Collan and Niil: Seekers

[GM Craig]

You hear a crash from inside the room, and then a nervous female voice says, "Oh, come on it boys."

You enter a fairly spacious kitchen. An older human female appears to be in the middle of making some sort of baked food, and there are a few pots and pans around in piles.

"You need some grub? I got some gizka-steak pies cooling off."

[Niil Spaar]

Niil smiled and shook his head.  "Actually, ma'am, Wez and I just woke up; we haven't even had a chance to eat the breakfast you left for us."  He shrugged, and added, "We, umm, saw our door open and then heard a loud noise.  We just wanted to make sure everything was all right."

[GM Craig]

She waves her hands, scattering some sort of flour into the air. "That's just me. I get a wee bit rambunctious in the kitchen. Don't sweat it none." She places a plate full of meat pies on the table. "Breakfast'll be cold now. Sit a spell an' eat yer fill." She turns to the chiller and comes back with a pitcher of something red, and adds some glasses to the table. "G'wan, eat yer fill."

[Niil Spaar]

Niil caught the scent of the meat pies, and his mouth began to water.  "Ohhhhh, those do smell good.  Well, I don't need my rubber arm twisted any farther than that.  Our thanks for the great hospitality, ma'am."  Niil waved Collan in, but motioned the woman to a chair first.  "Care to join us?"

[GM Craig]

She waves a hand at you, scattering flour in the air. "Naw, I got work t'do. We'll have a few fer dinner t'night. Pa hired some hands to bring in the harvest. They been out on the turbines fer four days, and due back t'night. They'll be hungry."

[Niil Spaar]

"Our thanks, ma'am".  Niil sat down at the table, and ladled a few meat pies on to Collan's plate before serving himself.  As he started to pour the drinks, he hesitated, and set the pitcher down.  "Umm, ma'am?  If you don't mind my asking, how far away are those turbines from here?"

[GM Craig]

"Oh, they're spread out. The closest is about two kilometres from here. The farthest is 300 kilometres."

[Niil Spaar]

Niil thought for a moment.  "Ma'am, a stupid question of me, but you and Mr. Grumb have comm gear here to talk with each other in case something happens, right?  We encountered some punks last evening a few hours before we got here, and I just wanted to see if everything was all right."

[Collan]

At that point, Collan entered the room, "Mind you though that when we left them, they were going to be on foot. But they might have friends."

[GM Craig]

She waves a hand. "No matter. My man'll handle them if they show up. And he'll have hands with him. Nothin' to worry about."

She sets down a plate of steaming sausages.

"So, if I'm not prying, where ya from and where ya headed?"

[Niil Spaar]

Niil nearly drooled when she set down the plate of sausages; he couldn't recall the last time he ate this well.  "Well, originally Wez and I were from Lendt, but we were off-world when the . . . when it all happened.  Now we're heading to Tezest; one of our buddies used to hang out there, and we're hoping to find out if he's still around."

[Collan]

Collan/Wez nodded, took a few bites of sausage and added, "Heard some bad things about that too...Empire was shooting anyone trying to get out. Still don't know what happened to my ma' and pa'...least ways, not for sure."

[GM Craig]

She clucks her tongue as she pulls some sort of fruit pie on the table, with a large bowl of some whipped topping, and sets it on the table.

"A cryin' shame that was. Empire? What do they know. Instead of cowering everyone, it made everyone angry, is what. Lots of refugees coming to the Bladesea to get away from the empire lately. Too bad the pirates take advantage of the traffic. Them poor people have so little, and pirates take what little they do have, if'n they don't kill 'em outright. You two were lucky. We hear lots of stories of burning wrecks out in the Bladesea."

[Niil Spaar]

Niil shook his head.  "Yeah, the Empire.  A fat lot of good they've done for Karvis.  Come in and take over saying they're here to bring peace and order, and what do they do?  Wring the bloody planet dry - 'scuse my language, ma'am - and stomp on anyone that dares to raise a protest.   As for those blasted pirates - 'scuse my language - hmpfh.  Pack of cowards, preying on their own people."  Looking at Wez, he smiled, and added, "Well, we know at least six of them that won't be hassling anyone any more.  Maybe once we hit Tezest - if we can find out old buddy - we can see if we can get a group of bully-boys together and see if there's anything we can do about these marauders."  Niil's eyes narrowed as he added, "And I think I know someone that might be working for them.  We'll have to ask him a few questions when we get back."

Niil shrugged.  "But in the meantime, Wez and I should stay around until Mr. Grumb gets back.  We wouldn't feel right leaving you here by yourself, considering the hospitality you've shown us."  Looking at the pie she'd set down before them, he added with a grin, "And especially not after this fine meal you've treated us to.  Tell me, have you ever considered starting a cantina or a road house, ma'am?  I can't recall eating this well in a long time!"

[GM Craig]

She smiles. "Honey, if I cunna take care o' meeself, my man'd never left me with you strangers t'begin with. Yer welcome t' stay and set a spell if you want, but don't worry 'bout me. I spent my whole life on the Bladesea. I've fought everything from Gizka to Pirates, outlaws and claim jumpers to Kirsch. You want t' be movin' on, don't stay on my account."

As she speaks, her eyes draws your attention to the blaster under her apron, the rifle next to the stove, and another blaster pistol hanging over the counter next to the pots and pans.

"Life in the Bladesea is hard. Ye learn early to protect what you got, or you loose it."