the perfect scene for a man like Kenji Akechi. A quiet bar in smelling of tobacco and booze and sweat in the warm afternoon heat. A lazy cieling fan was idly swinging above his head, a warm glass of bourbon in his hand. Other than the young man at the bar, dried blood on his cheek and a swelling bruise covering one eye, there were few others in the small establishment that afternoon. Two older men, ranchers by the looks of them, were at the opposite end of the bar. They sat and spoke quietly to one another, mulling over mugs of beer. Across the room two others sat at a table lazily throwing down cards in front of each other, and a young lady sat in one corner, alone, enjoying a late lunch in silence. Behind the bar the old boy had his arms up on the bench, folded, staring down at a holoscreen that had some inter-planet sporting event flashing across it. He'd served up Kenji some booze - leaving the bottle as requested - and gone straight back to his viewing. And upstairs in the small room Kenji had paid for in advance, out cold and bound with crude rope, was his prize. Ferris Hallagan. Scumbag, thief, all round lousy son of a bitch. The price on his head was minimal, but Kenji had been in the area and needed to pay his way any way he could. He'd come to Deadwood tracking down a man who seemed little more than a ghost, but the trail had gone cold. He had a few days until the next transport came through and the wanted posters were everywhere. Hallagan had essentially walked into the veterans hands. Now, with a man-sized pay cheque assuring his next few months of travel, Kenji had a day or two to kill before he could get of this rock and pickup the bounty reward on Athens. It was a long way to go, but the next major freighter that was coming through was offering a direct, dirt-cheap trip. |
![]() Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon | |
![]() |
|
| Ahroro_Deltori | Mar 6 2015, 09:32 AM Post #2 |
![]()
Deck Hand
|
Bourbon please leave the bottle His head throbbed as he slipped the credits to the bartender. Kenji's quarry was safe upstairs unconscious and tied up. He got a good shot in on Kenji but it ended like most scuffles did. He pushed the throbbing in his head to the back of his mind and accepted the bottle and glass. He made sure to note where everyone was sitting, in case of an attempt to free the man upstairs. "Do you know anything about the transport making landfall in a few days?" Kenji queried at the man before taking a gulp from his highball glass. The oaky flavor was comforting this far out. He looked not at the barkeep, but instead at the bottle of bourbon. It was one of the finer bottles he'd had on his travels. The warmth washed through him and made his shoulders ache slightly. His thoughts drifted to the poor sap bound upstairs, just a victim of circumstance. The Mercenary's real target was little more than a spectre, he'd encountered him a few years before in a da tiao town like this. He brought the glass back to his lips and took another sip. |
|
Sail the Sky~With all my fears, and sorrows close. I'm hanging on, just hanging on.~~I wish that you were with me, to sail the sky Serenity.~~Then take me high, or take me low, then to the end where I may go.~~If I can stand then I shall pass. Pass beyond this night of black, pass beyond this night of black.~ | |
![]() |
|
| PMD14 | Mar 6 2015, 10:16 AM Post #3 |
![]()
Lighthouse Keeper
![]()
|
The barman looked up indignantly, blinking a few times as if to decide whether a response was required. He looked once more down at the screen behind the bar and spoke quietly. "Nothing special I'd wager. Just another feed ship. Time o' year like this, lotta the ranchers need fresh supplies. She'll only be in port for a few hours, running a straight length to Athens, if I recall. Man traveling on board might find 'imself living amongst the straw or the cow shit, no doubt." He gave a soft cough, eyes still glued to the mundane entertainment behind the bar. "Cheap though." It was an afterthought. By port, the old man had meant landing pad. The town was small enough to barely warrant a sheriffs office, let alone a starport. There were some barren, paved fields to one side of town just big enough to accommodate a large freighter or two. Regularly, they were scattered with small local vessels - skiffs and the like. For the last few days, though, they'd been empty. Deadwood - at least the small dust bowl of Simmons Hollow - wasn't much of a destination for travelers. Hell if it weren't for a single scrap of precious paper, if it weren't for that single string of coordinates and the two words attached to them, Kenji would have never stepped foot in the place, either. Outside came the subtle sound of an approaching aircraft - something distant, and probably small, coming in to land. Nobody else in the bar seemed to pay the noise any heed. |
![]() Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon | |
![]() |
|
| Ahroro_Deltori | Mar 6 2015, 11:46 AM Post #4 |
![]()
Deck Hand
|
Kenji finished off his drink and proceeded to push himself from the dingy bar. "Might as well check on my mark first" He thought to himself as he moved to the stairs. Each step groaned with age as he ascended. He reached the landing at the top and fumbled with the bottle a moment trying to access the datapad stuffed in his pocket. Something didn't quite set right with him. Slowly he made his way to the room each step a creak searching for faces in every shadow. More specifically he was searching for Eli. His datapad was flipped to arrivals and departures. Where could he have gone... He wondered as he made his way to his room and propped open the door. He turned to look at Ferris's battered body. "Huai dong xi, should have listened when I said stop running" muttered Kenji as he started to gather his things to explore the town. He double checked the body ensuring the bindings were strong before binding the man hand to foot. After ensuring Ferris was aptly bound he gathered some credits and made his way towards the landing pad. Edited by Ahroro_Deltori, Mar 6 2015, 11:53 AM.
