SESSION 46: AN ATOM A DAY
General Summary
Previous Session: SESSION 45: FOR WHAT IT'S WURTH
Next Session: SESSION 47: THE FIST OF ANDY
Players: Current Adventuring Party, Andy, Arminius, Linda, Morag, Patch Radam
*August 26, 2317*
(Adventure Day 124)
Wurth Industries, a robotics factory before the war, was cleared of killer robots. Firewire of The Reavers had tasked them with destroying the factory's difference engine. And they did find that enormous, mechanical, analog computer. But standing in front of it, there were also a Schlockett Bot, and a clown... doctor?
Despite the surprise, there was very little tension between the two groups. Andy the robot was in his down-cycle, sleeping while he waited for rescue. And the clown doctor was quite friendly. He introduced himself as Patch Radam, and explained that he was not from around here. He was only in the area because he had come to assist the Midwest Brotherhood of Steel's technical team, serving as a doctor. Having some time off, his friend Steve Gritch had asked him to search the area for a super mutant named Linda. Dr. Patch had poked his head into Wurth Industries, and been trapped by the evil robots here.
Dr. Patch was shocked to find that the super mutant who had just rescued him was the exact Linda he was looking for. On top of that, Linda recognized Andy as a SchlockettBot. Back in Missouri, she and her friends had encountered the SchlockettBots in a strange place called All American City (SESSION 08 - ALL-AMERICAN CITY.) Morag used her technical skill to awaken Andy, who was happy to meet Linda. Andy explained that Betty Bagger had sent him to find the Son of Schlockett. Linda recalled that while leaving All American City, Mouse had painted himself into Arthur Schlockett's family portrait, noting himself as Arthur's first-born son. The SchlockettBots, who worshipped Arthur Schlockett must now be seeking Mouse in order to worship him. Linda, not the most organized mind, gave a meandering explanation that she didn't know where Mouse was, but that there were lots of Mouse Synths around.
Andy was confused and the party was injured from the, you know, killer robots. They needed to rest. Morag in particular looked pale, sweaty and tired. Dr. Patch looked her over with his trained medical eye and couldn't make heads or tails of it. But just a few feet away, the difference engine roared with cacophonous vibration. They examined the great machine and found it amazing. The pre-war construction was entirely mechanical, like a Rube Goldberg machine, using only gravity, the rotation of the earth and the earth's magnetic field to operate. Its millions of brass parts, though caked with 230 years of detritus, were still operating: continually pumping out more and more digits of Pi. They needed to get away from the difference engine's mind-splitting noise, but looking at the engineering marvel, they feel like destroying something so exceptionally made. The group left Wurth Industries and were approached by Firewire. She asked the group if the killer robots were defeated and the difference engine destroyed. They told her that the robots were gone, but they left the machine. Firewire was annoyed, having used up her explosives on distracting the killer robots, she didn't have the means to blow up the irreligious construction. The party were not impressed with her when she spoke to them with irritation. Morag asked for more information on the Scions of Bob (talking weapons like Beau) and Firewire had nothing to add: they came from the southwest, they started popping up ten years ago and they attach themselves to owners who they believe will accomplish ethical deeds. After that, Firewire demanded they blow up the difference engine, and the group refused. So, the Reaver marched into Wurth Industries with her toolkit, determined to destroy the machine, even if she had to do it one piece at a time.
It was time for healing and rest. Dr. Patch helped treat them of their various wounds and laser burns. They found a safer, more secure structure around Wurth Industries: a small security shelter. Worried the battle in the factory might draw danger, Arminius and Dr. Patch laid land mines around their sleep shelter. Morag scanned the nearby forest for enemies and found nothing interesting. Soon after, the distant hum of the difference engine ended and Firewire emerged from the old factory. She reported that she had destroyed the unholy thing and was returning to Gravestone. If the party ever traveled there, MegaByte of the Reavers owed them a favour. Linda declared that she was already friends with MegaByte and that Firewire should go with Atom's blessing. Firewire left, grumbling.
