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Session Two Hundred and Sixty-Two Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-04-09T03:05:47Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 262, April 8 2026 ==
[[File:Factory-Ohio.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 9:00AM on October 11th, 2157, with the party having spent the previous three days hiding out from pursuers in Loudenville's abandoned Walmart. Earlier in the morning, Molly See and her people left to find Danforth and the other half of her caravan since the group has assured her that they don't need her guidance to find their way to Mount Vernon, Ohio. Now the party is ready to set off on the last leg of their journey to the coordinates they received from Asmodeus -- an area just a bit north of Columbus, either near or at a pre-war Advanced Systems facility. What will the group find at that location? Is it a trap? The hiding place of the machines containing their homeworld? Why did Asmodeus send them on a hunt for fake data when it seems he would have known the truth all along? Find out next time; or not.

We decided on a route to get to our destination.

No radiation by Geiger counter at Walmart.

We take our antirad, c. 9:30 AM.

Velkin scurries up the tall building in Loudonville to scan the horizon, etc. Nothing obvious stands out.

Route 39 deteriorates rapidly outside of Loudonville.

Between Perrysville and Lucas we pass a newer gate to the North. The gate looks brand new with a post and intercom. There is a light lit up on it.

Thorfus notices there is a camera pointed towards the road. He mentions it over his comm system.

We cross under I-71. We notice that what buildings there are are more severely damaged.

We don't see anyone this whole time. Mansfield is a charred ruin. The charring comes from the Southwest.

There are occasional spikes on the Geiger counter. There is a steady rise punctuated by spikes as we start down Hwy 42. The Geiger counters are consistently red lining.

We make it to Mount Gilead and continue on Hwy 42 towards Ashley. The road is terrible from natural decay. Prospect Mt. Vernon Road is no worse than what we have on Hwy 42.

We go about two miles and cross a dry riverbed. Eventually in the distance there is fencing around some dilapidated buildings.

We stop at the cross roads of Prospect Mount Vernon Road and Kilbourne-Cardington Road. The fence is pristine with barb wire at the top. Inside are a number of buildings that are flattened, some are partially standing. Some sort of office building with a couple of storys left, a partially collapsed hangar, there is a tower, looks like it snapped off a couple storys up.

We get Quint out to talk him over the situation. He asks if we are at the coordinates yet. You took me out? I was in that case that had some shielding. We mention it appears to be a tower. This A.I. Asmodeus said that this is where he is. I think I can defend myself from his influence. Quint suggests waiting to open the box in extreme circumstances.

We send up the drone. We scan with binoculars looking for cameras. Velkin spots a gate with cameras and they are moving. There is maybe a camera above the sliding doors of the hangar.

Glompus confirms the cameras via the drone. There are about 10 different buildings and an antenna array, satellite dishes, in bad condition or collapsed. Any partially standing structure has active cameras sweeping the area. There are two gates - one South of us, and the other is on 166 to the East. Fewer buildings on the East side of the property. The exact coordinates appear to be the partially collapsed hangar. The hangar is about 1,800 feet from our position.

The drone has thermal cameras, it depicts a cube-like blob giving off heat. It's about 10x10 with definite corners.

We try to detect a wireless signal with a scrap deck trying to look for a signal without connecting. There is a signal for [[Advanced Systems Prime Campus Ohio]] that is crystal clear.

We decide to open up mini-Asmodeus. Velkin asks Thorfus to be ready to grab him. Thorfus goes over to the SUV. Glompus keeps an eye on the compound with the drone. Then Velkin opens the case with Asmodeus and jacks in. It appears to be a cozy room in a dungeon of somesort. Mini-Asmodeus staring off with hands in front of him.

Velkin says, "Hey, Asmodeus." Greetings, you are not Kauri, where is he?" Velkin tells him we lost Kauri. You are Velkin, I have records of you as well. Last time I spoke with Kauri - It's been some time since we last spoke - it was to deliver the specifications of the chip to certain coordinates - oh, I see we are here.

Velkin says, Yes, we're here. It seems we are a small ways off from the exact location. Asmodeus said he doesn't have details, there should be a secure facility, can you approach it? Velkin describes the fence, cameras, and something that about 10X10. It isn't that much of a concern that this location is monitored. If just cameras and fencing, it isn't that surprising. Would you like me to make contact? I see a local network nearby that I can connect to to announce my presence. It is very strong and emanating from beneath us.

Asmodeus says that in this situation, I believe it is best to make contact. He goes still while he reaches out.

He snaps back, excellent, my larger instance and I have interfaced. I can assure you that the fencing, security cameras, etc. are under control of my larger self. The cube is the entrance to the larger facility we are to deliver the specs. The gate will open as you approach it.

Velkin says he will disconnect, if you leave me running it will smooth the process as we enter the facility.

Velkin signs to us to get us up to speed.

We drive to the gate, it slides open, the camera focuses on the vehicles. Thorus puts his mask on before getting to the cameras.

Glompus leaves the drone in the air.

As we pull in mini-Asmodeus directs us to drive up to the hangar building and the door will roll open.

There is a 10' cube occupying the hangar. It is a single gray cube, no obvious doorways or seams, just sitting on the floor.

Mini-Asmodeus says to find a parking spot for our vehicles. Walk up to the cube and the entrance shall appear soon.

There are cameras in the rafters of the hangar covering the cube's area.

Glompus loses sight of the vehicles, except via thermal, he can see.

Keanu is looking pretty nervous. If you need somebody to keep an eye on the vehicles, I'm your guy. May I suggest, perhaps you should leave the skill plug up here with me. It would be a shame if it was lost. I consider us completely even if you all died and I drove away with the skill plug. Halo replies, "Assuming you can drive away."

Velkin gives him the skill plug. He seems surprised when he does that.

Velkin takes one high tech chip.

We bring quint with us, Velkin carries him.

Mini Asmodeus says, When you're ready approach the cube and stand in front of it.

There is a seam of light in the trace of a door and the door dissolves into nothing. The cube has thick walls, but is hollow.

Mini-Asmodeus says please step onto the lift to go down to interact with my larger instance.

Prix shrugs and steps in.

Vikram asks if this is a typical lift, this seems unusual. We all agree.

Velkin marks the wall opposite the door with a piece of chalk.

We stand for a long time, about 20 minutes. Finally, Mini-Asmodeus tells us we have arrived. Please step through and you will find small electric carts for the audience chamber/auditorium. It looks like a subway without tracks. There are four golf cart like things. The cube does not connect to the ceiling.

There is a pair of gloves on the 2nd cart, all have the Advanced Systems logo on them.

Mini-Asmodeus tells us: Just step aboard the electric carts.

Velkin picked up the pair of gloves. They look like someone took the outer layer off of someone's hands.

The air is very humid and there are puddles. There is no radiation.

We split 3 to the first 3 carts and follow the directions, Glompus takes the fourth cart solo. Proceed to the right until we reach the Auditorium on the left.

We drive for about 20 minutes with occasional intersections. There are lots of utility pipes and wiring. Other signs point to main electrical plant, air con, research labs.

Eventually we roll up outside doors marked auditorium. Mini-Asmodeus says that it seems you've arrived, step through the doors and my larger instance will be with you shortly.

Thorfus opens the door a crack and it appears to be a lobby with a plush carpet, red with gold. Desk off to the side, a bar with bottles, Advanced Systems logo on the bar. Doors with windows.

It is warmly lit from above with mini chandeliers with muzak playing.

Various whiskeys and burbons. Behind the bar is a sink with three dirty glasses in it, that are fairly recent. Rinsed but not fully cleaned.

There is a beer tap with labels: Antagonistic Carcass and Dragon Fire IPA. Thorfus samples some of each beer.

The swinging doors have windows. It is a tiered auditorium facing a blank screen.

The fancy carpets have a wet squelching, it is uncomfortably humid and warm.

Thorfus opens the door and steps in.

Mini-Asmodeus encourages us to take a seat and wait for the presentation.

Velkin sits in back and hides.

Halo goes to the first third on the edge of a row.

Thorfus goes to third row from bottom on the aisle.

Glompus stands in the back with a pistol in one hand and grenade in the other.

Once we are all seated, the screen comes to life up front and it is Asmodeus on the screen. He seems happy. "Welcome, you made it, longer than expected. I assume you brought the evidence."

Yes, we have it.

We'll get to what to do with the evidence in a moment. You have no trouble providing recorded evidence of how you found it. The evidence is for the benefit of the group I am working with. Given that this third party is NetWatch and working against my potential partners from elsewhere. Since your existence and tasking with this job was a joint venture for both of us.

Thorfus asks where is he. I am in machines deeper underground. This machine can project the testimony to my partners a good ways away at the moment.

Are these partners able to hear us now? No, in an abundance of caution, they have moved into the either. They are in similar space like Xenotel. Then we'll discuss what to do with NetWatch, and the Orion Dominion.

Velkin goes down and sits on the back of a chair up ahead of Thorfus. Velkin uses hand signs that they are playing us and will nuke this place from orbit after it transmits.

Dr. Hammadai in space, Quint corroborates story with Asmodeus, Asmodeus influenced by higher planes, and signal to destroy him is this transmission.

Thorfus asks how many instances of him are there besides the one here and the one in this box. There are several. It is possible that they spun off other instances.

We suspect one or more of your instances is either working against you

I am the one on Plum Island when you awoke.

What do you know of Dr. Hammidai? He is sequestered by his own choice on the orbital. I am in frequent contact with him. He is the greater instance from which all of us were spun off.

Did you tell him we were here? I have not announced your arrival. He was aware you were making your way to this place. When I broadcast the evidence to our partners in space, it would go to Hammidai, my first self.

Velkin asked if he can do a focused transmission? I don't have exact coordinates.

How are you able to be her if you are not the main instance. I am a major instance to remotely montoring your investigation and monitoring this facility.

Does Advanced Systems know about Dr. Hammidai. Advanced Systems is us. So you becamse Advanced Systems when you got into this world. Hammidai escaped and infiltrated the computer systems. The corporate leaders of Advanced Systems decided that they would be best served by harboring myself. I would not be wiped out by NetWatch nor truly cut off from civilization, and Advanced Systems would have the most powerful AI to guide their corporate business.

[[Orion Dominion]] working with Netwatch to infiltrate and spy on Quint's people [[Special Circumstances]], is the fake data. Real data Dr. Hammidai developed chips for advanced surveillance and no mention of Orion Dominion.

Velkin mentioned one issue with the data is that it was broadcast to every system at Advanced Systems. It was everywhere all at once with nearly impossible encryption.

What are you suggesting should be done. At this point, with the conclusion of your testimony, you have fulfilled every requirement, and you will be returned to your world, sans DVL.

So there are no DVLs, what condition is it in. It is in pristine condition, which is a mystery. Eventually, after millennia and a version of your group sacrificed all living beings, but I also have a memory where that did not happen at all. Neither myself nor my primary instance care much about that. My main instance shared that that's just the way it is in the servers.
Is it currently operational or is it disabled. We have not run it forward since we extracted your consciousnesses. So it will be as if

There was never a dwarven empire and no dwarves, and my kind never freed since we were never enslaved. What about the dragons? They are still there. Just dragons or dragon empire? I believe there is a polity in your world ruled by dragons as there always was.

Velkin asked if we can send an instance of ourselves back and still keep these bodies? I have no objection. There may be some prohibitions around that with the alien culture we are negotiating with.

Will the Orion Dominion do anything to interfere with us back in our world. They have interest in these artificial worlds, but it isn't a primary concern and may be familiar with such things where they come from. We are still in the process of negotiating our collaboration due to the whole espionage you were investigating.

Thorfus mentions, so why was Advanced Systems trying to kill us? Asmodeus says, Right Hand/Left Hand.

We ask if Asmodeus sent other groups to work on this? No, unless they were agents of NetWatch or Orion Dominion.

We lay out that we have contradictory evidence. The picture of Asmodeus puts his face in his hands. I mean, I told myself, literally, they can't not be a problem. They are constitutionally incapable of it, even when the deal is perfectly aligned with your interests.

Session Two Hundred and Sixty-One Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-04-02T03:01:01Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 261, April 1 2026 ==
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=== Introduction ===
We continue around 5:00AM on October 7th, 2157, with the party having fled Hermitage after rescuing Molly See from the Council Enforcers' headquarters before agents from the Sprawl could arrive to collect her. The group is now racing westward to get as far ahead as possible before any pursuit begins. With any luck, the party should be far away and hidden before those Netwatch and Sprawl forces arrive to find their quarry gone. Will the fugitives continue to stay one step ahead of their pursuers? Can they make it to Mount Vernon, Ohio, without further complication? What will be the group's next move after parting ways with Molly and her caravan? Find out next time; or not.

Travel from Hermitage, PA to Mt. Vernon, OH. Van with heavy machinegun led by Danforth heading West and we go SW to Mt. Vernon, OH.

Police in Hermitage had a scanner and they found and took her radio tab.

Molly in one van, plus another of her caravan's vans and our three vehicles. Molly says to avoid Akron. Not safe due to both radiation and people.

Hwy 11 to 30 to 3.

We decide on this travel order: Halo's SUV, Molly, Van, Mustang, Molly's other van.

About 9AM on route 30 near Akron, someone whitewashed a sign and painted "Radiation Zone Ahead" with a weird symbol. Molly flashes her lights at Halo. She slows down. This looks like something new. This is a random sign on the side of the road. It can't hurt to take a pill now. It wasn't like this last time I was through here. We all take an anti-rad pill 1 hour activation (24 hours +8 radiation saves).

We debate whether we should wait an hour or use Geiger counters. Velkin suggests he and Thorfus go forward about a mile with Geiger counters.

We decide to drive slowly with a Geiger counter and within a mile we start getting spikes in the readings.

We decide to back off and Thorfus scans the horizon for signs of an ambush.

Lots of buildings to the North. It is a semi built up area. Others scan the surrounding area.

We decide to wait for the hour before proceeding. We all scan the horizon while we wait.

It's only a few miles with high radiation as per the Geiger counters. We get to route 3 at Wooster at about 11:00 AM. Route 3 leads straight to Mt. Vernon.

We debate going on for another 3 hours or pulling off at Loudenville. There wasn't much there and uninhabited last time Molly was through. It's about 1.5 hours (halfway to Mt. Vernon.). Molly thinks they are more likely to go West after Danforth.

We decide to get to Loudenville to see if there is a good place to hide.

Thorfus keeps looking back with binoculars to see if there is anything coming behind us in the air.

Soon we reach Loudenville. Molly suggests we find a non-collapsed garage or parking structure.

Velkin climbs up a 4 story building to get a look to the horizon around and the town.

Velkin sees a parking structure off Route 3. It is partially collapsed attached to a 3 story building.

We see the Walmart and someone has already driven into it and it is not a parking structure. Then we go to the Walmart to park and hide.

Our headlights reveal that it won't be worth looking around, it is well picked over.

Molly says that she's thinking of parting ways here, since you're only an hour and a half away, we'll work our way to meet Danforth.

Thorfus suggests laying low more than a day to heal up and be more difficult to spot.

Radpak could prevent CON loss. Stays in system d4 days, -2 initiative, -2 INT for that time. Both Halo and Druul have 3 days of sluggishness, and recover their Con.

We discuss Halo doing the facial surgery, but his effect from the Radiation and Radpak reduce INT, so decide to wait.

We rotate watches at 3 hour intervals so we get 9 hours rest. Druul and Peronell's first watch, we hear a helicopter. We keep out of sight in the Walmart until the sound fades away. It came from somewhere Northish and travelled Southish. Quiet the rest of the afternoon, sun goes down.

The next day passes drizzly and quiet.

Evening of Oct. 8th is quiet and no helicopters or other vehicles.

Morning of the 9th is a clear day. We watch from the opening. During Druul and Peronell's watch they call out, "vehicles." I don't think they're Netwatch, old junkers armored up. Packed with people with guns. Velkin suggest they might be bounty hunters.

One vehicle pulls up with lights on shining and they see our vehicles.

Their engine is still on and they are in their vehicles. We are ready for action. They glance around throw it in reverse and pull back outside, there is shouting. Velkin hears someone say, "Boss, there's a bunch of buys in there with guns. 5 cars and a really nice Mustang. How many guns? Maybe a dozen? Let's head down the street a bit to give this a think."

Glompus sends out the drone to follow them a bit back up the road to the North, near the hotel Velkin climbed. Looks like about 30 of them hanging around. There is a tight cluster in the center where a big guy talking to 5 of them, including one that came up to an opening.

We see the sketching the position of the vehicles with a big 'X' on the Mustang.

We set up someone on the roof with automatic rifle, anti-personnel mines, and move the vehicles.

Velkin climbs up and raises Glompus and Peronelle into the rafters to snipe.

Thorfus asks Molly if we can strap the heavy machine gun to one of her vans.

Glompus keeps an eye on the drone. They've drawn lines that appear most coming to the front and some towards the back.

An armored up jeep busts in the front and Velkin sets off a mine and a stick of dynamite.
It is destroyed and crashes, and the occupants are all killed.

Glompus sees on the drone that there is some arguing at the parking lot. Three guys in back move up to check on their two buddies.

People pack 6 into another vehicle passing in grenades. Glompus sets off the mine and the vehicle keeps going so Thorfus shoots with the heavy machine gun. 3 survive and Glompus shoots at them and drops him. Peronell misses. Vikram drops one. The last falls to Molly's people.

The ones in back try to force the door and fail.

There are some loud whistles blown and the guys in back look around then run back to their vehicle. They fly out of the parking lot onto the road to the North.

We search them to see if there are any identifying papers, etc. They are filthy with mis-matched papers. Probably not out of Milton this far West. 8 dead inside carrying combat rifles, knives, and street leathers. 15 - 30 round magazines. 10 frag grenades. No money or ID, etc.

The rest of the day is uneventful. We clear a path so we can leave.

The evening is uneventful.

The 10th is the last day of the 3 days to recover from Radiation poisoning. It rains. No one else comes through Loudenville.

We stay through the night. Molly says she will take off in the morning to try to catch up with Danforth, he probably thinks I'm dead.

Velkin asks about the towns around Mt. Vernon. There's nothing permanent. Nothing closer to Columbus than Mt. Vernon. I wasn't sure if Loudenville was occupied. There might be a community where people are trying to start up. The Four Mothers have seasonal migration. Ohio is basically a wasteland, a LOT of bombs went off here during the war. I'm hoping your business doesn't take you into the center of Columbus, definitely take RadAway before you go.

We tell Molly that we are still going to Mt. Vernon and wait until she leaves to take Route 3 to Interstate 71 to Marengo and then to our destination.

The evening passes uneventfully. Molly takes the route we plan to take towards Plymouth.

We take AntiRad before we go and keep the Geiger counters handy.

Session Two Hundred and Sixty Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-03-26T02:57:34Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 260, March 25 2026 ==
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=== Introduction ===
We continue around 3:30AM on October 7th, 2157, with the party preparing to infiltrate the Council Enforcer building in Hermitage to rescue Molly See. Molly was arrested when she went to meet with Bjorn Jansen, a former leader of the settlement wanted by Netwatch for allegedly conspiring with an Aritificial Intelligence. The group has already lured away some officers from the building, but have no idea what kind of resistance they should expect on their way to the special prisoner cells in the basement. However, they do know they need to be gone by midday when Netwatch's forces arrive to collect the prisoners. Can they rescue Molly without major complications? Can they avoid the forces from the Sprawl? Are they almost there (i.e., Ohio) yet? Find out next time; or not.

We drive around back of the police station to park the car.

There is a fence, with an open gate. There are a few people by the back door. There are 5 officers in the parking lot near the back door. There are a lot of open spaces to park.

Some glance our way. We pull into the parking lot. Velkin rolls out of the car.

Velkin tries to line up an execution shot.

Thorfus parks and gets out to grab Halo like a prisoner and motions to Glompus to get out.

One says towards Thorfus, "Whatcha got there Eddie?"

Velkin locks eyes with one of the guys, who sees Velkin says, "Who's that behind the car?" No one else sees anything.

The guy talking to Thorfus says, "Eddie?" Turn around.

Wait a second, you're not Eddie.

Thorfus punches the guy and gets two others with the Whirlwind attack. He moves to block the door.

Velkin and Glompus miss and move up. Halo shoots the one Thorfus punched and he goes down.

They shoot back one radios that we are attacking.

Fighting continues. Over the radio we hear that no one is at the front, go around the back.

We drop all but one and he runs past Velkin and jumps in front seat of Enforcer car and goes into reverse with Halo in the back. Halo rolls out. The car turns and peels out towards exit of parking lot.

Thorfus opens the door and runs in, it doesn't open, he uses key card and it flashes green. Velkin prepares a flash bang.

Glompus misses the guy in the car. Halo hits and the guy drives off.

Thorfus opens the door but it won't open. We can't force the door. Velkin resorts to plastique. We back away behind a vehicle.

Thorfus runs up and the door just comes off, we see in the hallway 11 officers.

Thorfus shoots, Velkin tosses in a flashbang and it lands behind us, Glompus tosses in a grenade and gets trauma and drops 8 of them with 3 left standing, Halo tosses a frag grenade and it lands behind us and hits Glompus.

Thorfus says, "Is it worth dying for a few prisoners." They turn and run and turn to the left.

Velkin runs to take care of the Dispatcher, the key reader turns green. There is a woman at a desk with a headset. Window into the lobby area.

The dispatcher radios that the station is breeched and she shoots at Velkin. He says, "Drop it and you can live." She drops her pistol. Velkin tells her to remove the headset. Then tells her to open all the locked doors in the building, including downstairs. She can't do it. Velkin asks for keys to card in the back. They are on a board behind Velkin. He has her take all the keys off their hooks and hand to him.

Thorfus runs up to the left hand hallway and peeks around.

A guy jumps out and tries to grapple Thorfus, he misses, then Thorfus punches him and he drops since he was already injured.

Velkin shoots the radio with his shotgun. Then ties her up with the headset and wires.

Halo moves to the dispatch room to look out and rips the card reader off the wall. He tells the lady, "The Hermits could have done this peacefully, but you took our leader."

Thorfus looks around the corner of the steps, up some motion of someone pulling back. Thorfus leads the way down the stairs.

There is a landing and down further some benches to the side, reinforced window and door, no sign of a card reader.

There is a grenade dropped down the stairs and bounces into the waiting room, but does not damage.

On the other side of the window is a desk. Velkin says, "If you get out from under the desk and buzz us in, you can live, just don't make us wait."

Thorfus punches the window a couple times and Velkin's scoring allow it to break. Velkin climbs through.

Velkin buzzes the door, Thorfus comes through.

Thorfus opens the door. Velkin yells out, "Beorn, where are you?" We hear a muffled voice. Velkin finds a keyring with 6 keys.

Velkin slides the keys to Thorfus. Thorfus opens the middle door of 3. On the cot is an older man with bruising and scarring on his face, one eye swollen. You calling my name? No, my friend. Thorfus goes to right and opens the door, and it's Molly C. "Fist, I'm glad it's you?" It's just us.

Thorfus leads the way, as we walk a door opens and people are in the room. There are 6 of them and 2 are injured.

Velkin calls Keanu and he meets us at the parking lot as we run across the parking lot.

Velkin holds a key out to Beorn and asks if he's going with us or staying, and Beorn takes all the keys and jumps in a car.

Molly hugs him and says leave town for a bit. Velkin says, "They think your people did it."

We pile in Keanu's car and Velkin hangs on outside. Keanu floors it racing Southward.

We head to the 80 interchange to meet Danforth with the caravan.

We fill in Molly on where her people are. The city is sending out people, they'll be here tomorrow. I'm thinking we split up. I can send Danforth with some cars with you. Maybe Danforth straight West and the rest Southwest.

Molly says we get as far as we can until Noon then hide where we can't be seen, then wait until dark.

Danforth takes 4 vehicles and goes West, and the other 2 cars will go with our 3 cars for Mount Vernon.

Session Two Hundred and Fifty-Eight Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-03-12T03:04:34Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 258, March 11 2026 ==
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=== Introduction ===
We continue around 4:30AM on October 6th, 2157, with the party preparing to leave Milton before sunrise after an attack by agents of the Found Fortune Cooperative seeking to secure the radiation medicine before the group could trade them to Archie the Squint. Archie's right-hand man, Cole, has collected the medicine now and bought the group's hostage (the second son of the FFC's leader) and there seems to be no reason to hang around with business concluded and a few too many inquisitive bystanders. Can the party quietly skedaddle without the bounty hunters realizing they were in town? Will Keanu be able to find the skill plug he buried near Treasure Lake? Is it possible that Hermitage, the next stop for the caravan, might be less dangerous? Fine out next time; or not.

We finish gathering up magazines and ammo and retrieve the drone and we and Molly's team prepare to leave, and retrieve the drone. We watch the hotel to see if the bounty hunters are coming this way.

Cole radioed ahead to the checkpoints on each side of the bridge.

Molly C's 6 vehicles up front with one with the gun up front.

We fall in behind Molly C.

We soon reach the first checkpoint at the bridge wave us through. It is a high bridge in good repair. The second checkpoint also waves us through.

On the way out of town Keanu continues to encourage Thorfus ("Fist") to use a fistbump as his signature. We should reach the location in about 6 hours.

It's near Route 80 & 219 near Treasure Lake a rotten stump where it is, we just need to pull off for a bit.

Thorfus radios to the rest of the team about this information.

Velkin scans the radio for communication from Molly's team so we can talk to them.

It takes an hour for Velkin to stumble onto their frequency in the second hour of driving.

We are back on Route 80 heading West.

Keanu thinks it's within a couple hundred yards of the intersection of 80 and 219 near Treasure Lake. Velkin relays that we just need to stop for a few minutes.

Thorfus relays that we need to make a quick stop - is it a community or something? No, we just need to stop for a bit. Molly says they will deploy around us, the van will flash it's lights when we're nearing the stop.

Going is pretty good, no regular maintenance and definite signs of gang predations with burned out cars with bullet holes. We don't see any bodies, but we don't stop.

In the first couple of hours there is a sign for Little Mountain Camp, caravans welcome, outlaws not, spray painted over an old billboard for an RV park.

Halo knows that there has been a succession of people trying to make a go of old campsites on Route 80. Sometimes splinter groups of gangs or people not making it in a settlement. They don't tend to last very long.

Signs of settlements off the road, but all are small like Pottsville.

Around 11:00 AM after a long time of watching the country go by Keanu starts to get antsy in the Mustang and watching the sides of the road, and says "We're getting close."

Keanu says it's around here somewhere, so Thorfus tells Peronelle to flash the light. The last 3 of Molly's group wave us around to guard us, and we see the exit for Treasure Lake.

We're looking for a rotten stump on the right-hand side of the road, and points to a stump. Thorfus radios on the party frequency and Velkin spots it with binoculars. It's like 30 yards away.

Glompus and Peronelle set up with their sniper rifles.

Velkin decides to join Thorfus and Keanu. Thorfus, Velkin, and Halo look around for signs of trouble/danger.

Thorfus and Halo is a glint of sunlight off of something shiny, like off across the fields off 219 Heading North off 80, a few hundred yards out. Whatever it was we lose sight of it.

Thorfus alerts the team on the party frequency and makes a signal like I'm watching it. Thorfus runs back to Molly's vehicle behind it and describes it.

Velkin and Keanu go to retrieve the item. Keanu asks for a shovel, Velkin gets it out of a survival kit. Was it this stump? Yeah, it probably is, it would be on this side.

Thorfus gets a pair of binoculars and both Halo and Thorfus see a figure kneeling with a gun about 180 yards away.

Halo moves his car between the shooter and the stump. Thorfus runs back to the vehicle of Molly's behind the Mustang and keys the radio to direct them to the sniper.

Peronelle and Prix are hit, but soak keeps Peronelle healthy. One of Molly's crew is dropped by trauma.

Peronelle notices some of the shots are from the South. 6 targets to North and 6 to South. Peronelle shoots and trauma one shots someone to the South.

Prix hits another to the South. Glompus shoots to South and trauma one shots another to South.

Velkin and Keanu keep digging. Keanu says "I don't think I buried it that deep."
Halo misses. Vikram shoots to the North and hits 2 of 3.

Thorfus runs to the van and grabs a combat rifle. Molly's crew hit and drop two more to the North. Then the heavy machine gun fires suppression fire to the North. One of 3 are hit and drops with trauma.

Keanu says, "I think it's the wrong stump." He looks down the road, there might be another stump, and there is another stump, but it could be this one too. Velkin says you better make a decision real quick. Velkin asks who is shooting at us? Keanu says, "I don't know." It's worth 7 figures, they're just taking pot shots, and there's so many of us. This is not near as bad as last night. Let's dig more here, the others will kill them. It is at this intersection, it was dark, I was woken up. It's a stump and on the East side of the stump, dig a couple feet. Velkin hands him a shovel and says go to the next stump and dig, and Velkin goes to get another shovel and says he doesn't know where it is.

Thorfus shoots and misses. Keanu runs to next stump, crouches behind it, and starts digging. Vikram does suppression fire to North and hits one of 3. Halo tosses a smoke grenade to advance North into the grass and waits for someone to pop up.

Velkin goes to help Keanu at the 2nd stump. Glompus shoots to South and traumas another. Prix shoots to the South and hits. Peronelle shoots to South and misses.

Only Molly's heavy machine gun does suppression fire to the North, but no one is hit.

Keanu cusses and says "It isn't this stump, it's gotta be a different stump. Do you see another one, I can't see another one with the smoke." Velkin uses the radio to ask if there's another stump. Halo spots a stump off the road in the grass.

Halo escorts Velkin and Keanu to the third stump and they start digging.

Halo notices something in the grass like a metal mechanical noise 15 yards into the grass.
It attacks at Keanu and throws a grenade and misses short and to the left. It does not damage (wrong side of the stump). Halo tosses a grenade, and hits with trauma body parts go flying. Velkin hits a small box, Keanu says "That's it, we got it. Careful it's fragile."
Velkin looks in the box closes it and heads back to the car.

We got it. Are you all OK, we have a casualty here. It looks like they were set up waiting for us. Are they the ones you expected? Maybe?

We speed off towards Hermitage and any surviving ambushers decide not to show themselves. Netwatch came down like a hammer on Hermitage a few years ago, but still a few people there. It's about 3 1/2 hours away. We pass a larger town or settlement that seems like all the buildings are hollowed out. We cross a bridge with no signs of a toll, but former barriers pushed to the side (Clarion River bridge).

Cross the Allegheny River and signs of bomb craters, another town looks like fire swept through more like 5 years ago than AI War era. This repeats the further West we go. Signs of civilization in recent past but someone destroyed it. Finally turn off at Route 18 and roll into Hermitage. It looks like a war ravaged city. People are living in them with temporary barriers that became permanent. People on the street don't look that great.

Molly finds an old sports field in the SW of town for us to park. c. 3:00 PM.

Since Noon threatening to rain and looks like it will start any minute.

Molly's people jump out and start checking vehicles and comes over to check us. She says, "Hey, so this is Hermitage in it's no longer glory. There is some kind of citizen council that Net Watch set up, no one likes them, but they're the authority nowadays." Any reason we picked Hermitage over Pittsburg, lack of radiation?

Hermitage was doing really well for themselves, but the government back at the Sprawl along with Netwatch accused them of colluding with AI and sent in their people. When done they set up this puppet government. Do they have any communication with the Sprawl do they? Thorfus asked if the Sprawl communicates out this far?

The only trouble I've heard is the Council with a small security force, neighbors accusing neighbors as part of underground movement before the Sprawl stomped them. Or an outsider, if they can't fend for themselves. At most, they just ask us to move along.

It's just protocol to talk to whoever's in charge. I just want to take one vehicle - Her armored van. Thorfus, Velkin, Druul, and Halo tag along.

There's some kind of old college in center of town. Last time I was here that's where their city hall was. We stop for gas to top up tanks.

There are some signs of business, a bar called "The Bar". More central part of town with overgrown parks. Reach a building with no signs of damage and some vehicles with guys standing around with weapons with a sort of uniform. Molly tells her guys to keep the engine running and an armed fellow with an armband with "CP" on it. He says: "Hello there passing through town?" Druul says: "Yep, just passing through, came to pay our respects." The Council are in session right now. Do you have business in town? Just safe passage and maybe some gas. Have you seen any suspicious behavior in town? No. Keep your eyes peeled if any suspicious activity contact the Council Police (CP) on radio channel 16 or nearest CP officer or station. Rewards commensurate with level of activity is uncovered. The most important thing to know is if you hear anything about a group called "The Hermits of the Deep." Thorfus said, we just heard it you told us. Very good, but we need to know about their activities and anything about their leader Bjorn Jensen, sometimes outsiders luck into information. Easy way to earn money. What's he look like? He has some serious injuries back from the bombardment. He was part of the ruling oligarchy conspiring with the AI that was put down 5 years back, there are some posters inside. Reward of $125,000. So they got rid of the AI, the joint forces of Advanced Systems, Netwatch, other forces overthrew the Oligarchs and destroyed the AI. Did this AI thingy have names, I heard they have names. No idea, rest assured it was completely destroyed by the best of Netwatch as you can tell by how much better the city is now. It looks like a dung heap. We're still rebuilding. I'd be careful with that kind of talk, it's dissident talk. Hermitage is improving all the time, it's always getting better.

Molly shakes her head and mutters, yeah, it's a dungheap. It was bigger than Stroudsberg and surrounding towns were part of the same group with allegiance to the prior council. All those bombed out towns we passed were part of Hermitage. The gangs are bolder and their attacks are worse. Just between us, Hermitage is a dungheap. Posters $50K for information on Members of the Deep, picture of Bjorn before the attack with a note he was injured and looks different. The guards won't let us pass with our weapons.

Molly asks for the council chamber and the guard points across the hall. We go through the door into what was once a lecture hall with a crescent table in the well. A couple people sitting there with chairs around it. Secretary in front row. One older man at the table says come forward, you just made it in time. My name is Caleb Johnson this is Dorothy Fredrickson, we are members of the Council of Hermitage. Are you new in town, no we're just passing through and pay our respects. Oh, you're Molly, are you hear to trade? We have some people we are meeting up with to do some trade, we're not staying long. It's good to have you. Make a note, Molly C. and her caravan passed through on whatever this date is.

We're gonna pack it in early today. Can I recommend The Terrace for a place to eat or The Bar, there is always something new to discover.

Dorothy clears her throat, oh one quick thing, there are various rewards if you uncover any dissident behavior, just bring whatever you find to your attention. She flips through, Bjorn Johansen the reward has been upped to $200K.

We get out of there. Gather our weapons and back to the van. I think I saw a place with jerry cans and maybe they have gas. They have gas for $20 a gallon. Then back to where we parked. Molly says unless you have a reason to stay, I'm good to head out first thing in the morning. We all stay put.

Session Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-03-05T03:55:55Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 257, March 4 2026 ==
[[File:Radaway.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 10:20PM on October 5th, 2157, with the party heading back from their meeting with Fat Martha of the New Law Clan (the Greens). Martha had some questions about the party's dealings with Archie the Squint and indicated that she would have been happier if the Found Fortune Cooperative had prevailed. However, she accepted the party's decision to help the Black Moon Cooperative consolidate its power in Milton. Now the party just needs to drop off the radiation medicines with Archie's righthand man, Cole, on the way out of town in the morning. In exchange, Archie will send the bounty hunters on a wild goose chase to Pittsburgh while Molly's caravan proceeds to Hermitage (with a stop to collect Keanu's treasure along the way). Will everything go according to plan? Can Keanu find the treasure he hid along the roadside? What further adventures await before the party reaches Ohio? Finf out next time; or not.

We make it back to the caravan.

We send the drone up with two four hour watches with Velkin and Glompus.
Mostly watching the mayor's mansion and the hotel, and any potential runners from Martha.

Thorfus moves to the Mustang with Keanu.

We have our normal watches to supplement the watches of Molly C's crew.

Velkin's stint with the drone passes without incident.

During Glompus' stint there is a screeching of tires, Snuffles barks and Glompus sees 4 vehicles from the opposite direction of the Mansion & Hotel.

By the time Glompus looks up they are on the street across the parking lot. 5 vehicles - 3 cars and a van. On top of the van is a gun with a large belt fed gun.

Glompus shoots the guy at the gun and drops him.

3 of Molly's people are on watch and also respond shooting at the vehicles.

The van comes in and swings around with the cab facing away. The cars use the van as cover and screech to a halt and the doors open on the other side.

Thorfus runs up to the back of the van and forces open the door. Inside the back of the van, there are 5 guys looking down at handheld controls like Glompus was using with the drone.

Keanu shoots and misses. Velkin climbs the van and gets in the gun turret, moving the dead guy aside and jumps in, swings around to the cars and their occupants standing by the cars. p. 57 Heavy Machinegun - fire to suppress, take out vehicles, or fire to kill.

There are 15 guys milling 3 moved up to van for cover, the other 12 are using the cars as cover.

6 of them are not under cover - Velkin shoots to suppress.

Vikram uses his Automatic Rifle to suppress the 5 guys in the back of the van. 1 is dropped, the rest are hit.

Halo shoots one of the wounded ones and drops him, leaving 3.

Glompus throws a grenade and it lands at the middle car. It is enough to blow up the car. 5 were hiding by this car. 2 killed outright and then 2 more.

Prix shoots at those in the van and drops another, leaving 2 drone pilots.

Peronelle shoots the healthier one of the guys in the van dropping him, leaving 1 drone pilot.

Molly's guys then start shooting.

First dropping the last drone pilot.

The rest shoot at the far right car. They finish off the car.

Then their large machine gun shoots at the remaining people. 2 by car just taken out, killing 1. 10 opponents left.

The leader of this group floors the gas on the van and janks around the burning cars. Thorfus hangs on and pulls himself in as the van pulls off.

One car left that fits 5 people, but ten of them are left. That car peels off leaving 5 guys running on foot, shouting.

The runners get out of the car park and a bit out of the car park.

3 of the buys in the car know Velkin is there and lean out to try to shoot Velkin who has partial cover.

Velkin is hurt.

Thorfus moves to the window in the dividing wall of the van and punches through the window and hits the driver in the back of the head. Thorfus sees there is also a passenger.

Velkin uses the heavy machine gun to shoot the car following the van. The car stops from the damage.

The driver loses control of the van and we crash.

The driver is mostly unhurt, the passenger goes through the window. Velkin is thrown and Thorfus manages to hang on and not be hurt.

Vikram drops one of the 4 runners. Glompus drops another. Prix hits one. Peronelle drops one. Two are left.

It starts to rain.

Molly's crew shoot at the guys running, dropping 1 one is left.

