The Strobelite Campaign bonus thread

What is meant by "make the map?"

I don't have all of the 3 pointers.  Stupid Toshiro. 

"I am just telling you what the request said," Joe tried to explain as he watched her mood carefully. After the last issue with the killer plant the desperate mercenaries were leery about going near Alyce or standing out. Hell he was leery too but he was outvoted. "The request said they wanted a map made for the 'Safety and Security of the Tour Group' and we would be compensated for our efforts if we did."

"Maps are silly," Alyce said wrinkling her noses.

"Maybe they want a make to make sure they avoid anything dangerous?" Offered Johan only to get a look like he was crazy from Alyce.

"This is Malifaux, EVERYTHING IS DANGEROUS!" Alyce said holding up her glass. "For all I know this glass is actually a Neverborn Mimic or the chair you are sitting on is booby trapped to explode into a magical vortex that will tear you from this reality to one of infinite suffering and horror that your soul can never escape from."

"That is a pleasant image," Johan noted glancing at his chair. "Still if it could note what to avoid..."

"Avoid anyone that wants to kill you, any Thing that wants to kill you, don't trust gentlemen or women of the night, avoid corpses and scrap piles, avoid anywhere near the walled off and heavily guarded areas or the sewers, Don't eat or drink what you don't trust, and don't go anywhere without armed experienced Escorts," Alyce said jamming her metal finger into the table. "Write that down and tell them it will be twenty times better than any half baked maps."

"Ah, I will tell them we will see what we can do," Joe said turning away carefully as Alyce ordered more beer.

"Look you scared the poor guy," Johan said waving at the retreating Joe.

"Not as scared as I would be of that chair of yours. I really did buy it from that crazy resser that hangs around Tara," Alyce said off hand. For a moment Johan was defiant but after several long seconds of staring at Alyce he got up and moved to the next chair over. And pulled his relic hammer closer.

McTavish was mildly perplexed by the mysterious stranger he saw approaching the porch of his hideout. His garb was not quit like anything he had ever seen. Bedecked with various pastel equine forms hanging from trinkets and printed all along his tunic and satchel.

His bespectacled face bore a glorious salt and pepper mustache that wiggled to and fro. He approached and stated simply, "I require... The Map, there will be compensation". He wagled his fingers and eyebrows in what could only be thought of as an air of mystery.

McTavish was casually inching towards his rifle. Intending to shoot him in the face and be done with it. When he noticed amongst all the disturbingly feminine horses dangling from his bag, the Chimpz logo. Glittering in the mid day sun.

"A map huh? I ain't never been much fer' writing and what not, but I recon I could scrawl you out a map. But, a map of where?" The mysterious stranger began to waggle his fingers and facial hair once again, and he said "All I can say for now is... The Map. But more shall be reveiled soon, hehehe.".

McTavish figured he could play along for now. Besides, if it didn't get him closer to the band, he could always shoot him in the face later.

It was a slow day at Salvage and Logistics. Alyce was sitting at a table in the store front with her legs propped up on a chair as a tall slender man entered the shop.
"Ahh my dear Alyce. Just the *ahem* lady I was looking for" the man stated as he stepped out of the shadows. "What is it this time Granville? The last time you came calling I nearly regretted knowing you", replied Alyce as she leaned forward in her chair.
"Well, um, yes sorry about that one. I didn't anticipate gremlin entanglements for the job. I'm afraid the only guarantee I have this time is that it will be at least as dangerous as the last task", Granville added. "Now that you've piqued my interest, are you going to keep me waiting, or are we going to continue with small talk?", Alyce said impatiently.
"My employer is wanting a more detailed map of this area of Malifaux", the man stated holding up a somewhat empty map. "That won't be a problem, but what is your 'employer' offering in return?" she asked. "As you know, he is normally willing to negotiate such matters but here is what he's offering" he said as he handed over a ledger to Alyce. "I suppose that will be fair. When do you need this map by? ASAP I presume, otherwise you wouldn't have paid me a visit. Correct?" Rusty replied with a somewhat sarcastic tone. "You are correct and wise beyond your years my dear" the slender man stated. To which Alyce replied, "Fine we'll get on it. Just make sure your employer is prepared to pay us on time. I'd hate to have to pay him a personal visit.."