|
|
Sail the Sky~With all my fears, and sorrows close. I'm hanging on, just hanging on.~~I wish that you were with me, to sail the sky Serenity.~~Then take me high, or take me low, then to the end where I may go.~~If I can stand then I shall pass. Pass beyond this night of black, pass beyond this night of black.~ | |
![]() |
|
| PMD14 | Mar 6 2015, 12:39 PM Post #5 |
![]()
Lighthouse Keeper
![]()
|
There came no response from the filthy, rum soaked man who lay on the floor of the room. No liberties or niceties had been given to him - he'd landed there on the floor boards, bound and heavy like a sack of potatoes, and there he'd remained. There was no signs of lucidity from him. The booze, and the few sharp cracks tot he head, probably assured he'd remain out for most of the day. As it was, it was already late afternoon. The sun was hot in the sky and the tiny town of Simmons Hollow. On the datapad in his hands were pages and pages of nothing - empty lists. There wasn't a lot of registered charters out this far, especially to such a barren township, and the private couriers that come through were even less common. There was nothing logged for the past few days - the last registered transport had departed four days ago. The next was the one Kenji expected to be aboard. There were no vessels registered to be landing in town that day, either. Whatever he'd heard, it must have been a local or someone flying off the books. |
![]() Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon | |
![]() |
|
| Ahroro_Deltori | Mar 6 2015, 02:19 PM Post #6 |
![]()
Deck Hand
|
Kenji scoffed at the data pad and slipped it back into his pocket. "Figures, well there's still a good chance he's planetside. Kenji glanced around as he walked towards the landing area. On second thought, Kenji popped the datapad back out of his pocket and quickly did a search on the Grey Reyne. Last I knew he was still captain, he may have slipped off planet. Either way the mercenary wasn't taking any chances, he continued to head towards the landing pad keeping an eye out for any sign of trouble. He also kept an eye out for someone who might explain more than the bartender was willing. |
|
Sail the Sky~With all my fears, and sorrows close. I'm hanging on, just hanging on.~~I wish that you were with me, to sail the sky Serenity.~~Then take me high, or take me low, then to the end where I may go.~~If I can stand then I shall pass. Pass beyond this night of black, pass beyond this night of black.~ | |
![]() |
|
| PMD14 | Mar 9 2015, 11:25 AM Post #7 |
![]()
Lighthouse Keeper
![]()
|
The bartender barely noticed Kenji departing, nodding half-heartedly as one of his only patrons walked out into the afternoon sun. Simmons Hollow was hot and the dry, the sun beating down on the cracked dirt roads as it slowly made its descent towards the horizon. The small township was little more than a cluster of buildings, a single main street, and a scattering of farmsteads and cattle plots in a rough ring around it. There were a few bars and hotels, a general store and a produce market, but otherwise the settlement was mostly just homes and a small town hall that doubled as the sheriffs office. Kenji had been in town for only a few days and yet he was sure he'd already met every face it had to offer. The street was quiet at that time of afternoon. It stretched off in both directions, east to west, and the landing pad was barely in sight. Easier to see, though, was the blurred image of a medium sized transport vessel setting down in the otherwise empty airfield. Few people were about - namely an old rancher riding to the general store and a young couple out the front of their house, the woman watching on quietly, sipping lemonade, as the man swept down the dusty porch. At the end of the street was an old depot - barely more than a shack standing in front of a fenced off area - where a few old vehicles and horse drawn wagons sat waiting to help shuttle people to and from the shipyard. The stark contrast of the wild west and the technologically advanced was sharp here in Simmons Hollow. |
![]() Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon | |
![]() |
|
| Ahroro_Deltori | Mar 11 2015, 07:02 AM Post #8 |
![]()
Deck Hand
|
"Come touch me like I'm an ordinary man, have a look in my eyes," "Cao dan' The freelancer whispered as the cortex came up neg on the Reyne. He put the device away in his pocket and looked around. "Nobody looks any wiser, or talkative than the barkeep." Kenji's verdant gaze flicked from face to face, each one that slow going type that you'd typically find on the rim. He fixed his eyes on the transport vessel parked at the empty airfield. Well if anyone has any sort of info I'd be willing to bet they would."[/i] he reasoned heading down the dusty road leading to the landing pad. Kenji kept his strides even and walked with a nonthreatening gait up to the landing pad, "Worse comes to worst, I may be able to hitch a ride and take Ferris off this rock sooner." He thought to himself. A careful glance was cast around the vessel before he approached" "Underneath my skin there is a violence, it's got a gun in it's hand" |