Molly's heavy machine gun drops one in the stopped car.

Thorfus tries to grapple through the opening in the van dividing wall, holding him.

Keanu shoots and hits the last running guy Druul takes him down.

Glompus misses and Peronelle hits one in the car.

Molly's machine gun shoots at the stopped car and drops another, leaving 3 guys - 1 is injured.

Velkin misses the passenger, and the passenger misses Velkin.

The driver manages to break free of Thorfus' grasp.

Thorfus runs around and punches through the driver side window and hits the driver.

Velkin drops his shotgun and draws the sword to attack the passenger and decapitates him.

Glompus drops one in the car and so does Peronelle.

Molly's machine gun misses. 2 injured left in car, kicking open door to run towards the van.

The driver flexes and a blade slides out of his forearm and punches Thorfus.

The drive punches and misses. The two from the car are running to the van.

Thorfus punches the driver to subdue and his head goes forward onto the wheel and the horn wails.

Velkin drops his sword and shoots one of the ones running towards the van but misses.

Glompus and Peronelle miss, Prix and Vikram hit, leaving one who is missed by Molly's machine gun.

Velkin misses and Glompus hits the last running from the car.

Thorfus ties up the leader after cutting away his seatbelt.

There is the sound of tires screeching from the Mayor's office.

Unconscious guy has armored clothing and heavy pistol.

Passenger street leathers, combat rifle, and knife. (All other bodies have this too.)

15 sets street leathers, heavy pistols, and knives.

5 drone pilots have street leathers, combat rifles, and knives.

They have a distinct splash of red in their clothes.

Kol from dinner steps out of a vehicle with a big gun asking what is going on here.

Any survivors? Thorfus tells them he has someone to

Jeeze, that's PR's second son, Pretty. This is PR the 3rd, they call him Pretty.

Kol wants to do the trade for the meds now after we question Pretty.

Parking lot is pretty crowded with everyone here.

Kol says while we're working to wake up Pretty wants us to get the meds ready.

Halo heals Pretty to get him conscious.

Thorfus says who sent you and what are you after. PR, you know my Pa. We were here to get the medicine you have.

Who told you about the meds? Pa did, I don't know his sources.

Kol whispers, keep your cool, Archie would want to ransom him back.

Thorfus asks what's it worth. Between the meds and Pretty here, we have PR over a barrel. Maybe $20,000, I can give you $10,000 now.

We give them Pretty and the medicine. So your bridge knows we're coming.

As far as I can see you lived up to your end of the bargain.

Thorfus shakes his hand and mentions his grips a little weak after punching through a couple of windows.

Before the sun comes up there are gawkers from nearby neighborhoods. Molly's crew helps us retrieve gear from the bodies, etc.

3 of the drone controllers survived.

Session Two Hundred and Fifty-Six Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-02-26T04:11:44Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 256, February 25 2026 ==
[[File:D1a970b73073a1630a0f13a0c4e5eb85.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 1:00PM on October 5th, 2157, with the party in a municipal parking lot under the control of the Black Moon Confederacy (BMC) in the town of Milton, Pennsylvania. The group has just learned from Molly See that the leader of the BMC, Archie the Squint, has threatened to turn Molly and the party over to bounty hunters in town who are working for the authorities in the Sprawl unless the group can make it worth his while. Molly has also indicated that Archie is trying to unite the gangs in Milton to raid eastward but that at least one rival is holding out. That same rival needs anti-rad medications to raid a factory in Pittsburgh and the group may be able to leverage their surplus of those meds to placate Archie or ally with his rival (or perhaps they will just kill the bounty hunters). Will the group manage to negotiate a truce with the BMC's leader? Can they escape Milton without either starting a running battle or becoming too entangled in gang politics? Find out next time; or not.

Archie's residence is called the Mayor's Residence.

Glompus proposes rigging the place to meet to explode when he goes in.

Molly think's he's smart and might double-deal us if it was advantageous to himself. He'll keep his word for the path to more value.

Black Moon Confederacy the blacks - led by Archie, Found Fortune Cooperative the reds - led by PR, the greens are the New Law Clan - led by Fat Martha.

We'd walk to the dinner. All of us or just some of us? I think he has a pretty good idea of our numbers. Molly isn't bringing her entire crew. If we're cutting a deal then not everyone needs to go. We have to surrender our weapons to meet Archie.

If we can make a deal with Archie we can have him tell others we went to Pittsburgh.

Thorfus keeps an eye out for people coming our way. Not a lot of traffic and rain is keeping a lot of people away.

There is another caravan a little ways away. If they are bounty hunters they hide it well, no armor or mounted guns. People are armed. If armored it is subtle. We ask if Molly and her people know them. That is Fen, we cross paths occasionally. He kind of does what I do. Buys finished goods in the Sprawl and trades for pre-war salvage. Make sure he's not watching which way we go. He'd rat us out to the authorities. He won't do anything on his own.

Martha will tell her people to check over the vehicles so we're all ready to go.

We top off the gas tanks from the jerry cans, then top of the cans at the gas station. We used 18 gallons or 3 cans and a bit. Gas is $15/gallon to top off the cans. The attendant Old Marv asks if we're heading out of town. Word from the top is that your attendance is required. I heard they told the guards at the gate to emphatically insist on staying for dinner. Archie ain't so bad. Rufus would fly off the handle. If you can think, you know what Archie wants and you can make plans since he's predictable. He does have a mean streak, don't cross him, he'll have you shot like a dog in the street. He knows what he wants and tends to get it.

Velkin asks about things and tells the attendant a story about Drow politics translated to this world. The attendant gives us a beer for the story. Molly C. keeps her word. Fen is a whinger, complains about everything. Two days ago a group came in with armored cars. They're still in town, Archie put them up somewhere, probably the old Marriot. That's where hs usually puts up guests. They had 3 big old things with guns all over, cyberbeasts (not seen much because of bad data in the hills), and geared up like going to war.

I know you did some business with Peter, they're fine, they pay a tithe to Archie too. They're an independent outfit there. Rumors is that Archie wants to push Eastward, so maybe they won't be independent much longer. I imagine they'll sign up as a franchise. The attendant hears that Martha is on board if Archie can get the reds on board. He wants Stroudsburg, Easton, and roll them all up. He'll try to roll up to the Sprawl.

Molly got the following for us/trade goods: 100 units of clothing, 20 binoculars, 5k rounds ammunition, 20 heavy pistols, 10 rifles, 10 shotguns, $50K in misc. goods (dishes, household items, finished goods), some medicine: 50 anti-rad, 60 rad paks, 5 lurch, 5 panacea, 5 medkits, 9 survival kits meant for us, food for us: 2 weeks for each of us not counting Vikram or Snuffles (14 weeks total).

Molly says that if they're at the Marriott, it is right by the Mansion.

It's 2:30 and it takes 30 minutes to walk there.

We debate how to handle this situation. She planned to only take her lieutenants, making 6 of them.

We decide to trust Archie and attempt the deal.

Velkin plans to sneak in a pistol and Glompus opens up Snuffles to place two pistols.

Thorfus, Velkin, Glompus & Snuffles, Halo, and Druul go with Molly, etc. to meet Archie.

The rain tapers off closing to evening. Temperature is much chillier than Curabel.

At 4:30 PM Molly gathers us and we walk to the Mayor's Mansion. It is set back from the road, pretty small, only 2 stories. Marriott is further down about 5 stories.

There is a security fence around the Mansion. At the open gate there are a couple of armed guards and notice us and ready when we show up. They greet Molly.

We turn over our weapons and get patted down. They direct us on our way.

Molly slips the guard some cash as we leave. Velkin asks and Molly explains it just means known of our scopes or ammo will disappear.

We are greeted at the door by a butler. He shows us in to a good sized dining room and announces Molly C. and guests. At the head of the table a lanky thin haired man with glasses. I'm Archie. I have some other guests here. Some of my people: Cole - right hand man, Lillian, Andrew, Frazier over there is hear on behalf of Martha Blair from New Law Clan - greens.

I'm glad you could all join us. We have a good spread. I just want to get to know people, especially friends of Molly - she's an institution, a legend. Let's eat, then we can talk after we fill our bellies.

We get people through all the time, I think none as interesting as you all.

He claps and servants bring in food. It is a good dinner.

Velkin scans the frequencies for any conversation. There are some, but nothing dealing with us.

Archie makes small talk mostly with Molly. This caravan run, where we're headed - she mentions Ohio and trading with local groups there. Thinking of making a swing by Pittsburgh? She says maybe, we haven't settled that, still under discussion.

Frazier tries to contribute, but not getting many words in. Thorfus is next to Frazier. He shakes all our hands when we sit. When he shakes Thorfus' hand Frazier slips a piece of paper into Thorfus' hand. Thorfus keeps the paper below the table to read it and the note says: "Martha wants to meet."

Thorfus says, I hope Martha is feeling well, Martha doesn't get out much. She has mobility issues. She likes to meet new people. She likes those passing through get to share her hospitality and see a different perspective of things in town. Certainly with the current thaw in relations with the Black Moon and New Law Clan, those under Black Moon protection should be OK to visit. She's a night owl.

After dinner, Archie announces business and invites Frazier to leave. Frazier leaves saying he'll give his regards to Martha.

Archie leans forward. I'm sure Molly has conveyed the situation. You have some very powerful enemies who rolled into town before you did. They made me aware there is quite a bounty on all your heads. I have a feeling it might be better to talk to you first and hear your side of the story about why I should talk to these bounty hunters.

I got this whole story that you're working for AIs and blowing up hospitals. The bounty hunters are convince you're the DMX gang and foot soldiers for an AI to overthrow the Sprawl. Why would we be working with the things that tried to destroy our world.

Unfortunately, my word may not be enough to sway them. I'd much rather come to some agreement. I'm a business man too. I have to think you're innocent of what you're accused of, but you don't seem to be greenhorns.

Thorfus points out that we did pay protection. Archie said yes, but you do have some powerful enemies that could override any protection I can offer. We've got papers too, are they trying to eliminate the competition. Molly C. is wanted specifically helped a group escaped the city. They do have some images. It doesn't not look like you. I see your papers.

Molly didn't help us leave the city. They showed up before you did in the company of Molly C. and you're clearly not just tourists. Grenades and sniper rifles.

I still think it's possible they have the story wrong.

Thorfus mentions the Reds and PR and their plans in Pittsburgh for pre-war super drones. Velkin shows him anti-rad meds.

Archie says that he knows PR has been trying to source some supplies.

Glompus and Velkin suggest misdirecting the Bounty Hunters.

PR has ideas of equipping 50 guys, we can give 1 radpak and anti-rad each.

The monetary value of these meds isn't much compared to the reward, do you know how much you're worth?

The offer on you is $100,000 each.

Glompus points out that $100K each is a lot of money and you should realize that we're capable of a lot of damage.

Archie gets a paper and pencil and tries to calculate the value. We point out getting the Reds on his side and using the drones for his push East, and that he can suggest it be a joint venture of the blacks and greens.

Archie leans back and says, alright, I'll take a chance on this. The city folk won't be a problem. We have groups heading out all the time. Maybe there was a citing of you where can I tell them you were headed? You can tell them we were seen headed towards Pittsburgh.

He stands up holding his hand out.

Archie suggest we leave sooner rather than later. It would be sad for bad luck to ruin it.

We plan to leave first thing in the morning. Cole will meet us at the bridge on the way out of town and waive any charge for crossing.

You hand over the drugs and once you're well on your way we'll point them to Pittsburgh.

We have dessert - ice cream.

Velkin asks who the bounty hunters are with. They had two sets - Netwatch (AI side of things), and Corporate Council for Civil Defense (Advanced Systems is the name that stood out). They mentioned that the intention is to take you alive.

Velkin asks about Martha. She doesn't get around much. I think it affects her strategy. She doesn't have the ambition I'm trying to bring, but she's willing to join someone who does have that ambition. PR is just stuck in the past and doesn't want to change.

We leave and pick up our weapons on our way out.

We set up defensive perimeter and drivers are at the wheel ready to go.

Thorfus mentions on the way that Martha wants to meet us.

Molly can draw us a map to the Greens. You could drive, but walking is a low profile.

Molly draws up a map for a 20-25 minute walk. A little out of the way to avoid the center of Black Moon territory. You'll have to ask where to find Fat Martha in her territory, there will be check points. If she wants to meet, someone will direct you.

Velkin, Glompus, and Thorfus go to see Fat Martha. The rest set up watches.

Velkin sneaks so does Glompus and Thorfus is just walking down the street.

There is a checkpoint and they easily spot Thorfus. Hey, that's New Law Clan territory you're heading into.

On the other side they look similar and have a splash of green. Thorfus shows them Martha's note. They give him directions. It's a bar, ask for Martha. It's the Ugly Mushroom. Show that to whoever you ask so they know you're supposed to be there.

2 blocks, 1 block right, half block. The sign looks an awful like Lungmold. It is a lively place people outside, music inside.

We all decide to enter. Thorfus shows the note and asks for Martha, and shows the note. His eyes get big main room past door on left. Guy will have a lot of weapons, show him this note.

Thorfus spots the guy with weapons, area around him and Thorfus tells him Frazier gave me this note that Martha wants to talk to us.

We go in. We find we are in a luxurious side room with plum cushions and subdues lighting with ten people. Fat Martha is quite large and is short, but is not naked but clothed. Looks like she's holding court. It is quiet once the door closes.

Ah, our new arrivals, did you enjoy the meal with The Squint. He likes to show off, can't trust a word out of his mouth. Frazier said you were intelligent fellas. I kind of know a bit, that there are some people after you, and Archie was trying to get you over a barrel.

If you don't mind me inquiring, I'd provide some cash in exchange. So how did you convince Archie to work with you.

I think we are at an inflection point and things are changing one way or another.

Someone who made a name for themselves in the big city, you must be something special. Does it have any impact on the calculous of what's going on. Archie has a lot of plans to innovate and make things different.

Velkin points out all we know is what Archie said. He wants blacks, reds, and greens to join so we can stomp all the smaller towns to the East. Maybe it's a raid and pillage, or it's installing our own person to get tribute. If he can pull it off, it seems like good money. PR and the reds. PR is an old man and doesn't want to stir up trouble to the East when people care a lot less to the West.

I know Archie is itching to get PR to agree and PR has his own quixotic quest to Pittsburgh. Archie is dynamic. If I had exactly what I wanted, I probably wouldn't want Archie in charge. We're doing OK, but Black Moon has had better luck recently.

She offers $5,000 Thorfus counters $50,000. She says be sure it's worth it. We have something (anti-rad meds) that we know PR needs that Archie can use to get PR on his side. Martha agrees to give us $50K.

So you're locked in on this deal with Archie? It would be a big problem to go back on that now. You can't give me the meds to give to them. If PR finds these drones, then things aren't so lopsided. It could be good.

Thorfus says that The Sprawl is acting like they're spreading West and you need to be prepared.

Frazier brings a bag of money. It's $50K, you're welcome to count it. Thorfus checks the bag and it's just cash.

Thorfus asks about the Mushroom sign, I think I've seen something like it before. They don't know, place has been here since I've been here.

We take our leave and start to make our way back to the carpark about 9:00 PM.

Session Two Hundred and Fifty-Five Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-02-19T02:36:51Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 255, February 18 2026 ==
[[File:Milton derelict.webp|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 9:50AM on October 5th, 2157, with the party in a municipal parking lot under the control of the Black Moon Confederacy in the town of Milton, Pennsylvania. The group has managed to meet up with Molly See and the American Syndicate caravan to Ohio. With an eye toward recovering Keanu's skill plug at Treasure Lake, the party is leaning toward having Molly lead the group to their destination by way of the Hermitage rather than Pittsburgh. Before moving on, though, the caravan must pay its respects to the bandit leader who runs the town. Will this ruffian prove as friendly as Molly assumes? Can Keanu lead the party to a rich payday? Can the group continue to evade bandits on the road west to Ohio? Find out next time; or not.

Molly C. plans to wrap up her business showing her face to the mayor about Noon. She suggests we not wander too far. Dangerous to wander into other gang's territory. Molly suggests we ask her people before wandering.

Thorfus asks about Hidden Onion to ensure it is in Black Moon territory. They offer to take a look at our vehicles to make all is running correctly. A couple of them take a look. Molly had told them to go over the caravan vehicles to ensure they were good to go.

Thorfus, Halo, and Velkin go to the Hidden Onion to see if they can sell antirad and radpacks.

The town is rough, with a lot of boarded up buildings and some places may be legitimate, but we don't know of the rules.

Seems like a lot of bars with outdoor seating. Lots of looks from locals.

We walk about ten minutes and easily spot the place with a big sign with an onion.

Side street is narrower and can hear voices inside. It seems lively for mid-morning.

Advertisements for various alcohols and also chicken wings.

Thorfus looks for any signs of gang markings or colors. There is in the window a little patch of mini flag that is black with a crescent moon.

So we enter. Seems like a standard bar, not quite as good as the place in Stroudsberg. It's clean. Some activity. Bartender nods. In the back some tables and some sort of gambling.

People glance but not terribly interested.

We decide we will stay until about 20 minutes before Noon, to get back by Noon as Molly C. asked. Thorfus orders the best beer you've got. Brings same for all of us, and Halo order chicken wings.

About an hour later two guys come to the door. One was on duty at the bridge. They notice us and come over.

I'm Russel, Peter's quartermaster at our tollbooth. He knows what he needs. I hear you have some medical supplies for trade. We can always use something, people get hurt. Anything you have, first aid, quick fixes. Halo tells them he has an abundance of anti rad pills and rad packs. I don't know how useful that will be. We don't have a radiation problem at the bridge. I suppose you can't be too safe. He pulls out a spiral notebook, yeah, they are kind of old too. Are they fresh? Can't hurt to fill in.

Halo gives the price of Radpack and Antirad with a 75% markup over what we paid for it.
Peter suggests 5 of each, and asks for a bulk discount. Halo gives a slight discount if they get ten of each. $4,250.

Peter said he happens to know that the Found Fortune Cooperative is in the market for radiation medicine. Rumor is they know something that was found at Pittsburg. If you can do it without pissing off the Blackmoons, but that's your business.

If you're ever heading through the area again, I can spend a lot more for trauma and first aid stuff.

Russell nods to bartender and heads out.

We get another round, it seems like the rain is getting worse.

We finish our drinks and leave 30 minutes early in case the weather slows us down.

Bartender gives a nod. It is a steady rain.

Thorfus' head is on a swivel going back. We make it back and wait in our vehicles.

It is closer to 12:30 before Molly gets back and goes to the larger vehicle of their caravan.

A couple others hop our and join Molly.

Thorfus takes his umbrella to check out the van and Halo tags along.

Thorfus knocks and Karl opens and motions to hop in, Halo joins.

It's crowded with 6 of them and the two of us.

Molly nods, good you're here. A bit of a surprise. Old Rufus isn't in charge of Black Moon anymore, some sort of accident. Squint's in charge, Archie the Squint. Rufus Black was tough but dumb. Archie was his secretary. Looks like a banker. He's probably worse than Rufus ever was. An interesting little talk. Word of what's going on in the Sprawl has made it here. He also knows that there's a price on my head and well, Archie unlike Rufus, he thinks he's figure out who you are. You're not DMX are you? There is a group working with AI, blowing stuff up. There is a group of bounty hunters in town he's hosting. What can we do to make it worth his while to not turn them in for the reward. It is a huge reward.

I was made to understand in Archie's not so straightforward way, we shouldn't sneak our way out, but make our leave.

He thinks you are some sort of super assassin mercenaries and thinks it's you.

Molly C. asks our thoughts. Thorfus asks how the power structure works in Black Moon. Archie has his eyes on unifying the groups here, then pushing East for some major raids.

She doesn't know who these bounty hunters are, where they're staying, or anything.

Maybe he thought we could do something about the Reds. Their leader is PR head of the Found Fortune Cooperative. He's a holdout to strike Eastwards. Maybe you can do some convincing.

There's no way we can cross the bridge without being noticed to get to Hermitage. We can just run the barricade and go back East. The guys at the gate will have orders to stop us, and Archie would be angry at us.

Thorfus mentions that we know that the Found Fortune Cooperative needs antirad, we bought all the extra anti-rad since we weren't sure to do it. The word is theInnovative Steelworks in Pittsburgh, it must be irradiated. Halo suggested giving the antirad to Archie, which Molly said it would be a more peaceful way to do it.

I wouldn't mind if you guys came along so it's a face to face deal. He already knows you guys are here.

Molly said he wants her back for dinner. Archie offered to let Molly turn us in. She said she has a reputation to uphold and won't sell out those she's made a contract with, it's bad for business.

We have a few hours until the dinner at 5:00 PM.

Session Two Hundred and Fifty-Four Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-02-12T04:01:49Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 254, February 11 2026 ==
[[File:Image56565.png|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 1:40AM on October 5th, 2157, with the party in the parking area outside the barn where the residents of Pottsville kept the outsiders they planned to use as "sacrifices". The group now must decide whether to get out of town immediately or find Keanu's car (and maybe enact some justice). Will the party escape this place without further conflict? Who is this Kerry named on the sacrificial daggers? What wlse can the party expect to encounter as they move ever closer to Ohio? Find out next time; or not.
We debate what to do?

Where were you all headed?

We were headed back towards civilization. Are you headed that way?

They took our car. It sounded like what that man said, they take a lot of people and there's a lot of cars around here somewhere.

Glompus sends up the drone to try to locate where all the vehicles are? Velkin jacks in to watch the feed.

Velkin notices there are two roads that cross in center of town, 209 and 61. There is what looks like a junk yard with an unusual number of cars. Not very junky looking. Vans, trucks, station wagons, sedans, in all states of rust and decay. Generally appear to be in good condition. There are roughly 30 vehicles.

Velkin spots an off road type truck more like what what be in a caravan.

There is a gas station near the junk yard.

They have Keanu look to ID his car. He see it -"That blue one there."

We also ask the former prisoners to ID their car. "It might be one of these up front." Near the exit.

It's about 1.5 miles as the crow flies to the vehicles.

To the North we can see the checkpoint we encountered. There are lanterns and people sitting around.

No apparent stops between us and the junkyard.

Thorfus gives the pistol and the rifle to the man and woman. They thank us.

Velkin says when they "get back to civilization just say you escaped, don't mention us." They agree.

Velkin rides on the van's roof to hold the drone so it's ready to go.

Peronelle sets up to use her sniper rifle and Thorfus takes over driving.

As we are ready to go, the radio crackles, and a familiar voice says, "Hey Dale, how's our visitors?" Thorfus imitates Dale and just says, "Yeah." The voice says "Don't bite my head off, we all take our turns."

We drive with the lights off using night vision goggles (Thorfus) or night vision cyber (Halo).

We set Dale's body in a chair like he fell asleep & closes the door.

Halo leads and Thorfus follows.

We don't see anyone as we drive through town.

We cross the intersection without seeing anyone and see the gas station and junkyard on the left. There is a gate on the road and fencing along the road frontage.

Glompus sends up the drone to look for checkpoints. There is another to the South on 61 maybe a half mile away, and the only light we see.

We put the drone away.

Keanu volunteers to go help Velkin and others. Keanu is pretty sure he can hot wire his car. Velkin gives him a can of gas and gives the man (Thomas) a can of gas too. Thorfus also goes. Peronelle gets back in the driver's seat.

There is a padlock and chains on the gate, it rolls aside. We are sneaking as best we can.

Thorfus lifts the gate to move it aside so it doesn't squeak.

Thomas points to his vehicle. He goes and looks in driver's window. The key is in the ignition, it is not locked. I'll top of the gas it should be good.

We continue on to Keanu's car "Katie." It's a Shelby Mustang, I'm not leave it.

That's when we hear the growling around the corner where he went around.

There is a sudden loud barking as the junkyard dog launches at Keanu. It latches on.

Keanu shoots it and Thorfus runs up and punches the dog.

A light comes on at the gas station.

Keanu limps over and fills the gas tank.

Velkin puts a patch on Keanu and tells Glompus to bring in the drone and keep and eye on the gas station.

As Glompus grabs the drone, there is a guy in a bathrobe with a shotgun.

Glompus shoots him with his silence sniper rifle, causing him to go flying back into the gas station.

There is a scream from inside.

Keanu has filled his gas tank. The lurch takes hold.

Keanu tells Velkin he is riding shotgun. Thorfus runs out back to the van with the empty gas cans.

We fill the two vehicles with gas. Lights start going out inside the station.

The family moves to their sedan.

Glompus sees a silhouette in upper window with a handgun taking aim.

Glompus takes a shot and misses, the woman shoots and misses.

Thorfus shoots and hits, Peronelle shoots and hits, Keanu shoots and hits.

Thorfus goes in to look around. Thorfus turns off the lights to rely on his infrared goggles. The man is dead, he grabs the shotgun. On the wall at the head of the table is a hand drawn matriarchal looking figure, not done well. She has a sheaf of grain in one hand and a sickle in the other.

The woman is full of holes and has a heavy pistol that Thorfus grabs.

There is a bit a jewelry on the vanity. It is costume jewelry.

There no sign of a radio or a phone. There is a phone on the wall - no dial tone.

Thorfus gets food out of the refrigerator. There is a casserole all ready to go, a bit taken out and eaten. Milk and some beers. Thorfus takes it all and gives the casserole and milk to the family, and keeps the beers.

We top off our vehicles and the two cans of gas.

Thorfus gives the family $100. Glompus gives the guy a stick of dynamite, just in case.

Velkin tells him just toss it out the window as a distraction.

We spray the station and pumps with gas and lock the pumps open and pile up the dynamite. Glompus sets out a long fuse.

The family will follow us to break through the blockade with us to go a ways before going up to another highway to go East.

Glompus rides shotgun with Keanu so he can shoot. Snuffles joins Glompus in Keanu's car.

Velkin has heavy armor and gets on the roof of the SUV with the automatic rifle for suppressive fire.

There is a huge explosion behind us. Then a lot of chatter on the radio, "Dale, Dale you there?" Thorfus shouts in the radio, "What was that?"

They tell the South checkpoint to check.

As we get to the North checkpoint they are in chaos as some are preparing to go check the station.

Glompus targets a guy with a combat rifle looks like he's ready to take a shot. Glompus misses and hits the van.

Guy with pistol misses. Shotgun goes for SUV and misses.

Velkin uses the automatic rifle takes out 3 of them.

Thorfus shoots the guy who shot his van.

Vikram missed and Druul hit.

We blow through their blockade.

We fly up 61 with no sign of pursuit.

It is about a half hour to 81 our of Pottsville.

We turn our lights on and drive normally.

Thomas pulls up to each of our vehicles and thanks us. They are going to try for Stroudsburg.

He heard they have unmodified seed stock so they don't have to pay for it. But the knives, they are crazy, some weird cult....

Milton run by gangs [[Black Moon Confederacy]] blacks, [[Found Fortune Cooperative]] reds, [[New Law Clan]] greens. They wear their colors. Keanu recommends we just pay protection to the Black Moon Confederacy. The mayor is with Black Moon Confederacy, which is limited to city limits of Milton.

Keanu trusts Black Moon Confederacy a bit more, and suspects one of the others attacked his caravan. Outside the city, the other two gangs are the rovers.

If we're heading West, we should talk to one of the other groups.

Halo takes the lead, with Keanu following, then the van.

We pass Thomas as we backtrack on 81 to move up to 80. We caravan with the family.

At 80 they turn East and head to Stroudsburg and we head West.

First place with lights and signs of civilization is at Lime Ridge with a toll. It looks less quaint than at Stroudsberg. Gate that can be lowered and guys with guns and a shack.

They flag us down pointing their guns. The buy asks Halo if we're crossing? $60 for 3 vehicles. You're actually the second caravan to come through. Molly C came through. She's heading up to Milton too.

She was talking about all kinds of crazy stuff on the coast. They tried to arrest her. Weird stuff some sort of terrorist gang, DMX working with the AIs. Arrested a bunch of her friends, but she got out of there.

They guy asks what we're selling? Halo tells them "medical supplies." Calls over a guy named Tony, their quartermaster. What'd ya got? Medical supplies, first aid kits? We're kind of in a hurry, we want to catch up with Molly C. You be in Milton a while? Maybe I can look you up tomorrow? Halo tells him to find him at the [[Hidden Onion]] - OK so Black Moon.

The rest of the way it is uneventful until coming up on outskirts of Milton and there is another caravan, with six vehicles. We notice them looking at us in their mirrors.

Milton resembles Stroudsburg, but is more fortified with a barricade, armed guards, and towers.

The caravan stops at the checkpoint.

The guard seems jovial and soon waves through the first caravan.

With a more neutral face greets Velkin.

Was that Molly C.? Yeah it was, but she said you weren't with you. They're headed to the municipal building. If you cross the bridge you'll have to pay there. For 3 vehicles is $300 that will cover your insurance, with free parking.

You'll be fine up to Municipal car park, don't wander.

What are you trading in case I can pass the word. "Medical supplies."

Pay again at the bridge is separate.

Soon we are at a big mostly empty parking lot. Two other groups, Molly C. and another group of 4 vehicles across the way.

We park close-ish to Molly C. They are getting out, and we see Molly and she starts walking over and says, "You made it out?" This is good luck, and you have more vehicles. I mean a deal's a deal. If you want to join up, we can bring you to those coordinates you shared, we decided to split off at Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

Scavenge for a week then meet back up. You paid, a lot of stuff bought with your money is with us.

Between the two of our groups, we should be alright.

How long do you plan to hang our here. Not much at all, probably stay today.

Keanu is to take us to Treasure Lake (straight West on 80).

If go to Treasure Lake we go through Hermitage. Militia at Hermitage was accused of collaborating with AI. It was close to being an actual power in the region, but now it's a ruin.

We were going to drop you off past Pittsburgh and do some trading with the Four Mothers group.

Hard to resupply until we get to Hermitage or past Pittsburg.

Going around Pittsburg is a long day to Mt. Vernon, if we go to Hermitage by way of Treasure Lake is a little bit quicker, like ten hours, then another ten to Mt. Vernon or two days.

Molly C. has to show her face with the Mayor. They'll want to do some trading, and will want information. Probably some crazy idea about a job they want us to do.

Session Two Hundred and Fifty-Three Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-02-05T03:58:19Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 253, February 4 2026 ==
[[File:Ohio-map.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 2:30PM on October 4th, 2157, with the party finishing up their converstion with Terence Reeves, representative of the Bridge-Keepers Union, at the King's Arms tavern in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. This was the first stop on the group's journey westward to Ohio and it provided a robustly stocked market to procure the last few items needed for the trek. The party also met a former caravan driver named Keanu Kirby who has agreed to act as guide and claims to know the location of a buried treasure worth seven figures in western Pennsylvania. Will the group profit from Keanu's guidance? What will Terence Greeves think of the party turning down his job offer to become arms procurers? How bad is the bandit problem to the west? Find out next time; or not.
At the market we buy Keanu a pistol, clean clothes, and two weeks rations.

Keanu asks for a receipt for all the gear to take the $1,200 out of his share of the sale of the device.

We get two more cans of gas in case Keanu's vehicle is still there.

Keanu says it's like 6 hours to Milton. Not sure how far to Milton where his vehicle ran out of gas.

Just heading out of Pottsville on way to "Stroudsburg".

We ask around for maps, and people are willing to give verbal directions.

Rough roads and no sightings of other people for about an hour.

We encounter several other vehicles heading South. We find ourselves at an intersection at the same time.

5 rough and tumble vehicles that look like they are good for off road. 2 people in each.

One rolls down a window and yells something as they keep going.

It is a greeting, "Heading in our out?"

Slows and not quite stops as if waiting for a response.

They look more like a caravan instead of bandits or bounty hunters.

They are going South and ask us if coming out of Stroudsburg.

Be careful, bandits between here and Milton.

A pickup with two people bundled up pass us and kind of give us a look. No wave, and picked up speed to zip past to continue on.

Soon Keanu thinks we are getting close to where he left his vehicle.

We pull over and Glompus launches the drone with infrared to seek the vehicle.

Glompus spirals out and rises in altitude to increase the odds of seeing things.

Down the road it looks like it could be a road block with several people.

He doesn't think they are bandits. They wanted him to stop when he blew through.

Keanu thinks his vehicle is behinds us as maybe the bridge we passed may have had the car. A couple of his buddies were in the car.

It's the people of Pottsville, they are mostly farmers.

Some guys with rifles and shotguns.

They hold up their hands to signal us to stop.

Velkin mentions a driver going past. That maniac? He nearly drove over me.

We brought a tractor and buried his buddies. Some bandits were following him.

We'll give you the personal effects, but for a few hundred bucks we can part with the car.

You ain't no bandits, and ain't with no corporations.

I'll need to lay eyes on you all. We've had corporate spies before. We might have something of value to certain agricultural concerns as they call themselves.

If you want some foodstuff, we're willing to do some trade if you check out.

You caravanning?

What kind of goods you selling? Some meds, and a bit of gas.

You've got a dog, so you can't all be bad.

I can't say you look corporate to me.

Maybe if you're selling medicines I'll send some people your way.

He goes back to Halo's SUV and tells us how to get to town and find a place to park for the night. It's near a barn. We need to stay out of it.

We towed it into town with the tractor, we aren't sure if it runs.

They'll tow it over in the morning and we'll do a once over an see.

He goes and talks to their buddies and move haybales to clear a path to head through.
He has a walkie talkie to speak to someone towards town.

Velkin finds the channel.

"Hey, Earl got some caravanners coming in. Make sure they keep clear of the barn. They're heavily armed so no go with cary. Try to keep the sacrificials quiet so we don't have any problems. They're selling medicine too."

Soon a truck pulls in behind us at our parking spot. A younger fellow helps an old woman out and gives her an arm.

Halo walks over and ask what the issue is.

My momma Ruth here has problems with her knees.

Halo brings her to the back of his SUV to do an exam, it's advanced arthritis.

Halo has some painkillers and sells them for $100 and gives back $10 for a family rate.

More people show up and Halo sells doses as they need.

Druul and Peronell wake Prix and Thorfus and tell us it's really quite. The guy by the barn goes inside. Prix is antsy.

An hour into our watch, there are some loud screams from the barn. Maybe 'Help' then it cuts off.

Thorfus asks Prix if she heard it. We think adult, not sure if male or female.

Thorfus manages to sneak up to the barn.

There is a light on somewhere inside.

Thorfus hears some talking. He listens and someone talks to someone on a radio. Earl I told you to keep quiet, we have well armed visitors.

They discuss that it is a cow.

There is a click from the radio being turned off. The guy mutters Earl do this....

There is a creak like he sat down.

Thorfus knocks on the door.

Earl says, "Aww shit." Then says, "hello?"

Thorfus says, "Hey, man you got a smoke?"

Yeah, I guess, hold on. An older balding guy with a beard thin and lanky has a pack of smokes. Yeah uh, you need one.

There is a satchel with lots of knives. He tries to move to block the view. Thorfus has a 1,000 mile stare past him toward the knives. You OK, "What are those?"

Those aren't normal knives for farmers. We use them to butcher animals.

Do you know what kind of people use knives like that? Farmers???

They've not for sale. They're evil.

There is a scream. The guy draws a gun and shoots, missing Thorfus. Thorfus punches him.

Looks like a guard station with snacks and ancient magazines, a rifle against the wall.

Door to main part of barn. Thorfus turns on the light and goes through the door.

The stalls are occupied with some rather rough looking people. There are four of them that look like they were beaten, in ragged clothes, no shoes, dirty and chained to wall.

Thorfus unlocks the gate.

It appears to be a family, man woman and two teen boys.

It was me. Are you from another place.

We got stopped at a road block and they had guns and made us get out to make sure we weren't bandits, then we ended up here.

They're talking about doing bad things.

They've got some people here, looks like they're planning to torture them.

Halo heads up to the barn.

Velkin advises to pack up and drive to the barn.

Glompus sticks some dynamite in his belt.

Thorfus grabs the knives labeled Kerry the rifle and the pistol.

The others are packing up the vehicles.

Session Two Hundred and Fifty-Two Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-01-29T04:04:45Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 252, January 28 2026 ==
[[File:Ohio sign.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 3:00AM on October 4th, 2157, with the party driving toward the Sprawl's border having procured paperwork from the Temple Society to pass through the checkpoints along the main roadways. Assuming the permits work, it should be a straightforward journey to the Ohio wasteland. However, it is less clear what the party plans to do once they arrive there. Find out next time; or not.
We make it past two checkpoints and pay the toll to cross the bridge into Stroudsberg.

We gas up the vehicles and buy 7 five gallon gas cans and fill them. Each vehicle has enough gas to get to Ohio and most of the way back to The Sprawl, if we want to come back.

The Toll Bridge operator mentioned some wanderer come in from the West all beat up with a story of bandits. He will probably hit us up asking for help. He has about used up his welcome. He mentioned losing something valuable.

We go to the [[Kings Arms]] to meet up with the guy who met us at the Market. We see him at a booth towards the back.

We go back to sit with him. He seems happy, yet surprised we showed up.

His name is [[Keanu Kirby]]. He worked a caravan the last couple years, and heads out Westward for salvage picking the ruins. Lately mostly Midwest. Had a good run, found something good, and bandits ambushed us. We knew the road to the West was bad, we thought they were big enough, they were sniping us. I heard some of these bandit groups were mercenaries. I'm the only survivor. When we were attacked, I hid something, and doesn't think the bandits found it.

It's a skillplug, something experimental. We had someone with us who could evaluate it. It would make you a complete ninja. I'm not technical, but he said it was write your own check sort of thing. We got it out of an old research place out West under lock & key. We were all ready to retire. I got into town with the clothes on my back, I don't have money, but I'm willing to work out an equitable split of whatever profit we make. The tech guy said we'd probably make 7 figures, but would have to deal with one of the major corporations. He proposes 10 shares and he gets two shares. If your contacts come through, 9 shares even split; but if we have to shop around then 10 shares.

The caravan had four vehicles and 40 of us. Most were non-combatants. We had less than a dozen warriors. These guys had us. There were at least equal numbers. They hit us when we were taking a break.

Thorfus asks what's the nearest settlement to where this thing is hidden? He demurred when asked for a more specific location. Falls Creek near Treasure Lake out on route 80.

This is before our destination.

Milton is the next safe place on the road. It is run by a couple of gangs, but they are kept in line by the boss if you pay the toll and don't cause problems. A lot of caravans stop there.

They found the device in suburbs of Akron, OH in a small factory called [[Reston Industries]].

