04 Stone Cold
Set the Scene
Vela and Tatu are scanning the surrounding areas using the Blue Margin and its advanced scanners. it's a slow process but they need to make contact and they have little idea where to even send envoys.
Complication: 5 All is not as it seems
Altered Scene: 5 Altered
Alteration: 5 Add a Pacing Move
Pacing Move: 5 Advance a Plot
after nearly a month of searching there is still no sign of the Floran, individual or tribe still unknown. Vela is starting to question if they even heard what they thought they heard that day in the jungle.
Then one night Tatu is shaken awake and sees Vela with their hands up held at spear point in the bunk in the Blue Margin. The tribe is real. They have found them. It seems they are interested in Tatu specifically because they are also Floran... which means they are likely wild and isolated. Tatu can work with this... hopefully.
NPC Generator
Identity: 8S Specialist (mystical)
Goal: 6C Find (physical)
Features: 4 Quirk or mannerism
- 2H Small (social)
Attitude to PCs: 3 About average
Conversation: KC A Faction (physical)
A soft spoken Shaman in a beetle shell mask seems to be the leader of the group. They ask what tribe Tatu is from and why they are here.
Diplomacy 12 - Tatu explains the mining operation in earnest. They don't know how much Intel the Floran tribe has already and so lying about hard facts seems like a risk. They ask what tribe the shaman is from and why they are here in an attempt to establish a peer mentality.
Topic Focus
What is the tribe focused on?
7C Enemies (physical)
The shaman is part of the Sky Stone tribe, named for the quarry itself and how they shelter near here because the other tribes are too frightened to approach.
Diplomacy 17 - Tatu pulls from what they know of ancient Floran culture, which isn't much, and offers that the tribes are flowers on the same vine and should not fight. The shaman agrees and demands the barrier is removed. Tatu understands the problem now, the tribe must be close, ridiculously close, to the quarry and the barrier has disrupted their hunting. They explain how the barrier is important to them and offer to move it into the tight perimeter if the tribe can protect the hunting grounds from getting too wild.
Plot Hook
Objective: 6 Save an ally in peril
Adversaries: 1 A powerful organization
Rewards: 3 Knowledge and secrets
The shaman agrees on one condition. Rescue one of their captured hunters from an enemy tribe. Tatu doesn't want to start a skirmish war in the jungle. Stealth exfiltration will end badly. however if they can just exterminate the other tribe...
Tatu accepts the terms.
Deception 16 - Tatu coordinates a mercenary security force. misrepresenting the opposition force as a tribal warrior and others instead of a full tribal warrior clan. They offer a full share of the quarry profits, her entire share, for long term security afterwards. Going into meticulous details on the long term deal and minimizing the initial Operation.
Yes/No (Unlikely)
Does the mercenary force extract the hostage?
2,5 No
Yes/No (Unlikely)
Does the mercenary force eliminate the tribe?
3,2 No
Yes/No (Unlikely)
Does the mercenary force survive?
3,4 No
How Much
How much damage does the assault cause to the tribe?
2 Less than expected
The cannon fodder assault goes poorly. As expected. Tatu tries to send in the local security led by Jiro...
Yes/No (Unlikely)
Does Jiro mount a follow up assault?
6,6 Yes and...
Yes/No (Even)
Does Jiro rescue the hostage?
4,5 Yes
Yes/No (Even)
Does Jiro exterminate the tribe?
2,5 No
How Much
how many losses does Jiro suffer?
5 More than expected
Jiro returns alone with the Floran hostage covered in amber blood. The rest of the security force didn't make it...
Yes/No (Likely)
Does the Sky Stone tribe push the advantage?
1,6 No and...
The Sky Stone tribe could easily clean up what's left of the other tribe. Tatu even encourages it. The flight is over and the tribe admonishes Tatu's aggressive tactics. They will continue to hunt and protect the quarry as agreed but they want nothing more to do with them past that protection agreement.
Failure Move
5 Reveal an Unwelcome Truth
Vela is also disgusted by the deceptive meat grinder tactics Tatu has employed. They are sick of this greedy life and want to move on. Tatu is worried they are going to get cut out of the profits, but quite the opposite. The disappointed Vela gives them total control of the outpost, takes the Blue Margin, and leaves without telling anyone where they plan to go, assuming they had a plan to tell...
Tatu takes control of the entire system from Vela. Surrounded by crew that hate and distrust her, utterly alone, but in charge again. To Tatu it feels like home.