|
Sail the Sky~With all my fears, and sorrows close. I'm hanging on, just hanging on.~~I wish that you were with me, to sail the sky Serenity.~~Then take me high, or take me low, then to the end where I may go.~~If I can stand then I shall pass. Pass beyond this night of black, pass beyond this night of black.~ | |
![]() |
|
| biffcalhoon | Mar 11 2015, 09:05 AM Post #9 |
|
Private
|
Lear stepped off the Roanoak, eyes squinting in the bright sun. Another dusty town on a dusty world that all opportunity dried up for her. She needed vodka and she needed it bad. Find some local jobs and then get off this rock. The man from the cave, Biff, limped behind her. His survival of his captivity was impressive but she didn't know him and she didn't trust him. "I'm going to the bar to get a drink and look for work. You will just slow me down and I can't watch both our backs..... You understand....." Biff slumped down onto some cargo crates on the small landing pad. "Perfectly acceptable. Just glad you found me thanks." Biff watched the dust from her boots lift into the air around her legs as she walked down the street into town. He looked around and saw a staff in the dirt next to him. It looked like it was from a litter carry. About head height to him and sturdy. He gave a chuckle. Deadwood. He stood up and tested it. Walked around the ship a bit with it. He could get along fairly well with it. It was better then limping everywhere. He put on his boony cap and looked around. Deadwood, his job turned out a failure, his gear was gone, Cole was dead and all that was left was the letter Lear had found and given to Biff. This place was tapped out and he needed to refit and bug out. |
![]() Narrator of: Family Ties Bind Tight This Is My Quest - A tale of regret. Nobody's Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone - Cole and Biff go walk about. | |
![]() |
|
| PMD14 | Mar 11 2015, 09:22 AM Post #10 |
![]()
Lighthouse Keeper
![]()
|
Captain Riverton gave a wave, and short smile, and tilted her head with a distant look as she watched the two depart her vessel. More often these days, she mused, the Roanoke was getting involved in an odd kind of folk. Wayward souls. She let them wander from the ship, watching as the unlikely couple shared a few words, and then turned on her heels. She had places, people to visit, passengers to take on. The heavy thud of her boots echoed into the hold as the ships ramp retracted. A few minutes later, the small exploratory yacht took to the skies. The small air field was empty, a few large crates and boxes here and there. A small, single roomed office building was near the main gate which led out to the dusty road. In the distance the small township of Simmons Hollow could be seen. The office was near vacant, save for a middle aged man who was seated on the small porch with his old, worn leather dress shoes up on a table. A bottle of whisky sat beside him, his hat dipped down to shield his eyes from the afternoon sun. Down the road a short way came a second man - young, grizzled, and looking out of place. Another traveler, perhaps looking for a ride, but definitely not a local. Nearby were a few tied up horses and some old wagons, primitive forms of transport used to ferry people between the 'town' and landing pad. Lear was already gone, a thirst to quench and little reason to delay. |
![]() Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon | |
![]() |
|
| biffcalhoon | Mar 11 2015, 09:44 AM Post #11 |
|
Private
|
Biff with his litter pole staff in hand looked up as the Roanoak lifted skyward. I lifesaver and a blessing. Biff sent good vibes to follow the ship and it's captain. Biff sat down and recorded the last words of Cole Jagger.* Where Can I Find Some Whiskey? * After putting his cortex away he looked to the tiny office. Walking over he waved at the man. "Hey there sir. Is there anyway a man in recovery can purchase a shot or two of that beautiful whiskey you have there?" |
![]() Narrator of: Family Ties Bind Tight This Is My Quest - A tale of regret. Nobody's Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone - Cole and Biff go walk about. | |
![]() |
|
| Ahroro_Deltori | Mar 11 2015, 10:23 AM Post #12 |
![]()
Deck Hand
|
"Come touch me like I'm an ordinary man, have a look in my eyes," Kenji watched as a pair of figures disembarked from the vessel. After a brief moment of what seemed like a half-assed farewell, the female left a haggard looking man to wander towards town alone. He continued to watch until she left his view. The man picked up a stick from the ground and proceeded to make his way to town. Kenji slipped around a few crates and made his way around the rickety buildings keeping just out of sight of the off-worlders. There was no record of any arrivals on the cortex, so naturally Kenji decided to keep a watchful eye on the two. He moved silently easing forward around the building. The limping man made his way towards an office on the other side of the street where he tried to wake a man from his midday musings.