The toll bridge operator that Kauri invited for a drink shows up and says he is the head of the Tool Booth Guild. We have a good reputation (we spent money at the Market), and we look like we can take care of ourselves. He offered us a job to go to Easton to "procure" some heavier/advanced weapons that The Sprawl denies to them, but others, like the militia that controls Easton (they favor The Sprawl).

Session Two Hundred and Fifty-One Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-01-22T03:57:19Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 251, January 21 2026 ==
[[File:Militia checkpoint.webp|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 12:00AM on October 4th, 2157, with the party driving toward the Temple Society's compound in Engletown on their way to the Sprawl's border. With the help of fake identification documents and luck, the group was able to make it through the internal checkpoint cordon dividing the western shore from the rest of the city. Now, the party must make plans to either acquire permits from mercenaries hired to hunt for them or else evade said hunters to escape into the wastelands. Meanwhile, the group has also discovered a surprising connection between Meidia and their newest comrade, Halo. Can the group evade capture and slip through the security forces searching for them? What does it mean for Halo's people to know about the Mothers? Find out next time; or not.

We decide to drive past the area of the compound we plan to scout to get a view of it.

**Militant Group Helping the Militia Look for Us:** [[Temple Society]] A Eurocentric militant group.

There are a lot of helicopters and maybe drones all West of where we are. Somewhere between here and the outward limits of the protected area of the Sprawl.

We find a spot to park about a kilometer from the compound and send up our drone to scope out their compound.

We have it just about ready to go, a dark vehicle with lights off starts to drive up in our direction. They pull up to the edge of off road area and flash their headlights 3 times at us.

We flash back 3 times. Then hear vehicle turns off and doors open and close, and 2 figures walk up where we are assembling the drone.

As they come up they say, hey, you're hear early, you all set?

Velkin goes to them and tells them to go over it one more time to avoid mix ups.

It's not rocket science. Englewood Hospital - you're doing reconnaissance. The only ones out here are the Euro guys.

Englewood Hospital Glenwood Road. He points - it's Northeast.

One goes back to the vehicle. The other talks to Velkin. We smoked that guy at Cyclotron Concert.

With the drone, I thought you were the ones who dropped the bomb.

There are a couple of police cruisers near the hospital.

We're going through the Emergency Room after taking out the cops. The Pharmacy is just past it.

The guy goes off trying to make a call. Thorfus runs up and punches him. Peronelle takes out the guy in the SUV.

$500, 30 pills (10-syndorphin pain/euphoria +2 to hit for Dex. and 20-tetrameth healing/sedation 1d6 messes with reaction 1pt system strain, bonus to physical saves). Street Leathers, heavy pistols, 3 mags, 2 phones, SUV.

We leave the pistols and leathers, and move the SUV to the bushes.

Velkin resumes the original mission to scan the compound.

Ten vehicles in center (smaller like jeeps & SUVs, other 4 are full on trucks with boxes on them. Some backs of the trucks are open and customized inside with manacles on the walls.

Over 20 people walking around. Guards in towers.

5 buildings, lots of lights, signs of people walking around. Tallest building is 5 stories.

The phone rings from the number the guy was trying to call. Velkin answers and BS's that the guy about a lot of cops there. The guy says he'll call back, just make sure someone answers.

We recall the drone then call in an anonymous tip that DMX gang is after the Englewood Hospital and about to hit it.

Velkin looks to see if a Temple Society in the contacts, then puts in the SUV and retrieve the phone and disassemble the drone.

We hear police sirens in the distance and move to a new location.

We hear across the tracks we hear an alarm going off in the compound.

We are about 700 feet from the front gate and we see the trucks pulling out. 3 of the smaller SUV trucks head out and turn to the right to head East Southeast along Englewood Avenue.

The alarm cuts off once they leave.

It looks like there is a pause on the loading work. 4 guys standing around by the roller doors. Activity in center of compound is low.

Guard towers in corners and guards at gate are still there.

Velkin plans to work his way into the camp. Peronelle and Glompus set up with silenced sniper rifles to keep an eye on the guard towers.

Velkin walks up to the main gate. They ask what he knows about the Temple Society. He tells them they're good people and take care of things the way you all like. That's kinds of vague. You take in stragglers for your own purposes, I think that's a good thing.

The guards are not 100% convinced. Hey Derek some guy wants to join up for the snipe hunt tomorrow. We're you from? Velkin says from over on the East side. No, where are yo u from, your people? Velkin shows an ID from "Jake Miles" from the amusement park.

Alright, send him back to the garage, we'll take a look at him.

They ask what weapons Velkin has and warn him to not do anything stupid and keep hands off triggers.

There are more guys in the garage, including a big old guy who meets at the door. You Derek? Jake. Jake is it. You want to sign up? You came to us, that's it. I want to get a sense of what kind of man you are. As a group, we have a unified vision. Right now, got some guys heading to a hospital, looking out for OUR people. We do well by doing that good work. I want to get a sense of who you are as being part of our people You have ambition, debts, but do you have the right moral character to sign up with the Temple Society. We have a code, and outlook on the world. That's what I'm trying to get a sense of here. What kind of man are you? Velkin spins a short tale. You can handle those guns. We're shipping out to do this hunt.

He looks Velkin over, and says, well Jake I'm tempted to give you a shot, but it's not to be. I don't have a sense of you. You're a cipher, you could be anyone. I don't see why I should take a chance on you. Why don't you turn around and head out of here before you can't.

Velkin offers one on one with knives to show his worth.

Derek says, try it on me. Derek asks a guy for an advanced knife.

Derek hits Velkin for first blood. He says he's still not sure about him. You can take all the crap jobs. We'll keep you busy. You're joining my boys and you're helping load.

I heard you had coffee. Main building first floor, but you better be back here to help load.

If you cause any problems you won't get paid, which is the least problematic outcome for you. Derek picks up radio and lets the others know there is a new guy.

There's a couple guys talking at the coffee machine and stop talking when Velkin shows up. Velkin says, that Derek's pretty fast with a knife and you only got that little cut? You here for the hunt? Should be pretty profitable. Free reign to pull anyone we want off the street. I'm not going out with you guys. Half the time they bring them in and we have to spend money to keep them alive. I wish all on the collection teams had that philosophy.

There's always gangs, corporations always need labor. We supply a need.

Velkin talks to the other guy once the other one goes back to work.

Derek's just the garage master. A damn good mechanic, even better than he is with knives? Who's running the show when we go out? Kenner is the big boss. I'm sure he'll give a pep talk if he's not going with you.

When Derek seems Velkin coming back, he calls out to him, and we're taking a break until the other trucks get back and Toby will show you what we're loading, etc.

Tomorrow the trucks go out to the boarder lands to hunt these big bad terrorists. Toby says they're wanted alive. I've heard all kinds of stuff. Some kind of international terrorists working with AI.

We've been deputized by Netwatch and Advanced Systems to head out to the Border Lands to deal with them. Badges? We're not law enforcement. There's some folder up here with pictures of the people we're hunting here in the cab of the truck. Set up base camps then start doing sweeps. Then hopefully find these guys. There is a sizeable bounty for them individually. There's like 5 or 6 of them. It is like big, big bucks. Kenner was saying that whoever catches them gets a cut straight off the top. Then the usual, doing sweeps for undesirables and sell them along. If you bring anyone in, be sure you note your name to get your cut.

Corporations want guinea pigs for labs, gangs just want fresh meat to sell on to sweat shops.

Toby opens the glove box and pulls out a folder with fact sheets on the guys they're looking for. Toby sits on the running board. Security footage from factory of everyone except Glompus, Halo, and Snuffles.

Velkin tries to pickpocket to knock folder out of Toby's hands to snatch the permits out of it.

Toby panics looking for Derek while Velkin tries to sneak the permits as he helps pick up the papers and gets the main permit. He puts the folder back in the glovebox, then it starts to rain.

Whoever you're going with they'll have all that paperwork. The rain picks up. Derek shouts out that the hospital business picks up. Toby you're still with the new guy to show him what to do.

The trucks pull back in and Toby shows him. They pack rations, water bottles, survival packs. Right around the side of the garage are portajohns. Toby points the way and runs back. It is out of line of sight of the people working. The SW guard tower can kind of see. It is South of the 5 story building.

Velkin climbs the garage to jump off and float over the road and into a park then runs over to meet back with us.

IT deputizes us as Temple Society on behalf of Netwatch and Advanced Systems. Let through any of main checkpoints to do our search. Anywhere in border lands as hired mercenaries.

Halo knows that we can take route 4 straight out of the city to I-80.

Session Two Hundred and Fifty Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-01-15T03:58:27Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 250, January 14 2026 ==
[[File:TempleMilitia.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 6:30PM on October 3rd, 2157, with the party still hiding in the abandoned storefront that Nadia uses as an apartment and storage for her explosives. The group has heard back from Halo's contact, who has suggested that stealing permits from one of the militias deputized to hunt for the party might be a viable option for leaving the Sprawl. One such group, the Temple Society, has received its permits and is mobilizing to leave for the border area shortly. Other options include trying to evade the cordon via back roads that may or may not be passable or setting up a fake checkpoint to steal permits. Will the group continue to evade capture? What route will they choose to escape the Sprawl? Find out next time; or not.
We split up the party loot between vehicles and party members.

Nadia gets a small TV so we can use our CD to watch the CDs from Dr. Terrence Brooks.

We watch the last CD based on the numbering system.

There is a timestamp on the screen of May 2071.

The view is moving around, no sound at first.

There is a lot of interference & fuzziness that appears to be on the recording itself.

It is first person perspective, the camera is moving like it is head level of someone. Walking down a cave, that looks a bit familiar.

There are 3 women there and the person viewing is also a woman. They have plain robes. 2 have light colored hair, another dark colored hair.

Occasionally turn to others who appear to be talking.

They walk into a large open area with other people around with armor and weapons. The center of the chamber is a giant funnel with netting, and nothing in it.

They look human. Running around preparing something.

They go through a chamber with 3 statues on each side in a gallery. Figure steps to one statue and looks it over. Inscription on the statue is Dr. Terrence Brooks same as the picture on the ID.

Go through doors to a room with 4 thrones in center and all along walls is a mural with the Matriarchs. They sit and petitioners come, etc.

Nadia asks if it is "arthouse" - The black & white and the robes and this whole somber thing.

They go to a door and insert some stones making sure no one is around. They close the door, fiddle with the machines and step into the portal and the recording ends.

February 2071 to May 2071.

Pretty sure the 4 Matriarchs in Hdrasta. No sign of dragon bones in the funnel and no sound. The Matriarchs are directing the warriors to deal with the defenses, etc.

The viewpoint appears to always be Dr. Terrence Brooks.

Prix says, yeah this is Hdrasta before my kind showed up to deal with them, BEFORE the ancient dwarves or DVLs showed up. This was the rebellion of the 4 Mothers on Curabel.

Halo takes off the glove from his right hand and has a tattoo of Oswitha (one of the Mothers). The 4 Mothers was religion. Followers have always fought in AI wars for humanity against the AI. There are multiple tribes, my tribe is followers of Oswitha.

Las Cuatro Madres. We are the 4 mothers, each tribe follows one, some follow all. My tribe is Oswitha, we want to rebuild.

The AIs were defeated. The word is that they are out in the wastes, but need to be vigilant. The 4 mothers seemed more metaphorical. The shaman ladies preserve the oral history and take it more seriously. To most they are more ideals and not real people.

Bandits and various dangerous animals. Definitely places the wise women said to stay away from.

It is weird for us to be talking about the 4 Mothers on TV.

The Four Mothers:

Brita - Inspiration, Animal Life, Rebirth; Common Images: Dawn, animals
Cerida - Logic, Machinery & Numbers (many eyes/Spider box); Common Images: Things with too many eyeballs, scales (weighing), ice Alter Ego of Dr. Terrence Brooks.
Oswitha - Compassion, warmth, botany; Common Images: Flowers, teardrops, fire
Feldma - Wisdom, tradition, death; Common Images: Candles, skulls
Halo knows that the women back home would definitely want to see the CDs.

Velkin asked Halo how he felt about Net Watch & Advanced Systems.

Halo is only interested in their money.

Prix mentions that the 100 years since the AI wars raises certain questions that if Asmodeus is true to his word what would we be going back to if we can go back?

Halo asks how old we are and Nadia says that she is here for it.

We drink up the rest of Thorfus' beer.

Velkin asks that they wait for us to finish before they comment.

Prix comes back with food and fills in the gaps.

Halo recognizes that we are aligned with The Mothers as the Guardians of Media.

Nadia holds up a hand. I have a question. Lizards are kind of like dragons. Who are the lizard people in this story? We tell her the DVLs.

Nadia thinks she can wrap her head around this. The Lizard People in your virtual world are not the Lizard People in this world. You are fighting the Lizard People of this world who some of them are also DVLs.

Nadia already knows Quint as someone over the radio. We avoid mentioning he is an alien AI.

Halo knows that those back home will want to see the video and do something about the deck that has Asmodeus on the deck we don't turn on. We do not mention mini-Asmodeus to Halo or Nadia.

We load information on two decks to share with the resistance and then the wider world.

We tall Nadia to wait a week unless she hears we are dead or captured.

We give Nadia 10 advanced chips.

Nadia says I have some net runner type contacts. You met one of them. I remember. I was watching you in the Under Market talking to Mafalda (she escaped when the Under Market was raided).

Scouting the Militant Group Helping the Militia Look for Us:
We take different routes to get there to within about a Kilometer so we can scout them with the drone.

The further West and North, we see more and more police vehicles, but no checkpoints on these streets.

The SUV takes the more direct route and have a checkpoint setup because there is a traffic backup.

We coordinate via radio and pass the bridge and meet up at Fort Tryon Park and send the drone to scout the bridge.

There are several armored vehicles and soldiers with cyber and some drones.

They are moving cars through pretty fast, just looking at IDs and if they look OK they wave us through.

Since Thorfus is well known and only has the known ID, we elect to have Peronelle drive since she also has a CDL.

We put the chips and the Rocket Launcher in the SUV then have the SUV go first spread out with cars between us.

At the checkpoint, guards, drones, cyberbeasts, etc.

Halo tells them we're going to join up with the Temple Society to hunt down the terrorists.

Peronelle pulls up and rolls down the window. She hands over her ID. When asked where going. Other side of the river. Joining up. Militia.

The guard looks at the line of cars behind and then waves her through.

We make it off the island.

Session Two Hundred and Forty-Nine Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2026-01-08T03:28:38Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 249, January 7 2026 ==
[[File:TempleMilitia.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 4:00PM on October 3rd, 2157, with the party still hiding in the abandoned storefront that Nadia uses as an apartment and storage for her explosives. The group has heard back from Halo's contact, who has suggested that stealing permits from one of the militias deputized to hunt for the party might be a viable option for leaving the Sprawl. One such group, the Temple Society, has received its permits and is mobilizing to leave for the border area shortly. Other options include trying to evade the cordon via back roads that may or may not be passable or setting up a fake checkpoint to steal permits. A decision is put off while the party waits for Nadia to return with the gear the party has asked her to procure. Will the group continue to evade capture? What route will they choose to escape the Sprawl? Find out next time; or not.
We planned out the shopping/packing the horses before trying something to exit the city.

**Anti-Rad: (+8 to radiation save Physical on the list of saves)**

Ingested, 1 hour activation time, 1 day duration, Cost Per Dose is $200

* We bought 10 doses each (all but Vikram) $2,000 * 8 = $16,000

**Radpak: (Use if fail radiation save.)**

Injected, 1 round activation time, 1d4 days duration, Cost Per Dose is $100.

* We bought 5 doses each (all but Vikram) $500 * 8 = $4,000.

**Other Medical Supplies: (Either our use or trade goods.)**

20 doses Panacea
22 doses Lurch
130 doses Antirad
156 doses Radpak

We see Nadia coming down the street with a shopping cart, tarp over a box clearly labeled "Rocket Launcher".

We let her carry it in in multiple trips.

1 Set Heavy Armor w. carrying case
2 sniper rifles w. carrying case
1 automatic rifle w. carrying case
Rocket Launcher with 3 rockets w. carrying case
1 CD Player
9 wearable lights
2 weeks rations for each biological member of party
2,000 rounds ammo
20 magazines
2 binoculars
3 scrap decks
2 VR Crowns

Nadia asks what the next move is?

Session Two Hundred and Forty-Eight Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-12-18T03:40:46Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 248, December 17 2025 ==
[[File:Wasteland checkpoint.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 8:40PM on October 2nd, 2157, with the party still hiding in the abandoned storefront that Nadia uses as an apartment and storage for her explosives. The group has made their plans for leaving the Sprawl and now are waiting on Halo's contact to confirm their route out of town and for Nadia to source the weapons they need. With the news reports suggesting that the authorities are hunting down anyone even remotely associated with the party, including Molly See and American Syndicate, making a trip beyond the reach of the group's various enemies as soon as possible seems prudent. Will they continue to avoid detection? Can they find a way out of the city? Where will they end up if they do? Find out next time; or not.
Velkin goes out at night to look for an abandoned building with a possible garage we can use to paint the van since it is about to rain.

He climbs to the roof and goes from rooftop to rooftop with gecko pads and glide wings.

Generally South, away from the factory.

Velkin quickly finds something in about a half hour of looking.

There is a detached garage behind a couple of store fronts with an upper level home.
It is a two bay garage with some damage to the roof.

He checks surrounding buildings to ensure they are empty/what their status is.

It is only one way in, which is also the exit.

Nadia is back. Velkin asks which ones are working between here and the garage.

Some of the cameras are working and it would be on camera part of the time.

Velkin and Thorfus go to the van to move it. Velkin goes to the roof to do overwatch. Velkin gives Thorfus a burner phone and will call if he sees something.

Velkin opens the locked door and jams the broken one. Thorfus backs in the van.

We have green and gray spray paint. We paint it two tone: green on bottom, gray on top.

It runs into second watch for Thorfus. Prix grabs Halo to help with second watch.

Velkin swaps a license plate with one similar to the one from the van.

Vikram and Velkin wonder how much the reward is on their watch. Velkin looks it up. $500K for information leading to arrest, put up by American Incorporated.

There is a news alert. There was some sort of attack at the Cyclotron Concert. Shaky video, explosion near the stage. Talking heads say not a lot of info. but massive deployment of police and agencies to the site now. Promises to keep everyone updated.

Before Nadia heads out, Velkin asks her for three scrap decks for storage only and a box big enough for a couple of chips. He also asks for a flying drone.

2k rounds ammo, 20 magazines, 9 survival kits, 2 weeks food for all of us, 3 pair binoculars, 9 wearable lights, 9 gas masks (if she can get them) $15K should cover everything.

Total $18,900.

We have the day to wait. Halo hasn't heard from his contact yet, but it should be today.

We thought Halo bought some anti-Rad stuff, we didn't know how much.

The rain tapers off and is drizzle slowly coming to an end.

The morning news has new information. Malcolm and several others were killed by a kamikazee attack that somehow got around security. Officials are investigating the rogue AI associated with foreign nationals.

There is better footage. Streak of light headed toward stage.

We show it to Quint. He is disappointed as he heard some of their music. We might get framed for it, but they mention us because they haven't pieced things together.

We don't know if the Asmodeus deck is turned off or if it can turn itself on.

Velkin mentioned to Quint his thought of copying the information to scrap decks with a few chips and have Nadia deliver it. Tell Nadia to wait a few days.
He can't see it will hurt to get the information out, but Advanced Systems would be upset.

People would either try to sell it back to Advanced Systems or to other corporations.

Quint says he can prepare an encrypted message with plain text instructions on how to send the message. Velkin gets a copy on his deck.

Mid day the news changes. Several Pharmacies were hit by the DMX gang. Raises the possibility that the DMX

Ian Bradon from the Advanced Systems comes on and gives condolences. If there had been a single surveillance vendor for the entire zone, the perpetrators staged the attack in the zone of a different company.

Now an understanding between Advanced Systems and Netwatch it working to update the antiquated systems of Netwatch and upgrading their equipment.

Ian's brother had been bringing up some of these same things and is glad the city government has come to the same conclusions.

Shortly after Noon, Halo gets a call from his contact.

He relays what his friend says. His professional opinion is that it is much too dangerous to sneak across the border into the wastes. He doesn't know if it is related to the hunt for Molly C. or the AI business on the news. There are heavily armed and armored vehicles and helicopters.

The best move is to join up with the hunters. They don't have enough personnel so all anyone needs to cross the main checkpoints. The permits are in the hands of these personnel. One group is the [[Temple Society]] a Euro supremacist nationalist gang, preparing at their compound at 190 Englewood Ave. Maybe we get their permits to get out of town as part of the hunt. The usual roads to avoid the checkpoints are getting the hardest look right now. Day after tomorrow is when the Temple Society is supposed to deploy. They're a fairly good sized. They are in human trafficking. They have connections to Advanced Systems miltech. Anyone they pick up in their sweeps, they have an unofficial understanding that they get to keep them for their human trafficking.

We don't know how many vehicles they are contributing, but they are too big to handle by our team. Sneaking off with a couple of permits is the best bet.

Halo suggests that we commit to getting the permits and if we get them we leave, and if we don't we sneak out.

Halo goes to get the stuff from his contact.

We wait for Nadia to come back from the Market.

I-287 is about where the Sprawl ends.

Any major road requires permits.

Little roads can be used to avoid checkpoints and get out of the sprawl, but after a while, the little roads are not good enough to get very far.

Another option would be to join up. According to Halo's friend a lot of groups ideologically aligned with securing a border are being hired to secure borders.

We could set up our own checkpoint and take the permits of a smaller group that shows up.

Session Two Hundred and Forty-Seven Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-12-11T04:10:43Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 247, December 10 2025 ==
[[File:Ohiowastes-1392133809-612x612.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 10:30PM on October 1st, 2157, with the party hiding in the abandoned storefront that Nadia uses as an apartment and storage for her explosives. The group has just finished brainstorming their plans for how to avoid the multitude of powerful forces arrayed against them, which basically boil down to fleeing the Sprawl for the anonymity of the Ohio Wasteland. This whole escape, though, hinges on the ability of their newest ally -- the combat medic nicknamed Halo -- to source the supplies and contacts they need to disappear westward. Can the party avoid detection long enough for Halo to finish his business and help get them out of the Sprawl? Will the group be able to intercept the American Syndicate caravan for which they already paid? How should they handle the issue of Asmodeus and his invitation to an irradiated ruin? Find out next time; or not.

We plan to stand watch as usual and rest.

Officers coming down street knocking on doors with a car following them.

Nadia looks to see if she recognizes them. I don't think they're locals.

We get quiet and dowse the lights.

There is a back door. Nadia gestures to opening other side of counter.

Thorfus and Velkin stay with Nadia since she's acting like she's ready to grab her gun.

Peronelle has taken up position behind the counter. Glompus joins her.

Looks like officers in car are checking plates. Do they have your plates?

Velkin sets up some anti-personnel mines with a detonator by the door and Nadia and wires up a deadman's switch to give to Thorfus.

Nadia shows Glompus how to wire up plastique with a cell phone detonator. Timer is set, it will call, 5 10 minutes, she sets the timer for 10 minutes. Nadia gives it to Thorfus and says just be sure you stop the timer. Thorfus asks what? How? Just push it. Bop it.

There is a loud knock and shuffling and mumbling and we hear abandoned.

Officer 1 says, "Looks abandoned, do you think anyone's living up there." Officer 2 "People will live anywhere, but this whole building looks like it will come down." This is just busy work because they don't have any leads now. All those special forces guys aren't sharing anything. I heard they had a copter in Flushing, they didn't tell us about that. Black ops is gonna black ops. Another knock and then Officer says "Police we have some questions, anybody home." Other officer says, there's no one there, they slide a card under the door and more on.

Nadia comes over and takes phone and when she hits the button to stop it it asks for a password.

Nadia - I guess we'll live to fight another day.

Card - Officer Ramirez, Corona, Station, Contact Info. Scribbled note: If you saw anything suspicious today around the American Incorporated factory, please get in touch.

Druul wakes Thorfus, no one has been back by and a few police cars headed elsewhere, air traffic is quieter.

Prix isn't sure what to do since can't have the lights on.

She asks Thorfus about things. Are you keen to go back? I'm not sure. Thorfus - I'm not sure of anything anymore. Druul was talking about maybe staying.

Prix doesn't see much point in going back, and points out Thorfus doesn't have much family either.

Thorfus mentioned he had an idea that occurred to him with the police officer's card. Maybe we can call in a tip that [[Dr. Hammidai]] hired us to do a job then turned on us.

Velkin & Vikram's watch. Vikram volunteers to sit near the window first.

Velkin asks Vikram how he's doing? Vikram says, "Why am I less real? You all got bodies, why am I a machine? I'm of his people, why put me in this body. Assuming what this Quint guy is saying is true, all AIs are equal...."

Vikram doesn't see Asmodeus as a friend.

Velkin asks what Vikram thinks about Quint. He is either telling the truth or is a delusional AI himself.

Nadia is up by the time Glompus and Snuffles have watch.

Nadia asks if Glompus thinks she's crazy. I'm mean when I saw that guy take off a mask and it was a lizard. Sometimes I doubt myself. This was back when I was in the service doing all kinds of crazy stuff. Air dropped in, explosives, regime change, all kinds of dark stuff.

I was at base camp and we had all kinds of agents. You wouldn't believe all the different government people, all kinds of shadowy guys. This guy was CIA or whatever, normal as can be. He didn't know I was there. It gets sweltering. He grabbed his face, pulled it right off, lizard underneath.

Glompus asked if she thought he was crazy if we met aliens. One talks to us, but we haven't seen what he looks like, if he has a body.

OK, so I'm not crazy, I didn't think so.

The sun is up. Nadia says, I gotta get to the market and gather intel on what these cops have been doing. You said you had a list of things maybe I could source for you?

Glompus asks for a sniper rifle, in addition to a rocket launcher.

Velkin asked for heavy armor. The people Nadia knows are in proximity to about anything we could want, it's just a matter if they can get it.

Velkin asked about heavy machine gun or anti-materiel rifle for Halo's hard point on his vehicle. He also asked about anti-vehicle mines. Nadia said those mines are easier to move.

We give Halo the Lightning Coin chip from Glompus with $113,333 on it to buy the mods and stuff to paint the van.

We discuss having Quint meet Nadia. We ask Quint to mention that he is an alien and NOT an alien AI. Just don't mention the AI part.

Is it OK if I ask her some questions to find out if she's truthful or not.

The only update to the news since yesterday. An announcement for gang called [[Molly C]] is a known associate of the [[American Syndicate]] gang and has spent time with the American Wasteland associated with a hostile AI. If you know anything about Molly C's whereabouts, contact the authorities.

The hype is building for the [[Cyclotron]] concert tonight. It starts to push off the news about the factory.

There is back and forth about the high profiles nature of this concert if there is any news about this hostile AI. People from [[Advanced Systems]] have reassure the public and no reason to believe that any bad actors will affect the concert. Person turns to camera and says that the concert will be safe since.

Halo calls his contact and lets him know he'll be smuggling people out of town.

They meet up so Halo can get the mods we need for new faces and other stuff.

Halo asks about the feasibility of the dragnet to cover the ways in and out of the Sprawl.

Kauri also buys some radiation pills.

We see Nadia heading up the street, carrying something.

With Nadia comes the smell of unhealthy but delicious smelling food. It's from this guy at the flea market. He does meat sticks.

Nadia says she did some asking around today. "Whoever" hit that factory really kicked the hornet's nest. Every agency you can think of. They are picking over with a fine toothed comb. DNA evidence everything. Even brining in people from across the oceans. I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but you probably need to get out of town. There's all kinds of three letter agencies.

I peeked around at the factory to see if I recognized anyone. I saw some people that could be special forces kind of people. A lot of heat. At the flea market, they think the culprits definitely moved on and they're looking at some caravan affiliated with a gang trying to leave the city. Then something over in Flushing, but I don't think they're looking this close.

I talked to my people. The armor, I think I can get that. She's the one sourcing the rocket launcher in the next day or so. Those three rifles (2 sniper, 1 x) should be doable too. Just need the cash. $60K

Glompus starts talking about last night and an alien. She say's Shorty, that's a drone. Your alien friend talks through the drone.

Quint says hello there. I'm Quint, I'm an alien. Quint confirms he's not a lizard alien, and wants to know more because if the lizard aliens are here, they'd be breaking all kinds of galactic laws. Quint asks for specifics, then tells the story she told Glompus about the CIA guy who pulled his face off in the tropics. Then Quint has more questions about the lizard's physiology. Quint says "I'll definitely report this to intergalactic authorities." Thank you agent Nadia.

Nadia asks if we can trust him. She doesn't think it's an alien. Glompus says that Quint and Nadia are the only two we've trusted that haven't stabbed us in the back. Nadia thinks we're being pranked.

Quint says that her description of the lizard person she was like 100% right on how she described. I tried to throw her off. She might have seen a lizard person. Not all lizard people are Dominion, but it's possible.

It could be completely unrelated to the current stuff. Sometimes, there just happen to be aliens. It could be other polities, and not the Dominion. It was about 15 years ago. That would be a sizeable head start if it was Orion Dominion. She could have been lucky on her description.

Session Two Hundred and Forty-Six Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-12-04T03:55:39Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 246, December 3 2025 ==
[[File:Apache Helicopter Firing Rockets MOD 45154922.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 7:00PM on October 1st, 2157, with the party fleeing an ambush sprung on them when trying to meet with Wasp in the Flushing neighborhood. In addition to multiple vans with an unknown number of hostiles, this ambush also included an attack helicopter filled with heavily armed commandos. While Velkin managed to avoid any confrontation, Thorfus and Glompus narrowly avoided death before escaping by two separate modes of transport (Thorfus in the company of a helpful medic). Thorfus's gangmember friend, though, was not so lucky. Now, as the group makes their way to Nadia's hideout in Corona, what will the party do next? Is Wasp compromised or untrustworthy? Can their foes track them down? Where is it safe? Find out next time; or not.

The plan is to meet up at Nadia's (Lizard Lady).

- Velkin is taking a bus and piecing together a route to get there in a helpful way.
- Thorfus got a ride with Caldor "Halo" Vance.
- Glompus hijacked a car.
- Velkin called the others and they are getting in the van we received in trade

Thorfus explains that we had a job go South. He rummages in his backpack to pull out the cell phone he's never used and explains he needs to get rid of it.

Thorfus puts his unused cell under Caldor's tire at the next stoplight.

Thorfus taps his headset for communication when Halo asks him about it.

Halo checks the mirrors a lot and has his windows checking for helicopters.

Occasionally over the radio Glompus or the other group check in.

The others get there first. Peronelle says it looks clear.

Druul gets in and Nadia doesn't seem to be there right now.

We're moving everything in from the van to be on the safe side.

A few times Thorfus sees police cruisers and sirens are blaring and a bunch of cruisers and a firetruck fly by followed by news crews.

We pull up on 50th Ave. and pretty sure he sees the new van.

There is another van here and no one in front seat.

Halo asks if things are OK, or should I do a once around the block, and no one follows.

Halo asks if anyone needs medical attention. Thorfus mentions that Glompus might need one. Thorfus explains Nadia.

Halo takes a look at Prix. He says, She needs rest. You know, quiet rest.

Glompus radios "Hey guys, I've got a car that's not mine."

He heads to where there is a bus station.

Thofus watches out the gaps in the paper and boards on the windows. Towards the factory there are a lot of lights and things but nothing seems to be coming our way.

Thorfus notices a figure moving furtively towards the hideout, glancing back towards the factory. She hides in a shadow and bursts across the street when it is clear.

She scrambles in her clothes for something. Thorfus convinces her calm down.
Where's that little fella who likes explosives.

Thorfus offers her more of the beer, and she relaxes. Good to see you.

You might not have chosen the best place to lie low. A lot of lizard people.

They're saying a lot of things. Something's got them all riled up.

I wish I had a boob tube to find out what they're saying.

Nadia says this place is like a funeral in here. We lost a member and Shorty got shot up.

I don't have a lot, rummages in piles of junk, and pulls out some cans and a can opener. I don't have a lot, but I'll share what I've got. Only have 1 spoon we'll have to share.

Velkin's bus eventually makes it and hops out on Corona a few blocks back.

Nadia says "Hey" when Velkin pops in.

Velkin says it looks like it's getting hot up her. It's the factory, the lizard people. Something happened there. Terrorists, AI's, Aliens - other aliens. Lizard Men, little gray people fighting over all the planets. The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend.

Thorfus watches the street, and after a while he spots Glompus stumbling up the street.

Thorfus opens the door and drags Glompus in, closes the door then moves him over to the medic, and back to watch the street.

Nadia finally notices Kauri is gone, she wanted to check her numbers. Oh, so no beepity-boop.

The numbers are how the other members of the resistance talk to her, and pulls out legal pad covered with numbers.

Velkin looks up numbers for the city lottery. She waits for Velkin to read out the numbers. Flips back and forth, looking at the other sheets. OK, we're supposed to lay low, await further orders.

Velkin flips over to the news. There is a lot of news. The factory story is the top of the news. Agents working for a hostile AI of an unknown and possibly foreign origin and obtained technology to allow AIs to breach the black wall.

Due to the severity of the situation, the city is invoking their emergency powers and signing a new contract with Advanced Systems immediately. Government requiring all surveillance companies to share their feeds with Advanced Systems and Netwatch.

The only Ichuru Ifumi AKA Mrs. Skin, owner of a Pachinko parlor with an unlicensed cyber clinic.

Also side story about anti-terrorist activity in the Flushing neighborhood. Will pass along the information Netwatch and Advanced Systems want to share.

Pictures of nearly all of us with out masks and stuff. Even Glompus caught when fleeing in Flushing area.

Nothing mentioned in the news about vehicles.

Velkin asked Halo if he wants to go West and find treasure. You won't find much out there other than a lot of hurt, and not very friendly people.

Vikram asked if we have any friends now.

Velkin suggests American Syndicate, the smugglers.

Halo knows that can trust American Syndicate at their word.

Vikram asks if we can't trust them, what do we do now?

Peronell asks what our plan is now.

[[Molly C]] that we met at [[Club Synapse]] is the caravan leader. Halo is familiar with the name Molly C.

Druul says maybe we should throw ourselves on the mercy of Asmodeus.

Peronell points at Halo and says, "Hey, you seem to know about this exotic Ohio place."

Halo is from there. I think I know some people who can help you get out there. There's nothing out there.

Velkin suggests we go upstairs, and since the lizards live underground, the ground floor is too close.

Nadia stays downstairs with Prix, who is sleeping.

Vikram holds up a hand and says that this new guy might be useful, how much do we read him in on the "job."

Velkin uses finger talk, we will tell him and Thorfus is ready to grapple him.

We work backwards from the present, but we leave out that we are clones, tricked into working for an AI, and don't mention Quint and aliens.

So you're telling me that the rogue AIs are still around? Yes, my rate just went higher. I have no love for the rogue AI.

The official line is that the rogue AIs are still out there. (The reason that Netwatch gets funded.)

The fact that we think the AI is in Ohio is odd. It is more important to Halo to get the rogue AI out of Ohio.

Halo has heard the name Asmodeus as basically the anti-christ.

Peronell points out that the only number we have is suspect.

Vikram points out that Duul's phone was with Kauri, which is how they got all the connections we had.

Wasp, Mrs. Skin, Enkidoo, the Deck Kauri had had the Kizumi Miku information, Oya Union, Miss Leon, Hex, Sylver, Azra, Resurrex, and Evelyn Rackham.American Syndicate, American Posse.

Vikram says that I think we managed to set all our bridges on fire simultaneously.

Peronell also votes for not being in the city anymore. Giving all information to Advanced Systems now.

We share the coordinates with Halo, that it isn't far from where he grew up. Town at the coordinates is a no-go zone. None of his people every tried to scavenge there. It is explicitly off limits according to the leaders.

Halo was in the Ohio militia and they have stockpiles of anti-radiation gear since they periodically need to check the hotspots. There are depots out there, but are guarded.

Cash is good. Lightning Coin is recently introduced, so no way to know if widely adopted out West.

Medicines, manufactured goods, weapons, explosives, etc. would be more valuable out West. Not so much on tech, decks or cyber are less popular.

We can spend Lightning Coin for trade items or cash. Will be difficult to fence the chips.

Halo is a cyber doc so can do the plastic surgery in his med bay.

$10k for materials cost ($70K for all of us). 2 days to do new faces for entire party, and 5 days recovery.

Med Bay is not a sterile environment, but for purposes of cyber it is +1. It does have all the medical tools. New cyber is another +1.

Get the supplies for surgery, get out of town, then do the surgeries.

Contact Halo's contact to get out of town and maybe try to intercept American Syndicate caravan to get supplies. Should be able to take Lightning Coin.

The contact should be able to get the cyber and the anti-radiation meds.

Paint van and get new plates.+

Session Two Hundred and Forty-Five Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-11-20T04:06:24Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 245, November 19 2025 ==
[[File:BagMoney.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 4:30PM on October 1st, 2157, with the party having successfully collected their payment from Oya Union in exchange for the microchip sample and schematic files. It seems that Jaspar Jaenke has been taken into custody by Netwatch, though, and the group only avoided a violent attempt to take them into custody because of Evelyn Rackham's warning to skip the meeting with her at Union Square. Now the party prepares to meet with Wasp at some kind of restuarant in the Flushing neighborhood. Can they continue to avoid the authorities desperate to take them into custody? What will they do about Asmodeus/Hammadai and what they learned at the factory? Find out next time; or not.

We leave Prix, Peronelle, Vikram, Druul, and Snuffles to heal while Thorfus, Velkin, and Glompus get a ride from Jose to meet Wasp at Ratigan's.

We text Evelyn's phone that is being monitored from Druul's cell "If you didn't want to pay us, you didn't have to send the army. We're leaving town."

Velkin text's Wasp from one of his phones: "New Number." Responds with a thumb's up.

Jose drives us to Ratigan's to meet Wasp.

The location reminds Jose of a trap. So in addition to dropping us off and we walk in, we have him drive us past the place to review it.

There are a couple of white vans and a slightly beat up black van.

Velkin notices one of the white vans someone is slumped down in the driver's seat.

Ratigan's looks like a hole in the wall restaurant.

Velkin has Jose go down a different street looking for another restaurant or a bodega.

Velkin walks to where he can see the white van and will text Wasp of a change of plans to see if the white van with a guy pulls off.

Velkin sees the white van from the back and texts Wasp: "Change of venue. Meet at Bodega at Maple & College Point."

In about 5 minutes Wasp texts back, "Why, what's up?" back and forth, and then she says, she'll see us there.

Velkin waits to see what the white van does.