Exhausted, the group entered the shelter. The moment Morag sat down, she immediately fell asleep, Beau still propped up on her face. It had been a strange day for everyone, but they made camp and went to sleep. Andy stood guard for the group. Unable to turn his head, he was left padding back and forth on his robotic feet, shuffling all night.
Early the next morning, and I mean 4am early, the group awoke. To Dr. Patch's surprise, Morag had recovered completely. He asked Morag if she had a condition, and she explained that she just got very tired sometimes. Though it was quite dark out, the group set off. There first stop was Kentucky Oaks, an village which had been destroyed in the Great War and left uninhabited for 230 years. The party spent time scavenging in the area, gathering a few valuables. Continuing north, they came to High Point Marsh, a pre-war fishing resort. The old cabins were mostly rotten, but the group were still able to scavenge some useful items there.
As the sun was rising, the party crossed the one bridge in the region which spanned the radioactive Ohio River. The thin, steel construction had been a rail bridge before the war, and its arching span led right into the centre of the village of Homeland. At the foot of that bridge was an inspection checkpoint operated by The Midwest Brotherhood of Steel. A low-level Brotherhood knight stopped them for an inspection. The knight was impressed that Linda was one of the Heroes of St. Louis, noting that DJ Cool on Cool AM talked about them all the time. He read from a worksheet which items were banned in the Midwest and asked if the group possessed any of these items. Dr. Patch, very familiar with the Brotherhood (himself a retired officer and veteran of The Calculator War) treated the soldier with patient superiority. The only item that seemed to apply was one of Linda's treasures. In Jax, the party had disarmed an atom bomb that the Storytime Village gang were using to threaten the city (SESSION 39: STORYTIME VILLAGE.) After Arminius had disarmed the bomb, Linda took the weapon's radioactive core as a relic of Atom's Glow. Lex had even crafted a lead box for her to keep it in safely. The Brotherhood knight was shocked to see a completely viable nuclear weapon core just presented right in front of him with a smile. The knight called his supervisor, a Brotherhood scribe. The scribe saw the atom bomb core and asked Linda if she had heard of Atom. Linda began one of her religious allocutions, and the scribe immediately realized that she was one of the Children of Atom and therefore had a religious exemption to the ban on nuclear devices. Andy asked loudly about the Son of Schlockett, but they ignored him. The group entered the town of Homeland with the Brotherhood's blessing.
Looking to ask the Enclave about the strange piece of armour they shot off the leg of the Gen 2 Synth who stole Lex. They were hoping that the armour piece would be a clue to her rescue. The words of that Synth were still ringing in her ears, "You can pick up the body after we dump it at Kentucky Dam." The village of Homeland's only telegraph was owned by the Brotherhood of Steel and housed at the town hall. The party entered the town hall and approached the Brotherhood officer, one Knight Captain Diaz. At first, the captain was offended at the idea of civilians using the telegraph, but between Arminius's charisma and Dr. Patch's former rank, he was convinced. The group was shown the telegraph machine and left to send their message in private. Arminius tapped out the pattern to the Gamma Town telegraph station: "BOB HANSSEN. OUR SECRETERY ASKED TO TOLD US TO PASS THIS NUMBER TO YOU. 193497453497. PURPLE LEG. THEY HAVE LEX."
Dr. Patch asked Knight Captain Diaz about the Brotherhood mission here. And Diaz unhesitantly admitted that the Midwest soldiers were on alert over the Kentucky Dam. While at the dam, Paladin Ledlie was all smiles and co-operation, but on the other side of the Ohio River, they were ready for anything. The Midwest wouldn't make the first move, but they were ready to defend themselves. On a platform known as Boxcar Island, the Brotherhood had amassed artillery, ready to pummel any enemy, be it the Legion, Capitol, or even Dixie. The largest gun was pointed directly at the one bridge. At the pull of a lever the bridge would be destroyed, and the Midwest would be protected by two miles of radioactive water.