Kenji cleared his throat as he joined the two men. "I know where you can get a drink, that is to mean if you don't need to see a doctor." "Underneath my skin there is a violence, it's got a gun in it's hand" Edited by Ahroro_Deltori, Mar 11 2015, 10:24 AM.
|
|
Sail the Sky~With all my fears, and sorrows close. I'm hanging on, just hanging on.~~I wish that you were with me, to sail the sky Serenity.~~Then take me high, or take me low, then to the end where I may go.~~If I can stand then I shall pass. Pass beyond this night of black, pass beyond this night of black.~ | |
![]() |
|
| PMD14 | Mar 11 2015, 10:27 AM Post #13 |
![]()
Lighthouse Keeper
![]()
|
The old man stirred slightly, but his arms remained crossed, his feet on the table, and his face hidden by the wide brimmed hat. He grunted, clearly awake but in no shape to raise to the audience he had gained. The smell, and the half-empty nature of the whiskey bottle, suggested he'd already had his fair share for the day and wasn't looking for company. The blessing, and curse, of a small town - pure negligence. There was nobody else in sight. Nobody taking docking fees, nobody checking over charters, nobody ensuring the wrong type of folk didn't come landing here. Simmons Hollows was clearly too quiet a place for such worries. |
![]() Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon | |
![]() |
|
| biffcalhoon | Mar 11 2015, 11:09 AM Post #14 |
|
Private
|
Biff eyed the newcomer nervously, assessing him. He, like Biff, was not a local. Biff extended out his hand to shake the newcomers. "Name's Calhoon, Biff Calhoon, and no i don't need a doctor. I am as patched up as I'm going to get. Just waiting on my body to do the rest." Biff thought about dropping some credits on the counter and taking a long drought of whiskey but he figured this poor guy will need the rest to dull the inevitable headache that was in his future. " So seeing as I am new in town and you know where a watering hole is perhaps you can point me in the right direction. Getting out of this sun will be good too." |
![]() Narrator of: Family Ties Bind Tight This Is My Quest - A tale of regret. Nobody's Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone - Cole and Biff go walk about. | |
![]() |
|
| Ahroro_Deltori | Mar 11 2015, 11:59 AM Post #15 |
![]()
Deck Hand
|
"Come touch me like I'm an ordinary man, have a look in my eyes," Kenji took the mans hand in a firm shake. "Kenji Akechi, freelancer. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. The bar's this way, I'll show you." The mercenary gestured down the street a little ways. "Bartender is a bit terse, but then again you won't find many talkative folks here on the rim." Haven hung low in the sky as they walked, Kenji slowing down as needed for Biff to catch up. He didn't speak much, then again there was plenty of time to talk when they got to the bar. He did pipe up with a question however."What brings you to this la ji dui of a planet?" "Underneath my skin there is a violence, it's got a gun in it's hand" |
|
Sail the Sky~With all my fears, and sorrows close. I'm hanging on, just hanging on.~~I wish that you were with me, to sail the sky Serenity.~~Then take me high, or take me low, then to the end where I may go.~~If I can stand then I shall pass. Pass beyond this night of black, pass beyond this night of black.~ | |
![]() |
|
| biffcalhoon | Mar 11 2015, 12:21 PM Post #16 |
|
Private
|
Biff kept pace down the road as best he could. With the staff he could make about a normal stride as he got used to it. "What brought me here was bounty work that turned out to be a trap. Yeah before you ask no I didn't think I was that important either. Anyway got a bit locked up, got a bit malnourished, but I grew a nice beard. I'm a glass half full guy. Haha. What about you?" Walking was getting easier. |
![]() Narrator of: Family Ties Bind Tight This Is My Quest - A tale of regret. Nobody's Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone - Cole and Biff go walk about. | |
![]() |
|
| Ahroro_Deltori | Mar 11 2015, 01:22 PM Post #17 |
![]()
Deck Hand
|