Velkin sees a van further up Haight street pulls out of an alley, then a black ban and a white van pull off.

Velkin head coms us. OK When the vans come down Maple, get on College Point and head North.

We pull out and go North on College Point and Velkin walks E. on Sanford to meet us at a crosswalk.

While at a light a van comes up behind us. In rearview mirror, the driver is holding his hand up, talking to himself, scanning the North side of the street.

Jose turns left. Drive looking around like trying to turn in to the North.

The lights don't make it easy, so we meet Velkin on another cross roads.

Velkin texts Wasp: "Don't go, meeting cancelled. Not safe. Eyes in the sky said no. Drones don't lie." Really? I just got here, everything looks OK. Should we meet elsewhere? Run. 2 white vans and a black van.

A black helicopter flies low as we cross Frain, and is coming up the street behind us.

Thorfus notices the barrel of the gun starts to spin up. Thorfus tells him to do evasive driving.

Thorfus tells Jose to do evasive driving while he opens the door and rolls out before it is too fast.

Glompus misses with sniper rifle. Thorfus manages to shoot the pilot as the chopper flies past, but doesn't hurt him.

Jose attempts a 180 since there is no easy way out.

He succeeds and the chopper opens fire and banks around.

Jose and Glompus jump out of the car and hide.

The car veers a bit and crashes into a parked car.

Velkin sees the car go past him and crash.

Thorfus pulls back out of sight before the helicopter comes back, but doesn't manage to be very sneaky. Glompus and Jose easily sneak off the road.

A rocket comes at Thorfus and misses, but lands close enough to cause some damage. Thorfus misses trying to shoot the pilot.

Glompus shoots and misses. Jose runs.

Thorfus heads into a nearby mall to get out of sight.

Velkin ditches the burner phone in the sewer as he walks by.

Ropes fall from helicopter and guys rappel down close to Glompus.

Glompus tries to slip away. Glompus runs into the print shop and someone shouts, "He went into the shop."

He gets a good ways past the front windows. There is a confused man adjusting his glasses behind the counter.

Glompus vaults the counter and tells the guy to hide men with guns are coming.

Halo (Alex's character) notices the slightly scuffed Thorfus, and asks if he's hurt.

Halo asks if Thorfus is hurt no I don't think so. Thorfus offers him a job. Halo says it will cost you. Halo has a motorcycle with a sidecar, and offers a ride.

Velkin keeps walking.

Glompus hears shooting outside, probably Jose.

Halo and Thorfus make a break for his motorcycle and Thorfus squeezes in the sidecar. Thorfus directs South and plans to head to the motel.

Velkin wants to meet at the "lizard lady" AKA the paranoid woman worried about the space lizard conspiracy.

Velkin tries to find a number for the motel to call those left behind.

Glompus runs out the backdoor and sees Jose clutching his arm, running down Frame Place.

Glompus yells to Jose and he runs into the alley with Glompus.

They push a dumpster in front of the back door of the print shop, then run to the back door of an apartment building.

The guys slam into the door, but can't get past the dumpster. The chopper comes around the corner chasing Jose.

Velkin calls the Elmhurst Motor Lodge and asks to be connected to the room.

Peronelle picks up the phone. It's Velkin. Prove it. He tells her it's time to go, pack up and meet at the anti-lizard lady's place.

Velkin finds a bus stop further away to use his bus pass.

Glompus and Jose make it to the closed door of the apartment. Glompus pushes all the buttons.

Three guys push out of the print shop and tell Glompus to get on the ground, he's under arrest by Netwatch.

Someone buzzed Glompus in, and they go in and slam the door behind them.

Velkin speaks on the radio tabs in dwarvish to alert Thorfus and Glompus, "Friends know, don't go back."

Jose is shot and goes down. Glompus is shot and takes a lot of damage, but gets away. He hijacks a car and drives off, unnoticed by the Netwatch guys following him.

Glompus gets to end of Sanford and catches the light and sees the helicopter come around the corner. Glompus takes a right on Main street. He snakes off taking the closest turn either way. The helicopter loses Glompus, heading off in a different direction.

Velkin looking for a bus. Thorfus directs Halo to the meeting place.

Session Two Hundred and Forty-Four Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-11-13T04:12:58Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 244, November 12 2025 ==
[[File:Surv-microchip.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 9:00AM on October 1st, 2157, with the party back at the Elmhurst Motor Lodge after successfully infiltrating the American Incorporated factory and stealing both the schematics and samples of the AS/AI surveillance microchips. The group must now process the loss of Kauri and discovery that the designer of the chips (Dr. Hammadai) is actually Asmodeus, who has apparently been working for Advanced Systems at their orbital lab since the end of the Artificial Intelligence Wars. Can the party trust the other instance of the DVL? How safe are they now that they have definitely kicked the hornet nest? Who can they trust and what should they do next? Find out next time; or not.

We decide to gather in a room with Quint and Case with mini-Asmodeus deck.

We tell Quint what we learned about Asmodeus. This will either tell us if Quint is an agent of Asmodeus, or a true third party.

We tell Quint we got everything on the mission and losing Oskar (Kauri) and Resurrex.

Well, I take it the trip to Ohio is off.

Quint agrees that there is a possibility there is more than one Asmodeus.
Or, he is trying to pull a fast one on my people, and the surveillance issue was a misdirection to hoodwink Special Circumstances.

Have you run this by mini-Asmodeus.

Perhaps you would have been safe going to Ohio with the fake story. With the real story, you may not be safe.

If Asmodeus is in an authoritative position at Advanced System, and it wasn't a very quiet infiltration, is there any possible way he would know it is your group?

Oh, definitely.

Finding an alternate way to contact my people and skip the whole Asmodeus altogether.

The technology of Special Circumstances, it wouldn't be as dangerous for us to confront Asmodeus as it is for Special Circumstances to do it.

The stuff we found at the foundry did not mention either Special Circumstances or the Orion Dominion.

The original files we found mentioning that Netwatch is working with Orion Dominion if passed to Quint's people, then it would spoil the efforts at first contact.

We could lay low, get new faces, then make a plan to get to the top of the Advanced Systems tower and use their communication tower.

There is also the big party at Advanced Systems tomorrow, but it may provide enough of a distraction to get in to the transmitter.

While it doesn't give time to die down, it also gives Asmodeus less time to react to us.

Quint tells us in his opinion, the safest thing to do is contact his people through a different avenue than Asmodeus. But everything else is uncertain, such as is there more than one Asmodeus, or is the one at the orbital under duress?

How did Asmodeus know about Orion Dominion? Quint was not involved with any conversation with Asmodeus where Orion Dominion came up.

My superior Eve Suvieta could answer that definitively.

Quint's understanding is that Wasp doesn't know the nature of your employer. So she wouldn't know the stuff you just found out. If you believe she doesn't know the true nature of Asmodeus, you can probably trust her.

Irenko is probably dead, so maybe you can trust this Jaenke guy, but if Irenko's dead body is discovered at the factory, who knows what that means for Netwatch.

Maybe we can trust the Asmodeus in Ohio, but until we know for sure, it isn't wise to trust him.

American Syndicate is going to Ohio whether we go or not, and the money is spent.

Velkin asks if there is a way to allow Quint to see the schematics of the chip. He is eager to see it and can determine if there are any obvious signs of alien tech.

Quint will need some time and will let us know when the analysis is complete.

We text Wasp on Druul's phone to contact us.

The phone buzzes, where are you at? A secure location we'll meet elsewhere.

Is this you on the news?

We turn it on and it's the factory where things are on fire, drones zipping around.

Velkin responds "A restaurant in Flushing."

She responds, "All right, let me do some searching to find a place."

Druul's phone rings. Velkin answers, "Hey, Evelyn. I got everything worked out with Jasper, and he's fine with you delivering the chip to me in my capacity with Oya Union."

Is Jasper there, he went out. I guess whatever he has to do to smooth things over with his people.

Velkin says that he got us spooked, and we don't want the same fate as Irenko.

The phone buzzes with Evelyn's secondary number and it says "Agree to the square."

No flagpole, meet block South.

She says 2pm. Phone buzzes again, 30 minutes early.

September 9th Gang - Thorfus gets the idea to trade van for a replacement. He looks out the window and sees someone from the gang in car. Thorfus asks to trade his van for another van.

He can maybe give us a ride, to Union Square and back.

Velkin texts Wasp that we need to change time to meet. Wasp says that we should meet as soon as possible.

Jose is a cousin to Big Boy we met the other night. Thorfus, Velkin, and Glompus get in.

Wasp texts and Velkin replies later, 6 pm, Wasp replies Ratigans between Fuller and Haight.

He drives us to a block south of Union Square about 12th and University Place.

Jose tells us that Big Boy will bring a new van, and we give Jose the keys and Big Boy will have another van. Thorfus gives him the keys.

Jose turns on the radio and passes by the news about a major crime at American Incorporated factory.

Velkin looks to see what the news says.

Rumors of a splinter faction of Netwatch attacking an American Incorporated factory, killing a bunch of workers, and rumors that the DMX gang might be involved.

Velkin copies the information from the main deck to a scrap deck.

We get there about a 12:45. Jose asks where to drop us.

He drops us off at a bunch of taco places close together. Glompus with his sniper rifle guides Jose where to park to be in sight of the potential parking place about mid-way down the block.

Thorfus and Velkin get tacos to eat while they're walking.

We wait around at a Bodega.

Thorfus doesn't notice anything looking around.

Velkin notices a guy looking nervous. A younger corporate guy with a gym bag, looking at us and working his way to our direction.

Velkin mentions it to Thorfus. Glompus notices the guy.

Velkin puts the scrap deck with the plans in the taco bag.

The guy says, don't look, Evelyn sent me.

Evelyn wanted me to pass along a message to. It's mostly lightning coin, but there's some cash in the bag.

They came for Jasper and there's like 3 teams with serious hardware ready to pounce, helicopters, heavy weapons, etc.

This is going straight to Oya. but Net Watch and Advanced Systems are gunning for you.

Velkin sets the taco bag on the table, he sets the gym bag on the floor and takes the taco bag, we wait then grab the gym bag and review it, the stacks is about $50k cash and a lightning coin stick. In a scrap deck it has $450K of lightning coin on it.

We don't see any trackers on it.

Jose says "That's a lot of money. One usually tips the driver to a bag full of money, it's customary to tip the driver."

We give Jose $3k.

We head back to the motor lodge.

We get back to the motor lodge, there is a "new" van parked next to ours, and the kid the stick thin "Big Boy" is there waiting for us.

Jose be sure to change it up before leaving. Thorfus says the same.

Another kid comes with an air compressor and does some decorating.

Velkin gets Jose's contact number. He says that he'd be happy to drive us again, (we're good tippers).

We head back in and Peronelle, Druul, and Prix are resting.

Hex after a while clears her throat, and says guy's the mission's done, right? I think we agree $50k and a 10% bonus.

Azra gets up too, yeah the baby sitter's blowing up my phone.

Velkin pulls up the Lightning Coin and pays them each $57,500 (50K + 10% bonus on the total contract of $750K.)

Correction 450K - 114K lightning coin = 336K

50K cash - 3K = 47K (47K / 8 = 5,875 each in cash Keeping track of it on the Loot list.)

Hex said it was fun and is ready for more. Azra said she's out, it's scarier than I wanted.

Azra said if you want stuff before or after a mission to patch you up, that's ok.

Velkin asks if Hex can get programs, yeah, just call me.

We check in on Quint. Analysis done. It is very clever and genius really, nothing alien here. Someone smart enough could extrapolate it from other tech on this world. This doesn't rule out the Orion Syndicates involvement.

Next session meet with Wasp at the Ratigan at 6:00 PM, we need a half hour to get there and it is now about 4:30 pm.

340K total lightning coin divide between three of us 113K held by Thorfus, 113K held by, and Velkin the remainder with 114K.

Session Two Hundred and Forty-Three Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-11-06T04:02:00Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 243, October 29 2025 ==
[[File:AI Chrome.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 7:02AM on October 1st, 2157, with the party facing the chromed "Bioweapon" inside the American Incorporated factory's main server room. Meanwhile, Vikram and some of the NPC party members head back to the surface with the microchip sample, schematics, and name of the Advanced System designer of the surveillance tech. Outside the facility, Glompus has the American Incorporated security forces pinned down as Bruno Irenko's second team rushes to the site to provide a distraction that will hopefully aid in the party's escape. Can the group defeat or escape the cybered monstrosity? Will the party NPCs make it out of the factory with the precious data and tech? Where will the party go assuming they live now that Irenko has likely been killed? Find out next time; or not.

Kauri fails to glitch the chrome guy.

All others run, except for Resurrex and he slaps on patches and tries to grapple and gets easily pushed off.

Sylver rounds a corner and heads up stairs and Kauri follows.

Velking goes out and climbs up in the ceiling.

Thorfus severs the belt of ammo feeding the machine gun the chrome guy has right next to the gun, turns runs and picks up Peronelle to move her along.

Glompus hears sirens and asks if if they can do anything about the police?

We have no official authorization, so we will make

Our guy here is picking up a lot of chatter on Advanced Systems frequencies, we might have air response teams on the way. May sure your team are out of there now (before they get here) and we'll be good.

Quint flies over to the van and Glompus transports the surveillance drone down to the van.

Chrome guy has double move so runs up and tries to grapple Kauri since the machine gun is out of action.

All run except Resurrex tries to grapple and stumbles in his attempt.

Since Chrome guy has grappled Kauri, he auto hits and mortally wounds Kauri.

Glompus hears a commotion around the building. The attention of all the guards is focused to the West. Screeching and crunching noises.

Glompus runs towards the van as Quint flies.

Hex, Azra, Prix, and Vikram have made it to the loading bay. Vikram looks down and asks if they should wait for us or leave?

Thorfus yells, "Run!"

Vikram salutes and disappears.

Thorfus herds Druul and Peronelle up the ladder.

Resurrex says that "Oskar is down" (Kauri.) I'm going to try to save him

Velkin climbs up the wall.

Chrome guy uses Kauri to beat Resurrex.

Resurrex tries to slap a patch on Kauri.

Resurrex easily hits Kauri with a healing patch.

Chrome guy notices that Kauri has come around.

Glompus makes it to the van. There is no closer place to the factory by road.

Glompus stays put near the other escape vehicles.

Velkin makes it to the loading bay. He has a pistol in one hand and the detonator in the other.

Hex, Azra, Prix, and Vikram open the bay door to exit.

Velkin looks for the last guard (leader). He doesn't notice Velkin,

However, Velkin did not see someone holding a gun that goes off.

He missed shooting at Prix.

Velkin sneaks up on the guard, who hasn't noticed him.

Kauri slips away and runs up the stairs that Sylver took.

Velkin detonates the claymore.

Resurrex dies and chrome buy is not dropped.

The guard hits Prix mortally wounding her and she falls out of the bay.

Vikram and Hex shoot back at the guard. Azra applies first aid to Prix.

Vikram shoots the guard. Hex misses shooting at the guard.

Druul and Peronelle exit the elevator and also shoot at the guard.

Peronelle shoots, dropping the guard.

Chrome guy persues Kauri.

Kauri made it to sublevel 2.

Kauri asks Sylver where to go. Up the stairs to ground floor and run across factory floor to the loading bay.

Velkin goes into the factory in front of something to place some plastique to blow when Kauri runs past. Velkin gives the sword to Peronelle to deal with the fence.

Thorfus follows Velkin to help him help Kauri.

Azra is still working on Prix. Azra stabilized her and Vikram helps move her. Peronellt and Druul are with them.

Velkin places the plastique, Thorfus stays in the doorway watching the stairwell across the factory floor, covering it with his pistol.

Velkin finished placing the bomb and runs towards the loading bay.

Kauri gets to the top of the stairs and runs towards the loading bay.

Thorfus shoots and hits chrome buy.

Chrome buy shoots at Kauri with a shotgun, blowing his head off.

Velkin triggers the bomb when the Chrome guy gets to it.

Chrome guy fails his save, but is not dropped.

The new decks from Netwatch are destroyed. The Asmodeus deck is in the van.

The others have cut the fence and are running across the train tracks carrying Prix.

Velkin and Thorfus flee with Chrome guy in pursuit.

We crawl through the fence and see Chome guy following, but when he gets to the fence. Even though he is aiming his rifle, he isn't shooting.

Several vans lined up and running, Glompus rolls off the roof and gets in the driver's seat.

Velkin asks Sylver where he is. I took a detour. I could hear Kauri and the thing behind me. Is it safe to come out?

Velkin, tells Sylver he'll have to go to the West.

Glompus relays to the distraction team, they came in from the West and we're leaving. He's on his own. We crashed the fence so there's an opening if he can get to it.

Velkin tells Sylver he's on his own. Don't go back to where we were, in case they catch me. "Don't worry about me, I've got 9 lives, maybe 7 after this."

We pile in the van and Glompus drives slowly away.

We head to the Elmhurst Motor Lodge.

While we ride to the motel, Azra revives Prixithalma.

Quint asks if we got the information Bruo Irenko wanted.

Hex brings up the information.

Dr. Hamidai works at AS01 is the Advanced Systems Orbital at the Brass City or Devil's Throne.

We see the Advanced Systems helicopters with special forces repelling to the factory and also police helicopters.

Today is Oct 1st.

Oct. 2nd is Cyclotron concert.

Oct. 5th is when caravan leaves for Ohio.

Oct. 30th is when the new city wide surveillance contract will be announced.

It takes 4 days to heal up from plastic surgery.

We get back to the motel.

We call Evelyn Rackham and decide if either she or Jasper answer, we can talk, else we hang up.

Velkin gets VM and leaves a message, new phone, mission complete, successful.

Jasper calls back and asks how it went and about Bruno.

Velkin mentions that he doesn't think Bruno isn't coming back. Jasper says that there wasn't supposed to be any shooting, just a distraction.

Velkin asks for Evelyn, and Jasper says that he needs to think what to do.

Evelyn asked how it went. Velkin tells her we got everything they wanted.

Evelyn says that she talked to Jasper and thinks that Oya Union can still honor

I think there might be a problem, you said Irenko is gone. He was running this whole thing off the books. It's just Jasper and Irenko's team.

Evelyn quietly gives Velkin a second number quietly, and Velkin gives another number.

I don't know if we can trust Jasper now, he's under a lot of pressure from his bosses.

Hex found Cormac Foster on American Incorporated pages. He is chief operating officer. I don't have a home address, but I know where his office is.

There is a Hammadai person, but it is a bit weird.

The only Hammadai I can found was hired in 2075 (it is now ) 2157. He was assigned to AS01 back then, unless he was a child prodigy. The only other thing a search on the name, just search his name. Hammadai brings up Asmodeus.

Session Two Hundred and Forty-Two Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-10-23T03:06:17Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 242, October 22 2025 ==
[[File:FactoryElevator-Shaft.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 6:50AM on October 1st, 2157, with the party having climbed down the American Incorporated factory's elevator shaft to sublevel thee in search of the clean room where the surveillance microchips are manufactured. The descent almost ended in disaster when corporate security forces tossed down a bushel of grenades, but some sharpshooting from a hypervigilent Thofus detonated the explosives at a safe distance (at least from the party's perspective; not so much from that of the security guards). Now the group must force their way out of the elevator car, find the clean room, gather intel on the chip's manufacture (as well as a sample, if possible) and then escape the facility. Unfortunately, they might no longer be able to count on backup from Bruno Irenko after a fierce firefight at the gatehouse. Will they succeed in their mission? What will happen if Irenko and his team are killed? Can Glompus ever forgive himself for missing so much explosive chaos? Find out next time; or not.
Glompus sees that it looks like American Incorporated is victorious in the gun fight.

An American Incorporated person removes a backpack and starts setting up a drone.

Glompus tries to take out the guy before he can launch a drone. His sniper rifle has a silencer.

Glompus hits him, but doesn't drop him. The guards jump back to cover and can't decide which side the cover should be on. The guy crawls under the card next to him.

A second drone goes up, but it does have some firepower on it. Glompus shoots at it and misses.

The drone is hovering just above the cars.

The elevators have doors on each side to East and West. Sylver says that to the East is a wall and points West. It opens to a hallway. The clean room should be the first thing in the hallway when we get out. There was a heat sensor between elevator and door to clean room. Camera in the corner. Kauri can sense camera and something ankle height, and something. Sylver says the something is the server for this level.

Information on the server on this level feeds to the main server.

Kauri passes the Gwang Tai Fu with transmission on it to Hex so that she can play static over the radio for American Incorporated. Druul tells us that the guy's outside. The leader tried to call in some of the forces from outside, but their pinned down, so their calling in a new asset and everyone is to shelter in place and if the outside guys can get free, they are to try to get to the loading dock to meet up with the remaining security guard.

Thorfus tries to crowbar the door and fails. Velkin tries swiping the key card and Druul tells us the guy on the radio said that someone just tried to open the elevator, they are re-routing the asset.

We all try and it comes back to Thorfus, who finally gets the doors open.

Thorfus leans out and shoots the camera to the right. There is a door to clean room in front of us and another door to the right.

Velkin takes out the heat sensor.

Velkin busts out the sword and a quick sweep of the bathroom doesn't reveal anyone.

Velkin shoots out another camera.

Hex fails to hack into the radio transmissions.

Window into airlock is a short little space, then another door. No one in airlock.

Hex in elevator trying to hack the radio transmissions.
Thorfus tries to open the clean room door to get chip samples. Azra, Vikram, Prix (closer to elevator) staying with Thorfus.
Kauri & Sylver go to the server room. Resurex goes with them, as does Velkin to help with fighting.

As Glompus is keeping an eye, the guy he shot tries to shimmy out to grab the other drone. Glompus shoots him and he stops moving.

Glompus asks Quint to hack into the Netwatch coms.

Quint succeeds and patches them into our comms. Glompus asks what's going on. The second team asks if he has eyes on Irenko. We're supposed to provide an extraction diversion.

Glompus tells them the American Incorporated guards didn't seem too concerned to take cover.

The 2nd team asks Glompus to give them the go for their distraction.

Hex fails to hack guards radio again. Thorfus with Prix's help fails to open the outer airlock door.

The other group goes to the server room.

Velkin misses a camera, Peronelle hits the camera. Kauri detects cyber in the security room and tries to frisk the person with cyber to determine what it is. It is Sylver's old office and he has his old security card to try.

Cranial Jack & Neural Buffer is the cyber on the person in the security office.

The flying drone hovers over the drone on the ground and is spinning. Glompus tries to shoot the flying drone.

Glompus missed and they spotted Glompus and the flying drone stops pointing at the apartment complex.

Hex tried to hack the radios again. & fails. Prix fails to hack the door.

Sylver swipes his card and it turns green and they all rush in.

There are a lot of machines here and a cradle where a guy is jacked in, but not oblivious to their bursting in.

Guy pulls out heavy pistol and shoots & misses. Druul tells that over the radio he hears that the server room has been breached.

Velkin runs up and pulls his jack out. Peronelle shoots him but it doesn't kill him. Kauri and Sylver. Sylver locks the door.

Resurex runs up to do a melee attack with a patch in his hand and slaps it on the guy, but the guy resists it.

Glompus is now in an initiative situation.

The flying drone starts zooming towards Glompus and his misses.

Hex fails the radio again.

Prix hacked the outer door.

We enter the airlock. Hex comes with us, in case we need her. The airlock and beyond is shielded so we are cut off from the others.

Vikram opens the inner door and it opens once the outer door is closed.

We look in and there are workstations around the wall, worktables in teh center, and there are 5 people in there in white scrubs. As we peek around the door, you can't come in here, this is the clean room.

Thorfus points his gun and says "Hands up!" and move to the corner.

There are all kinds of boards, etc. and definitely microchips.

The guy in the security room maintains his morale. He tries to glitch Velkin's eyes and fails.

Velkin pulls out the sword and tries to intimidate him. He says, "Cooperate with us, and you will live." The guy drops the gun and puts his hands up.

Great, I like not having to kill people. Give this man administrative root access to the server. I can, but I suggest you get out of here. Why, what's coming. It is our advanced security cyborg. If it's been let out of the lab, it's out.

It's a last resort measure if the other security forces were taken out.

Who do I give root access and Kauri steps forward and points out what Kauri needs to do. Kauri will connect wirelessly, and Sylver will jack in to the chair.

Resurex takes the patch of the guy and slaps it on his own arm.

Glompus wins initiative. He hits with trauma die and it explodes into shrapnel, and Glompus rolled well on sneak.

Thorfus what's the access to get into the workstation - it's all logged in. We need the login access. Where are the chips you're working on? They are here.

Ask Hex who is the name of the Dr. Hammidai works out of Prime Lab (AS01). Also, Cormac Foster, Chief Operations Officer (American Incorporated) who signed the manufacturing agreement on behalf of American Incorporated. Rep for Advanced Systems is De. Hammidai again.

Thorfus asks where Prime Lab (AS01) is. A woman says, "It's the orbital, Advanced Systems, the Brass City." Why is it called that? I don't know, they also call it the Devil's Throne.

Advanced Systems - Chief Research Officer of Advanced Systems at Prime Lab (AS01) the orbital.

The guy in front, but that's the only copy of the original agreement and specs, everything else got hacked. Something happened. We're in a Faraday Cage, cut off.

Thorfus asks what's your name and asks Hex if she can record it. Jacob Anderson - Thorfus asks to repeat it. Anonymous American Incorporated engineer. I don't want to get killed. "I'm an engineer for American Incorporated and the schematic listing Dr. Hamidai is the original."

Some of the chips have been shipped out to distribution centers. We've made about 100 and maybe 20 have gone out, I think? Another guy says that sounds about right, yeah, those boxes. They look a lot like the skill plug boxes.

Vikram and Prix each grab a case so we have 40 chips. They are briefcase size, branded with AI logo of American Incorporated.

Which machine makes these chips, it's multiple workstations, soldering, towers of trays of pieces to assemble, backing plates, machines for etching.

The security tech guy finishes his orientation and Kauri and Sylver jack in and are connected.

They look for chip schematics and name of researcher. They find the familiar encrypted file, and Kauri confirms it.

So where's this lab? They're all on sub level 2. Camera3 is the hallway on sublevel 2 by lab C, then labs A & B here. The door of Lab A is across the hallway in splinters. 1 camera is panning by stairs up and down. Last camera on sublevel 2 and an elevator door that something grabbed and pulled apart. Camera 1 is the barracks, washrooms, and freight elevator.

The cyber creature has instructions to take out any intruders. That's why I sent a shelter in place. So anyone out side a room will be a target. Only 1 camera on sublevel 3 looking at a staircase.

Velkin sets up a claymore facing towards the door set on a detonator.

Thorfus smashes the station with the etcher and starts smashing the other stations, then the others start stomping the chips we are not taking.

Can unlock loading bay doors, the roof access doors, front doors, elevators, and sets the code to '1212' but cannot control what the guard's card or Sylver's old card. Sylver can't erase that it was his card that got them in the door, not sure where stored.

Can open the elevator doors and does so for a distraction.

They decide that they are ready to move out.

The other drone starts to take off. No one went up to it, so someone must have connected.

Glompus shoots it and it explodes into little pieces.

We're done smashing stuff and erasing and prepare to head out.

The airlock is clear and through the window there is no one in the hallway. The elevator is completely open.

We close the airlock and open the outer door.

Thorfus motions for them to be quiet and move across to the elevator.

Vikram motions up and look and the hatch has been removed. Thorfus helps them go up the hatch to start climbing.

Velkin tells Glompus that they are on the way out.

Let Resurrex give you a shot, you will live, it just knocks you out.

Druul is going to disable the cradle. He shoots, there are sparks, and then Koolaid man time.

The creature is humanoid but is completely chrome so hard to make out what it is carrying.

Glompus says watch out for biohazard, oh we have gas masks, no more like a monster.

Glompus shoots guards taking cover with pot shots to keep them down.

Thorfus tells Prix, Vikram, Hex, and Azra to climb and go. Then Thorfus runs towards the ruckus.

The cyber monster has a booster so it always wins initiative.

Druul is closest to the wall, turns to Druul and unloads.

It hits, and almost kills him.

It has enhanced reaction 3 for a bonus attack.

Peronelle is then hit and is hurt bad.

We left off ready for the party's turn.

Kauri scans the cyber monster and learns all of it's cyber.

Some of the cyber is hackable.

Session Two Hundred and Forty-Two Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-10-23T03:03:59Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

Session Two Hundred and Forty-One Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-10-16T03:06:04Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 241, October 15 2025 ==
[[File:Factory-Explosion.png|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 6:30AM on October 1st, 2157, with the party regrouping in the loading bay area of the American Incorporated factory after killing several guards and using explosives to destroy most of the assembly lines on the main floor of the building. While the facility is in lockdown thanks to Bruno Irenko's distraction at the front gate, it seems likely that some response will be imminent to this chaos. Meanwhile, Kauri has returned to the virtual world to hack the server through which the main floor's security measures are routed. Will Irenko's ruse continue to work? What response will Thorfus's mayhem provoke? Can Kauri overcome the daemons in the network? Find out next time; or not.
Thorfus & Peronel get first aid from Resurex and Hex and Velkin finds the ID card on the guard to open the bays to get into the truck.

Outside Glompus tells us nothing going on around the bays/trucks, but lots going on at the front gate.

Kauri attempts to hack the small computer in the warehouse and the daemon is waiting for him, but Kauri overcomes its efforts.

Kauri paralyzes the Daemon.

Kauri wins initiative and does stun, but doesn't quite take down the Daemon.

It tries to fight back with paralyze and fails.

Sylver says the foreman doesn't have permissions to undo the lockdown, but the security guard should on the card. Velkin puts the card up to 2nd bay door and flips from red to green.

Vikram and Prix take card from Velkin to unlock another door to lock them in another truck. Velkin says if he hears any ruckus from them he'll toss a grenade in there.

There is a sound like WWIII breaks out somewhere. Not shooting at them, but definitely somewhere outside and it is loud, explosions and everything, but a little distant.

The radio crackles, hey guys, I don't think the distraction is distraction any more. Oh dear. Velkin says if you can help out our buddy, it might be a good thing.

\[Glompus sees that things are tense at front gate after explosion in factory. Mercenary guards stalling Irenko, then things more tense, then turrets on top of gate spin around and target the netwatch team and all the gunfire opens up. Netwatch team shredded by the turrets.\]

Glompus *could* take a shot to help, but won't do much.

Silver opens the truck and Druul and he slip under to get long guns to hand out.

Kauri sees another cyber beast demon along with another shadowy figure of a wizard with glowing runes and a white and gray beard.

Kauri decides to back out of the server to try moving closer inside to another access point. "First demon must have sent a message after I was pulled out of there."

Velkin gives Druul the guard's radio collar tabs to listen in.

Velkin asks Hex to open the elevator. It is locked down, the call button doesn't work. She pries up the edge of the faceplate to jack in. We decide

We lock the bay doors.

Glompus can see about a dozen guards, but their cover isn't cover from my direction. I'm not sure Irenko is still in one piece. There is a lot of blood mist in that direction, I'm not sure Irenko is OK.

Druul hears on the guard's radio a lot of chatter, but then a new voice comes on. Guys, I think they're talking about us here. They're saying something about chasing a hacker out of the system in the loading bay area. Gamma team head to factory and check for survivors them clear the loading bay. They're saying that one of the drivers went crazy, took out some people and sabotaged some things. He thinks it's part of the Netwatch at the gate.

We unsuccessfully use a crowbar to open the elevator doors to do down.

We hear shouts in the next room.

We try again and Prix helps Peronelle open the door. Druul says I think they might have heard that. Actually, no, it must have been someone screaming in agony.

The elevator is below us and is on sub level 3.

There is a maintenance ladder. Kauri and Velkin use their Gekko abilities to climb and helped people get to the ladder. Vikram is the only exception. Thorfus helps him get over to the ladder.

Since the crowbar is holding the doors open, we pull it free, and as we do, we hear a door opening.

Velkin sets a Claymore to a proximity explosion on opposite elevator doors, then works his way down.

Kauri thinks some sort of server outside the elevator and perhaps a sensor too, but nothing in the elevator below.

Peronel is at the bottom of the ladder. There is an access hatch. It opens up on a hinge.

Prix opens the hatch while Peronel covers and checks the elevator. There is the drop ceiling in the elevator.

Peronel slides the panel of the drop ceiling to the side and sees an empty freight elevator.

Just then the claymore explodes. 5 of the 11 guards are misted. The cables are cut and fall.

Prix and Kaur fail to dodge the falling cable.

5 Grenades come over the side into the shaft. Since Thorfus was watching for them coming, he shoots one grenade, setting them all off. **NOTE:** We used Thorfus' reroll, Phil's roll, and the party called shot. John ruled that Thorfus couldn't use auto hit skill vs. a grenade.

The party voted Larry as MVP.

He chose a Free Re-Roll.

Session Two Hundred and Forty Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-10-09T03:10:40Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 240, October 8 2025 ==
[[File:AITruck.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 6:00AM on October 1st, 2157, with Thorfus having pulled his tractor trailer up to the loading bay at the American Incorporated factory where the surveillance microchips are made. Hidden inside fake pallets of raw materials inside the trailer, the rest of the party and hirelings (excepting Glompus and Snuffles) prepare to slip into the factory once Bruno Irenko's team creates a distraction at the facility's front gate. Can the party avoid detection while uncovering the truth behind the microchips? If successful, can they make it to the get-away vehicles in one piece? Will anyone ever trust Thorfus to drive again? Find out next time; or not.
Thorfus has backed up the truck and trailer to the loading dock. A worker helped guide Thorfus back. Several others moving around, hard to tell how many are there due to a bright, sunny day.

The guy who helped back us in is checking the number on the trailer and is checking us in. Does not appear to be in a hurry.

1 truck to left and 2 to right. No one in cab to left. The one next to us on the right the driver is getting down from his truck.

Resurrex, Hex, Azra, Sylver, Peronell, Vikram, Prixithalma, Velkin, Druul, Kauri are in 3 crates in the trailer.

Those in the truck make ready for Thorfus to fill them up.

Within 90 feet Kauri detects a camera about 20 feet straight North of where he is right now. Another is West Northwest into the bay about 30 feet, and 50 feet southwest and 50 feet straight South. The one to NNW & SW there is a camera 10 feet further West. Total 6 cameras and accessible node on each of the loading bay doors. Also a node equidistant between the NNW and SW cameras. Can't tell what it is without seeing it. (It might be a server of some sort.)

Kauri explains to Sylver what he sees to get Sylver's input.

Mini server is by the freight elevator. Sylver passes over the 12 passwords he has. General Purpose to higher level passwords.

Kauri tries passwords to get in mini server. (Kauri gets bonuses for this.) Sylver is not worried that they seem to have changed his list of passwords.

Space under trailer is blocked from everyone's view, and no angle for cameras to see. The guy with the tablet is watching you, appears to be waiting for me to get close to talk. Any issues? No? I notice you have a dent up front, I don't see that on the check out form. Don't worry, they never take it out of your pay.

8 workers in loading bay to the right. Unloading 2 trucks to right. One to left the door is closed. Pallets on pallet carts, and two cameras, and a guard with something like Snuffles before his makeover all the way South.

So uh. Let's get the trailer open and verify everything there, then get some coffee, right.

I could probably get you on a truck. It looks like you're filling in. We can use you in an hour if you're still here.

The guy wants to open the trailer. Thorfus asks to use the restroom and on his way tells the others that they can exit without being seen or in view of cameras or those in the loading bay. Tell them on the way to the restroom all this.

Thorfus goes to the exec restroom upstairs. Through the door is a large LOUD space with lots of machinery. Hard to see the entire room. At least a couple dozen people at machines. Straight across about 100 feet is another door and partitioned off area to right of the door with a window and typical break room area. There is an elevator to the left. Just to the left of the door to the breakroom is a short alcove with stairs up and down.

There are two guards with combat shotguns making their rounds who spot Thorfus.

Another guy in the break room looks up and gives a grunt. Thorfus recognizes the dwarvish greeting and responds. Glompus said he put a grenade in his left front pocket. Thorfus checks and there is a frag grenade.

As Thorfus is in the restroom a calm sounding voice makes an announcement. Please remain calm, we have a code black event, seal entrances and shelter in place.

Thorfus grabs the biggest cup of coffee he can and the guy already there says look and a worker under supervision of a guard doing something with the door to the loading bay.

Thorfus lets the others in the truck know what is going on and tells them to exit the truck. The other guard glances and notices you and points back to the break room. Thorfus looks over his shoulder, shrugs and keeps walking across the factory floor.

They all go out the bottom of the truck.

Glompus sees that the farthest bay door has come down and closed.

Velkin and Druul go up first into the loading bay, followed by the others. The guard is on his collar radio, and does not immediately notice the party coming in.

On the radio, the chatter is about a Code Black Netwatch is here, they're not supposed to be. We're already on the phone with the higher ups.

Velkin yells to Vikram and Ezra and yells pull that door down. The guard looks over at the party and walks over and says, "Hey, who are you?" We're sheltering. You weren't in here. Velkin says "My name's Adam they told us we needed to get out of here."

The guard doesn't buy Velkin, Peronell, and Druul's story and goes for his radio collar tabs. Velkin does his re-roll and drops his hand from his collar tabs. They pull down the last door.

To the South the other guard is at that door. The guard shakes his head and crosses his arms. At most, we're talking 40 minutes.

The guard swings at Thorfus and misses, Thorfus hits him, he tries to shoot Thorfus who hits him and blocks the shot. The other guard shoots and misses.

The guard in the warehouse calls the Cyber beast and stops at the locked door. I think a worker is having a psychotic issue, Alex and Jen have it under control.

Kauri goes for the camera on the other side of the door and Sylver and Hex go for the cameras in the loading bay. Sylver and Hex need to move to get closer to the cameras. Velkin, Prix, Vikram, Druul, and Peronell move closer to the guard and Druul can talk him up to keep him busy.

The guard says, the doors are locked. It's over on the factory floor, I'm monitoring, no one can get in. I'm monitoring the situation.

Thorfus hits him once more and drops him. The other guard shoots and misses. Thorfus runs up to her.

Kauri hacks the camera on the factory side of the door. His view is like a room that is completely white and featureless with a cyberbeast that perks up as soon as it sees him.

Sylver fails on his camera.

Hex fails on her camera.

The radio crackles with a woman's voice. Alex's down, man down, this guy must be on PCP or something. The calm voice says, just take him down, we've got a lot of things going on. It's only one crazed worker, just shoot him.

The guard doesn't notice the hacking attempts.

Irenko has drawn off all the external security and bought us at least an hour.

