May 06 13:07:19 109 PA - A Monster Master Visits a Besieged Town
From Chronicles
May 06 13:07:19 109 PA.
ARCADIA
Arcadia used to be a pleasant town. The "urban" area contains about two-thousand souls living and working, though it is definitely the commercial center of the entire area. The area between Pilot Knob in the north, The Shepherd Mountain to the west, and the terminus of the Run in the east is home to roughly forty-five hundred beings of all types. Arcadia has numerous trading posts for miscellaneous goods brought in from the larger population centers, a few pleasant-looking pubs and a few places to eat. The "city hall" is little more than a building with the words, "City Hall" having been carved into a nice plaque hanging from the front eaves. Most of the people here who aren't actual business owners or residents, are miners coming in and out of their homes in the outlying areas, and Iron Mountain many miles to the north. This is a nice place to live, surrounded by thick trees. Of course, all strangers are told that it's best to stay out of the trees, unless you know where you're going. Apparently travel there is somehow supernaturally confusing, and with strange creatures as well. A number of mercenary companies sit around, just waiting for people who want to make the streaking travel down the Run toward The Junction. It's well laid out, surprising for a city that grew in pieces over time. Looking at the state of the lumber, stone and metal used in the buildings, this little town is quite old. Not that it hasn't benefited and been successful. Clearly over the last long months, the area has deteriorated, first under the onslaught of Coalition soldiers, and now having been under a continuous siege from monsters of unknown type. The people, even these hardy miners are becoming weary of having to both defend their land and work it at the same time. Perhaps this is why the Coalition has been able to establish a small yet significant presence within its boundaries. If nothing else good can be said for the area right now, at least the weather is clear and on the warm side.
Clear skies and comfortable weather are a definite plus, no matter the destination. Leonard enters the town on foot, though the jet pack on the rear plate of his body armor served most of his transportation needs until now. Now it's simply a matter of meeting those requesting his expertise. Given that they identified themselves as Arcadia, the building marked 'City Hall' seem to Leonard to be a reasonable place to begin.
As busy as the town is, what stands in for a city hall is even busier, with people on the phone, running in and out of the building trying to keep things sane. Only one obvious person is momentarily stationary, beneath the eaves and off to the side, out of the way of traffic. A dwarf, a dyed-in-the-wool short, bearded dwarf with a double-sided axe, smoking on a long pipe and looking generally grumpy as he curses away under his breath. With eyes darting from treeline to citizen to Coalition soldier, he can't help but look up as a new fellow makes a dramatic vertical entrance. Hefting himself to his feet, he grabs the axe in a strong carry position and heads in the direction of the newcomer.
Leonard attempts to not stare at the occasional Coalition soldier as he walks, which is slightly more difficult than resisting the urge to disintegrate. He focuses on the building he approaches in order to help, and spots the axe-carrying dwarf that nears. As quaint as he is, dour beings with sharp objects shouldn't be dismissed off-hand. "Greetings," is offered once the wielder closes.
The Coalition soldiers around, including at least two separate Dog Pack units give Leonard an equally warm welcome, avoiding him as he goes on his way and they go theirs. The dwarf approaches the man with the jet pack, then stops about fifteen feet away, planting his axe in the ground head-first. He's not threatening, he's just very present. Also, very brusque. "Are you here to fight? Because if you're looking for a place to visit, we don't have room, and you'd prefer somewhere else anyway." To give the man his due, behind his attitude there is a significant air of simply being tired, mentally and physically, yet needing to maintain focus. Even his eyes dip slightly as he flexes his fingers around his stowed weapon's shaft.
"I am here to advise," Leonard answers the dwarf, "On request." He shortens the distance between them by half before stopping at what he considers a polite yet conversational spacing. "Arcadia has a specific issue with creatures, I infer from the radio transmissions."
The dwarf grunts and nods, pounding his axe once against the ground. "Yes. Beasts. And I don't mean the Coalition troops!" He injects a little shot of dwarven humor. "My name is Gin, I'm one of the Five. Please, follow me. The men in the black armor won't hassle you," he says, waving toward some passing Coalition grunts. His small gait is surprisingly fast, and he narrates on his way back to City Hall. "They arrived about two months ago, maybe more, we're not sure. It used to just be the creatures of the Run. But now? Beasts! Very hard to kill, particularly for a bunch of miners, like us. The Coalition even seems to be having problems with them, though not nearly as much so. You're a monster expert, then?" One big and bushy eyebrow is raised, appraising the armor-clad man.
