robowest | [ WEEK ONE

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game: start

[ WEEK ONE – ARRIVAL ]

ARRIVAL

It's a surprisingly quiet ride. The passenger cart is nothing more than wood and a bit of cotton to cushion the seats but for some reason, even as the train hurtles along down the track, the cart remains silent. It only starts filling with noise when the passengers begin to stir.

There isn't any indication on how you got here. No grogginess, no injuries -- in fact, those who arrive with injuries might find them healed up completely (of course there are others who won't be so lucky) -- but in one blink and the next, you are here, on this train. Maybe you're even sitting next to a friend. Maybe a stranger.

Won't be any time to talk either, the train suddenly slowing down with enough of a jerk to throw its passengers back into their seats. A few seconds later, it comes to a complete stop and with a whistle, the doors open and a voice calls from outside. It's male, with a slight mechanical twang behind it and anyone who looks out the window towards the station can just about spot the portly man out on the platform.

"You might as well come on out, folks. You won't be getting any answers on the train."

Once everyone is out on the platform, the man stands before them taking an assessing look at each person. There is something very off about him, though he looks human enough -- but his eyes are too white, his skin too dry, and his hair is doesn't shine quite right. He is dressed in a flannel shirt, suspenders, and jeans, a cowboy hat atop his head and a badge pinned to his shirt that reads "Sheriff". After a moment, he gives a gruff nod and speaks again.

"Howdy. Real happy to see all of you. Explanations will come... Sunday morning, yeah. Give y'all a bit of time to meet each other. Settle in. Keys are on the table over there, hat and pistol in your room. Don't, er... Don't shoot each other right away but if you do, my office is over there. Go get some dinner, sun's about to set. Wouldn't want any coyote trouble."

And that seems to be... it. The Sheriff tips his hat and turns to head to the building with the large "Sheriff" sign on the front. There is a table nearby, keys neatly laid out for everyone with nametags attached to each one. An owl hoots in the distance and a breeze passes through the group. It's quiet again.

Welcome to game start! Characters will find their items in their hotel rooms and anyone who goes to visit the Sheriff after he leaves will find the station empty. On top of that, rulebooks will not be available to find until later. The Sheriff might be forcing it a little but it seems like the intent here really is to get everyone to interact with each other. If there are any questions, PM or hit up the plurk at

robowest!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's underaged but at the same time Percy's not stupid enough or good enough to say so. They wandered into a casino and stayed for a week when he was 12. He's used to being places he shouldn't, especially when it's not even his fault. Instead he's been trying to talk to as many people as he can and this was one of the places on his list. He doesn't exactly smile back, but there's a pleasant enough look on his face as he takes in the saloon.

There's also a small, booming "woof" from a friend sitting somewhere by his feet.]

What do you recommend?

[ Sara's giving him a good, long look-- and an even longer look at the dog, because goodness, that sure as hell is one droopy-looking dog. ]

Water for your friend, maaaaaybe some sorta cider for you. I'm still not clear on the law enforcement here.

[ What a fine, upstanding teacher to the youth she is. ]

[Don't mind him. He still looks a little run-over, tattered clothes and minor bruises and cuts but his demeanor's still calm all the same. The one thing that doesn't appear damaged is the leather cord with four clay beads on it, all different colors and images. The dog at his feet woofs again, wagging her tail and Percy doesn't even want think about if water here will do something weird to Mrs. O'Leary.]

Since our Sheriff ditched us I don't think we have any. [But he nods.] But why not?

[He might not drink it immediately, but it gives him an excuse to stick around.] Where do you think he went anyway?

I don't have a whole lot of experience with shady guys running places none of us seem to remember willingly traveling to, buuuut--

[ ... hold that thought, she's putting down a bowl of water for the dog and pouring him a mug of cider like she has absolutely never done bartending in her life.

Probably because she hasn't, but it doesn't have to look professional as long as it goes in the glass!! ]

My guess is somewhere where he could keep an eye on all of us.

[His first thought--well okay, his first thought is one he wouldn't voice to a stranger because even Percy knows they're at a disadvantage here, but his second thought is that Sara's response makes sense. Mrs. O'Leary immediately moves for the bowl of water, though she seems more interested in playing with it than drinking immediately. Percy gives a quiet "thanks" once the mug's in front of him, but he ponders on that for a brief moment.]

Usually when people are watching they're in a base that's heavy with security. But they always show up when you don't want them to. I'm not even sure we'll really hear from him again on Sunday.