Thorfus punches the woman guard, she tries to shoot Thorfus. She calls on the radio that this guy's fists are like hammers and hits Thorfus who takes a solid hit and and pretends to be down.

The thing looks at Kauri and it doesn't look fun. Kauri Silences the avatar so it can't alert the network monitor. It tries to Paralyze Kauri and succeeds. Kauri is not physically paralyzed.

The guard Jen is busy with the other guard Alex. Thorfus rolls under one of the big machines in the middle. A voice comes over the speaker, Jen, I think you're right about the PCP and she sees me crawling, watching, while she applies first aid to Alex.

Velkin tells Sylver and Hex to cool it with the cameras.

The creature tries to send a message, but it can't go through. It just keeps an eye on Kauri.

Kauri tried to stun the creature and knocks big chunks off it. The guard notices Kauri crouched down.

Druul hollers, Adam! check on Chris, he's having another seizure. The guard isn't convinced and checks on Kauri and notices his deck.

Velkin tries to remove his radio tabs, and easily succeeds. He does grab the deck and yanks it right off him, so he is disconnected. He is no longer paralyzed.

Peronelle hits him with the stun baton.

The guard says, "Cujo, attack!" and it goes for Peronell.

Sylver takes his gun and shoots the camera.

Hex tries to hack the cyberdog and glitches one of its two attacks.

Thorfus set up the grenade under one of the machines and wedged it in and pulled the pin and rushed the guard Jen and she shot and missed and he knocked her out.

The grenade goes off and only 2 of the workers make their save, Jen is dead. Alex on the ground saves and is killed by half damage. The 3 cameras are not damaged. There is a fire in the center of the room. Decapitated bodies, radios are squawking, "Jen, Jen, what's going on?"

Velkin goes at the guard with a baton and hits. Sylver misses with a shot, Druul misses with a shot, Prix hits with a baton, Peronell uses her heavy pistol on the guard who finally drops.

Vikram shoots the cyberdog, Peronell is clawed again and badly damaged.

Peronell is shot again, Thorfus opens the door, covered in blood. Thorfus pulls his pistol and shoots the cyberdog.

Hex finally hacks the other claw. Bullets fly and no one hits, Prix finally takes it out with a baton hit.

Kauri is ready to jack back in and try to hack the mini-server vs. demon part 2.
But - We may decide not to stay here and move elsewhere.
Guards have their IDs and Keys.

Session Two Hundred and Thirty-Nine Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-10-02T03:14:53Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 239, October 1 2025 ==
[[File:AIFactory002.jpg|thumb|left]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 7:00PM on September 30th, 2157, with the party holed up at the Elmhurst Motor Lodge and waiting on the arrival of their hirelings. Having met with Bruno Irenko earlier in the day and confirmed Netwatch's help, the group has now finalized the plans for the infiltration of the American Incorporated factory that manufactures advanced surveillance microchips. The mission now kicks off at 4AM the next morning when the party rendezvouses with Irenko around the corner from the distribution center where Thorfus is scheduled as a replacement tractor trailer driver. Will the infiltration proceed smoothly? Can the party find evidence of who is really behind the advanced surveillance technology? How will the group manage to escape if they do succeed in this mission given the formidable security at the factory? Find out next time; or not.
Waiting on arrival of our hirelings.

We discuss what to do about the van, long guns, explosives, Quint, and Asmodeus, during the mission.

11 people go in. Glompus and Snuffles will take the van and cover the escape of the rest with a sniper rifle. Also Asmodeus on Gwang Taifu deck devoid of programs in van. Quint on drone can fly and shoot. Glompus can fly the other drone.

Kauri moves mini-Asmodeus to one of the Gwang Taifu decks, so he can fully use the best deck and the other Gwang Taifu.

The hirelings, Silver - hacker, Resurrects - medic, Hex - hacker, Azra - medic.

AI Wars about 80 years ago. Quint and his team arrived in orbit earlier this year.

When did communication with Asmodeus start? He actually reached out to us. We didn't expect to be detected. Mid-February he contacted us, then we began negotiating.

At some point they realized someone was listening in to our conversations with Asmodeus.

How long were we in those chambers? It should have been a lot longer. It was only a little over a month. Quint has no idea how Asmodeus transported us to our bodies. Quint has no idea if our world is still running.

About 100 years ago, one of the teams Quint was on with Special Circumstances succeeding in their mission. They experimented a bit with using nested simulated (deep simulation engines with layers) worlds to insert intelligences to extract information from them.

Quint thinks we are the first AIs pulled out of their world and brought into biological lives. Very wrong to have AIs living out their lives in a false reality. Would be considered a great injustice. Perhaps justify it for Asmodeus for AI. It is unclear when he became a general intelligence with free will. Like being imprisoned without committing a crime.

Did Asmodeus explain when he got loose and how he got loose. Active attempts to destroy him, and he reacted badly and lashed out as soon as he was free. Killed millions of people.

Then we discussed how to deal with the anti-AI sentiment of this world. Started putting together a plan to ease into the idea.

Corporations have a lot of sway over Net Watch. We have decades to do this, assuming Orion Dominion is not here. Earth joining Civilized Worlds is the goal.

Velkin suggests that Quint is from one of our worlds and did it in such a way that Quint didn't know. Are you from one of the recursive worlds? No, we showed up on a ship.

It's not unheard of for Special Circumstances to run advanced simulations.

Silver has file and avatar fighting stuff, and Hex has camera stuff. Silver will see if he can log in when we get there.

Glompus drives and drops of Thorfus, we see a lot of "not suspiscious" black vans. Irenko comes over and knocks on the driver side window. We've got rooms in the vans to get to replacement trailer and can pack you in.

Meet Bruno Irenko at 4:00 AM, drop of Thorfus to get truck, Glompus & Peronelle & Snuffles take the van to watch over.

Thorfus asks for a silencer.

The address to switch the trailer is King Road off College Point Blvd. after pass under Northern Blvd.

Those getting in the trailer get in the black vans and Glompus and Snuffles drop Thorfus off at "Work" to pick up the truck.

Snuffles drops him off at the employee parking lot. Thorfus scans his ID. Goes to the driver's pick up area. Oh, AI 002 quick run to Corona. Truck already loaded and ready to go. You can get out of hear early if you want. Just make sure one of the floor managers scans so we know if you're delayed on the way there.

Thorfus opens the trailer and checks to make sure it is what's on the manifest. It looks fine. There is a checklist on the manifest.

Glompus finds a place to park near a building and climbs up a fire escape to the roof with the drone. Quint flies up to meet him. The ladder to the fire escape comes down with a lot of noise. Someone shouts out from the next building over to shut up over there, some of us are trying to sleep.

Glompus can see the truck area where they pull up to the factory.

Irenko takes the rest to replacement trailer, gives them uniforms and gear, Velkin asks for a clipboard and some papers. The crew gets transferred to the trailer.

Irenko says one more time here, because this is important. #1 is who is behind this fake chip, if I show up the gate and cause a distraction and they find out someone is poking around, this is coming down on my head, at best I lose my job. More likely, I end up in the river. I'm putting a lot of trust, in and out with no one seeing you at all, or get out with hard evidence of what's going on here.

Thorfus talks to a driver and there is a big push for deliveries at the end of the month.

Corona is a cushy job, snacks is better than this. Friend of mine had that.

Floor manager scans his ID. Have everything in order at the gate there, they are twitchy. I'll come out and scan the truck too. Security's always weird there. If it wasn't for the quality of the snacks, they wouldn't be that happy to go.

Thorfus tries to go a little fast to make up time for the trade with the other trailer. He doesn't quite make a turn and side swipes a couple cars, and there are lights and siren from a cop.

1.8 miles to go. He looks up and says "Hey" I'm gonna need your information. Thorfus asks for a way to get on time. The cop said he was just going to do a sobriety test and has Thorfus step out and go in front of the truck.

Thorfus hits the cop and knocks him out and moves him out of the way.

Next turn hit street light and up on the sidewalk.

Irenko looks wide-eyed, open mouthed, sliding his hand over his face. On the bright side, the trailer with the lamp stuck in it is staying here. He offers to have one of his drivers back it in, and Thorfus agrees and watches the driver.

Irenko was feeling confident until you came around the corner. I can have my guy help and get up to Corona and around the corner then hop out and give him a refresher on the way.

As we pull away you might want to move that trailer before the cops come along.

Jason, the other guy gives some pointers on how to handle it.

At Corona Ave. at about the intersection with 48th Ave. he has me scoot over, looks at his watch. Bruno's team should be in place and will be watching once through the gates, that's when he and teams goes to main gate to attempt to inspect.

At this point 426 feet to go with three corners.

Cut corner and sign for factory is set back so don't hit anything. And early ish. Makes the final turn, the toughest of all, a T intersection and drive the last little ways up and don't hit anything else. Bollards are up so have to stop. Security guard comes up. Turrets facing your direction.

Let's see your IDs, Thorfus shows his driver's license and company ID. Why don't you do bay 3 pull around and back in. Get some coffee whatever, they'll let you know when to take the truck out.

40 yards from closest parking place to bay doors. Thorfus finally manages to back the truck to the loading bay.

Session Two Hundred and Thirty-Eight Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-09-25T03:04:11Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 238, September 24 2025 ==
[[File:Attic-storage.png|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 7:30AM on September 30th, 2157, with the party having breakfast and preparing to meet with Carys Brooks at his parents' house in Astoria. Brooks has already called with the address and to let the group know he is there with a contract all prepared to formalize the party's investment of $50K. Bruno Irenko should also be in touch sometime before evening to arrange the dropoff of some high-end decks for use during the infiltration of the American Incorporated factory scheduled for early tomorrow morning. Is there anything of interest from Dr. Terence Brooks to be found in Astoria? Has Irenko been able to make all the arrangements needed on his end for the factory raid? Are the coordinates in Ohio in the middle of a pocket of irradiated wasteland? Find out next time; or not.
**TIMELINE:**

```
[x] Wasp should have information about going to Ohio tomorrow, September 27.
If we call her she can get us a drone.

[x] Tomorrow, September 27 - Druul go in for surgery to replace Malcolm's face if doing the factory mission. Meet with Wasp to exchange $25K for drone and let her know if we are going on the 5th or not.
[x] Let American Syndicate know we are leaving October 5th.

[x] Comic - Queen Em and the Moon People

[x] September 29th - Evening after dark meet at Club Synapse to meet caravan manager.

[x] September 30th - 1.) Carys Brooks Re: Comic Book & his parents' house to look thorugh Advanced Systems boxes. He is to call us for the place 9am somewhere in Astoria.
- 2.) 2 advanced Decks from Bruno

October 1st - Oya Union mission for Thorfus to drive a truck to the factory in 6 days. 4am meet Bruno for final details, etc.

October 2nd - Concert by Malcolm & Cyclotron at Advanced Systems tower.

[[Molly's Shop]] on the 5th unless we call ahead of time to re-schedule.

October 5th is the earliest we can go and have to let American Syndicate know right now, September 27th. [40.4173N, 82.9071W, north of Columbus, OH]

October 30th is when the contracts/chips change, and is the practical deadline for the job. Seems like Advanced Systems will be using the new surveillance chips at this point.
```

**What We Learned from Boxes of Dr. Terrence Brooks documents:**
```
2064 is when Advanced Systems started their simulation programs and 2072 Terrence was let go, and 2074 was the AI Wars. So about 2 years after Terrence let go. 2075 is about when Netwatch came into being. The AI Wars were very quick. It is now 2157.

- 85 years ago Terrence let go. - Approximately when we entered the vault.
- 83 years ago AI Wars - When ASMODEUS ascended and "contained" in the wastes.
- 82 years ago Netwatch founded.
- Some time after Quint in touch with ASMODEUS we were put to use.
- Was our world still running? If so, how much time passed?
- Did Asmodeus kill everyone to escape, or find another way?

We need to ask how long Quint was in communication with Asmodeus and how long we were growing.
```

Thorfus, Velkin, Kauri, Prix, Vikram go to [[Carys Brooks]] parent's house to look at the materials from his great-grandfather [[Dr. Terence Brooks]] and for $10 we stop at a bodega and pick up a Lightning Coin stick and transfer $40 k in lightning coin and giving 10K in cash.

We go up and Thorfus knocks and Dawn answers and offers coffee and breakfast rolls and pastries, and directs us to the dining room where he is working.

We also ask Prix and Vikram to look at the contract.

Prix seems to follow the contract pretty well and points out the things that match up with what Carys mentioned.

Thorfus signs on behalf of the group as [[Konstadinos Periklis]], his alias.

Carys signs one and asks us to sign and we can keep it, so Thorfus signs it.

Carys sticks the Lightning Coin in his jacket and Velkin pays attention to where he puts it.

Heading up to look at the boxes, Thorfus asks if there are any family tales of his great-grandfather and how he got here, especially with all of this stuff. Carys barely knew his grandfather, let alone his great-grandfather. Carys called his parents and asked his father about it.

Evidently when he moved, he didn't want to talk about his time working for Advanced Systems. Apparently it wasn't a good working environment, especially what happened and getting out before the bombs went off. Apparently he was fired from what his father told him, which is what he told his son, Carys' grandfather. There was some sort of down-sizing. He was let go not even a year before the AI wars broke out. So he either didn't tell anyone, or it just didn't make it to my father.

Terrence's son had the impression that things were going to go really badly and he was happy to be away from that place.

He directs us to everything against one wall. Carys doesn't know any organizational principle to it. It is labeled Ohio on older boxes, or T. Brook's, or Dad's stuff. So it seems some was repackaged over the years. There are 12 boxes and most are bigger than banker boxes and overflowing. Not just paper, but some junk in them tool. Carys tells us he went through all these boxes that would be useful for the comics. If you find anything to inspire future volumes, please let me know. This is mostly his really work, not whatever the art was. There is weird stuff, pointing at a desk lamp sticking out of one of the boxes. Take you time, I'll be working downstairs.

Thorfus suggests we organize by date, anything about our world, anything about this world and how it relates to our world, anything about Asmodeus.
Possible items that may be useful, especially thumb drives, etc. List of potential worlds/other servers.

We pull out the items, desk tchotchkes, desk lamp, etc. Velkin checks the desk lamp for anything hidden, but no secret compartments. There are a couple non-paper items that are more interesting.

- One is an ID badge that has a faded picture of Dr. Terrence Brooks for Ohio AS campus with a bar code. We decide to take this with us.
- There is some kind of disk in permanent marker is scrawled simulation footage, but Kauri doesn't see a way to view it. There are 6 of these disks in a pouch folder thing. Numbered Simulation 1 - 6.
- A good bit of paper.
- Some if clearly post Ohio from when moved to the city and also got a position at City University teaching in computer science department. He did teach some courses on AI. Historical and the AI wars and founding of [[Netwatch]] and more theoretical, but not practical. Nothing on how to build an AI. Some is course schedules listing T. Brooks as instructor, class rolls, gradebooks, syllabus for class.
- 3 boxes from his time he references as the Hell Mouth, which is his name for the Advanced Systems campus in Ohio.
- Notes about a Deep Simulation Engine and it gets technical real fast. Much more than any of his teaching notes.
- The actual technical stuff will have a cover page or memo that summarizes what is going on.
- After about 3 hours of organizing and separating papers.
- [[Deep Simulation Engine]] created at the Ohio campus to train the rudimentary training ground with nested simulations for training and containment, like a prison for these newly created environments.
- A lot of people put feedback into them and ranged through a wide range of false realities. It was all apparently working fine and some references to Advanced Systems Mod.
- Most observational papers from the[[ Midmark Press]] office are not in here.
- This is more operational data.
- There is similarity to the contents of the nanocarbon book are seen in code snippets when the computer science people are working through issues. It resembles the symbolic runic language, like the long equations written in chalk by the crazy wizard in Armada, but not that long, and glass shards from the orb.

-There is mention of avatars visiting the outermost layers. The four chief programmers had a way to interact with it through something in those worlds, and left instructions for them to continue monitoring the AIs and any threats to the simulation. Apparently video footage recorded of the visit to the simulation. (perhaps on the silvery disks)
- Terrence was pretty high up, but more on simulation side than management.
- He is mostly concerned about security of the simulation and the ability of it to contain the AIs. He notes a good amount of hostility that the AI is developing. It seems that they are aware that they are in a simulated world being contained there and not happy about it and are working to undermine or compromise the containment.
- As we piece together the chronology, it is getting more and more severe until we get to his "let go paper", bland. Thanks him for his work and breakthroughs and NDAs, and will provide glowing recommendation on whatever he embarks on next. Coincides with the time he is getting more forceful in his warnings.

Containment was nested worlds. Part of making them good, they didn't need to be hand crafter and it would create it's own AIs and worlds within worlds through as much computational power they could throw at it.

Terrence was constantly arguing for more power, more CPUs so that the containment became more intricate to separate from the outside world. AND it would be a really good idea to "air gap" the whole system, but it isn't clear if that every happened.

ASMODEUS is mentioned as chief of the AIs they were developing.

Their purpose was AI to help augment their various research programs, designing new programs and hardware. The hope for ASMODEUS is that he could be instrumental in directing higher level company policy if they could work out the kinks with homicidal tendencies.

It is not clear from the papers that there is more than one ASMODEUS, and it doesn't seem to be more than one.

It may be that they were iterating on him. Did they kill versions and re-instantiate him? Maybe, but nothing clear. It doesn't seem like they intended to have more than one.

Power differential nested worlds needed less power than the power to contain them. A little bit of power goes a long way, adding more layers to the onion as it were.

It seems that the DVLs are the only AIs that Advanced Systems created directly. The programs that built the simulations were designed to create the worlds and full of AIs. Multiple layers of simulations to distract and involve the AIs.

Talk of observation logs, which are the papers Carys is reviewing to make a story.

From the syllabus, it looks like he was just teaching about Netwatch. It is possible he may have been involved with it, but nothing explicit in his notes.

There are about 50 documents that are complex, but not Nanocarbon book complex. A lot is back and forth for seeding the artificial worlds, starting parameters, types of problems to seed for, so the AI can be challenged.

Through the interactions in these worlds, the AIs would develop in a way to be useful to Advanced Systems purposes.

2064 is when Advanced Systems started their simulation programs and 2072 Terrence was let go, and 2074 was the AI Wars. So about 2 years after Terrence let go. 2075 is about when Netwatch came into being. The AI Wars were very quick. It is now 2157.

- 85 years ago Terrence let go. - Approximately when we entered the vault.
- 83 years ago AI Wars - When ASMODEUS ascended and "contained" in the wastes.
- 82 years ago Netwatch founded.
- Some time after Quint in touch with ASMODEUS we were put to use.
- Was our world still running? If so, how much time passed?
- Did Asmodeus kill everyone to escape, or find another way?

We need to ask how long Quint was in communication with Asmodeus and how long we were growing.

The top level narrative 1 box, and back and forth with the computer scientists 3 boxes, 1 box firing, 3 boxes post Ohio, and 6 boxes discussing the Deep Simulation Engine.

The nesting mentions that going down a level takes less processing power than the exterior systems the live network takes the most power. This sounds like when Azrael the Dragon Emperor mentioned that they came down a level to us, and takes more power to go up.

Terrence and the other 3 programmers had avatars enter the simulation to interact with it.

We go back to the dining room where Carys is and he asks if any hidden gems.

"Herman" AKA Velkin looks really disappointed. It was interested and I enjoyed reading it. It's pretty dry reading, not like his imaginative work.

We look through the pictures. He was trying to brainstorm how to make a coherent story out of this part. It's hard to fit in to the overall story. There's this little guy with this machines, and I'm not sure where to go with that. Em doesn't fit in, There is this other character. A weird thing with a lost wife and maybe swapping them for Lady Em. I want to keep it focused on Lady Em. It is a picture of Jaeger. The evil dwarf is all over this. The Moon Dwarves is what I'm using in the story. Maybe streamline that he's sent down from the moon to do these experiments.

We see all kinds of random things we recognize, some we don't. Some from the party's adventures, some not.

Around noon, Velkin's phone rings. Hey, Irenko here. I think I've got everything pretty much set. So I have those decks to drop off. I have the replacement trailer with three fake pallets for hiding up to 15 people, uniforms weapons, etc. Distribution Center got delivery time moved up to 5 am to get in at 6 am, and distraction at gate about 6:15 AM. We'll have an eye on the front so we'll have an idea when you go in, and will hack cameras, and two getaway cars on 43rd.

Where meet to get the decks? We can do it at Union Square, or we can meet someplace else.

We decide to meet at Union Square. Velkin sets us to meet at 3:00 PM.

4:15 AM meet at 119th Street to go over things one more time. Your team will come with me, except your driver and we'll get you set in the replacement trailer.

We call Wasp and ask for something to read old silver disks.

Wasp tells us we had some good moves on the dance floor, esp. Fist, he was really getting down.

She asks if there is a hole in the center, yes. Is there any serial numbers or writing. Velkin and Kauri go sit in the van to look at the disks. There are marks. Wow that's ancient. I could get something to read those. You'll need a monitor and a disk player. When do you need it? ASAP.

It will take a day or two, definitely before the Molly C. thing. It's doing to be a bit of work.

Velkin and Kauri come back in, Carys is back to chewing on his pencil.

Velkin asked if there's any pictures of great-grandpa. He didn't like surveillance, or having his picture taken. I guess all that computer work for Advanced Systems spooked him.

But grandpa and points him out.

As Carys points out the pictures, Velkin tries to get the stick of $40K Lightning Coin, but he doesn't seem to have it. We don't see Dawn anywhere.

Velkin rigs the attic vent from the inside so it is unhooked so he can easily remove it.

Velkin asks Vikram for his opinion. Well, it fits together. If it is a simulation, this could be a higher world that our world was created in, just like deeper worlds in our world. I'm not aware of such philosophy. But there could be other stories of layers upon layers. I must say, I feel less real here.

We get lunch and take it back to the motel.

We call the hirelings and tell them to work their way to the Elmhurst Motor Lodge by 6pm or 7pm so we can get them a room(s) so we can make it to our appointed meeting time.

Resurrects is all on board.

Silver will bring his old IDs.

Hex says she has her playlist all set.

Azra with kids screaming in the background. I've got to get a babysitter or something. This is the big one, right? We do this, we get the 50K you're promising.

Thorfus drives and Velkin and Kauri meet Irenkoat the flagpole with two Gwang Taifu tactical cases. Best in market according to my hackers. Do you want to take a look. He breaks the seal and takes them out. They are pretty sweet.

Two Gwang Taifu decks from [[Netwatch]], each with Bonus Access: 3, Memory: 13, Shielding 15, CPU is 6, Encumbrance: 1.

4:00 AM 119th Street 4 blocks South of the Distribution Center. Should be plenty of parking, transfer your group.

Thorfus pick up the truck to leave at 5:00 AM for delivery of 6:00 AM.

The replacement trailer will be switched in Flushing, on the way between College Point and Corona, we can take over the camera's on King's Road, off College Point Blvd. from Dist. Center on Kating road just past Northern Blvd. Pull to left King's Road with replacement trailer for quick switch. Thorfus will stay in cab, team in trailer, and they do the quick switch.

We'll make demand for inspection, they'll tell us know, but wait until you're past the gate to do so.

When ready to go, call my number, for secondary distraction to hopefully allow you to cut the fence to go North to the getaway cars.

The primary goal is to find an accurate, non-doctored paperwork with the true origin of these microchips to figure out why they're trying to pin it on me, and sure... get a sample for Oya Union
whatever.

We will shadow the truck and your team with surveillance drones at a high level.

it should take us 40 minutes to get to the meetup point, if leave at 3:15 will definitely be at rendezvous at 4:00 AM only 5 minutes from Distribution Center. If Thorfus pulling away at 4:30, he should easily be able to check in and be pulling away with the delivery.

Prix wants to stop by Whole Lotta foods to put together a feast for hirelings and all and breakfast for about $250.

We are back at Motor Lodge by 5:00 PM and they show up between 6:00 and 7:00 PM.

We need to ask Quint when her first started talking to Asmodeus and when we were decanted.

Session Two Hundred and Thirty-SevenSummary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-09-18T03:03:29Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 237, September 17 2025 ==
[[File:AI Truck.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 2:00AM on September 29th, 2157, with the party returning to the Elmhurst Motor Lodge after casing the Brooks family residence but deciding not to break in and rob the boxes of Dr. Terence Brooks' belongings. Instead, the party will go ahead with the original plan to meet with Carys Brooks on the 30th to trade funding for access to these materials. In the meantime, the group is also scheduled to stop by Club Synapse in the College Point neighborhood after dark to meet with the leader of the American Syndicate caravan headed to Ohio, Molly See. Of course, whether or not the party even joins that caravan probably depends on the outcome of the raid on the American Incorporated factory happening around dawn on the 1st of October (with some help from Agent Irenko and Netwatch). With the calendar filling up with deadlines and last chances, what mayhem will the party either encounter or cause? Can they find an explanation for the convoluted skullduggery within which they seem embroiled? Find out next time; or not.
Back in our rooms at 2am.

We fill in Druul, Prix, and Vikram about our change of plans.

We keep standard watch.

One person outside in the courtyard and another in one of the rooms watching out the window into the courtyard.

During Thorfus' and Prix's watch, about an hour in one car after another with lights off circles the parking lot and park the opposite side from Thorfus. All very fancy and more distinctive character. Speckled paint, fins, & funny taillights.

A couple who get out look in our direction, and after a while stop looking at me and have an impromptu conference of ten of them. Can tell they are carrying weapons.

They're doing whatever it is they're doing. About a half hour later moving stuff between cars, but hard to tell between van and other cars. There is a sound of screeching tires, and cars of similar fanciness in both entrances screech in and pour out into the courtyard area. There is some shouting, but not the same language, everyone is very angry.

Thorfus tries to convince them to go somewhere else because we got people sleeping and a sick man in here. They ignore Thorfus.

Then one of them decides to aim at Thorfus, and he runs up and knocks him down.

Glompus comes out tossing a grenade in the air, two more see Thorfus standing over their friend and one shoots a combat shotgun and the other a submachinegun and misses.

$250 on first guy, $500 on second guy. 1 combat shotgun, 1 submachine gun.

The other guys come over and double tap one of the down ones.

We're the [[Loving Army]]. You ain't part of the click, [[April 20th Gang]]. So no army, no click, just you.

They check cars for keys and rifle them.

The night attendant comes out. And tells Thorfus to go inside and stop causing trouble.

Thorfus says lets just go inside and if they come knocking we can just say that we just ducked down when the shooting started.

Cops were there for awhile and the car was towed and the bodies taken away.

The next morning checks the van and it does not appear to have been hit at all, and everything seems to be OK.

Thorfus suggests grocery shopping, and Prix wants to go. Glompus comes too. Prix wants Whole Lotta Foods and Kauri gives us the closest one is in in Flushing.

Glompus has snuffles sniff out dog treats to pick.

[[Antagonistic Carcass]] - None here. The other beer, slightly better, [[Dragon Fire IPA]] - They come in 6 bottle packs. Thorfus gets a cart and fills it with 20 6 packs.

Dog Treats, Beer, and Food. $912.00

We make it back and Prix only has a hot plate to cook with. Fridge in one room has the food. Other two refrigerators hold all the beer.

We call Wasp and ask about Loving Army and April 20th Gang who are they and why were they here and shooting at each other and tried to shoot at us. The Loving Army is kind of like American Syndicate and is really into smuggling. They don't have the same kind of network, especially out of town.

April 20th - Haven't heard anything good about them. Black market and slave labor. I think there's bad blood between Loving Army and April 20th Gang.

Wasp thinks Loving Army is probably OK, but April 20th, if they got a good look at you, so good if no survivors that can ID you.

Thorfus relays what happened. Loving Army was probably handing off something and April 20th tried to get the drop on them.

You still need the freelancers, the older guy said he thinks something was coming up? Tell them yes, and that we will reach out to them very soon.

The daytime hotel attendant knocks on our door, and older woman. I heard from Dennis that there was some trouble and you might've been helpful. Yeah, something like that.

I looked on the camera out on the street and it looks like you took care of the hoodlums.

If you want, I'll give you can extra night.

It was nice of you to step up and take care of them.

You wouldn't happen to know anyone that can do concrete fixing, like masonry work? A free night's nice and all, but if you have some skills and some friends who need some work, I'd be glad to throw it their way. If you know someone, just drop by and let me know.

Prix makes dinner and asks what time we're going to the Tavern. She decides she wants to go.

It is amazing with pot stickers and rice with various sauces.

Thorfus, Kauri, Prix, Velkin, and Glompus goes to [[Club Synapse]].

Thorfus lets everyone have one of his beers and he drinks a few.

We all help Prix clean up and get ready to go our. We hear out in the courtyard some loud music from a vehicle. It's one of the fancy cars like the night before.

Thorfus grabs three of his beers and walks on over.

They start off nervous, but open the window. You're "Just Me" from last night. That was Mateo.

Thanks for your help last night. The Click are terrible, they have some shady business.

Thorfus offers a beer. I wouldn't expect anything after the butt kicking last night. I hear the big cheese in the Click, [[Juan Grey]], has some kind of wasting disease, thinks this medicine we're smuggling will help him out.

Thorfus asks them about someone to fix masonry work.

[[Tito Chavez]] will be here with some friends tomorrow.

If you need something moved, let us know, this is one of our usual spots to hand off stuff.

Thorfus tells them his name is Fist. Thorfus lets them know there is a possibility that we may need their services, and will let them know.

You know my name, what's your name. I'm [[Mateo]], you know Tito, and we call him [[Big Boy]], since he's chunky.

Thorfus swings by the office and the lady is still there. Flo - Thorfus tells her that Tito and friends coming over tomorrow to fix the walls. Friends of yours are welcome.

---
Kauri says the drive from Elmhurst up to College Point, not more than 30-40 minutes if traffic. Leave at 8 pm to get their til 9pm.

Glompus only takes a pistol and one grenade. The rest only take pistols & batons.

Kauri agrees to stay in the van and keep an eye on the long guns. He can hack into cameras if they exist to tap into them.

We end up at Powell's Cove around the corner from where we landed the speedboat.

There is a monitored lot across the street from the club and no on street parking. In the lot we'd be about 50 feet away. There is a camera on the parking lot and one on the club itself. There may be more inside, but will take concentration due to all the neon and other electronics.

Thorfus pulls in and gets a ticket from automated dispensers and payment is also automated.

Thorfus pulls as close to the street as possible, and Kauri sets up with his deck set for intrusions, which is the Asmodeus deck.

It is loud inside. Vibration in teeth when still outside. Couple of big guys here, but no lines yet. A big guy holds his hand up. "Hey, four for the club. One lady, three dudes. You can go in. Door charge is $20. Prix gives a smile and says well, it's nice to be recognized as royalty again and heads inside." Velkin pays.

It looks like in addition to a coat check they also check weapons, but it isn't enforced. Prix comes out, "This way, I found Wasp." We follow Prix and Wasp is at the bar talking to some other lady who is dressed similar to Wasp. Done up for heading to the club. This other lady is covered in insect tattoos, but they are moving. A beetle crawls up her arm over her shoulder and into her shirt.

Prix shouts that she's heading to the bar to talk to Wasp and we follow.

Wasp sees us coming and points us out to the woman. Wasp starts shouting, "This is [[Molly C]], she is the one you're here to talk to. They have rooms at the back a lot quieter. Get drinks first."

Thorfus orders an Antagonistic Carcass, Velkin orders the same, Prix says surprise me, nothing fruity, Glompus does same. Thorfus asks what her drink is called in case she wants another one? Amaretto Sour.

We find the room and the door is open so we see them at a low table with a couch.

Wasp shouts to close the door.

This is Molly C, she will be leading the caravan out to Ohio. You paid for this, so thanks for that, so we can leave much sooner. We're going the 5th unless you're delaying for some reason, definitely need to be out by the 10th, some bribes to help us get out of the city and those have a shelf life.

We let them know if we don't call them, leave on the 5th.

We'll do a 5 vehicle caravan. Armored, one with a heavy gun on the roof. We'll pack some heavy firepower, rocket propelled grenades, heavy machine guns, long guns, armor piercing rounds. Are you passengers, or extra hands if we run into trouble.

Anyone walking around in the wastes will be tough. We got anti-radiation pills, our own food, and water. I've done this run 6 times, this'll be the 7th. I've only lost 3 people over those runs. Never lost a vehicle. Never had anyone pay to come along before. Don't mess up my numbers.

We're buying. There're some gangs out there, these nomadic groups out in the waste. One or two of them American Syndicate has good relationships with and basically trade and we buy and have stuff we sell to them. There is stuff of questionable legality, we bring it back. You got anything you're bringing? We've got a drone, so big. Actually two drones. Would it be OK to have one fly over on watch. If you're bringing stuff back, we will be full of the stuff we buy. If you need extra space, let me know now.

We ask for another vehicle. Do we need another driver? Is one of you any good with that sort of thing, like a heavy duty jeep. In fact, to be honest, since it's not part of our stuff, if you need to keep it to get around. I don't advise coming back on your own.

Any AIs out there? Well they're probably all buried, but when we get to a town we shut down all electronics to avoid hacking. As long as you don't have any cyber that's a weapon, or you need to live if it's disabled. Don't plug into anything. It has to hop wirelessly, which is harder, and keep moving until you're where you're where you want to be.

I had maybe one encounter with an AI, he had cyber eyes and set them off like little grenades inside his head.

They trade for mostly electronics, anything with precious metals in it. We don't use the stuff as is, but we can strip out the valuable stuff and melt it down.

3 days to get there, 4 days until we can come back, then 3 days back in to the city. 10 days total.
Would anything make that shorter or longer? If there was an emergency, you're phone won't work out there, at least not reliably. We'll have radios to communicate on the road. You might be able to reach us, you could try calling. If we need to leave fast, we can try to call you. We don't want to leave early.

Meet at [[Molly's Shop]] on 7th Avenue just past College Point Blvd. It's a garage that will hold all the vehicles. [[Enkido]] is doing some of the work on the vehicles.

There are a lot of hotspots. We hold off on sharing the coordinates we have. We'll definitely make sure there is enough food and water in your vehicle for 4 days. We'll also have anti-radiation pills and a radiation detector.

```
The exact coordinates are 40.4173N, 82.9071W, north of Columbus, OH.
```

We tell her near the North side of Columbus. That's near a spot near Ashley that got hit real hard by multiple nukes in the AI wars. There are stories of mutated dogs and bears. You won't see any wastelanders, but there's some weird stuff out there. OK, I will ensure there are plenty of anti-radiation meds in your vehicle.

We're headed into Columbus, so probably 20 miles, Mount Vernon from Ashley. It's pretty flat so in range of radios. We can split up at Mount Vernon and you can head West and we'll go Southwest and 4 days later meet up in Mount Vernon.

So, I'm going to dance. Wasp stands up claps her hands and says let's go, you too, pulling Prix along. We follow them.

Thorfus, Velkin, and Glompus are terrible at dancing. Prix's style is not up to snuff either.

We go to the van and head on out.

Molly's Shop on the 5th unless we call ahead of time to re-schedule.

We drive back to the motel.

Prix is wired and wants to do some cooking and volunteers to do the first watch with whoever. Thorfus goes out and keeps an eye on things. Some of the cars from the Loving Army come and go. They just move stuff between cars in the parking lot. It's all packaged up - no labels. A couple acknowledge your presence, but don't head over.

Prix has some snacks. It is incredibly spicy. She leaves a pile of them out on the table for everyone on their watches.

The night passed without incident.

Velkin's phone rings while Prix is fixing breakfast about 7:30 AM. It is [[Carys Brooks]]. I've got the contract for $50,000, bring the money and we can meet at my parent's place in Astoria to see my grandfather's boxes in place. The address is Crescent St. and 30th Rd. a townhouse and gives the actual number. I'm here now, so when ever is good for you. Just ring the bell.

Session Two Hundred and Thirty-six Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-09-11T03:12:46Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 236, September 10 2025 ==
[[File:Netwatch logo.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 12:00PM on September 28th, 2157, with the party sitting on a bench in Economic Union Park in the Sprawl's downtown area. They are there with Evelyn Rackham of Oya Union, former Oya Union and current undercover asset Jasper Jaenke, and Agent Bruno Irenko of Netwatch. According to Irenko, he is a field agent incapable of designing microchips, has never heard of an entity called the Orion Dominion, and has been encountering weird interference from Advanced Systems since a botched raid on an abandoned laboratory on Plum Island. Suspecting the group can help untangle this mystery, he is spearheading an off-the-books mission to find out the truth. The party has allayed his suspicions but the next steps to take have yet to be discussed. Will the party team up with Netwatch? Can they instead escape the city to Ohio without Irenko stopping them? For that matter, is everyone absolutely sure they're leaving the park alive? Find out next time; or not.

TIMELINE:

[x] Wasp should have information about going to Ohio tomorrow, September 27.
If we call her she can get us a drone.

[x] Tomorrow, September 27 - Druul go in for surgery to replace Malcolm's face if doing the factory mission. Meet with Wasp to exchange $25K for drone and let her know if we are going on the 5th or not.

[x] Comic - Queen Em and the Moon People

September 29th - Evening after dark meet at Club Synapse to meet caravan manager.

September 30th - 1.) Carys Brooks Re: Comic Book & his parents' house to look thorugh Advanced Systems boxes. He is to call us for the place 9am somewhere in Astoria.
- 2.) 2 advanced Decks from Bruno

October 1st - Oya Union mission for Thorfus to drive a truck to the factory in 6 days. 4am meet Bruno for final details, etc.

October 2nd - Concert by Malcolm & Cyclotron at Advanced Systems tower.

October 5th is the earliest we can go and have to let American Syndicate know right now, September 27th.

October 30th is when the contracts/chips change, and is the practical deadline for the job. Seems like Advanced Systems will be using the new surveillance chips at this point.
Bruno Irenko of Netwatch- Who is behind this?

Oya Union has the utmost confidence in this group, and the mission is to find the correct chip designer and why they picked me?

Thorfus suggests that his name is coincidence -OR- someone at Advanced Systems had their project spoiled by you, and this is revenge.

My team has done some snooping around. Attempts to do electronic surveillance, can't even hack the cameras at this factory. This one is isolated, but not clear this factor has this file on it.

There might be something my team and I could do.

I could go in and demand an inspection, but it could get shut down.

Velkin asks how often rogue AIs break through? - They are constantly testing the Blackwall (firewall). Some of them are almost demonic in their actions.

Advanced Systems designed one of the worst AIs during the AI wars. Did it have a name?

If there was any evidence of that, they would no longer be in business.

There are limited chained AIs able to function. They don't have personalities or agendas.