"Come touch me like I'm an ordinary man, have a look in my eyes," "I chased my mark halfway across the verse, thought I'd finally had him cornered here in Simmons Hollow. Gave me the slip, needed to vent my frustrations and ended up picking up another mark." Kenji looked along the street watching for any trouble. "Now I'm stuck on this rock for another couple of days. Though I have to say I'm glad there's someone who actually converses, instead of the occasional grunts and huffs these yokels have to offer. Kenji led Biff into the tavern, the smell of smoke and stale ale stung his nostrils, but he just shrugged it off as he took a seat at the corner of the bar. "Barkeep, get me a bottle of Bourbon and two glasses" The mercenary spoke slipping a few credits down on the chipped finish of the bar. "Underneath my skin there is a violence, it's got a gun in it's hand" |
|
Sail the Sky~With all my fears, and sorrows close. I'm hanging on, just hanging on.~~I wish that you were with me, to sail the sky Serenity.~~Then take me high, or take me low, then to the end where I may go.~~If I can stand then I shall pass. Pass beyond this night of black, pass beyond this night of black.~ | |
![]() |
|
| PMD14 | Mar 11 2015, 01:39 PM Post #18 |
![]()
Lighthouse Keeper
![]()
|
The bottle found its way to the dark wood of the bar top, which was sticky and scratched all over. Two glasses appeared next, and then a muttering of something about the price. All the while, the old man's gaze didn't leave the small computerised screen he'd been glued to all day. The two ranchers from earlier had left, as had the young woman once seated in the corner, but the two other men sitting across the room lazily playing cards remained. They paid no heed to Kenji and Biff entering, though in only a few minutes one of them had checked his old pocket watch twice. There was no sign of Lear. |
![]() Waelon Blake | Jimmy Chamberlain | Eli Harmon | |
![]() |
|
| biffcalhoon | Mar 11 2015, 02:14 PM Post #19 |
|
Private
|
Walking into the dingy hole in the wall was like coming home. Biff always loved these places. The atmosphere, the people who steady minded their business, and booze. His favorite part for the sweet releif from the memories. Biff sat down on the stool propping his staff up against the bar next to him like it was his best girl. "Yeah my last encounter with people before Lear I couldn't get to shut up. He was a stranger disguised as an old friend. The Verse is a mighty strange place at times." Biff fingered a nitch in the bar and thought about the false Corso. Glory was in danger but Ian had received his coded message. It would have to be enough for now. "So you're just gonna kick around this one horse a spell?" |
![]() Narrator of: Family Ties Bind Tight This Is My Quest - A tale of regret. Nobody's Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone - Cole and Biff go walk about. | |
![]() |
|
| Ahroro_Deltori | Mar 11 2015, 04:06 PM Post #20 |
![]()
Deck Hand
|
"Come touch me like I'm an ordinary man, have a look in my eyes,"Kenji nodded in agreement. "Isn't it the way of it though? it keeps us sharp, keeps us on our toes." Kenji filled both glasses with the amberesque liquid, and passed one to Biff. The freelancer took a sip from his glass and set it down with a clink.
"I'm still stuck here for another few days until the transport vessel arrives, speaking of which I need to check on my mark here in a bit." Kenji took another drink and let it set on his tongue. The smokey flavor numbed his tongue. He gulped it down and felt the warmth spread through his chest. "It's not bad for xiong mao niao" "Underneath my skin there is a violence, it's got a gun in it's hand" Edited by Ahroro_Deltori, Mar 11 2015, 04:09 PM.
|
|
Sail the Sky~With all my fears, and sorrows close. I'm hanging on, just hanging on.~~I wish that you were with me, to sail the sky Serenity.~~Then take me high, or take me low, then to the end where I may go.~~If I can stand then I shall pass. Pass beyond this night of black, pass beyond this night of black.~ | |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · The Verse · Next Topic » |
| Theme: Wild West | Track Topic · E-mail Topic |
6:27 AM Jul 12
|
















6:27 AM Jul 12