Maybe not. But guys like that don't usually give you an actual deadline unless they're planning on pissing off a whole bunch of people by not showing up. He might just be someone who wants to ramp up the anticipation, or he'd've said something like "Eeeeeeh, I'll tell you sooner or later."

[ Said with her best impression of that voice, even, as she leans heavily on the counter. ]

Either way, he's obviously expecting something from us.

It's either that or people like that are delivering some bad news. [To address her first point. He's also had a lot of experience with the world giving them enemies that taunt deadlines over their heads. Still, he cracks a grin at the effort of an impression, tentatively taking a sip of the cider and trying not to make a face.]

We know that a bunch of us woke up on a train, and we know a bunch of us were doing other things before then. Any ideas what he might want? [...] And why all of us were given a hat and a pistol? [The hat's stupid. He refuses to bother with a hat but the gun's more of a concern.]

Solidarity and self-defense? [ She says it wryly, though, like she's pretty sure those aren't the reasons at all. ]

As for that question... have you checked out the graveyard yet?

[ Because that's a pretty big clue right there. ]

[The glass pauses at his lips and he lowers it back to the bar. That's definitely a no. After where he's been death was sort of the last thing he wanted to be around at the moment.]

Not yet. Mrs. O'Leary and I are still checking things out. [He leans on the countertop then and suddenly looks a little too serious about this.] What's wrong with it?

You're a little too young-looking to be a "Mrs." already, aren't you? [ to the dog, ruefully, before she looks back at Percy. ]

Let's just say there are some tombstones out there that might have some familiar names on 'em.

[ Not that she knows who this kid is, but she's verified the ones she does know. ]

[Mrs. O'Leary barks cheerfully, so at least somebody in the saloon is happy because Percy picks up on those implications a little too easily. He's staring at Sara before staring at his hands, not waiting long before tilting his head back to look at the ceiling.]

Great. We're dead. [Well you know what, he still beat all odds by making it to 16. That's something.] Someone was definitely expecting us, but I don't understand how they got us and our stuff here without anybody's stories matching up. [It's believable for him and Annabeth because #gods, but everyone else? No.]

That's a good question. [ Good, he's a smart kid. ]

But either most of us are lying, or they figured out a way to drag a bunch of people from different places without any of us sensing something up.

[A finger traces over the rim of the glass then.] But why would we all need to lie to each other when we're all in the same situation? [Percy doesn't count his own withholding of information as lying, really.] We won't get any answers without everyone giving up what they know. I...maybe it's possible but someone has to remember. It can't be all of us that're clueless.

[Percy's had his fair share of people lying to him, too. It's not something he likes much.]

Well, it could. But for now, asking around to see what everyone knows is probably our best bet. We're not going to learn a whole lot from the town itself, except that they definitely don't want us dying of starvation or dehydration.

How generous of them. [Its said flatly but he takes a drink anyway, a larger gulp this time. Real food and real drinks are still a blessing, considering.] I've been trying to see what everybody remembers before the train and so far a lot of the stories don't match up at all. Did you see some of the buildings are boarded up? Another girl told me there's a farm out there, too.

Did she say anything about signs of life over there? People milking cows or chasing chickens or whatever?

[ She can dream. ]

I asked the same thing. She said it was just the animals and a ton of flowers. She brought some back and they were all fresh. [Which is weird since everything else is like a ghost town.]

... Okay, so obviously we do have people behind the scenes.

[ AND THEY'RE PROBABLY ASSHOLES. ]

Usually the case. [Hes not happy about that either.] Wanna bet they're hiding in the buildings we can't get in?

I wonder how much force it'd take to get in...

[ SHE COULD DO THAT. ]

You mean break it down? [HE'S NOT OPPOSED BUT.] maybe it's worth a try...if he doesn't show up and open the doors to everything tomorrow, that is.

[Like. What if it's a trap to distract them? Lots of possibilities...]

... I guess that would save us some effort. But if he doesn't, I say we try a little healthy investigation.

[ Investigations are totally legal. ]

Count me in. The more people we have investigating, the better. [And also Percy's find with attacking stuff to get answers, that's sort of a default.

There's a short pause.] I'm Percy. Might be good to know if we're going to start an investigation team.

Nice to meetcha, Percy. I'm Sara Valestein.

[ That's step number one, at least. ]

Likewise. [He's more comfortable now at least, feeling a little better with the idea that someone might be on his side.] So can I ask what the last you remember was?

saturday, saloon

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