They thanked the Knight Captain and went to the marketplace. Andy asked loudly about the Son of Schlockett, but they ignored him. After some light trade, they went across the street to Fat Eddie's Roadhouse. There they found an old protectron robot working the counter. The robot chef immediately started swearing at them, but in a friendly way. A patron explained that Eddie's previous owner had thought of himself as a comedian, and had reprogrammed Fat Eddie the robot with a foul mouth. The group ordered a little food, but went out into the street to have breakfast from their traveling stores.
They next visited the Chanda Institute, a Buddhist retreat which offered guided meditation and silent rest. The party were uninterested. Andy asked loudly about the Son of Schlockett, but they ignored him. Nearby was Willow Home, a Brotherhood-run shelter for refugees from Caesar's Legion and The Capitol. Two refugees were tending the grounds. They had tragic stories, not uncommon to Legion slaves. And examining them, Dr. Patch noticed that they were suffering from lingering injuries and malnourishment. Unimpressed, the group confronted the shelter's manager, a Brotherhood scribe. The scribe explained that he was following Brotherhood regulation to the letter. The refugees were given basic medical attention and the pre-approved food rations. If the people they housed needed extra attention, or special food, they needed to find it themselves. Dr. Patch was frustrated with the Scribe's lack of empathy, but the manager held firm.
Unwilling to leave the refugees untreated, Dr. Patch and Arminius decided to set up a temporary clinic. They would spend the day making sure every refugee was seen before they could move on.
Andy asked loudly about the Son of Schlockett, but they ignored him. As they were setting up the clinic, Morag returned to the Town Hall, where a return telegram was waiting for them. Bob Hanssen had answered. The telegram read: "YOUR ITEM WAS LOST NEAR BOSTON 40 YEARS AGO. IT WAS NOT PURPLE. THATS WEIRD."
Next Session: SESSION 47: THE FIST OF ANDY
Next Session: SESSION 47: THE FIST OF ANDY
Players: Current Adventuring Party, Andy, Arminius, Linda, Morag, Patch Radam
*August 26, 2317*
(Adventure Day 124)
Wurth Industries, a robotics factory before the war, was cleared of killer robots. Firewire of The Reavers had tasked them with destroying the factory's difference engine. And they did find that enormous, mechanical, analog computer. But standing in front of it, there were also a Schlockett Bot, and a clown... doctor?
Despite the surprise, there was very little tension between the two groups. Andy the robot was in his down-cycle, sleeping while he waited for rescue. And the clown doctor was quite friendly. He introduced himself as Patch Radam, and explained that he was not from around here. He was only in the area because he had come to assist the Midwest Brotherhood of Steel's technical team, serving as a doctor. Having some time off, his friend Steve Gritch had asked him to search the area for a super mutant named Linda. Dr. Patch had poked his head into Wurth Industries, and been trapped by the evil robots here.
Dr. Patch was shocked to find that the super mutant who had just rescued him was the exact Linda he was looking for. On top of that, Linda recognized Andy as a SchlockettBot. Back in Missouri, she and her friends had encountered the SchlockettBots in a strange place called All American City (SESSION 08 - ALL-AMERICAN CITY.) Morag used her technical skill to awaken Andy, who was happy to meet Linda. Andy explained that Betty Bagger had sent him to find the Son of Schlockett. Linda recalled that while leaving All American City, Mouse had painted himself into Arthur Schlockett's family portrait, noting himself as Arthur's first-born son. The SchlockettBots, who worshipped Arthur Schlockett must now be seeking Mouse in order to worship him. Linda, not the most organized mind, gave a meandering explanation that she didn't know where Mouse was, but that there were lots of Mouse Synths around.