Leonard grins at the humor, which is revealed by the removal of his helm. He follows the vertically-challenged Gin and nods to the appraising query. "My name is Leonard, and yes, the study of various preternatural creatures is part of my expertise."
Gin nods his thick head, smiling oddly beneath the coarse facial hair. "What can I - we - do to help? We're hoping that someone like you might know what they are? Or where they're from? Something that would help us beat them back into the wilderness. It's just too strange, that they would come so suddenly. We've never had trouble with anything like this before." He offers a large shrug as the axe is hefted over his right shoulder. "Sure, we've had creatures before. That's why we keep the perimeter clear. But nothing like this." He then repeats, "What can I give you right now to help?"
"What can you tell me of the beasts? Appearance, strengths, behavior, et cetera. That would be helpful in identification," Leonard notes, "Short of my encountering one first-hand. If I can determine what they are or what drives them, destroying or driving them away will be much easier. If there was not a problem before, obviously something changed to draw or drive them here."
The dwarf moves off a short distance, only a few tens of feet and points his axe to the northeast. Then southeast. Then west. Generally waving it around at the perimeter. "You can see them in person if you're brave enough to do it," he grunts out in a deep baritone. "Or foolish enough, might be equally appropriate." Gin lets out a long sigh. "They come in many forms. Some of them are huge, featherless birds, with long beaks and huge talons. They're dangerous, because they can hit us anywhere." He raises a free index finger to the sky - the currently clear sky. "Others are small, like... like thin chickens with scales. Fast. They like to move in groups. Some of them are humanoid, some of them are giant cats this size of large trucks, but which move so fast that it's hard even to aim. There are others, a multitude of others and in all horrible forms," he says with a shake of his head. "Nothing like we've ever heard of, except for perhaps the flying ones." He moves to poke Leonard in the chest gently with his axe - doesn't, but gets close - "Which is why we've asked you here. An expert." He raises another bushy brow. "Would you prefer to be paid now, or later? Oh, and do you have a name?"
Leonard raises a brow in return. "So there are many varieties, rather than one species? Did all begin to harass at roughly the same time? As I mentioned, my name is Leonard, and I'd prefer to be paid beforehand, especially if I might need to see the creatures up close."
"Oh, Leonard. Yes, I'm sorry," Gin says, lowering his head and wiping his brow. "It's busy around here, forgive me if I forget details like that. Yes, they all came at once. It began as a small trickle, but they were all different. It's worst on the northeast side, and far north at the mine. But they're hitting from all around. We have a mage, and she checked the books that we have, but nothing like it has been seen. Some of them are even immune to things beyond energy weapons and hammers." He holds up a staying finger, then calls out gruffly for a 'Matilda.' A woman comes out and after a brief discussion, hands over Leonard's fee.
"Understandable," Leonard shrugs. He's much more interested in the details that follow the apology. "Well, there are far too many creatures that are only vulnerable to magic or uncommon materials. It's odd that there is such variety, though." He accepts the fee and considers more.
The dwarf nods his head again. "The Coalition soldiers, they always manage to drive them off, one way or another. To 'hold the line' as I've heard them say. That is, so far. It's fortunate that they came through again after it all started, or we might not be here. At first we thought that it was another invasion, but now?" The stout man shrugs. "I guess they're... saviors, for lack of a better word." He spits a huge gob on the ground. "For *significant* lack of a better word. As I said, you're free to walk around and have a look. Just keep an eye on the skies." He stands by Leonard, waiting to see if he can be of any further assistance.
Leonard scowls as he looks towards the perimeter and skies. "I know numerous words for the CS, and that is definitely not one of them. If they can drive back the creatures, they must know of some vulnerabilities, or simply harm them with sheer volume of fire. I will go to the perimeter and see what I can see." If it disproves whatever PR stunt the CS hopes to make, Leonard would be more than a little pleased.
Gin nods his head deeply, as if perhaps watching a man march to his doom. "They are worst to the northeast, like I said. The Coalition troops are concentrated the most there, too. But you can find them all over, if you prefer something more.. private? I can have one of my people show you around, if you'd need or require it - though I won't tell you that they'll stay and fight if something attacks you."
"I'd prefer an escort," Leonard decides after a few moments' thought. "The fewer CS troops I need to approach, the better. They're not going to be any more fond of me than I am of them."