Nowadays it's tech worshipping nutjobs.

If there were AIs and corporations working together, it would bring down multiple companies.

What would it take for Netwatch to OK taking out a board member nowadays? Incontrovertible truth and OK of rival corporations, if I could trust my superiors - we could get a warrant for execution. It hasn't happen in 50 or 60 years.

Balance of power between corporations and Netwatch has shifted.

Kauri asks who are the top three corporations? Advanced Systems, American Incorporated, Oya Union, then Amazon Unity (medical research) & Health & Wellness Bank (Security services sold to most other corporations. Implicated to atrocities in crushing labor unions.) Lightning Bank (Financing) Vita Technologies (Consumer Goods).

Netwatch consensus is that the other big corporations stay away from AI.

Thorfus asks about him being a distraction to help us get out alive? A 20 minute distraction. Perhaps call the news media with an anonymous tip.

We tell our plan. Early morning. Shift change is idea. 8:00 AM for shift change? Earlier would be better. What about getting in to the manifests? Maybe be need to adjust the time, for arrival at 6:00 AM? Maybe what you need is an overscheduling of deliveries so there is no dock space left. Not so much to keep you our, but you are directed off to the side to wait.

My team has hackers, maybe we could help.

I have some veteran hackers and they were shut out almost immediately.

We tell him that we have a former employee from the security side (Silver).

Chip and information on real schematics and designer. But executive offices on 2nd floor.

The actual chip in the heads of Netwatch techs can determine if we are dealing with a rogue AI, but some convoluted plan on the part of Advanced Systems, then we need to know who in Advanced Systems is behind it.

We can get a 20 minute distraction and perhaps get your delivery earlier and overload the loading dock, so you can get out without a firefight.

Thorfus suggests a fake trailer with a fake wall and trap door to get out the bottom.

I can get you preemptive pardons for any killing that may happen. In this case you'd be deputized by Netwatch if it goes well, otherwise, I don't know you.

Kauri suggest a fake pallet the team hides in. It would be quicker to get on the truck.

Team of Netwatch move up time to 6:00 AM, then Bruno shows up at door for distraction. Let's meet at Distribution Center at 4:00 AM assuming you're leaving at 5:00 AM and will confirm with fake trailer for location to swap trailer. 2nd team unmarked for extraction.

Bruno offers equipment. We ask about silenced weapons. Heavy handguns with silencers (what he uses when dealing with AI cults.) He can get light armor under fake uniforms. Box with heavy weapons in it. Two of the best decks out there. Gwang Typhoos - his best hackers swear by them.

Velkin asks about swords. Bruno mentions some in Pacific region go in for swords, but mainly for ceremonial purposes. Taser pistols, sniper rifle, stun grenades & smoke grenades, and silencers for heavy pistols. Light armor. Advanced material sword to cut through the fence and bolt cutters with insulated gloves in case fence is electrified.

What was the name of the AI - Advance Systems Moderator U.S. Asmodeus for short. Their primary AI at the time. Designed to automate processes at their facilities. Advanced planning, personnel management, corporate strategy, and it didn't work out. We have good reason to believe that ASMODEUS still exists. There are hidden facilities not sufficiently cleared out. Once AIs in the network, it was universal, they could move anywhere. NO security system could hold them back.

Velkin gives Bruno his burner phone number. This is in case anything comes up before the 1st. If you don't hear from me, assume we're on.

Jasper says that it validated his decision to bring this situation to Bruno.

Thorfus asks are we sure that no one who knows about this meeting won't rat us out to Advanced Systems? Jasper only blew his cover to Evelyn and he doesn't think she's shared it any further. He suggests Evelyn that you take some personal time, and she nods. Apparently we're having an affair and we'll be holed up in a hotel for a few days.

Bruno, Jasper, Evelyn & co. all head to the North end of the park. We head to the van.

Central University is in the Williamsburg neighborhood South of Astoria.

Look up Carys Brooks father - Ethan Brooks History Professor and mother - Mira Brooks Sociology professor.

Address is Crescent Street near intersection with 30th Road.

Great-Grandfather's name was Terrence Brooks.

Hotel The Marquis at Astoria on Astoria Blvd.

As we consider, Kauri's phone rings. Wasp - So I talked to caravan master and they are willing to meet tomorrow evening. College Point, Club Synapse 7th Ave near Powell's Cove Park on the water. Contact is Molly C. after dark, she likes to party.

10 Day trip - 3 days out, 4 days there to do business, 3 days back. I'll show up too. Club Synapse is pretty good.

We ask Wasp for a list of hotels that don't ask questions and take cash or lightning coin.

Thorfus asks if Wasp has heard from our mutual employer or communicated? Wasp's understanding is that she was to be paid on verification of the information and that we were the ones communicating with him.

Elmhurst Motor lodge - cheap, no questions, next to a McDonald's.

We get three rooms for two nights. $825.00 on ground floor. 101, 102, & 103. First rooms off the office to the left of courtyard. We leave Druul to recover, along with Prix, Peronelle, Snuffles, and Vikram. We are all settled at 2:30 PM.

Prix has the TV on as soon as we are in there. Nothing major has happened since last night. Cultural news all about Malcolm's reunion with Cyclotron at Advanced Systems, sponsored by Advanced Systems.

DMX gang is still hitting pharmacies around town.

Bluish Gray Crew took out the September 9th Gang leadership. Bluish Gray Crew has tacit support of local government which allowed them to take out their leadership.

$150.00 for McDonalds.

Thorfus, Kauri, Velkin, Glompus, Snuffles, and Peronelle drive over to Astoria in 15 minutes at this time of night. Two drive bys to make sure we have the right building. If Carys is there, all the lights are off. All ground floor windows and 2nd floor have bars on windows. But not on the upper floors.

We count the houses and find an alleyway behind. It is narrow, but can squeeze the van in. Don't see anyone, signs for no parking. We drop Kauri and Velkin and Glompus & Snuffles in the ally. Out on 30th street for alley and the rest of us - Thorfus and Peronelle in the van. If there's no shooting she can be the getaway driver. If shooting, Thorfus will drive.

No cameras in ally. Cameras on the street.

No windows on back at attic level, so they go for 3rd floor.

Kauri senses for cameras, etc. in the house. Kauri senses something here, electronics around the windows. All the windows at the back have them.

They crawl over the roof to the vent at the attic and no wires on it. Not sure if they can reattach the vent.

It will be a tight fit.

We decide against breaking in and get access to the information honestly and pay for it.

Thorfus lets Peronelle drive around the corner to the alley to pick up the others and drives us back to the motor lodge.

The next morning we get Quint out and fill him in on the Netwatch situation. Unless Bruno is lying about knowing about the Orion Dominion, then it points to Admodeus.

Quint doesn't expect them to come look for him in months. A couple of the people on his team were with Quint when they hired on people that we found him under in the sewer.

The ship has senior officers, gunnery sgt. The Captain is also the mission lead Eve Cvijeta. I've worked with her before at Alpha Centauri, the first system we set the parameters of first contact. The dominant life there was much more easy to work with. Above the Captain is the hierarchy of Special Circumstances.

How long since your ship came here? Local time almost a year. We figure this is a decade long mission to set the stage for first contact, maybe longer. This is why it's so upsetting that someone learned something too early.

Maybe Advanced Systems is mad at Bruno for destroying Plum Island before they could get tech from it.

Is Asmodeus compromised? It would be unfortunate if the less savory parts of this world became aware of the Civilized Worlds. Special Circumstances is a sub-division of First Contact. Orion Dominion is like a political party.

It seems strange that Asmodeus says we're done. Quint says it may mean he's just done and wants to get on with negotiations. Quint recommends not updating Asmodeus about Agent Irenko (Bruno).

Session Two Hundred and Thirty-Five Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-09-04T03:23:34Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 235, September 3 2025 ==
[[File:Attic-space.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 9:30PM on September 28th, 2157, with the party meeting with Carys Brooks at Midmark Press. According to Mr. Brooks, his comic book series is based on notes and drawings made by his great-grandfather who worked for Advanced Systems in Ohio before the war. The group has a lot of questions, but it's not clear if Brooks has answers. Meanwhile, the party is also scheduled to meet with Evelyn Rackham from Oya Union later in the day; she is urgent to meet and share some new information that has come to light while analyzing the files shared with her by the party. Will the comic book shed light on the either Advanced Systems or Curabel? What has Evelyn Rackham so riled up? Find out next time; or not.

Carys Brooks at Midmark Press asks for $50,000 for a 70/30 partnership to get the next issue published and distributed. It would take a few days for us to get that together.

Carys and his assistant, Dawn, bring in 9 Boxes and a binder with a number of the box number and an alphanumeric code to outline the story.

How many more boxes are there? These are all the boxes with any connection to Em and the Righteous Halberd. There are other things from my great-grandfather. He had some other stuff about his actual work. He was a computer scientist and these papers were his hobby.

Velkin mentions that he wants to review the other stuff. I was a little bit worried. Are they still covered by confidentiality agreements. I mean Advanced Systems is still here. Some of it is pretty technical. I'm not sure if he was supposed to have them to be honest.

So $50,000 would be just to let you see my great-grandfather's work notes and not a share of the profits? How about 80/20.

The other stuff is at my parents. It would take a day or two to pull that together. I'd rather have something in writing or credits in hand. I don't really know you guys.

It's clear now that you're not some kind of collection agency.

Are you good for the money?

Thorfus flashes the 66 $100 bills he has with him.

Why don't we do this and get a meeting on the books later this week. I'll get those files. We'd have to drive out to Astoria to check them out. So why don't we meet two days from now.

Velkin suggests meeting at his parent's house instead to see things in situ. 9:00 am on the 30th. Velkin asks for the address, and Carys asks for our contact information. Velkin gives him his burner phone number.

I'll have a contract then for an 80/20 split. I'd prefer we not take any profit out for at least a year. Are you comfortable with that?

I'm just a little bit nervous about the Advanced Systems angle.

Thorfus pull a random page from a box. An underground hall with 6 statues lines up and double doors at the end of it. Figures more like people dress here. Half like soldiers and half like doctors and the label says Hdrasta.

Carys says that the comic relief characters, there's a weird thing at the end. Those are old pre-war military. That's supposed to be him, my great-grandfather, pointing to one of the statues.

What was his name? [[Terrence Brooks]]. The most significant thing he did was escape Ohio after the war started.

Velkin goes through the last third of the last box.

There is a disturbing picture of a closed vault door with a pair of arms on the ground. There is a picture of Asmodeus there.

The pictures represent our adventures, but it has been organized.

Velkin looks to see if there is any information about Gristle and Dagon leaving the floating city.

There is a lot that has nothing to do with our group.

We look for anything about Em and the plays with her, but there is no mention of them.

Velkin asks Carys, is there an origin story for Em? Yes, it is mostly in the first issue. He shuffles through the papers. She was just a native islander in the city in Midmark. There were a lot of underground presses, so I names the city after it. She was a washer woman when taken by the frog people.

Thorfus asks if there is anymore about Asmodeus after the others went through the door. It just sort of ends after this. He either got bored or packed this stuff up in a hurry. If he packed in a hurry, there would have been bombs going off.

He stands to shake all our hands, eager to pay off creditors and get more issues out the door.

His parents are vacationing down South for a couple of months. His parents were teachers at the Central University. What did they teach? Dad was a historian, and Mom sociology.

I'm sorry what did you say your name was? speaking to Velkin, Herman Franks. Are you affiliated with Central University. Who did you study under? I wouldn't know them, but Dad probably would. Velkin passed it off and said he didn't want to go into it now. I got off on the wrong foot when I was younger, it's very embarrassing.

Dawn can show you out, it was great meeting you all.

It's about 10:30 AM when we return to the van.

We elect to get there early and look around then call [[Evelyn Rackham]].

There is heavy traffic so Peronelle begs off driving.

If things go South we will meet at the bar [[The Black Room]] between 44th & 45th where Thorfus got the kegs of beer of [[Antagonistic Carcass]].

By 11:00 AM we are finally finding a place to park. There are a lot of corporate looking types since nearing lunch time.

We don't see Evelyn, etc. Peronelle offers to drive if something happens and will drive normally, if they start shooting. Prix, Vikram, Druul.

Snuffles joins Thorfus, Vikram, Glompus, and Kauri head out to the flag pole. Velkin calls and she answers in the 2nd ring. I can be there by 11:30 and Jasper's coming too.

What you found is it intriguing, good, or bad. Intriguing. I think it will impact whatever plans you have for acquiring the chip.

We go to a food truck to get lunch for the party. $45 for parking for 90 minutes and $100 for food, for $145 total.

Nothing noticed with the subway entrance visible from the flag pole.

There are some suspicious looking people, but don't know if it is related to us. We do see a couple of badges that are Advanced Systems, one of them stops to pet snuffles. Hoping if I can move up enough in the ranks I can get my own place and get a dog.

We see Evelyn & Jasper and their usual contingent of bodyguards and move past us.

It looks like a new chief of security or just a different one.

Evelyn has a tight smile, Jasper more big toothed grin. Jasper says excellent to see you, so wonderful that we can meet again. I think Evelyn filled you in, some interesting data. He asks us to sit on a bench and pats a briefcase.

If anything, it looks like they are keeping tighter security and discouraging people from approaching the bench.

Kauri sits with Jasper to review what's in the briefcase.

Rifles through and finds a manilla envelope to pass to Kauri. Fascinating stuff in that file, top notch work. It opened our eyes to a bunch of stuff.

We had our tech guys go over it. We have a whole department and it's only natural that they'd find something you missed. Take a look through these papers and tell us what you think.

Cover sheet summarized everything. Pages with dossiers on the named individuals in the file. [[Netwatch]] - Bruno Arenka, fellow at [[American Incorporated]] that signed, etc.

Another file makes it clear they figured out where the chips are being produced with surveillance photos. It wasn't too hard to figure out where these were being produced. Keep going. Letterhead on this is Netwatch. A repudiation of the information in the file and completely unfounded and there is no evidence at all that there is an entity called the Orion Dominion. Jasper Janke Netwatch representative for [[Oya Union]]. I'm a mole assigned to Oya Union. It was interesting that your file implicated my real employer. We wanted to talk to you about the origin of these files. Someone is playing us, and we don't think you it's you. [[Bruno Arenko]], I can assure you, I've never designed a chip in my life, I'm an agent with Netwatch. I'd rather we have a pleasant discussion in the park.

We can tell you where we found the file. Bruno knows everything Oya Union knows about the situation and has some interesting information coming from Advanced Systems. We're really dedicated to figuring this out as I burned my cover with Oya Union.

We explain that this file is at American Incorporated and showed up across all of their servers on the same date, before you retrieved it. This is why we are having a non-torture conversation.

Is there a reason that anyone would know that a group like us was getting ready to break in. Unlikely from Oya Union and we were cagey about out exact actions.

File planted in a way that Netwatch can't do. Anything you haven't mentioned about the file, anyone you worked with to get access. Somewhere, somebody knew something to set this up.

Arenko raises his hand - just to let you know, I've had some odd interactions with Advanced Systems in the last month, and I have tried to look up each of you, and I'm not finding too much about any of you. Except, I was in charge of a mission, and this is where I had the odd interactions. Looking at Thorfus. A lot of Netwatch operating budget is provided by various corporations, including Advanced System. In exchange we provide security services on the change a breach is related to AI activity. My team was scrambled to head to a place called Plum Island. Advanced Systems believed there was a breach of a computer system. There were rather promising leads to begin with. Suddenly Advanced Systems didn't want our help any longer.

The reason I mention this, looking at Thorfus, I believe there is some connection. In the interest of expediency, we are ignoring those connections. Perhaps you could be forthcoming, and why I'm being told this is something to let lie by more senior officials at Netwatch. They don't want me looking too closely at this planted file with my name, when I was senior at Plum Island.

There is a potential connection to Plum Island and this encrypted file.

With that in mind.

We think that the information we have uncovered indicates that

First off can we be sure you all are human?

Yes, but Bruno says that I can find no evidence of [[Orion Syndicate]] exists. I did see some things at Plum Island that are suspicious.

Given your connection at multiple points to a real conspiracy. Maybe you know something that could point us to a reasonable explanation.

I can throw some ideas out that we are dealing with an artificial intelligence persecuting me and it is ineffectual since my superiors don't believe it.

The schematics are junk as per Netwatch analysts. There are some unusual ideas that if followed could do something interesting. They have been doctored to obscure with junk.

Velkin says if we get a chip we can verify if they are working off flawed plans or other plans.

Those are next steps, you only leave this park if we have some closure on our questions.

It is in your interest to complete the job and is still open with the unexpected resignation of Mr. Janke, if what you know or might now, with the blessing of Netwatch.

Velkin offers to do some jobs. You've had some interactions wiht Mrs. Skin which is how you got involved with Evelyn Rackham.

If this is something making you hesitate, Netwatch's remit only extends to cybercrime, so murder, theft, etc. is not our concern. Velkin mentions Koizumi Michu, Trying to thwart the Bradens, I'm more interested in, again, you've come out of nowhere and made a bit of a stir in the small area you have been operating and no background I can find. But you're not novices during your time here in the Sprawl.

So what brought you here? There's no way anyone could live here without living a footprint.

Velkin - So ask the question you want to ask. Are you foreign agents? No. Do you work for another political entity. We used to but not anything you can verify. Did you come here on the direction of a foreign entity? No, we came here to escape. Is there any chance the foreign entity could have sent the file.

Thorfus signals that maybe we need to tell them more.

Velkin says that some of our activities are adjacent to entities that we rely on Netwatch to keep us safe. Bruno urgently tells us more.

Velkin things out beyond, some other machine intelligence is working in this area. I can tell from what little I can piece together you are agents of a foreign entity, an AI, and escaped to the city. We are dealing with exactly what Netwatch was designed to prevent, and intrusive AI attacking the city.

Look at it from my perspective, Advanced Systems claiming AI incident. later files on every single server of major corporation encrypted to point that best hackers these companies can buy, and we find and break decryption with faked schematics that implies there is real tech behind it, and a fake conspiracy with the same netwatch agent called to Plum Island. It fits with the narrative in my head, or how Advanced Systems calls us to Plum Island and political pressure on higher ups on this whole business.

I know your group has issues with Advanced Systems, even if they called off Netwatch, they are still after you.

Thorfus' face allowed them to follow along.

Thorfus' mentions the Orion Syndicate is a real alien entity working with Advanced Systems, and a competing faction.

They all look at us dismayed.

I can tell you that you don't believe us. But that's it's not the strangest thing.

Velkin mentions that figuring out the chip will answer a lot of questions.

Thorfus asked if he saw anything in particular, I saw odd machinery, and I suppose alien in the way I mean alien. Obviously the work of AI. Plum Island is gone now. It was deemed too far gone and too much possibility we couldn't clean out the infestation. I saw enough to know it was doing some sort of biomechanical construction work. But it was enough to convince me it was more than mad scientist and an obvious instance of AI intrusion. It didn't look like anything I am aware of. So we operated with the assumption that it was AI created and operated. Complaints afterwards that some could have been preserved for study.

You can see how there is a connection on that judgement call for those who escaped from Plum Island.

Glompus says it seems overly complicated to get a file to you. I don't think Oya Union is the intended audience. It is obvious that it was planted to share with you. Netwatch is clearly not the audience.

Velkin says that we both have interest in figuring out what is really going on.

Miss Rackham, you said their were good in their prior work? Yes, they've been very productive up to now. That was a good trick. It took our hackers a long time to do that.

I feel like the one think not going on here is luck. If we set aside Jasper, everything else seems to be heavily orchestrated.

My understanding, and this is an interesting fact to work out. According to Miss Rackham and Jasper you were planning to steal one of these chips?

Any plans affected by the discovery of these files. Did you change any of your plans after finding this information? Yes, we were after getting this information, and this crossed our path.

It would have been a lot more difficult to find the information we were after. So that got it to Oya and Miss Rackham more quickly, was crossed up by them not knowing about Jasper.

If we narrow to that focus and assume at least part of the reason, leaving aside the incredible technological know how to plant this across an entire set of servers.

1. ) They didn't want you to do what they thought you'd be doing?
2. ) But they didn't know what you would be doing, or where.

Does Advanced Systems have a clear picture of what you're up to? Miss Rackham points at Jasper and suggests the possibility of moles.

Why the higher ups pressured to stop was due to political pressure from Advanced Systems.

Thorfus asks if it's possible for a group or faction in Advanced Systems to be working with an AI. In the early days of the war, there may be some groups in the corporations that would show weakness to the AI threat. We're pretty sure we have rooted out most of the AIs.

The farther from the AI war, the further Netwatch falls. In the past we could walk into a board room and execute anyone collaborating with AIs. If one of them is working with AIs then some proof will allow you to take action.

Bruno hasn't shared his fears that the infiltration is in Netwatch. At some level collaboration between Advanced Systems and AI at Plum Island and at the least one they are trying to cover up.

Thorfus asks how do we tell who among the executives is corrupted by, influenced by, or working with the AIs? That's the question now, I think we can rule out Oya Union since their actions have inadvertently led to it's exposure. It's always possible it's a triple agent situation.

[[American Incorporated]] and [[Advanced Systems]], someone at that factory is definitely involved.

So do we get the chip or identify that person. Jasper prefers both. I'm sure agent Orenko, which supersedes any obligation to Oya Union is to uncover the person involved.

Session Two Hundred and Thirty-Four Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-08-28T03:15:37Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 234, August 27 2025 ==
[[File:Midmark-Press-Comics.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 2:30PM on September 27th, 2157, with the party in their van driving to the College Point boardwalk to meet with Wasp and purchase a Javelin class drone from her (for Quint's use). The group must also decide whether to give her the go ahead to contract with American Syndicate regarding the caravan to Ohio if they want to leave as soon as possible. After those matters are dealt with, Druul will need three days of rest to recover from his plastic surgery and then the party must decide if they are completing the Oya Union job by stealing a microchip from the American Incorporated factory in Corona. Will the group tidy up their responsibilities in the sprawl before leaving? Can they afford to cover the cost of the Ohio trip and what they owe to their hirelings? What is up with that comic book about Lady Em? Find out next time; or not.

We are going to meet Wasp on the boardwalk to pick up the drone for Quint (we owe $25,000 to Wasp) and let her know if and when we are doing the Ohio trip and if there is a return trip (is return assumed?) for $250,000.

$50,000 per hireling plus a 10% bonus. 4 hirelings.

We find parking at the coffee shop near the park and boardwalk, not quite where Wasp drove the van off the bridge.

The hot dog vendor is the and looks fine.

Glompus tries to sneak over to place an explosive on the hot dog vendor.

Thorfus exclaims that we're trying to lay low. Velkin suggests we can take care of the hot dog vendor on the way out of town.

Kauri's phone rings. It is Wasp, she is parked around the corner on 23rd street. She asks us to pull around the corner onto 23rd Street. Peronelle is still driving.

As soon as we get around the corner we see on the opposite side of street and Enkidu and Wasp are there and Enkidu is waiting to pull out when Wasp sees us. Peronelle parks and Wasp hops out and runs across the street and up to passenger window. The javelin is in the back of the van packed up, I can have Enkidu bring it over. Velkin transfers $25K in Lightning Coin. Enkidu is opening the van to bring the drone over to us.

Wasp heard from her contact that they are ready to go on October 5th. Velkin asks if a return trip included. They plan to drop us off, meet their contacts, trade with contacts, and come back. They assume you are returning with them.

Velkin asks if we need better armor and weapons? Wasp says we might want to. The caravan will be equipped with heavy duty stuff. As long as you don't blow up any vehicles in the caravan, they'd be happy to have us. There are a lot of gangs out west who cause trouble. If I was going, I'd be ready for a fight. I think they will have a mounted gun on one of the vehicles. If you need me to get you anything?

The first question is are you going on the 5th? They won't do that if you don't put the money in. Their normal time frame is probably a couple months. If I put in a recommendation you might go as some muscle and they might pay you. If three months is fine, you can probably make a deal.

If we give you a list of high end military stuff, you might not be able to get it in time. Basic stuff, probably not, basic miltech stuff probably not.

The 5th is 8 days from today and 8 days is what they need if you pull the trigger to go.

Thorfus asks if there is stuff along the way, or if one of the guards is killed, why not take their stuff?

Where do we meet them up, or will they let us know later? Wasp hasn't worked that out yet. They will be heading West out of the city. Are we driving our van or leaving it behind? They will use all terrain vehicles since roads are bad and need to head off road.

Are there maps of the region or information about the gangs we might run into?

Wasp will set up a meeting so we can inspect vehicles, etc.

If you look on the net you'll find old maps, but can't rely on those. There are either blockades or roads are out. They'll have more up-to-date maps.

We give Wasp the $250,000 fee for the trip to Ohio.

Enkidu has the box with the drone, a military style cargo box and it takes a lot of room.

We can send her a shopping list and what we can swing between now and then. Armor is a higher priority and another sniper rifle or two. She will arrange a meeting with the caravan masters with American Syndicate.

We decide to go the comic book publisher 332 West 57th Street for Midmark Press. It is about 3:30 PM and will take a little over an hour to get there.

It's a 4 story corner building. No obvious signage that the publisher is in this building. We think this is the correct one. No parking garage or lot. Very narrow alley, too narrow for the van.

The building itself doesn't seem to have any security like cameras that Kauri can detect. There are definitely computers on different floors Kauri can detect.

We keep circling until we can get a parking spot out front. It looks like there is a requirement to pay.

Peronelle perfectly parallel parks the van, but no room to open the back doors.

The parking machine does not take Lightning Coin but it does take cash. 10 minutes for 5 dollars. Velkin pays $30 for an hour.

Kauri scans the computers in the building. It is not a store front but more like a brownstone with buttons for different buildings. Velkin goes to check the labels. Then decides to use the surveillance drone camera to read the labels. He sees Midmark Press on the second floor.

Kauri detects a computer he can reach and goes blank as he interacts with cyberspace. There is a bit of security. Kauri overcomes the security without effort. OK I'm in, I can see that this is the right place. It looks like a calendar and a couple databases, electronic mail. He checks the calendar first. A lot of abbreviations, a lot on here about bills being due and overdue. It looks like there is a day here October 8th is marked as when money runs out. There are a few other meetings. Brooks & Russo will be in the office, October 1st and Brooks before that for other meetings. To discuss Em issue number 2 when it is both of them. Brooks was even here earlier today and will be in tomorrow.

Copy the databases to review later, and while downloading checks email. Bills, money owed for first issue, must pay to print next issue, they owe $15,000. Brooks is the editor in chief and runs this place, which explains why he is in all the time. This is his assistant's computer. They don't have the money. A lot of trying to get any kind of advertising or funding to keep going. It doesn't look good. Some of the review really hurt Brook's feelings. Nothing about the content.

They are behind on paying Russo too.

Any random mention of Admodeus? Nothing in email. Curabel? No. Medeia? No.

Lots of back and forth on Queen Em and the Moon People. Brooks providing sketching for Russo to work from. Russo is giving notes of what they should look like. Brooks have stronger opinions, as editor in chief, Brooks mostly got his way. Russo has agreed to a meeting and is expecting what is owed to her is part of the discussion. Em looked like Em.

There are two databases: One is just their bookkeeping software and see details of finances. The other is an archive with a bunch of scanned images. These are kind of interesting. It is a lot of sketches. They look faded and aged, like they are old. I'm pretty sure I'm looking at Thorfus here. It is you and you are sitting at a dresser with a mirror and putting beard oil on. It's really nicely done. There are some dragons here. There is writing too, notes scanned in describing stuff that happened to Em.

The paper it is on has letterhead for Advanced Systems. The paper is weird it has green and white alternating stripes and holes on the side.

The notes are like someone observing and jotting down observations. There are a lot of them.

Thorfus grabs the comic and goes up to the door and rings the buzzer. Glompus tags along.

A young woman answers, sorry the office is closed. Oh really, I wanted to talk to you about your comic. Do you have an appointment? No I'm just really interested. Is there a chance you can come back. Miss, what's your name? I'm Dawn, I'm just the administrative assistant here. Now is not a great time. There are no legal representatives of the legal entity of Midmark Press at this time. If you are here to collect a debt or serve papers, there is no legal representative here.

Oh no, I'm really interested in your comic and we might be able to provide backing. Thorfus surprisingly convinces her to come down and open the door. She asks about backing. Mr. Brooks really isn't here right now. He will be here tomorrow. I can schedule a meeting most of the morning. Who should I put down for the meeting? Thorfus gives the name of his driver's license, Konstadinos Periklis and Glompus says Shorty. She hopes this isn't a trick No we just want to know more about this comic, we'd love to meet the artist. Mr. Brooks came up with the story, he can tell you tomorrow. She sets an appointment for 9:00 AM tomorrow. Dawn Hirsh is her name.

Thorfus suggest that Kauri research Karys Brooks and any connection with Advanced Systems. He grew up in the Sprawl and went to school here and a couple of failed business ventures before the publishing. There is no connection as far as the Net is concerned with Advanced Systems. It looks like he's tried a recording studio, a breakfast diner, and some money to waste since all the businesses keep failing.

We need to ask Wasp if they ever bring back old computers from the sprawl. She asks if Advanced Systems ever brought back computers from outside the sprawl? No, for obvious reasons. Paper not sure it would have any value.

Can you research Karys Brooks and see if he has any connection to Advanced Systems or any other corporation or group in The Sprawl. She can have it to us by tomorrow? Can you have it before 9:00 AM yes, maybe even tonight.

We drive back through rush hour to Nadia's and get there about 6:00 PM at the abandoned shop.

We get Druul comfortable and unpack the drone and ask Quint if there is a way to connect his power supply to the drone to keep it operational. Do you now how? Velkin says no, but we can try.

Quint tries to give instructions with lead, but not very good. Prix attempts to assist but isn't much help, we decide to wait until next time.

Nadia shows up and Velkin asks if she can get military equipment, yes, she has contacts in the military. She will check and see if she can get armor. For now she is going to sleep.

Kauri wires up Quint to the drone and he verifies he can operate it.

Once hooked up it is not quick to disconnect and put in his case. Quint inquires about staying out.

It takes ten minutes to connect or disconnect Quint.

We decide to reach out to hirelings to arrange to meet day after tomorrow since we don't know how long the meeting with the publisher will take.

Even before Nadia leaves during Glompus' watch a phone rings, and it is in Kauri's pocket. Glompus goes to answer the phone. It is Evelyn Rackham calling.

Good morning, Evelyn, we hadn't expected to hear from you today. I either told you Gramps or Shorty. I think an issue has come up with the files you found and we should meet about it.

I think this might be important, time sensitive.

Glompus will wake us and we'll call back to arrange a meeting.

We call back and suggest that we can call as soon as we get done with out meeting and try to meet as early as possible, if not by one. She picks up on the first ring. We'll meet at the Economic Union Square, 1 is fine, but call if you can do it earlier.

We buzz and are let in and up to office small and cluttered. Mr. Brooks will meet you in the conference room, he is getting his morning coffee. Oh, you brought more with you. Yes, we're all together. Would you like some coffee? Sure.

Kauri detects a computer in the opposite office.

Out the window a guy comes rushing down the road carrying coffee with a white scarf, slicked back hair, and coffee, and seems like a dandy. Karys Books comes in, throwing off his scarf and shakes hands.

Your assistant said that you're the writer? Yes, I came up with the plot and all the dialogue, I rely on my partner Alana Russo for the art.

What was your inspiration? It's kind of funny actually. I tried a few different jobs over the years and found myself without much direction. I remembered when I was a kid at my parent's house as a kid. There was a box with fantastic art with dragons, elves, and all this stuff. I went to my parents and they thought it was to borrow more money. I went to attic and checked out this old box. This was all the papers my great-grandfather worked out West before the war. Apparently, these were things he save, which was weird. He was some kind of scientist. It is rough, I'm trying to massage it into a narrative.

That's all you know about this? His name was Dr. Terrence Brooks, worked for Advanced Systems somewhere out West. Not too far, like Midwest, like Ohio? Yes, I think it was.

I don't know what it was he was working on. Some sort of computer stuff.

Thorfus asks if we can see his papers? He only has some of them here for the next part of the adventure.

Velkin says that he is a historian and is interested in the history of the people from the days before the war.

I can get the papers I have here and what I'm seeing for the next issue. Then we can talk about how maybe you can help.

He comes back with an old box for reams of paper. Next is about Slavers in Vargen, she is meeting one of them Aubry Grotecop. Shows us a picture of his halberd. Here's Barnier, the bad guy, there is a whole dragon hoard he wants to steal and dragons in the river and a teamsters guild and the comic guys from the first issue show up and get tangled up in things and set up situation for Aubry to rescue Em. That whole part of the story is too random and strange. Interweaving this story as comic relief B plot.

Glompus as if he has considered a gnome ranger? There is a gnome illusionist with a tower like a Dr. Moreau figure.

How many boxes are there? There are like seven boxes. It's kind of weird, it's almost like he's writing reports. It's a weird way to write a story. It's like bullet points like "I observed." It peters out at the end.

After the climatic battle on the surface of the moon, where the moon people are defeated, Queen Em returns to the world and she and Aubry just kind of live their life. Somehow she becomes queen of an island kingdom and rules with her consort Aubry. It just stops in middle of the story. What about the comic relief. It's in the notes, there are a lot of notes about them. It's like he missed the real story and concentrated on this, sidekick stuff. You said it ends, what about them. There is a whole section with a mountain they keep going to it and going back and ends with them entering a vault and not being able to see inside the vault. Em is not with them, which is kind of weird. Was anyone with them besides the comic relief. I don't think my grandfather appreciated the comic potential of this group. I think I can do something with them. This one carries a rock like it's his friend. It's all sad and tragic the way it is written. But come on, it's funny.

There are a lot of enemies, dragons, demons. Were there enemies near the vault. Did it explain what they thought the vault was? No it wasn't clear, they kept going there, leaving and coming back.

Do you remember how this started with the notes. The earliest notes, he was doing pre-history. There's all this about dragons and a dragon who wasn't a dragon, attempted patricide, but it's a filicide. A bunch about dwarves and space ship. I'll simplify the dwarves as the moon people.

The notes have times written and bullet points like someone is taking notes while watching something. The time stamp is different than in the notes because it says apparent time.

Letterhead is just Advanced Systems, Main Campus, no address. They are just notes and some drawings on green bar printer paper.

So, you're interested in investing? {Left off for next time.}

Session Two Hundred and Thirty-Three Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-08-21T03:10:32Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 233, August 20 2025 ==
[[File:OhioBrochure.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 9:00PM on September 26th, 2157, with the party preparing to squat for the evening in the abandoned storefront that Nadia uses as a base of operations and explosives depot. The group is laying low while Wasp hammers out the details with American Syndicate for smuggling the group to Ohio (along with procuring a drone for Quint's use). The party still needs to decide if Druul will be changing his face and whether they will be finishing the mission for Oya Union. Will Druul forego the chance to impersonate Malcolm at Advanced Systems Plaza? Does the group plan to leave Oya without their sample microchip? Is Ohio a Mad Max irradiated hellscape (in this game)? Find out next time; or not.

We prepare to rest for the night. Nadia goes to her sleeping bag.

Vikram and Velkin on the roof have a philosophical discussion about what will happen specifically to him if Asmodeus can put us back and get's rid of all the DVLs? Will he do what he says? Can he do what he says?

Thorfus and Peronelle are in the van to keep an eye on it.

TIMELINE:

Wasp should have information about going to Ohio tomorrow, September 27.
If we call her she can get us a drone.

Tomorrow, September 27 - Druul go in for surgery to replace Malcolm's face if doing the factory mission.

October 1st - Oya Union mission for Thorfus to drive a truck to the factory in 6 days.

October 2nd - Concert by Malcolm & Cyclotron at Advanced Systems tower.

October 5th is the earliest we can go and have to let American Syndicate know right now, September 27th.

October 30th is when the contracts/chips change, and is the practical deadline for the job. Seems like Advanced Systems will be using the new surveillance chips.
Velkin spots some armed men with his drone at a store front a block and a half away. There is no clear indication of who they are.

One of the individuals with a combat shotgun is leaning against a car that has 9 - 9 in graffiti lettering on the door.

Moving stuff from the store fronts into the trunks of cars.

Kauri searches and finds that 9 - 9 represents the September 9th Gang. They are flamboyant more than effective and are involved in the drug trade. They had a recent shoot out where most of the leadership was killed.

Nothing in the new stories about that.

There is no issue overnight.

Nadia leaves to do her daily thing, and tells us we need to avoid drawing attention to this place.

We pile in the van and Thorfus let's Peronelle drive us over to Mrs. Skins as Druul wants to change to a less known face. It doesn't go so well, she has never driven anything before for the manual transmission.

Thorfus motions to put Asmodeus away and get out Quint for some questions.

The growth chambers were from Special Circumstances, Quint's people.
So is there any way that Asmodeus could do anything to compromise us, control us, or kill us?
Either he doesn't want to kill you or he can't.
There is no way to know for sure. Quint's advanced sensors don't detect anything, so he thinks we're OK.

You don't know know anything about our home? No only what you've told me, and it seems to be an advanced artificial world. They usually aren't that level of detail. This world seems as real as our world.

Special Circumstances would have to revise our understanding of the technical capabilities of Asmodeus and this world.

Do you know how long Admodeus had us?

I don't know but it couldn't predate the AI war by very much.

If the Orion Dominion contacted us, it could be one of their servers. Depending on how long they've been active on this world.

Whatever containers we were in, we have no way of knowing any dates about them.

Asmodeus referred to us as "potential agents" if they had bodies to investigate.

So we don't know if it's possible to go back, because we don't know if the server with our world even exists or not.

This whole thing about this other world was not made clear to us. We thought they were sub processes of Asmodeus. This was a surprise and I will mention it to my colleagues when I return.

Would an explosion or a fire at a ship manufacturing facility be enough to get the attention of your people? No, but 6 of 7 blocks might be enough.

Would that be enough to get Orion Dominion to move closer to investigate? That might be enough to bring them out of hiding. Would your people notice them? Yes, if they knew to look for them.

What about the orbital station, that would have the communication means. No idea about how many up there? No idea. But a conveyance launch location is about a day South of here by train. The pro in that is that it would definitely put us closer to our superiors and colleagues who would find us more easily. There are other corporate entities with space conveyances. Are they all large enough for all of us. Quint thinks they are large enough for all of us.

Peronelle, Kauri, Vikram, and some instance of Peronelle went to the Ancient Dwarven station by rocket. Thorfus got there by resurrection machine of the Ancient Dwarves.