Greetings all! It is Friday again, seems so soon, and that means it is time for another bonus! This Monday's event will be the Lonely Traveler. So this week's bonus will get you a little something you can be used in other events if you like. Just post up a story about your crew crossing paths with a lone traveler. Do this by 5pm on Monday and one random player will get to keep the Lonely Traveler model and get a stat card for it. To decide who gets the model, both players flip a card and highest wins. Have fun and see everyone on Monday.

[Scene opens on a desolate stretch of road.  The Neverborn Crew, led by Scion of Black Blood walks along on patrol along with Waldgeist, Angel Eyes, Lelu, and finally, Johana.]

"This is NOT what I meant!" grumbles Angel Eyes as she walks down the road idly picking at dirt on her clawed hands.

"Well, you and Waldo here complained about not getting called upon enough so... congrats!  Lelu and I can just call it bad luck but you two... well..."chuckles Scion.

"Speak for yourself!  I was bored sitting there getting jostled and bothered by those loathsome Tots and Lilitu was on one of her bouts of ever expanding generosity." complains Lelu

Johana smirks "You mean, she was getting things done through delegation and forceful command?  Sounds more like leadership than...whatever it is you called it."

"What do you know of such things, sell sword!" snarls Angel Eyes.

Johana was about to do some explaining when Waldo creaks out a warning, "A stranger approaches!  Calm yourselves before the potential storm."

Indeed, a stranger did appear in front of them, seemingly out of nowhere.  The figure does not look masculine or feminine but is definitely humanoid.  The figure is swathed in a deep, black, hooded cloak made gritty and dusty by what surely has been many a mile amongst the dirt and filth that is the barren Malifaux countryside.  He or she moves but it isn't quite apparent how.  The cloak does not rustle nor and foot or boot emerge from the cloak as if stepping forward in any semblance of a gait.  Like its method of propulsion, his/her hands and face are obscured by darkness and cloak.

Angel Eyes, surprised by the sudden appearance only manages to draw her sidearm before the cloaked figure is upon them.  She opens her mouth to speak but Scion cuts her off.

"Hold, traveler.  You walk among the lands that call Neverborn, master!  Speak your business here or seek forgiveness in the afterlife, if those damned Rezzers don't get ahold of you first!" states Scion, lifting his own blade.

The traveler halts and a voice, raspy and as gravelly as the road whence he came, states "I need not give you my name.  It suits me not and you all even less!  I know of the Neverborn...my ears hear the whispering of shadows and the callous calls of the wind."

Lelu smirks and emits a sound as a sort of combination of a snort and a chuckle.  "You speak in riddles or circles or just blithering like some vapid windbag.  Perhaps you should go join those performers.  They seem to enjoy all that blowing about!"

Waldo the Waldgeist speaks up "Caution, traveler, you are already barking up the wrong tree.  You don't wish to split that kind of timber in these dark woods."

Angel Eyes groans and Scion sighs. 

"I speak no riddles and blow no winds.  Woods bother me not except to shade me from the sun and slow down the winds and rain.  I merely seek refuge and a place to hang my well traveled vestments."  The traveler responds.

Johana steps up, "Well, for the right price, anything is attainable.  Which type of refuge do you seek?"

The traveler responds, "I seek walls that do not block out the sun.  Windows that see beyond the countryside and into one's soul.  A refuge that boasts of restful respite from the toils from within.  Do you protect what I seek, or do I seek elsewhere?"

The Neverborn crew, truly perplexed, looks at each other wondering what in the world is going on.  Lelu states "This being is baffling.  I say we send him to the refuge beyond this plain of existance!"  Angel Eyes and Waldo quickly agree.  Scion, again, holds up his hand.  "Wait.  Traveler, do you seek to produce a fight or..."

Scion looks back towards the traveler and stops... as the Traveler has simply vanished.

The crew looks about, amazed and stunned.  "Nekima isn't going to like this.." says Scion.

Angel Eyes states "My vote is that we let the sell sword tell of this tale to the likes of Mistress Nekima.  Better her neck than ours!"

Johana looks as if she's about to... hammer a response home... but the scene fades out before any resolution can occur.