The dwarf barks out an order, and a man - a boy, really - comes running over. "Take Mister Leonard south, to where it's the most quiet." The boy nods, glancing at Leonard, obviously worried and not exactly trusting. Gin says, "Tyon will take you where you want to go, but he's only a quick guide, not an escort. Thank you for coming, I hope that you can give us some answers before you depart." He stops and grunts, "Literally or figuratively." The squat man then stomps toward City Hall, and the boy silently waves for Leonard to follow. He will take him first to the foot of the southern hill, options for climbing it to observe, or going around, close to the trees themselves. The kid looks more and more frightened the closer and closer they get.
Leonard follows the boy towards the hill, and quickly gets the impression that the landmark is significant... if just from the boy's worried appearance. "You can go now, Tyon. I think that I can handle myself from here."
Tyon nods his head rapidly six or seven times, trying to smile, before running off to the north. The hill itself is apparently unnamed, or if it is named, it wasn't shared. Rising four-hundred feet or so above the surrounding land, it does have a good view of the 'civilization' to the north and the wilderness in all other directions. The tree line is about a thousand feet away from the proper summit. This area is clearly still under assault by creatures, and is nowhere near bereft of Coalition soldiers, though the vast majority of them are down on the ground. Only a few of them with heavy weapons are sited on the hill, their masks giving Leonard a look before they return to their work. There is no constant rain of fire, this is not a battlefield. But it is busy, and it is loud. A quick note by anyone who might be in the know would see that most, if not all of their equipment is of the new and best that that States have to offer.
"Wonderful," Leonard mutters to himself as he checks his helmet before walking further towards the perimeter. Not only does he need to worry about unusual creatures, but the possibility of itchy Coalition trigger fingers. He tries to pay more attention to the skies and woods than the Dead Boys.
The troops do seem to have genuinely no interest in harming Leonard, or any of the Arcadians, or any of the mercenaries who have been hired. Their focus is outward - and upward - at the creatures. Every now and then there will be a loud *ZAT* of a laser, a *POP* of a grenade, or a *PFZZZZZT* of a rail gun blast. Though they'd likely have no qualms about shooting someone in the way, the mage is in no way a target. For now, the skies remain clear of anything described by the dwarf.
Leonard takes no chances with either type of threat. Once he passes the firing line, an almost casual gesture and incantation render him unseen. All the better to loiter and observe in the hopes that he can identify one or more of the creatures.
It doesn't take too long before activity begins again. Some little creatures come past, sniffing, but to most of them sight and smell at the same time are more appealing. The most exciting and most immediate comes in the form of what Gin might have been describing as a giant cat. It truly is the size of a large hovertruck, and looks as if it weights four times that much in muscle. It is bereft of fur, covered in scales but with a mouthful of fangs and feet with slicing claws. A long tail with a heavy blunt end follows. All of this, though, passes in but a split second, completely out of nowhere. Not technically invisible, but moving so quickly that they might as well be. A number of grunts on the front line go down as weapons open up into the general area.
Leonard's initial reaction is tempered joy. He didn't need to wait long. That is immediately followed by concern when weapons begin to fire, and he immediately activates his jet pack to gain altitude and remove himself from the line of fire. Observations can resume after that, keying on the appearance, abilities, and visible resilience of the creatures to the fire upon them. All to determine or hypothesize on their nature, based upon his knowledge and experience.
From a perch above, it can be seen that these freakishly-fast animals are as sturdy as they are speedy. The Arcadians alone, or even with hired mercenaries, would have little chance against such a thing. Particularly were they to come in a pack rather than a solitary creature. As for the Coalition soldiers, though, they are not only well equipped, but clearly highly trained. Excellent weapons used by skilled men make short work of even these beasts. There are wounded among the soldiers, but no dead. When the attack is over? They quickly return to their normal watch positions with an air of confidence around their shoulders. A few men down below take a moment to cut out the fangs of the animals; for what reason is unknown.
Leonard makes several mental notes of raw details observed after he fails to make any specific identification. The creatures are fast, communal, and are not impervious to the weapons fire, merely resilient. Barring any comprehensible communication between the beasts, he must presume that they are simple predators. That rules out any form of intelligent influence. They're most likely interested in food, probably in the form of those living in the town.
The southern sector dies down to the relative silence as it was when the mage first arrived. The *zap* here and a *pop* there. The soldiers keep up their guard, but seem in no way overly jumpy and excited about the static patrol. Of course, this was stated as being the quiet sector.
Airborne and unseen, Leonard decides to fly to the north where more activity is expected. More data would be welcome. The chance to watch a few Coalition soldiers meet a grisly demise would be an amusing fringe benefit.