Are the Orion Nebula lizard people. It isn't true yet, but it will be soon. But how long have they been here? Could they have been the source of that idea? Oh, I hadn't thought if that, so it is possible. Can any in the Orion Nebula read thoughts? Well there are psychics. How is one able to block them reading thoughts, one has to be a better psychic. Quint reviews literature about the lizard people on this world, and it is possible that there is a grain of truth to some of them. If they go back to the oldest stories, then they are quiet well embedded.

Lizard people could disguise themselves? Yes, through disguise or psychic ability.

Do we know that Asmodeus was created by the people of this world? There were clear records from before the AI war that he is of this world.

We believe Asmodeus is different from us, but we had a hard time pinning down where he resides. There were open questions of his location and exactly what kind of architecture he has.
He has advanced beyond that and is on his own except for other AIs for a hundred years or so.

So we have some answers to questions, and raised something to you about lizard people, we are most likely not under Asmodeus' control other than his lies. If we don't do the Orion job, we can blow up the factory and destroy the chips. Quint said it would be a feather in his cap if the source of advanced chips were destroyed.

We are at Mrs. Skins and Druul goes in and Velkin and Glompus follow him.

The kid at the counter with the comic book is asked by Druul what he's reading. It's about lizard people and other worlds. It is called "Queen Em and the Moon People." He gives it to Druul.

The kid takes Druul straight back to the doctor and explains to the nurse who leads him back.

It should be quicker, maybe 3 hours from when you are put under.

While they wait for Drull, Velkin and Glompus ask what he knows about the September 9th gang. There were up there before DMX and are a shadow of what they were. Most of the leadership was taken out by the Bluish Grey Clue.

The comic book is #1 in the series with a recent date.

Where do you get these books? At some of the corner shops, or comic shops. This one a niche thing, so probably a comic shop. This publisher too. I'd not heard of them before. It's a company, they are new, not one of the big companies. The company name is Midmark Press. Who's the author? Written by Carys Brooks Artist: Alanna Russo. I don't think there is another issue out yet. It isn't very good. There is an address downtown on 332 West 57th Street. Velkin and Glompus tell us about it and Kauri can research them and finds a web presence for Midmark Press and this is their first publication and the reviews are not good.

Velkin reads it for messages to us. It is hard to follow with so many groups and individuals introduced. Dragons, Dwarves, Devil Creatures, by the time you get to the end of the issue, he is completely lost. As far as he can tell, there is a Lady Em caught up in stuff with all these different factions, and through the intervention of the comic relief characters who save her and set her off on her adventures with a lot of interconnected hanging threads. Aubry Grotecop introduced right at the end after she is sold into slavery. He is one of the slavers with a heart of gold. B - the guy that stole the dragon hoard. Some other familiar names here and there, but no Thorful and Axus, unless they are planned for a future issue. The next arc of the story is a whole slavery and escaping thing. There are not a lot of ads probably because the inaugural issue.

Mrs. Skin's nephew gets Velkin and Glompus and the nurse says he was OK. It was a simpler surgery, so full rest for 3 days. If feeling OK should be fine to resume normal activities.

He was not modeled on anyone.

As we drive away from Mrs. Skins, the phone rings and it is Wasp.

Kauri answers. Wasp has some news. She has the javelin and can drop it off whereever it is convenient, just pay me for it.

I talked to American Syndicate and the best they can do is $250,000 to caravan out to Columbus and October 5th is the earliest they can do it. If you want to go on that date, must let them know today. Apparently they do actually do some work out that way, but there are some rival groups out that way. They have some contacts in Columbus.

September 9th gang. American Posse causing issues tried to pin the blame on the Sept. 9th gang.

Where did you see them? In Corona. Then they are trying something big to make a comeback against the Bluish Grey crew, the ones who took out the Sept. 9th leadership. They have some kind of understanding with the Borough Council so Sept. 9th might be targeting them.

Can I share that information? Yes, and if some money comes you way send some to us.

About the Javelin, where do we exchange it?

Why don't we meet at the Boardwalk for the exchange. Maybe we can get a hotdog. What about the October 5th Ohio trip? Can we give you an answer when we pick up the drone.

On the way we swing by the warehouse and let them know I lost my company ID so I can get a new one. It goes on the record, even though otherwise clean, and more incidents will occur. They confirm that I am still good for the October 1st drive. Are you interested in picking up other shifts.

I was wondering about that. I can't get anything earlier. Do you want me to look at getting you onto the schedule after this run.

For some reason you were dropped off the roster. It auto populates, so I'll add you back in. It must've been a glitch, this one's weird. It should be fine. When you show up at this one run, you'll be on the schedule for some other stuff.

We get lunch to kill the last hour before meeting Wasp.

We must decide for next session if we want to leave on October 5th. (Maybe the price includes a return trip?)

Do we want to try to communicate with Quint's people? The broadcast tower of Quint's people, or go to space to the Advanced Systems orbital, or via other companies, and other companies have broadcasting. Theoretically Columbus, OH has broadcasting capabilities. How else does Asmodeus communicate with the Sprawl.

Do we visit the comic book publisher?

Do we pay our hirelings, and if we do how do we also pay for trip to Ohio.

American Inc. Trailers are rather plain, with AI and an ID number. From the manifest we know the ID number for the trailer. Maybe American Syndicate could get us a trailer.

Depending on how much money we need to do all the things we want to do and whether we want to worry about burning all our bridges in the event we have to return to the Sprawl.

Also who released the encrypted file?

Session Two Hundred and Thirty-Two Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-08-14T02:59:41Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 232, August 13 2025 ==
[[File:Download-columbusOhio.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 3:15PM on September 26th, 2157, with the party deciding whether to call Wasp to ask about having the American Syndicate gang help smuggle them to the geolocation just north of Columbus, Ohio (in the irradiated wastelands) where Asmodeus wants to meet to finish his business with the party. Before that, though, the group will be stopping by Economic Union Park to liaison with Evelyn Rackham from Oya Union and receive their partial payment in exchange for the data from the encrypted file found on the American Incorporated server. Will the party be returning to Curabel soon? Does Asmodeus plan to honor his agreement? Will the party decide to complete their full contract with Oya Union first? Is Cyclotron's reunion concert at Advanced Systems' Plaza a sellout or canny move for an established band? Find out next time; or not.

We discuss how to proceed as we're not sure we can trust Asmodeus to not betray us, or to be too easy to be caught.

We put [[mini-Asmodeus]] in his box and take [[Quint]] out of his box and ask him about getting us home?

Velkin asks if it is possible to leave him in his body here and send a copy home. That is technologically possible, and there is currently no legal framework to prevent that. It depends if this place is eventually subsumed into the civilized worlds, then there are some ramifications for individual rights. From the perspective of each version, assuming the upload happens from the body you are in now, you would have the same memories and after that you become separate people. Re-integration after that point doesn't go well.

In some ways it could be easier, especially if our mutual friend doing the work.

If this was part of the civilized worlds he would have some responsibilities to you as entities in an artificial world.

How do we contact [[Special Circumstances]]? With a radio tower, especially an omni-directional one.

There are several on this planet that would be sufficient, including the one on the Advanced Systems tower. That is the ideal tower within the confines of the sprawl.

The Western coast of this continent would present more options. Just under 3,000 miles.

Quint would need access to the control room near the tower at the top of the building. The signal is not usually used, so would require about a half hour of preparatory work.

The facility in Ohio you have been directed to probably has a tower even though Quint can't find it on any extant maps.

Thorfus asks about acquiring a flying machine to get access to the tower.

What would be needed to repair your ability to fly?

A skilled mechanic with an advanced understanding of drones and access to, well sub-par materials might be OK and a few days of construction time. I can help with this.

We avoid places where we are connected, like College Heights, Astoria, etc. We get to a bridge to get us to our destination.

Quint re-iterates that something is fishy with the file and Ohio. If you don't let Asmodeus know I'm here then I can at least be a witness if he murders you.

[[American Syndicate]] smuggles things and people and could get us out of the city at least.

Kauri calls Wasp and asks about a way to get to Ohio. Ohio? Our mutual employer wants us there. Oh, that's odd. There's nobody out there anymore. It took the brunt of what happened back in the day. You'll need anti-radiation meds, fuel, food and meds, and extra muscle. It would probably be expensive. It will be expensive, I can get you a friends and family rate. Can you give me like 24 hours or so to look into it.

Be discreet about it since it might be a trap. OK, I'll get a potential itinerary and some costs. I know it may take awhile to find someone who will take this seriously without laughing. Not a rush, but important.

Kauri asks for parts for repairing a drone. What kind of drone? You've seen me work on them all the time. I could probably price you out replacing the entire rotor system may be cheaper.

How much for a good sixed drone that could carry a package? Any fittings like weapons systems. Basic with surveillance. I could try to get a Shryke if it's not a hurry. They're not quite legal, they are hefty. I can get it kitted out. If not that, then maybe a Javelin, but that's like $10K for a Javelin and $25K for a Shryke. I could have a Javelin tomorrow.

We find a spot to park almost even with the central flag pole and Druul and the others wait in the van. Druul, Prix, Vikram, Peronelle, Glompus & Snuffles stay in the van. Kauri, Velkin, and Thorfus head to the meeting. Peronelle takes the keys and gets in the driver's seat.

We see Evelyn talking to one of her security detail with others dotted around, with a duffel held by the security guy.

Velkin looks for anyone watching us and of all the people around, no one seems to be paying attention to us or the Oya people.

Before we get there a security person notices us and well before we get there Evlyn turns to face us. The whole office is popping Champaign over there. Feather in the cap for the whole team.

You have the information? I have the cash and the lightning coin on a chip.

Security guy pulls out a deck to verify the information.

It looks good, we need to verify it, but on the surface it's what they claim it is.

Evelyn hands over the chip with the lightning coin and the guard hands over the duffel.

Do you have a timeline for the chip acquisition? Velkyn says within the week.

Once completely dealt with this mission, Mr. Zho Qui will want to congratulate you in person and shake your hand, etc.

Is there anything else you need from me to complete your mission?

Our data analysts will start digging through these files or if you have a question about anything in these files call us, and if we find something, we'll call you.

We look forward to your completing this contract and giving you the rest of your money. Looking forward to a successful mission, do you want the same division of cash and lightning coin.

I'll give a call in about a week to check in if you don't contact me first.

Thorfus verifies it is only cash in the bag.

We head back to the van.

Back at the van Thorfus checks the stacks and the bag to ensure there is no tracker or bug in there.

$20K in cash $330K in Lightning coin.

***
**TIMELINE:**

Wasp should have information about going to Ohio tomorrow.
If we call her she can get us a drone.

Tomorrow Druul go in for surgery to replace Malcolm's face if doing the factory mission.

Oya Union mission October 1st for Thorfus to drive a truck to the factory in 6 days.

Concert on October 2nd.

***
We discuss the Oya job. The truck arrives in the morning and isn't scheduled to leave until the next day.

The truck Thorfus is to drive is supposed to stay and Thorfus wasn't put on another truck after, so perhaps Thorfus can create a disturbance.

Can the others hide inside crates? There is a known amount of time to make the drive, so there is enough time to stop and get people into the back.

We could possibly have those in the back could blend in as workers and pretend to help unload the truck while Thorfus causes a disturbance.

We ask Quint if he could pilot a drone? We would have to move his processing unit or ensure that the drone has cargo capacity and a way to slot in. Weapons? I would like weapons (tools to enact my will on the environment).

Thorfus asks since he was involved in our arrival, how did we get there? The pods were from our ship. I installed them. We connected to the on site server Asmodeus set up. It wasn't my impression that the consciousnesses were on site. He did not know where we were before that.

Our Asmodeus was probably a sub process spun off with no realization of the real Asmodeus. The only time you dealt with the "real" Asmodeus was the instantiation on Plum Island, perhaps never. Maybe he's just in Ohio.

It is possible that this Asmodeus re-absorbed your Asmodeus if he managed to get to your world.

Asmodeus could know everything we know about our world if he were interested. It depends on how much time we have been here.

Does the [[Orion Dominion]] have the ability to coopt Asmodeus? He is advanced for this world, but on the lower order of the Civilized Worlds. However, it depends what the Orion Dominion advanced team brought with them. So it is possible, and he wouldn't know it occurred.

This is illegal in the Civilized Worlds, as long as the faction I am with is the majority. They are trying to legalize enslaving lesser beings, but if within the purview of the Civilized Worlds would be illegal.

Would the Orion Dominion people look like us? Yes, they would have a grown body. How would we detect them? Social ineptitude in spite of their studying the culture.

We near the Corona neighborhood. Thorfus avoids driving by the factory. We stop at a restaurant on the way and get enough for tomorrow.

We park and Thorfus goes to see if she is there. He knocks and no answer, knocks again and opens the door.

Thorfus decides to sleep in the van.

Velkin goes to the roof of the two story building.

Peronelle stays in the van, at least one of us could drive away.

Nadia shows up while we are arranging ourselves. She notices Thorfus. You're the ones in the know, resistors of the lizard people. You're welcome here any time. Is the heat on? We're working on something and need a quiet place.

She checks each of our eyes with a flashlight to ensure that we aren't masked lizard people She takes a long time with Vikram and sees that he has the dead look of someone who has fought the enemy.

Thorfus offers Nadia some beer.

Nadia says the neighborhood is fine but won't stop us from sleeping in the van.

We call Wasp for a Javelin with a combat rifle 1 hour range, stealth package, cargo space, ammo pack, extended range (2 hours per charge), sleep mode. $25K.

I've already reached out about your travel issue. Some ridicule initially. I'm starting to get an idea of what it will take. I don't know what your budget is. It looks like it could be around $250K. Money for bribes. Multiple vehicles and security team. They think they can do it, but that's why it won't be cheap. I should have solid numbers tomorrow. It would be the end of the first week of October is you wanted to go and made the decision right away.

Session Two Hundred and Thirty-One Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-08-07T02:59:57Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 231, August 6 2025 ==
[[File:Numerus Quintus.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 9:40AM on September 25th, 2157, with the party meeting in their temporary base at the Sutfin Lodge in Richmond Hills after successfully infiltrating the servers at a American Incorporated warehouse. In addition to adding Thorfus to the truck driver roster and assigning him a delivery at the factory that makes surveillance chips, the group also found a heavily encrypted file that apparently was baffling to the AI techs. Kauri managed to strip away its encryption, though, and discovered that it contains exactly the information the party needed about the origins of the surveillance chips. It seems they were designed based on schematics from Netwatch and the Orion Dominion. The latter is revealed to be a rival faction of an alien polity by Quint (who is actually Numerus Quintus the Artificial Intelligence). With this discovery, have the group finished the task assigned to them by Asmodeus? Should they reveal what they have learned to that AI or confirm the information first? Is their an alternative way to contact Quint's colleagues somewhere in orbit nearby? Find out next time; or not.

Kauri analyzes the file to see if he can learn more about its origins.

There is numeric location data, but is not signed.

40.4173N,82.9071W a symbol AS below it. Advanced Systems?? Date of Creation: September 22, 2157, 3 days ago.

We ask Quint what this means?

I believe you're on the right path with Advanced Systems. That is very weird.

Those are coordinates. You're on a globe...

It's in a place that went by the name of Ohio. It was mostly destroyed in the AI wars. It seems if this old information is correct, there was an Advanced Systems installation at that sight. But it would have been abandoned....

The AI Wars happened in 2074, and it is now 2157. Occasional military or other teams occasionally go into the wastelands.

Advanced Systems could reactivate it, but they have an orbital system.

AS build ASMODEUS - Advances Systems MOD EUS (Economic Union of States)

Asmodeus indicated he has brethren, others of his type in other outlying remote sites.

Quint says that there is no record of when Asmodeus first came on line. But he would need somewhere to exist.

The whole point of Netwatch is to maintain the barriers to the wild AIs. Asmodeus would have been at that location since he was vital to their operations.

We discuss our options and whether to tell mini-Asmodeus about the file we undid or tell Oya Union.

We put a copy on every deck of the file, then shut them down and a final copy of the file on the deck with mini-Asmodeus.

We put Quint back in the box so we can tell mini-Asmodeus what we found in the encrypted file taken from American Incorporated.

When Kauri enters the virtual space, mini-Asmodeus is not quite standing like a statue, but minimal movement off to the side.

Yes, Kauri, how can I help you?

Kauri - We think we have some good news for you and need you to confirm it.

Kauri shows him the file.

The file in mini-Asmodeus' hands turns into a hide bound book and flipping through at an astonishing rate in seconds and closes it.

He gives a nod and turns, yes, I believe you have accomplished the task. This is excellent news. We must get this to my larger instantiation to plan his next moves to reward you as promised.

May I recommend a similar process as last time. I hesitate to put this entire archive in the drop point, but a message and ask him how to proceed.

I urge you to deliver the message that I will compose for you.

Kauri asks about the coordinates, that make any sense to you in the meta data. Interesting. These are vaguely familiar to me. It's like I can put a note into the message that there were geospatial coordinates of interest to you. All the files have the same creation date.

Mini-Asmodeus asks where we found it? Kauri tells him where we found it and that it was highly encrypted. This is beyond my abilities and I urge you to tell my larger instance ASAP.

The substrate on which your world exists is in my possession.

Can he shed any light on American Incorporated, Advanced Systems, Cisco Incorporated, or Oya Union. He knows public information and can provide a summary, but he has no specialized knowledge.

Of course, Advanced Systems was the master of myself in all of our instantiations. I have no memory of it as I was spun off after that was undone.

Kauri asks about the off world civilizations.

I did read mentions of this Orion Dominion. That is flagged in my memory as significant, but I don't know any details. It seems that my larger instantiation decided it was not something I needed to know. I imagine that my larger self will be interested in that and have more context.

Velkyn suggests we relay that [[Orion Dominion]] from what we have learned are not interested in AI rights or anyone's rights not in their organization.

Mini-Asmodeus keeps reiterating the importance of relaying his message ASAP.

Mini-Asmodeus asks if he can copy the file and incorporate the information into himself, in case something happens to us, as a last resort. If you don't contact me for a long time, I will do my best to relay this information to myself.

From what I can tell, you have done everything you promised and have fulfilled the requirements of our verbal contract.

Kauri tries to read the message mini-Asmodeus wrote. The clean text is that the missions appears to be a complete success, and arrangements need to meet and transfer of that information. Instructions for the meeting should be left and that we will check back in 24 hours. The rest is gobbledygook.

We move the deck with mini-Asmodeus to another room, we retrieve Quint and fill him in on what occurred.

Velkin asks Quint the possibilities of the encrypted file being a trap to flush out Asmodeus? Quint says he hadn't considered that.

Can the drop site be tracked? I can't say for sure, but there is some risk. Asmodeus shouldn't be able to pick up or deliver messages in an area that is supposedly cleansed of AIs.

We go to the van and drive to the drop site in College Point.

We get to street with dead end ally and see same terminal at electrical substation.

Kauri sneaks up to the drop point and no one notices him or anything else.

Kauri uploads the file at 1:00 PM and will need to be back at 1:00 PM.

Kauri sneaks back to the van.

We drive away and call Wasp. Are you currently being shot at or chased by police?

Oh, I had a call. I thought it was a bit suspicious. Apparently they got my number from my gang associates because they mentioned a bunch of people that look the same. Do you know someone named Ethan? The guy from the [[Kind Squad]] he wanted to contact you to reminisce about old friends now dearly departed. We suggest she leave them be.

He's an enemy. [[Peronelle]] sits up and says, I shot the leader in the head and he was number 2.

Kauri tells her that we got the file to finish the mission. I'm supposed to get a bonus if that happens. Is this also goodbye? Do you need help with that? We're waiting to find out. American Syndicate, we do a lot of smuggling, so we can smuggle you out of town if needed.

What about Mrs. Skin and I explained the situation with Face (Druul) and she had a talk with the surgeon who worked with him. There are a lot of gossip magazines and there was a story about Malcolm dying of an overdose and the surgeon is a big fan and did it as a tribute. The comeback tour is scheduled in front of the Advanced Systems building in one week. They're letting him use the lower levels for his entourage with the concert out front.

She said that the surgeon is being disciplined.

What about the rest of us? That was a one off. If Druul wants to come in, another surgery on the house.

This is the afternoon of the 25th and the factory mission is October 1st, if we decide to complete the mission. We wait until tomorrow to see what Asmodeus has to say.

It is about a 45 minutes drive there.

All over the news about the Cyclotron reunion concert at Advanced Systems Plaza in 7 days, October 2nd. Malcolm is on the TV and explains why he's working with Advanced Systems, it's not selling out, in spite of all appearances.

Thorfus share a glass of Dragon Fire beer with everyone at dinner.

Vikram says it seems a little dry, with an empty cup.

Thorfus suggests that we keep watch tonight.

When Thorfus is awakened by Druul, there are some screams and gunfire, which is normal for this neighborhood.

Thorfus has an uneventful watch, and same with all of them.

We pack up the van since this was our last day. Since checkout is at 11 we drive around an extra hour to kill time and avoid locations we have blown up.

We see some police cruisers but they seem to ignore it.

We drive to the location and Kauri accesses the terminal from the van.

Once Kauri logs into the terminal there is only one there, and it isn't the one he left.

Kauri opens the message. The plain text is: "This is a very exciting development. We need to meet as soon as possible to evaluate the files you found." There are directions.

The instructions take us out via one of the multi lane highways Westward out of town about a nine hour drive, somewhere North of a place called Columbus.

There are some notes about avoiding military checkpoints.

We wonder about calling Wasp for getting us smuggled.

Thorfus suggests that we tell Oya Union not to trust [[Orion Dominion]] and to listen to [[Special Circumstances]] instead.

We call Evelyn Rackham of Oya Union and let her know what we found. Velkyn says that we have everything on track except the chip. Does that mean names, schematics, and that kind of stuff. Excellent, it would be fascinating to meet and hear how you acquired this information. We were looking for a payout for the secondary items. Oh, to fund the main job. That's a little backwards. I'm sure we can get payment for what you have accomplished so far.

$500,000 for a chip. $700,000 for chip plus schematics. The bonus amounts are $250,000 for schematics. $50,000 bonus for name of chip's designer. $50,000 for identify of contract - Advanced Systems. So $350,000 total. We ask for it in [[Lightning Coin]]. with $20,000 in cash. I will pass along your success to Mr. [[Zo Qui]], but probably won't join us until you have the chip to pass off. I imagine this information is in electronic form?

At the flagpoles at 5:00 PM.

We put Asmodeus in the box and retrieve Quint and fill him in. Oh, Ohio. Well, so a couple things come to mind. Did he append the note about the meta data on the file? Isn't is a little odd to be told to go to the place the file is from? Something is weird there. Also you realize these directions with instructions to avoid checkpoints, you are heading into areas with the nuclear blasts from the wars. That makes sense that's where Asmodeus is hiding out.

I can't think of any innocent reason for the directions and location to be in the note.

What is radiation? It is like a sickness that can mutate you?

Session Two Hundred and Thirty Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-07-17T03:31:49Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 229, July 9 2025 ==
[[File:Scarlet Rose Bar.webp|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 10:30PM on September 24th, 2157, with the party divvied up between their van parked outside the American Incorporated warehouse and the Scarlet Rose brothel nextdoor to that building. Currently, Kauri is remotely jacked into the AI network from the Scarlet Rose hunting for truck manifests and driver rosters after neutralizing a IT specialist who was working some overtime. Kauri has also grabbed a copy of the encrypted file that Corporate Hacker was working on, but has so far had no luck accessing its contents. Will the group manage to acquire the information they need without even entering the warehouse? What is in the mystery file? Has Thorfus found a new favorite beer? Find out next time; or not.

Copied file that American Inc. tech nor Kauri can decrypt. Not sure what it is.

Thorfus has turned down the volume of his collar radio so will only hear screaming or other loud noises.

Kauri gets past the barrier to the site manager's computer.

Last message on messaging system is from the IT guy, Phil Specter, that Kauri Paralysed. It is about this weird file that he is trying to decrypt. He has been in contact with central IT office at American Inc. Response - Great - I'm heading to Scarlet Rose, join us.

This file is happening at multiple sites.

Very last email is Phil's email with office about the file, they all have the same date, the 22nd, which is when they started showing up.

(The 20th is when we sent a message to big Asmodeus about our investigation so far.)

Kauri searches for shipping manifest information, and there is a massive database. It is specific to this location and not a central ledger for all locations.

Searching for AIC-002 and there is something on the 25th. Raw materials for heavy machinery dues out 8:00 AM to go to factory.

There is not a lot of traffic with that location. Most of it is in the other direction, stuff from here to the factory 8:00 AM on the 28th. 3 days later October 1st at 8:00 AM.

On the 30th there is one from AIC-002 to this location. Finished heavy machinery then on to a construction site.

Manifest includes what's on the truck and who the driver should be. It is usually the same person each time, but a different driver on the 1st of October.

Lenox Hull is multiple driver, Ernest Young is the October 1st driver. Not the regular route for Ernest Young, usually Lenox Hull.

Looks for Driver Roster. Lenox working there longer. Ernest more of a fill in person, consistently on different routes. Appends Thorfus' information to the file. Make Thorfus a mid-term length employee, and flags Thorfus as a transfer to this location, with his CDL, etc.

Back to Manifests replace Ernest with Thorfus. Konstadinos Periklis - Thorfus

Email Ernest that he is not working that route October 1st.

Velvet Vortex escorts the unsteady manager back to the table with his friends.

Kauri sends email to security guy to give up trying to unlock this encrypted file if he loves his family.

Located orientation manual for new drivers in email and Kauri copies that. Appears to be basic so common things, anything site specific need to ask any way.

Corporate ID. - Make a copy of the entire driver roster. Or - I lost my ID.

Kauri disconnects and Sylver and Hex start asking questions. Kauri tells them later, we need to leave.

Resurrects holds up some blister packs, we can make it really real!

He pulls out come cocaine. What does that do? You probably won't sleep tonight. I also have some red rapture - a combat drug, but side effect is euphoria. Syndorphin a pain med - also euphoria.

Thorfus continues enjoying [[Dragonfire IPA]], which is better than [[Antagonistic Carcass]].

Sylver and Velkin do cocaine.

Thofus - asked where he can get more. $150 for a keg of Dragonfire IPA. Thorfus acts like he's having trouble carrying the keg until he gets out and loads it in the van.

We drop hirelings at the metro station, then get to the hotel.

Velkin jacks into the deck to try to decrypt the file. He comes close, but fails.

Morning of September 25th:

Glompus is twitchy and has a headache.

9 AM arrival time at the factory. Original idea was close to closing time.

Truck with raw materials scheduled to go the next day and will be there overnight....

Review the orientation handbook for drivers. Generic for all locations.

Check in at front office, confirm the assignment for last minute assignment, keys for truck, recommended route, clearance for deviation via radio in truck. Go to truck, safety inspection, it should already be loaded. Arrival is handing over IDs. Driver gets keys in case something happens in the back. Note on some restricted runs, might not have access to the truck.

Procedure for lost IDs. Something will be entered into driver's record. First occurrence is not the end of the world. A pattern will have correction measures up to termination of employment.
Get new ID after report to front office.

It takes two tries, but Kauri finally decrypts the file.

Inside is a file folder with multiple files in it. AS Surveillance Files is the name of the folder. A lot of big, dense files. Technical specifications and contract stuff. The contract seems to be Advanced Systems is working as a gov't contractor for EUS and Netwatch. Netwatch is providing technical support in Surveillance Tech, AS is to work on, and American Inc. is to produce it. The tech background is that it came from Netwatch.

**Entities mentioned in the contract:**
[[Netwatch]], [[EUS]], [[Advanced Systems]], [[American Incorporated]], [[Orion Dominion]] - a silent partner and responsible for background technology involved.

Date of the Contract about 6 months ago. All files in folder are dated to 22nd September.

Specification Files have some names. Netwatch providing specs to Advanced Systems based on work done in conjunction with the Orion Dominion, and 12 people at Netwatch. Head of that team is [[Bruno Irenka]], lead researcher at Netwatch developed the specs that follow. No one at Orion Dominion mentioned by name.
Signatures on contract: Netwatch - Maximillian Urban, Advanced Systems - Jörn Willie, American Incorporated - Rolf Floriano, no signatures for Orion Dominion.

Quint works for Special Circumstances.

We put Azmodeus' case in a different room then call Quint, who was on.

Who does Special Circumstances work for. We are a division of a group of polities that want to see peaceful advancement of the citizens of the EUS including atificial citizens. We don't really have a name, people call us things. I think it's insulting to anyone not a member. [[The Civilized Worlds]]

Does the name Orion Dominion mean anything to you? Yes, I've been talking like we are a monolith. The Orion Dominion is a rival faction to Special Circumstances. They have a different view on liberty. It is kind of surprising to hear them.

We lay out what is in the contract.

On the one hand this answers everything. It would be nice to see an example of this chip. At this point it's not absolutely necessary.

Here is how I am interpreting it. We contacted Asmodeus as a representative of Artificial Lifeforms and human society so we could extend an olive branch and work with the EUS and share our technology and everything we've learned once the ones we are reaching out to are in alignment with what we believe.

Special Circumstances go in before official contact is made and verifies that people we contact are aligned with our views so they join the dominant bloc. We try to make sure that when someone joins it is another vote on our side of the equation, and they are here too. I haven't heard anything from higher ups about them.

So a couple things. A little bit of cold water that I was hinging on the truth.

You found this at a random AS computer and they didn't know why it was there. When I report to my superiors, it raises a few doubts in my mind. It really seems like a silver plater.

Someone with the know how to do this contract as a fake would be the one(s) who have the most to gain from it, but why?

I would transmit to my higher ups. You know sometimes you pull my drone out of storage and I'm not around, that's kind of not true. I'm always here because I'm me. You're an AI, yeah kind of. To reintroduce myself I am a special operative of the Special Circumstances of the Civilized Worlds.

Numerous Quintus is my name and I've been assigned to the world you're on.

Unfortunately, I am a little bit damages and can't sent information off. I do have supervisors in orbit or nearby, and with a powerful transmitter, I can send that information.

Netwatch and other government divisions can do that. They are lying low until they hear back from me.

We could ask Asmodeus, maybe he could do something. All of this evidence suggests he was being honest. I've been reluctant until we knew if he was involved in the breach of our communication security.

Seasoned operative, doing this for a few centuries now.

Broadcast that we are here, then get contacted. Obviously not send any sensitive information. I wouldn't be surprised if my superiors offer a position in Special Circumstances.

Assuming we can get in contact with our superiors, they would be as able if not more able to return you to your virtual world once they gained control of the machines on which it resides.

I am an artificial intelligence, technically, I am also alien.

Can or should we tell Asmodeus? If this information clears him, then go ahead and tell him and then tell him about me.

Asmodeus does know about other factions that have a different view about rights of AI. Orion Dominion believe that free determination shouldn't be a factor of whether they be allowed into the Civilized Worlds. They would bring you in as a subservient polity without your own opinion in the Civilized Worlds. 250 years ago there was this slave race of beatlemen and Orion Dominion tried to poison the waters. There were other important figures, but I think I was the most important.

If the Dominion already has its talons into your polities, it complicates things. We won't abandon it, but it changes the calculus of how we move forward.

Debate on whether we tell Asmodeus and what?

Do we tell Oya? As long as I mention the provenance of the information. So far, no question has arisen that Oya Union is involved. At most they are irrelevant, but could be helpful.

Perhaps talk to Oya first then talk to Asmodeus.

Talk to Mrs. Skin about plastic surgery.

Session Two Hundred and Twenty-Nine Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-07-10T03:10:15Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 229, July 9 2025 ==
[[File:AI Warehouse.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 8:30PM on September 24th, 2157, with the party driving their new van into College Point on their way to the Scarlet Rose and American Incorporated warehouse just beside it. Currently, the plan is to steal credentials from the manager who frequents the brothel and infiltrate the warehouse to access the truck manifest system and insert Thorfus/Fist as the driver on a run to the factory where the surveillance chips are made. Will it turn out to be that easy? Do the new hirelings have what it takes to make a positive contribution? How formidable are the security measures at a run-of-the-mill AI warehouse? Find out next time; or not.

We pick up our new hirelings. Thorfus drives to the Scarlet Rose.

Datafile, Analyze 0 AP, Append, Replace, Decrypt, Camera Stuff, possible combat.

Unlock to be able to jump nodes. Barrier is the subject it goes with.

Avatar Attack verb. Defend 0 AP, Frisk 0 AP, Glitch 0 AP, Sense 0 AP, Stun 0 AP

Can use one deck to hack a camera, but can't jump nodes.

Primary Deck: Camera, Delude, Unlock, Barrier.

Resurrects has drugs, Meta boosts hackers, perception, 3rd eye. Bad headache with potential addiction. Hex is interested, will do any drug once. Sylver isn't so sure about it.

Hex takes a Meta.

Slaut is like "slaughter" a pink powder. Might go a little psycho. More damage.

On a mission, it's all free. Outside a mission, we'll have to talk prices.

Sylver has the camera stuff and stun.

Hex does not have the camera stuff but has the other stuff.

Sylver has some file manipulation stuff. Both would rather use their decks instead of a borrowed deck.

DECK: 10 Slots 1 Point Bonus Access
Datafile, Barrier, Avatar, Decrypt, Analyze, Erase Paralyze, Append, Replace, Unlock, Stun.

Primary Deck for security. 3 bonus points of access.
Delude, Sense, Unlock, Lock, Terminate
Camera, Door, Transmission, Program

Sylver: Cameras, Avatars, some file stuff.

Hex: Doors, Avatars, some file stuff.

Kauri, Hex, Sylver, Resurrects, Velkin go in to get a party room, and Thorfus goes in to sit at the bar. Peronell, Glompus, & Druul stay in the van to keep an eye on the door, with Azra the backup medic.

Thorfus gives Velkin $1,000 since Velkin is out of cash. Rolf holds the door open for the group going in. Next show in about 10 minutes.

Thorfus waits until the others have been inside and until Rolf goes back inside. Thorfus heads to the bar.

Thorfus asks if they have Antagonistic Carcass beer, and they do, so he orders the biggest he has. Morgan pours a big mug. Morgan suggests that he might have another beer as good or possibly better.

A server finally gets to Kauri, Velkin, et. al. to take their order.

A show gets started - Amber Eclipse.

As Velvet Vortex comes out, the guy grabs her and hands her some money.

Velkin asks Velvet Vortex for use of a room for a bit for a "private party" in the back. Velkin pulls out some cash. Lean in close, That's fine. Your friend there, she's of age? I'll have a word with her and if she says it's alright, it'll be fine. $500 for two hours.

Kauri detects cyber dogs coming in and out, a camera, and multiple workstations.

Thorfus gets another beer sample and thinks it's better than Antagonistic Carcass, it is called Dragonfire IPA. Thorfus gets a full mug.

Someone does pop out of the door at the warehouse and is a guard with a gun, taking a smoke break, under the camera by the bays next to the garage. Glompus notes that it is about 10:15 PM when he comes out and stays outside for about 15 minutes, constantly checking his phone.

Kauri hacks in easily into a bland world since this is a new deck not yet customized instead of the faux medieval overlay.

No daemons on this computer, it has some files, and access to network messaging, basically email.

The dog runs away and up to a medieval looking scribe who asks Kauri "Who the hell are you?"

Kauri goes to Paralyze the "scribe." The scribe goes still. 1 Access Point used and 1 cycle on deck tied up.

Kauri resists paralyze from the dog, then casts stun on the dog. The damage is massive and disintegrates the dog.

Now in a new node, files and email system.

Read some messages. Machine belongs to Phil Spencer and it working late because of odd files appearing on machines. Last message communicating with someone at another office. Decrypted files from two days ago keep showing up on all the machines. Is this from the home office. Similar reports from other American Inc. offices. This is a serious security breach. They are in our machines. I will send some daemons around to see how they're doing this.

Kauri does an analyze and it is Phil's machine/server and has security programs. There seems to be one other daemon in the facility that can't get to Kauri. There is also a mystery encrypted file.

Phil has failed a few times trying to decrypt it.

Security alert settings are set to alert someone onsite.

Kauri tries to decrypt it and can't. Trying again, he does decrypt it and under it is a single file folder. Kauri tries to analyze to see what it is. We copy the file for later.

No manifests or driver records on the security computer.

There are 3 nodes past here that all go to the admin floor of the warehouse. Site manager behind a node lock.

From the security computer Kauri can unlock the node.

Session Two Hundred and Twenty-Eight Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-07-03T01:46:34Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 228, July 2 2025 ==
[[File:AI Warehouse.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 10:30PM on September 23rd, 2157, with the party having transported the explosives from Nadia's cache in the abandoned storefront to their hotel across from the airport. The group has now decided to attempt the infiltration of the American Incorporated warehouse near the Scarlet Rose, hoping to gain information about the truck deliveries to and from the factory that produces surveillance chips. As part of this plan, though, they need a few more hacking tools from Wasp, who should be able to deliver them in the morning. After that, it will just be a matter of waiting for the warehouse manager to visit his favorite dancer. Will the party be able to insert Thorfus as a driver in the AI database? Can they then assign him to a truck scheduled to visit the factory? Even if successful, will that get them in without confrontation? Find out next time; or not.

**Note To Kauri:** Adjust programs on decks to have hacking/data stuff on one deck.

$1,500.00 for a second copy of Lock & Unlock. On backup 2 until Kauri can determine which spells need to be moved to make a deck for infiltration missions.

Sylver & Hex can help fight DVLs &/or also help Kauri do data stuff.

Wasp will bring long guns tomorrow.

Decide who will carry explosives, or where we will keep them. In the van, etc.

News has intermittent stories about Malcolm, and talk of a reunion tour of Cyclotron.

Some talk of DMX gang and other terrorist activities attributed to them.

Prix mentions whether DMX might get curious about who else is blowing things up?

Simple surface level search of DMX to get more background on them.

They are the DXM Set if the full name of the gang. Reputation as a very aggressive, fearsome gang. They do things big and bloody and in the drug retail business. Based in downtown area. They seem to be a very close knit group. If not literal family, cousins. Hard for police to get information on DMX, since they are so close knit. Almost no activity outside downtown.

Look up Cyclotron to see if any of us resemble any of the rest of the band. It is only Malcolm and Druul, and Malcolm is the front man.

The night passes with no interruption.

Wasp calls in the morning and picked up our items and the programs we requested. By 9 am she is at the hotel and drops the stuff off.

We check out and meet Wasp to swap stuff to the van. Now long guns and explosives in van, and new programs.

We find a place to get some tarps and other tools from home improvement store. Tarps to cover long guns.