Andy was confused and the party was injured from the, you know, killer robots. They needed to rest. Morag in particular looked pale, sweaty and tired. Dr. Patch looked her over with his trained medical eye and couldn't make heads or tails of it. But just a few feet away, the difference engine roared with cacophonous vibration. They examined the great machine and found it amazing. The pre-war construction was entirely mechanical, like a Rube Goldberg machine, using only gravity, the rotation of the earth and the earth's magnetic field to operate. Its millions of brass parts, though caked with 230 years of detritus, were still operating: continually pumping out more and more digits of Pi. They needed to get away from the difference engine's mind-splitting noise, but looking at the engineering marvel, they feel like destroying something so exceptionally made. The group left Wurth Industries and were approached by Firewire. She asked the group if the killer robots were defeated and the difference engine destroyed. They told her that the robots were gone, but they left the machine. Firewire was annoyed, having used up her explosives on distracting the killer robots, she didn't have the means to blow up the irreligious construction. The party were not impressed with her when she spoke to them with irritation. Morag asked for more information on the Scions of Bob (talking weapons like Beau) and Firewire had nothing to add: they came from the southwest, they started popping up ten years ago and they attach themselves to owners who they believe will accomplish ethical deeds. After that, Firewire demanded they blow up the difference engine, and the group refused. So, the Reaver marched into Wurth Industries with her toolkit, determined to destroy the machine, even if she had to do it one piece at a time.
It was time for healing and rest. Dr. Patch helped treat them of their various wounds and laser burns. They found a safer, more secure structure around Wurth Industries: a small security shelter. Worried the battle in the factory might draw danger, Arminius and Dr. Patch laid land mines around their sleep shelter. Morag scanned the nearby forest for enemies and found nothing interesting. Soon after, the distant hum of the difference engine ended and Firewire emerged from the old factory. She reported that she had destroyed the unholy thing and was returning to Gravestone. If the party ever traveled there, MegaByte of the Reavers owed them a favour. Linda declared that she was already friends with MegaByte and that Firewire should go with Atom's blessing. Firewire left, grumbling.
Exhausted, the group entered the shelter. The moment Morag sat down, she immediately fell asleep, Beau still propped up on her face. It had been a strange day for everyone, but they made camp and went to sleep. Andy stood guard for the group. Unable to turn his head, he was left padding back and forth on his robotic feet, shuffling all night.
Early the next morning, and I mean 4am early, the group awoke. To Dr. Patch's surprise, Morag had recovered completely. He asked Morag if she had a condition, and she explained that she just got very tired sometimes. Though it was quite dark out, the group set off. There first stop was Kentucky Oaks, an village which had been destroyed in the Great War and left uninhabited for 230 years. The party spent time scavenging in the area, gathering a few valuables. Continuing north, they came to High Point Marsh, a pre-war fishing resort. The old cabins were mostly rotten, but the group were still able to scavenge some useful items there.
As the sun was rising, the party crossed the one bridge in the region which spanned the radioactive Ohio River. The thin, steel construction had been a rail bridge before the war, and its arching span led right into the centre of the village of Homeland. At the foot of that bridge was an inspection checkpoint operated by The Midwest Brotherhood of Steel. A low-level Brotherhood knight stopped them for an inspection. The knight was impressed that Linda was one of the Heroes of St. Louis, noting that DJ Cool on Cool AM talked about them all the time. He read from a worksheet which items were banned in the Midwest and asked if the group possessed any of these items. Dr. Patch, very familiar with the Brotherhood (himself a retired officer and veteran of The Calculator War) treated the soldier with patient superiority. The only item that seemed to apply was one of Linda's treasures. In Jax, the party had disarmed an atom bomb that the Storytime Village gang were using to threaten the city (SESSION 39: STORYTIME VILLAGE.) After Arminius had disarmed the bomb, Linda took the weapon's radioactive core as a relic of Atom's Glow. Lex had even crafted a lead box for her to keep it in safely. The Brotherhood knight was shocked to see a completely viable nuclear weapon core just presented right in front of him with a smile. The knight called his supervisor, a Brotherhood scribe. The scribe saw the atom bomb core and asked Linda if she had heard of Atom. Linda began one of her religious allocutions, and the scribe immediately realized that she was one of the Children of Atom and therefore had a religious exemption to the ban on nuclear devices. Andy asked loudly about the Son of Schlockett, but they ignored him. The group entered the town of Homeland with the Brotherhood's blessing.