There is indeed far more activity to the northeast, but it's the Arcadians meeting grizzly endings far more often than it is the soldiers. A few beasts here and there leap from the tree line to attack. They don't usually get through the troops, but when they do, it doesn't go well for the miners, or even many of the hired mercenaries. Only the Coalition troops manage to hold out well. The types of monsters seen are just as strange and varied as Gin had said, but even more so, as if he'd only touched on the tip of the plethora of strangeness.
It's a shame, really. That the townspeople have to suffer, that is. Leonard opens his senses to possible intent or malice on the part of the attackers. Whether it is simple hunger or more cognizant ill will that drives them is a major distinction.
Below, the northeastern sector quiets down. Even the lighter weapons find time to fall back and recharge, with soldiers snapping grenades back on. Elsewhere, the fight continues as creatures press in, though for the moment it is a delightful lull that the Arcadians must be thrilled about.
Leonard is not a military tactician, but he does know a few things on predatory creatures. A few individuals, or even a pack, mounting a few attempts at a human food source is one thing. The pulsing confrontation makes him more and more doubtful that that is the case, here. He turns to fly over and beyond the perimeter to learn whether he might find a larger concentration or source of the creatures.
Seeing as how the rest of the area is thickly wooded, there really isn't much to see. Thankfully the Leatherwings seem to have decided to take this particular day off. There is no unusual evil intelligence to be sensed beyond the minor flames of evil that the higher-order predators occasionally have. It's simply impossible to tell with all of the natural cover; could be thousands, could be none - though it's probably not none.
Hmm. No easy information from that route, and Leonard is not about to go poking about in the trees. Unseen or not, it isn't advising and the risk is not worth the payment. He returns to the more secure side of the lines and lands well behind the soldiers and their weapons. While he does not have a simple or definitive answer for Gin, he does have some advice to offer.
Gin has since emerged from the hall once again, and is on hand to greet Leonard when he lights upon the ground. His gruff, deep voice grunts out, "So? Anything?" Of course, that's the sound of being happy and hopeful, for a dwarf. "I heard shooting down south, Tyon didn't see anything. Guess you didn't find any of those big birds in the sky, though?"
"No," Leonard shakes his head in the negative, "I did not see any of the fliers, but your description pins them as Leatherwings, most likely. The others..." he is forced to shrug, "Are not anything I've seen or heard tell of before. They seem to be animalistic predators, without any intelligence that I can discern, but they are also very determined. That is the bad news. The good news is that they are not immune to the weapons used here, but I assume that you already know this. Were there any changes before they began to appear? New goods or visitors arriving? A change at the mines? They are attacking for some purpose, but I do not think that it is as simple as hunting for food."
Gin thinks, then says, "There was a discovery at the mines, but that was many months ago. Long before the attacks. We didn't start seeing these until after, ah, well let me see." He stops and thinks. "We found the ore. Then the Coalition came and fought, and then ran. Then the beasts started to attack, and the Coalition showed up to attack us I guess, but they've been defending. There's time in between all that, of course. Didn't happen one after the other after the other. But there was nothing else special." He thumps a foot, adding, "I've likely been mining longer than you've been alive, and I've never encountered anything that liked to eat even special ores."
Leonard nods somewhat absently as he listens and processes. "I regret that I do not have a simple solution for you, other than to suggest that you acquire defenses other than the Coalition. If these creatures are as minimally intelligent and yet as determined as they seem, something here in the town is drawing them very strongly," he opines, "Or they are driven here by a stronger force. As foreign as they appear, that suggests they were summoned or transported from another realm. The amount of mystical or technological power to do that, however, is staggering. They originated from /somewhere/, obviously. Do you know where they were first spotted?
Gin thinks again, but can only shake his head negatively. "They showed up here one day. Not so bad, but quickly bad within a week. Only barely slowly enough for us to get in some mercenaries, or we would be gone. They hit the northeast area first, of course. I don't know why they like it there, but they do. Or they come from there. Eh, I don't know," he finishes with a groan and a grimace. "We have no money to find much more in the way of significant assistance. I was hoping that there was some kind of key, but I suppose not. I don't know anything about summoning. But, thank you." He looks Leonard in the knee and brings his fist across to his left shoulder in typical dwarven salute.
"If there is anything else I might do to aid," Leonard offers the dwarf, "I can be available. Should you uncover any further details on recent events, they might provide clues. My apologies that I could not provide anything more direct."
Gin nods in appreciation. "Perhaps if you can raise an army to come here and rid us of our dual-infestation?" he asks, nodding as two more Coalition grunts walk past. "Thank you again. If I, or any of the other Five can think of anything, we'll call you. Thanks for the effort, Leonard." That said, he starts to wander back into the city hall.