Looking to ask the Enclave about the strange piece of armour they shot off the leg of the Gen 2 Synth who stole Lex. They were hoping that the armour piece would be a clue to her rescue. The words of that Synth were still ringing in her ears, "You can pick up the body after we dump it at Kentucky Dam." The village of Homeland's only telegraph was owned by the Brotherhood of Steel and housed at the town hall. The party entered the town hall and approached the Brotherhood officer, one Knight Captain Diaz. At first, the captain was offended at the idea of civilians using the telegraph, but between Arminius's charisma and Dr. Patch's former rank, he was convinced. The group was shown the telegraph machine and left to send their message in private. Arminius tapped out the pattern to the Gamma Town telegraph station: "BOB HANSSEN. OUR SECRETERY ASKED TO TOLD US TO PASS THIS NUMBER TO YOU. 193497453497. PURPLE LEG. THEY HAVE LEX."
Dr. Patch asked Knight Captain Diaz about the Brotherhood mission here. And Diaz unhesitantly admitted that the Midwest soldiers were on alert over the Kentucky Dam. While at the dam, Paladin Ledlie was all smiles and co-operation, but on the other side of the Ohio River, they were ready for anything. The Midwest wouldn't make the first move, but they were ready to defend themselves. On a platform known as Boxcar Island, the Brotherhood had amassed artillery, ready to pummel any enemy, be it the Legion, Capitol, or even Dixie. The largest gun was pointed directly at the one bridge. At the pull of a lever the bridge would be destroyed, and the Midwest would be protected by two miles of radioactive water.
They thanked the Knight Captain and went to the marketplace. Andy asked loudly about the Son of Schlockett, but they ignored him. After some light trade, they went across the street to Fat Eddie's Roadhouse. There they found an old protectron robot working the counter. The robot chef immediately started swearing at them, but in a friendly way. A patron explained that Eddie's previous owner had thought of himself as a comedian, and had reprogrammed Fat Eddie the robot with a foul mouth. The group ordered a little food, but went out into the street to have breakfast from their traveling stores.
They next visited the Chanda Institute, a Buddhist retreat which offered guided meditation and silent rest. The party were uninterested. Andy asked loudly about the Son of Schlockett, but they ignored him. Nearby was Willow Home, a Brotherhood-run shelter for refugees from Caesar's Legion and The Capitol. Two refugees were tending the grounds. They had tragic stories, not uncommon to Legion slaves. And examining them, Dr. Patch noticed that they were suffering from lingering injuries and malnourishment. Unimpressed, the group confronted the shelter's manager, a Brotherhood scribe. The scribe explained that he was following Brotherhood regulation to the letter. The refugees were given basic medical attention and the pre-approved food rations. If the people they housed needed extra attention, or special food, they needed to find it themselves. Dr. Patch was frustrated with the Scribe's lack of empathy, but the manager held firm.
Unwilling to leave the refugees untreated, Dr. Patch and Arminius decided to set up a temporary clinic. They would spend the day making sure every refugee was seen before they could move on.
Andy asked loudly about the Son of Schlockett, but they ignored him. As they were setting up the clinic, Morag returned to the Town Hall, where a return telegram was waiting for them. Bob Hanssen had answered. The telegram read: "YOUR ITEM WAS LOST NEAR BOSTON 40 YEARS AGO. IT WAS NOT PURPLE. THATS WEIRD."
Next Session: SESSION 47: THE FIST OF ANDY
Character(s) interacted with
Report Date
30 Jul 2022
Comments