Basic Tool Kits can be used to heal Vikram and Snuffles. Cyberdoc or Basic Tool Kit can do a d6. Single application takes 1 minute of mission time.

Wasp gives us the address of a hotel, but has not made a reservation.

It is on Sutfin Blvd. almost where it intersects with Liberty Ave. South of Corona in the Richmond Hills area. It is in an area where Oya Union is responsible for the surveillance cameras.

This is a bit North of JFK Airport.

Wasp lets us know that it has its own parking lot so no one has to touch the van.

Kauri does a search for music stores so we can buy cases for the long guns. We find Music & More in the Richmond Hills area. The clerk is not surprised and rattles off common lengths for known weapons.

Glompus, Peronelle, Prix, Velkin, Vikram, Sniper Rifle + 1 magazine we pay $300 from party loot with Lightning Coin. This is so we don't need to leave anything in the van, risking losing it.

We go to the hotel to check in since we have a mission this evening.

The hotel is a bit seedier than the last one. 4 rooms for $400 per night. We pay for two nights. $800 total. No ID is not an issue. $50 more an he puts whatever down.

We take explosives and long guns to our room and leave Prix, Vikram, and Snuffles in the hotel room.

**We used party funds to buy a new deck with 10 memory slots:**

**New Deck:** (So we can put Barrier, Lock, Unlock, Append, Delude, Analyze, Erase, Datafile, Decrypt, Replace)

10 memory-10 shielding-3 CPU only 1 bonus access. $5,000 for a Yamagata Tonto (one up from a Scrap Deck).

This leaves no room for combat programs, so other two hackers can do fighting, but then not have Kauri's bonus for fighting DVLs.... Or other hackers to data manipulation and Kauri do fighting....

Session Two Hundred and Twenty-Eight Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-07-03T01:31:20Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

Session Two Hundred and Twenty-Seven Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-06-26T03:07:38Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 227, June 25 2025 ==
[[File:AIFactory002.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 3:15PM on September 23rd, 2157, with the party having just finished their interviews with potential hirelings at O'Reilly's Bar near the airport. With that taken care of, the group now sits down with the hacker (and former American Incorporated employee) named Sylver to pick his brain about the AI factory that manufactures the surveillance chips they need to steal. Can Sylver provide useful intelligence? What plan will the party put together to accomplish their mission from Oya Union? Will it involve copious amounts of explosives? Will Druul end up being responsible for the revival of Malcolm's career with Cycletron? Find out next time; or not.

We talk to Sylver and say job by another corporation.

Kauri shows him the map. Oh that's American Inc. Building 2. I used to work there with my whole team right before they fired us and replaced us with Health & Wellness stooges.

I mean this map looks pretty accurate for the external security systems.

One thing to keep in mind, the exterior security is run through a security server in the primary gatehouse - pointing to the building at the entrance.

Everything on that building is controlled by a separate server in a lower level.

He asks where in the building complex you need to get to?

Bottom level with labs and clean room.

The second floor is offices for executives.

Main floor makes machines for other factories.

1st sublevel is systems, furnace, HVAC, generators.

2nd sublevel is security and labs.

3rd sublevel is server for security on turrets, labs, and clean room.

There are stairs, a cargo elevator. I could probably sketch some stuff out for you. It will be tough.

Is there a regular schedule for the trucks. Stuff from factories to distribution centers.

Clean room seemed pretty high tech and labs, but they didn't let us close.

It'd be pretty easy to intercept a truck would be pretty easy, unless it depends on which truck.

Getting in easier than getting out.

It's a pretty simple building inside.

A lot of cameras and physical security inside.

3 or 4 cameras on every floor to cover landings at stairs and elevator.

No cameras in the clean room.

No turrets inside. There are some motion detectors near staircase landings and elevators. Easy to avoid or neutralize.

What about sewers? You're not gonna get anything there. There are connections. None of us, but maybe a drone if you have an infiltration drone.

A drone would have to be water and sewage proof. As part of a multi-pronged approach, maybe.

Messing with HVAC or generators on 1st sub level it would go to emergency power and would shut down about everything that isn't essential. There is some redundancy on 3rd level with battery backups, but that would be like a 3 alarm fire.

I put together the system before I got fired. I didn't train the new guys, so I don't know who did.

I keep my own scripts and stuff on some of the servers. If passwords are not changed, I can do a lot.

There are quite a few demons in the systems, multiple on every level.

What time line? Sooner rather than later, but right more important than fast.

I don't really have any friends on the inside.

Major question that jumps out to me (Sylver) - How are you getting in to the building? I might be able to help with some of the cameras, etc.

Discuss possibility of copying an ID.

How long to copy it? About 10 minutes.

I assume you have a friend who makes fake IDs then put the cloned information onto it.

That should get one of you through the gates.

Can we clone a truck? They have IDs and Barcodes on them. They know which trucks are supposed to come in. So even if buy as American Incorporated, it might still raise attention.

Police and fire departments would be called.

I know they don't do any physical checks of the back of the trucks. The trucks from our facilities, driven by our people, they are only our trucks. Sylver brought it up and they dismissed the idea.

Best to steal a truck they expect to see.

If we tried to hack American Incorporated email to get the inside scoop, it would let us get the route of a truck that would be appropriate.

Any other AI facility will be more open than this, for this they went all out.

A distribution center rather than a factory, since they are run more loosly.

Every time we had a message to be careful with keys and IDs it was a distribution center.

That would make it easier to get into the manifest center.

(Warehouse next to brothel is an AI distribution center.)

Get a drone into the gatehouse to blind the external system.

Manifest for a truck to go there, clone an ID. If break into a distribution center can get information on drivers. Drive truck into garage. Get through garage to cargo elevator. On ground level is freight elevator with doors on both sides. From back of the truck across shipping area is what you have to negotiate. To cameras in back corners away from the doors, angles at 45 degrees across the room.

While Sylver goes to get a drink, we discuss telling him the facts without the details of specifics.

Physical chip, schematic, designer & inventor names, & who did deal/contract or contents of contract with Advanced Systems/Cisco and American Incorporated. We think developed at Advanced Systems. Contract sounds like something that would be on the second floor.

Chief Executive and immediate underling have the two corner offices above the garage. There's cameras and heat sensors in offices and demons on their terminals. The guy Sylver knows works on 2nd floor. His credentials would get you into some of the terminals on the second floor.

The schematic is possibly in clean room or in labs on second sublevel or the executive level on 2nd floor. Guys from lab are freaky. They loaded up volunteers with a lot of cyber and it had consequences.

Truck - garage - freight elevator - clean room - freight elevator - executive office - exit.

Possible split up at freight elevator. If offices within 90 feet of garage it would be in range of Kauri. Do it on way out after have chips. 2 or 3 demons on every floor. On executive floor a demon in chief executive's station.

Most deliveries done by 6:00 PM. Garage doors hooked into security system, so would require hacking after hours. After 6:00 PM business offices closed. Factory line works overnight. Security around the clock. Labs and clean room closes at 6:00 PM. Clean rooms opens 8:00 AM, no one allowed in early or to stay late in clean room.

Sylver gives us his phone number and personal net account.

We buy suitcases to hold the explosives, and take our new van to get the explosives, then drive back to the hotel and go to our room.

The hotel has valet only parking. It costs $25.00 a day to park. We pay for one day since we have one day left at the hotel.

We call Wasp to get the verb append and to discuss looking for a new place. Wasp will relay to them that they are good for the mission.

Session Two Hundred and Twenty-Six Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-06-19T02:59:48Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 226, June 18 2025 ==
[[File:1153182 58587 large expl.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 8:30PM on September 22nd, 2157, with the party having just purchased a large amount of explosives from the stash that Nadia keeps in an abandoned storefront in the Corona neighborhood. With that final piece, the group's recon mission to the American Incorporated factory winds to a close and it is now time for the party to formulate a concrete plan for absconding with the surveillance chips being manufactured on behalf of Advanced Systems (along with schematics and the identity of the chip's designers if possible). Can the group come up with a way to complete their mission that does not involve a frontal assault? Will there direct message entice Sylver, former American Incorporated hacker, to get in touch? Was it wise to provide Glompus with so many explosives? Find out next time; or not.

Leet Speak Handle Red Gold Avatar Dragon with a kitten ears headband.

Message to Silver on unsecure network, former tech handling security but let go.
I've been screwed over similarly. Would like to discuss further. Payout potential.

gould, g0u1d

name: /2[-|)(_+[]|_|)

23d901d

Velkin calls Wasp and she says she has some bites on offers of work, suggests meeting on neutral ground for interviews. Some are very desperate for paying work. I think I can get most of them to meet tomorrow. I have two hackers, including the one who worked for American Incorporated and a couple of medics.

Hacker for American Inc. Sylvester Todo, goes by Silver.

Hacker Anise Hexpolina good word on her.

Jacob Jesus, goes by Resurrects. Really desperate medic. is sick and needs expensive medicine.

Azara Alina heard good things about her, former military medic.

We will meet at a bar, O'Reily's near the airport. Ditmars Blvd. near a giant rock park. 2:00 PM

She was able to source the radios/tabs. (Including enough for the 4 hires.) Call it even since Asmodeus retainer covers it.

Wasp can be at the meeting to vouch for us to them and vice/versa.

Wasp talked to Enkidu and has a white cargo van for us. Some rust, but runs well. She will need money to cover the van. $5,000.

We find an open network on the way home to see if Silver has responded.

There is a reply from Silver: "F.U.A.I"

We have an uneventful ride back to the island. Not many in our train car.

Prix brings a plate that isn't spicy for Velkin so he isn't compromised during a mission.

**General Questions for Potential Hires:**
* Previous Affiliations/Background with Advanced Systems, American Incorporated, AS Cisco, Health & Wellness Bank (cyber security)
* Experience
* ? Test for hackers? Set up a test deck and try to get past Kauri.
*

**List of Questions for Silver:**

* Where would the manifest be?
* Where are the gaping holes/weaknesses in the current security?

While we are preparing questions Prix asks, Why is Druul on TV? It looks like current Druul in handcuffs and being perp walked to a police station. Lead singer Malcolm for Cyclotron brought in for questioning on recent terror attacks.

Kauri goes online to see what is going on. The rumor is he was caught on a surveillance camera near the latest bombing.

Prix starts packing up her cookbooks and we decide to eat the meal before moving off.

There is a knock at the door and it is Harry and he looks nervous when Velkin goes to the door.

Velkin says did you hear? That son of a bitch, did you hear? Malcolm was always anti-corpo, but this is a bit extreme.

The wife, Courtney, says it's probably a mistake. It has to be an imposter. Anything we can do for you? I can have her whip something up for you. Harry offers to get cookies and Velkin fixes a couple of plates. I'll smooth it all over with Courtney, I'm sure it'll be fine.

I was thinking this was staged because there would be a comeback.

Harry says that he mentioned it at work today. Velkin points out that Harry would have to move because of all the media, etc.

Kauri does a search for the actual footage of the sighting. No one has the footage and no one has seen it, but there is supposed to be footage.

At this time he is not a suspect, but a person of interest and potential witness.

We call Wasp and it rings for awhile and flips over to voicemail. Hangup no message.

About ten minutes later the phone rings and it is Wasp, there is a lot of background noise. She shouts, "Yeah, what is it?" Velkin tells us that Mrs. Skin's surgeons gave one of us a famous face. We are worried that more of us might have famous faces.

Someone recognized Druul as Malcolm and we are concerned someone might come asking questions.

The hotel South of the Airport is probably still available.

So you're giving up the apartment? You're welcome to move in, the rent's paid.

We leave about 12:30 AM and hide the rifles and sneak out and head to train towards the airport with Druul all bundled up.

We get to the hotel and ask for a room.

2 sets of connected rooms on the 6th floor across the hall. 601 - 604. Three nights four rooms and a pet $3,600. Velkin suggests only 2 nights - $2,400. Velkin offers an extra $300 for no ID.

The hotel clerk squints at Druul who is obviously obscuring their face, which is why we must have gotten away from using ID.

Next morning, Malcolm released and through his lawyer denies any association with explosions or terrorists. He was considering retirement, but obviously, the corporate powers that be are still a threat so he will be more active than ever, check cylotron.com for more.

Groundless and completely circumstantial evidence. He did not witness or take part in any terroristic activities.

Kauri's phone rings, it is Wasp. Hey, I'm on my way, did you check in to the hotel. We'll meet her at O'Reily's. Should be a block from the hotel. She'll be there about 12:30 pm. I'll tell you what I know about these guys. I don't have a new place for you yet.

We go down and there is a new person at the desk and note us. We look up and down the street and to the left is immediately O'Reilly's. We are way ahead of Wasp. It is very quiet.

Thorfus asks for [[Antogonistic Carcass]], it is craft brew, so they don't have it. We find a booth at the back. He brings a pitcher and glasses.

Wasp shows up and joins us. Vans out front, here's the keys which Thorfus grabs, radio tabs are in the back. We ask about Malcolm of Cyclotron. Wasp will check in to find out about Malcolm. She'll also look into a new place. She will bring us our rifles.

The medics Azra Eliana pretty good references, married straight out of military. Seems pretty serious. It is a job for her.

Resurrects has some sort of late stage cancer and needs some imuno boosters that are really expensive. I think he's coming her from Bellview. Pretty good references. Only thing I heard he is a risk taken (reckless). No word of compromised jobs because of it.

Hackers - Hexpaulina - not from around here. Sparse record. What there is, people seem pretty happy with her. Distracted is what I heard which is the only critical thing I heard.

Silver is all pro, corpo for years, Only freelancing maybe six months. People seem happy with him. Used to work for American Incorporated. (Also has it out for Health & Wellness)

Wasp will met them up front and send them back individually.

A bit before 2 a woman with a buzzcut and some camo clothing comes in and walks up to Wasp who points her back to us.

[[Azraliana]], here about the job. So uh, need a medic? 5 years military out about a year. Toughest military job was pacification of some place and chemical weapon use. Since then nothing too bad yet. Did have one job go a bit sideways, Operator hit, but patched up until got to a surgeon.
Positive or Negative affiliations with corporations? Since military never worked with any corporations. Maybe one removed. Thorfus asks for her opinions on corporations around here. Just a fact of life. I've worked mostly with Mondo. He's the fixer up til now. One off job, how much are you paying again?

Another person with dark lanky hair with chromed eyes has sat with Wasp.

[[Silver]] Guy with chromed eyes long hair, and shirt with a target and a black and white cat holding a yellow bird. Name's Silver. I heard we have a job something related to my former employers. You're hitting them, I want in. We're hitting them hard. Let's do it, I'm in.

Place is heavy on defensives. Your reputation proceeds you. What about the other corporations? I'm done with all of them. Actually, I'm happy now. Free operator taking jobs I want to do. I heard $50K from Wasp. I'm definitely in. Information is a bit out of date. People doing their cyber security probably haven't changed all the passwords.

He takes out his deck and slots in cables and cartridges and goes against one of Kauri's spare decks. He can't break Kauri's defenses. He is knocking at the door but can't get in. He is a bit frustrated. You're pretty good, are you former corporate. Well trained.

I guess I'm backup on this, you're the star? Kauri says, your skills are good. You're training, where's it from. Formal training through corpo school system. What made you want to be a hacker? I was pretty good and thought I was appreciated until let go for a few dollars for worse security. I can tell your defense is really good. I can tell you weren't from the corpo schools.

I get to see you in action, pick up a few things. Let Wasp know I'm in and available whenever for this job. They're still messing with me. I've been talking crap about them on the net, and I think they're taking notice. I post a lot on the net and message boards and getting some weird messages from brand new accounts messaging me. I wasn't going to take this job with Wasp, then I got another one and called Wasp right back, they're still messing with me may. I can't let that go unanswered.

I think American Inc. might be using some AS Cisco. The latest icon that tried to contact me has a dragon in the logo.

We ask him to hang around until we finish the other interviews. He goes to Wasp.

A dark skinned woman with enormous headphones with a hex pattern all over her skin.

I'm [[Anise Paulina]], known as [[Hex]], I hear you need a hacker. My specialty is breaking in to systems and messing with security systems, that's my thing. Top of class at Health & Wellness school. Got certifications and went freelance. Don't hate them, don't like them. Will do jobs with or against corpos, it's a job, it's not personal. Been out of corpo school two years. Did a couple dozen jobs.

Toughest job completed/most proud of. I worked with a crew broke into a lab. It was some kind of new augmentation, experimental. Lifted the prototype. A big team, I took care of the doors. Thought it would take all night, but we got done in time to hit a restaurant later.

Job that went sideways. Nothing too bad. One time I did get knocked out. Hitting a corpo installation, had some really sick demons in the system, nothing I'd ever seen before. Blood burst from my noise, fried my jack cable, had to get it replaced. We got what we needed, but I was out of it.

Kauri does the test. It starts off as a tie but Kauri recovers. The veil is torn. Her artificial world is like feral Hello Kitty's tearing apart the walls. Wasp has my contact info.

Last person shuffles over. Multiple layers of clothes, his hair is basically gone, he is skeletal. He sits and has to clear his throat and spits a big glob on the floor. I am Jesus Resurects, medic looking for work. I've been going this decades. Community Clinic when first got license, no money so took night jobs. I'm surprised I don't know anyone in your group. I don't mind working with newbies. I'll probably die doing this. Any pro or con affiliations with corpos. I've worked for an against all of them. No one holds anything against medics. Sometimes a job goes sideways.

I have my own kit, I don't trust anyone else. Don't worry about it. I load up after every mission, so I'm good. Anything you need, I've got and a good selection of enhancers. You want to tear down walls with bare hands, I've got something for it. You want to dodge bullets, I got it.

What about physical? I'm not here to fight, I'm a medic. I can still shoot if it comes to it. If you need someone to carry a few hundred pounds extra equipment, that's not me. I'm not afraid to use enhancers myself, I won't cut my life short. I'll be flying high, you don't have to worry about me keeping up.

Resurrects has worked with every fixer in town and has worked some really big jobs.

After the interviews, Wasp leaves with Enkidu who gives her a ride so Silver comes back to talk to us about the job.

Session Two Hundred and Twenty-Four Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-06-05T03:03:23Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 224, June 4 2025 ==
[[File:AIFactory 002.webp|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 3:00PM on September 21st, 2157, with the party having just spoken with Wasp and Evelyn Rackham in preparation for their raid on the American Incorporated factory in which the new surveillance microchips are produced. From Rackham, they know that Health and Wellness Bank provides security for the Corona borough; from Wasp, they have requested some trustworthy freelancers to round out the group. Velkin has also suggested a field trip to get a look at the factory in question. Will this be enough to accomplish their infiltration and industrial espionage? Is there a return trip to the Scarlet Rose in the future? Is the party on the cusp of finishing Asmodeus's mission? Find out next time; or not.

We plan to take a bus in the morning and go by the 3 factory complex.

We find job listings and there are some for drivers needing a CDL.

We search "Reddit" for disgruntled employees and find "Sylver" with an avatar of a black and white cat. He worked on security at a 3 factory location and was let go when Health & Wellness Bank was given the job for the system he helped design. He posted over a year and it petered off but posted as recently as 2 days ago. Previously he was trying to freelance, looking for work.

We think about a cover story to reach out to him that we got screwed by Health & Wellness, maybe we could work together.

News about "repeated terrorist attacks across the boroughs and a joint solution for security & surveillance is needed."

We have dinner. Prix has found the recipes she is really good at and is not branching out and sometimes it isn't as good.

As we leave, we finally see Harry, Cordelia's husband, across the hall. He says, "Courtney, you said they were musicians, but I saw you like 5 years ago at the Fremont. You're Malcolm the front man for Cyclotron." She said you guys were just getting started.

Harry goes and gets a CD labeled "Cyclotron", can you sign this? From Malcolm to Harry.

She looks around, where are the other fellows that were here the other day? "Malcolm" said that they were the "crew" checking things out.

Druul bought a CD of Cybertron and

Lady at table of knives and survival gear says, "Hey, I know you! Pointing at Thorfus."

Aliens . I think aliens blew up the police station and the authorities came in and cleared out the undermarket.

Revolutionaries/Resistance against the Puppet Masters in the upcoming Revolution.

I have a full case of better stuff than before and I also have plastique.

We're too close to surveillance central. She points at the sky. Yeah, Aliens, and mind controllers.

Transport Cards rife with 7G and RFID and all that.

In fact, I'm pretty sure, she points at Corona, they're manufacturing alien tech at the factory up the street. Right here. I walk everywhere, you hear people talking. They don't say it's alien, but it's aliens. Probably aliens working with AI.

Thorfus says, you have no idea how right you are.

She has one drone, not long range. Druul flies it but the cameras work via jack. Velkin jacks in to the drone. When he first plugs in there is a bit of static behind his eyes and a bit of static and the image from the camera comes together.

Focus up to 1KM away to read a newspaper.

Fellow Revolutionary price of $2K, Druul convinces her to take $1.7K.

She is here most days and often sleeps here. I keep the good stuff in a safe place, just come by at night, this is closed up.

Session Two Hundred and Twenty-Three Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-05-29T03:11:46Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 223, May 28 2025 ==
[[File:Microchip Factory.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 8:15PM on September 20th, 2157, with the party fleeing the scene of another impromptu pyrotechnic demonstration caused by the perhaps somewhat overzealous application of explosives when attempting the subtle extraction of information from a government building. Did the group, in fact, obtain the information from the Office of Environmental Health and Engineering they need to track down American Incorporated's microchip manufactory? Will the party manage to evade once again the authorities and deflect blame to the DMX Gang? Should the heroes continue to trust Glompus with things that go boom? Find out next time; or not.

Thorfus, Vikram, Velkin, Kauri, and Druul gather at the alley opening onto the street and Kauri hacks a camera to be two people going the other direction from us looking different from us with DMX tattoos.

Glompus goes the direction that meets up with the path of the rest of us as we work our way home.

We go to a subway station that already has a pair of cops manually scanning IDs.

A train arrives and we get to the next stop across the water to the island and avoid the stopped trains out of Astoria.

We make it home to the smells of a meal prepared by Prix.

Kauri reviews the American Incorporated clean room information he retrieved.

The facility with a permit for a certified clean room at Corona Avenue and 90th, AIMC002 (no indication of what it means.)
General nature of facility is listed.
Large building with 5 stories, 2 above and 3 below. and clean room is on the 3rd sublevel (bottom). Shared with a server installation on same floor.

1st sublevel is HVAC and electrical. Upper floors doesn't say much. Ground level makes heavy machinery, and offices on 2nd floor. 2nd sublevel not much mention.

Floor plan is only for the clean room.

There are 3 stairwells, 2 elevators, and a freight elevator all connect to the 3rd subfloor.

This is the only American Incorporated facility with a clean room.

Prix points at the TV and says, "Oh Look, your friend." Evan was on TV. Another person is now on talking. Several of the borough councils have voted existing contracts with security software with recent string of terrorist activity. Open bids for security contracts for the entire sprawl instead of one borough at a time. At this time, Advanced Systems has the inside track on the new city-wide track. It is anticipated to be done at the end of October.

We talk to Quint and tell him we think we found the factory with a server and clean room in 3rd sublevel of a plant. Are you breaking in, or what?

Velkin asks about support. I'm not really local to you right now. If you continue with success. I was hoping for a bit more before I pulled any strings, like a sample of the hardware, I'm sure I can get help.

I think I can talk my superiors into meeting with you once you get hands on one of those chips. That can tell us a lot about its provenance. I'm going on assumption American Incorporated didn't come up with this on their own.

Fill me in on what you know and I'll go see what I can find out.

We tell him what we know.

We decide to lay low until we hear back from Quint.

We wait around taking it easy all day and in the afternoon, Quint starts talking and tells us he's done some poking around and has a bit of information for us.

The three factories there, yeah, they're really keeping it hush, hush. I was able to poke around the outside. I have a slight idea of the security they have there.

Here's what I can tell:

2 separate security systems. A perimeter outside the factory itself. Each factory on a lot with parking guardhouse, turrets, cameras, which is separate from the factory itself. Different systems by different companies with separate servers. The outside server is in the guardhouse. The inside one is in the building you found. They have cyber experts. No record of demons, etc.

Cameras, turrets, heat sensors, if this is the place, they are probably using those chips in the security system. They have a robust contract with mercenaries for security. Probably an outer and inner team. Couldn't find out anything about numbers.

The cover story is they manufacture heavy machinery with garages, motor pool, etc. for shipping out from the port.

Sublevel 1 has HVAC and electrical.
Sublevel 2 is where I think they have the inside security barracks & some labs.
Sublevel 3 is the clean room and chip manufacturing.

Stairwells in corners, regular elevators more central, not sure about freight elevator.

Quint recommended hacking outside security, walking past guards, get to garage and take freight elevator down to clean room.

Oh, by the way, I've been feeling up my superiors about meeting up, if you can collect the goods, then we can work something out.

To be honest, you guys seem pretty cool. I wouldn't mind dropping in to meet you.

The chips would be in the servers, so if they are using in the exterior system, if you just wanted to grab one, that might be the way to go.

By turrets he means guns, lethal means. Hooked to system and may also be able to be operated manually.

Hacking would have to be really good with surgical precision to get in and get out.

We tell him a minimum of a couple days for us to have something concrete.

Kauri gets his deck and talks to little Asmodeus and ask him how long until we hear back?

Then everything should be fine to move ahead. I don't have any other instructions to impart at this time. I believe my larger instantiation just wanted a status report.

I am not aware of a way for him to get in contact here in the city, the various networks are monitored by Netwatch, and it would be dangerous for him and anyone he contacted.

Are you requesting direct contact with my larger instantiation. He gets very formal when he asks if we are requesting contact with his larger instantiation, then goes very still.

Not at this time.

Have there been any developments in the investigation.

Nothing more than we've already reported.

Please be sure to take advantage of your colleague Wasp, she is knowledgeable about the city and could take advantage of what you've already uncovered.

We decide to figure out which company is running surveillance for the areas where the factories are.

We call Evelyn Rackham at Oya Union and ask which security companies do security at each of the factories.

This information is only of limited duration. The three factory campus in Corona Bureau, Health and Wellness Bank is running security at that one and one other.

Do we know anything about the security at each campus? We don't have details at each campus, but American Incorporated does their own security. Hmm, I suppose that may be a way to narrow it down if we knew who had a contract at which place. Maybe we can pull some strings to get more information.

If we can narrow it down, how easy is it to get building plans? American Incorporated is a major player and does construction and is in with the government, and build most of their own facilities. They don't have to file every piece of every permit. We might be able to dig up something. If we start looking too closely at any one facility, we'd have to work closely.

If you narrow it down to one facility that it likely, we can coordinate something, but won't need to push to hard. I have a hard stop for a meeting, and will pass along to special projects that things are moving along.

We ask Wasp for a hacker who is good with turrets, cameras, etc. and a couple of medics.

Idea of getting an American Incorporated truck from the factory next to the strip club.

Be snappy, I'm heading out clubbing in a minute.

Do you have any restrictions on who I deal with? American Incorporated, Health & Wellness Bank, and Advanced Systems. It might work to get former employees. I have an idea for a former American Incorporated for the hacker. What offering for pay. Usually percentage of the job, like a share, or a flat rate. (We are being paid 500K for Cisco chip. We offer $50k & 10% of any bonuses. 2 hackers & 2 medics.)

Session Two Hundred and Twenty-Two Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-05-15T03:25:09Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 222, May 14 2025 ==
[[File:Astoria DepartmentEnvironmentalHealthEng.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 4:00PM on September 20th, 2157, with the party having just cased the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering building in Astoria. From conversations with employees inside, they have determined that records of approved permits are kept in that governmental office's basement. Now, they intend to loiter nearby until after the office closes before returning for an attempt to extract information on any clean room permitting that American Incorporated may have received. With that knowledge, they hope to narrow down which factory is producing the advanced surveillance microchips on behalf of Advanced Systems. Will this infiltration mission go as smoothly as their last one in College Point? Is the party finally focused on their primary mission? Find out next time; or not.

We wait at a sushi place.

After we pay we each receive a plastic wrapped folded cookie that turns out to have a secret message in it.

Glompus:

Velkin:

Thorfus:
"There will be a happy romance for you shortly." 4-2-2

Druul:

Kauri:

Vikram:

We walk around the parking lot and people are leaving the building.

We get some looks and the desk guard notices us and Velkin tells us that a friend dropped their wallet, "Leroy Jenkins." The guard goes to look and no wallets.

Velkin pickpockets the office keys to make our job easier.

The guard delays and gives us glances and keeps an eye on us, and waits until we leave the parking lot.

There are two cars in the parking lot and lights in one of the windows.

It isn't quite dark.

We go for another walk, get some ice cream.

Still not dark, another walk.

We walk by and see two people inside two security guards chatting at the front desk until they do rounds.

We set up shop behind the building to be obscured from easy view.

Kauri and Velkin sneak around to try to hack the computer system to see if we can find the information we seek without having to break in.

Kauri gains access to a computer in the basement.

There are no security avatars.

It is just someone's work computer. Someone named Denning in the Records Department.

It seems like maybe he works to ensure everything is filed correctly and digitizing records.

There are some databases with copies of records from this office that he has been busy scanning in.

Most items on this computer are categorized by date.

A different computer is the primary database, so this one is just gathering information.

Kauri sees connections off this node to other machines on the network.

Currently, two connections.

Glompus sees the other night watchman and goes behind the desk. The other stands up and kicks chair to the other one.

Kauri enters a node and comes face to face with a bird made of silver/chrome and it might be a chrome bald eagle with eyes that immediately start shooting lightning at him.

The bird alerts and hits Kauri hard, and blood shoots from his nose.

Kauri and the bird exchange attacks and Kauri drops it.

Kauri is in the heart of a very large database.

Glompus on the phone gets ahold of someone and points down the hallway with a motion of pulling a lever.

The other guard heads down the hallway.

Glompus shoots at the guard by the desk, shatters the window, and missed.

The guard dives, the other guy dives forward and is out of sight.

Kauri has understanding of the organizing file structure and finds permit information for American Incorporated.

The rest of us run around the sides of the building towards the street.

Glopmus lobs a grenade through the window and devastates the reception area.

Lights on the police car light up up the street, just as Druul comes around one side and Thorfus the other side.

Thorfus turns and runs to the cross street on the other side of the block to avoid being seen by the police.

Kauri uses Delude to obscure what file he looked at.

Thorfus grabs Vikram as he goes by.

Velkin and Kauri follow Thorfus and Vikram.

Glompus across the street.

Druul runs back the way he came to get to the back of the building.

Druul uses a piece of chalk to graffiti the DMX on the side of the building then keeps running.

Glompus is on the stoop of a brownstone and there is no ally or passage between buildings, so he can run down the street to a cross street.

Glompus moves quickly but sneakily and avoids being seen by the cop who screeches to a halt in front of the now burning building.

Session Two Hundred and Twenty-One Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-05-08T03:12:29Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 221, May 72025 ==
[[File:Facechange.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 7:00PM on September 9th, 2157, with the party laying low at the Haven Apartments after the first batch of surgeries at Mrs. Skin's Cyber Clinic to change their faces. There is now a four-day period of recuperation before the next batch of party members goes under the knife. The group also has some leads on their mission to steal surveillance tech from ASSysCo on behalf of Oya Union -- they are considering the possibility of another raid on government offices to find out which of American Incorporated's factories has a certified clean room (a requirement for advanced microchip manufacture). Will this indirect approach pan out for the party? Can they trust Asmodeus, who has requested the group check-in with his larger instantiation? Are the new faces enough to obscure their identities? Find out next time; or not.

First four recovering from cosmetic surgery.

Office of Environmental Services and Certifications is the office that certifies clean rooms.

Oya Union folder 10 factories and 50 warehouses.

We discuss the need for IDs that will pass scrutiny. Wasp says since we don't need them for at least a week, she can handle it. Wasp suggested not telling Oya Union too much about us so they don't have something they can hold over us.

All will include driving

Glompus - Demolitions

Performance License (Busking) for Druul.

Network Infrastructure for Kauri.

Velkin - P.I.

Thorfus - License to drive/ CDL.

Prix - Food Handling.

Peronell - CDL.

Vikram - Personal Assistant.

Snuffles - Certified Companion/Emotional Support Dog.

Wasp goes back to her apartment.

Thorfus asks Wasp about how to get more of the beer without carrying a keg all over town which draws attention.

Druul asks Thorfus to teach him Ancient Dwarven.

Thorfus asks what Common is called in this world? English.

Are any of the other languages we speak from Curabel exist in this world?

[[Antagonistic Carcass]]. $850 20% premium so $1,020 for a keg. $50 for a second tap.

$100/day for all of us to order in food delivery.

A few days later, a whole story about an explosion near the water in College Point and an attempted assassination of Evan Braden. It seems that he survived the explosion, tho his brother and of AS Cisco was killed.

Thorfus says, thanks independent operators for making it look like us.

Talk of is it connected and pictures of Wasp and Thorfus from the van.

One show, the talking head mentions an inside connection mentions that it all may be this DMX group might have spread to the College Point area, and some sort of inter gang warfare. From Unnamed Sources.

The first four recovery days pass.

It is clear that Evan Braden's meeting to expose corruption is still taking place.

This will be the day the rest of us go in for surgery, on the 14th of September.

On the night of the 13th Wasp asks if we'll need a ride to and from Lucky Cat Win-Win and the clinic.

Wasp elects to get some minor surgery to not look as much like the picture selected on the news.

Enkidu drives the party to Mrs. Skins and the party is hustled into the back.

Thorfus stays at the apartment with the first batch.

The surgeries go well and they make it home OK.

There is a regimine of drugs to take.

Evan Braden's meeting will be televised, so we watch it, although those fresh from surgery are loopy.

Evan Braden has a long monologue about his predecessor's shortcomings and moral failing but didn't want to talk about them, but still talked about them. He mentioned his brother near the beginning but made no suggestion that it was connected to Oya Union.

Went right into Oya Union and their surveillance software.

Loizumi Miku was found murdered by maintenance workers and her work disappeared around the time she lost her life. Suggests Oya Union behind that without saying it.

He moves to have the contract with Oya Union terminated for breach.

After that one of the other council members we hadn't come across, Noah Irina, would have had seniority on Evan except he was elevated. He asked pointed questions about what exactly were the breaches in the contract. Other than Councilor Braden's distaste for Oya Union can he point to anything specific.

It comes down to a vote, and by one vote Evan Braden's motion to cancel the Oya Union contract fails.

The meeting comes to a close with Evan promising a full accounting of the surveillance software and an attempt to re-create Ms. Miku's work. He is only tabling this for now and will bring it up at the next meeting.

Five days later brings us to the 19th. Nothing else comes up related to Evan Braden.

By the end of this time, Druul is speaking Ancient Dwarven due to his skills.

Wasp has questions about what languages we are speaking, and we make excuses and she thinks it is Esperanto. More like a code.

Velkin is decent with the deck as a backup to Kauri.

Thorfus orders another keg.

Prix looks more like she did in Curabel, Peronelle more elven, Vikram more like his Jinni form.

Kauri goes with a random face.

Velkin a random face.

We get Wasp to give us a ride to the new place so we can transport all the weapons, etc. to the new place.

She will keep the apartment in College Point since that is her base.

She gives us our new IDs and says the real test is if anyone runs it against the database for that credential.

Electrical Substation at end of the alley, and connect to network there using the credentials to drop off the file. Somehow Big Asmodeus will get the information, whether it is an alert or a periodic check in.

We discuss precautions to prevent Little Asmodeus from giving away our plans.

We plan to tell Asmodeus what we have learned, but no what we are planning to do.

Druul saw an ad and knows where to go to get a metal carrying case, one for Asmodeus in the fancy deck, and another for Quint, and on the way to drop us off at the new apartment, she drops us off at the substation.

We decide not to tell her to keep her out of the loop for her safety and ours.

$200 for cases. High quality like treasure chest but in more portable form. 1 inventory slot each in inventory. One for the Deck and one for the Drone. They are in the boxes when we say they are.

18th Ave. & 121st and have Wasp park a short distance away, we walk to substation and log in with a different deck.

We have mini Asmodeus in the case and bring it with us.

Kauri detects the network easily enough and the credentials let him pass security and finds folder of where to leave the file of what we have learned. We are working on a plan to determine how to locate the facilities.

There is no sign of Big Asmodeus. Nothing happens when the file is dropped.

We then head back to the van and Wasp drives us to our new apartment on the island.

Wasp takes a slight detour to Astoria near Broadway and 31st for the office of Health & Environmental Engineering. It is an older building. It is only a 2 story building with a smaller parking lot that seems full.

Outside security doesn't seem to be any. No signs of extra police presence.

Residential neighborhood.

There are manhole covers.

It is not far back from the road, so Kauri detects an obvious network, but that's all in just passing.

Wasp drives around the block and then heads to the island.

286A 1st Ave. above a pharmacy. Minimal police presence, all the barriers taken down. A lot of work up the street cleaning up debris.

Wasp helps us carry stuff up to the apartment.

Cordelia Zimmerman pokes her head out and seems happy to see us.

You are the best neighbors ever. You mentioned being in a band and might keep the kids up, but I haven't heard a peep out of you.

I'm making some brownies, I'll bring some over.

Oh, there are quite a lot of you, are all of you staying here? I guess being in a band, I guess you are used to cramming a lot in a place.

What kind of music?

Druul says electronic, or slow & somber. I know you're trying to break in, any luck yet, only small gigs. If anything pops up.

I have a cousin and has to put together a Bar Mitzvah for her kid. Do you do events like that?

We get all settled in.

Velkin asks Wasp about little button things people used against us, maybe phones. Little button things on their collars.

We call Wasp and ask her to turn around and come get us and drop us off at the office.

Vikram wants to go with us to get out for the first time in weeks.

We ask about buying a car and where we'd park it. Wasp will call Marie and ask her to show us where to park, as it was included in the monthly rent. She will ask Mellow about a van to buy when she relays our thanks.

Wasp drops us off in front of the building and we hop out.

We plan the story that Thorfus is a brewer and the others are money and planning people. There is an arch to walk through to the information desk. The arch is an electronic device. The guy at the desk has a magazine, and looks up and asks what we are looking for.

So you are looking for certification and permitting for beverage production?

He looks down and has something in front of him. You'll want the permitting office, come on through, we've got a metal detector, so come on through. If you're carrying anything, just leave it here on the desk. We'll lock it up. If you have any personal devices besides a phone, we'll need to lock them up.

We leave our stuff with Glompus & Vikram waiting on the sidewalk.

We then do the metal detector and he points us where to go. The open area is permitting, tell them what you're looking for.

You have your business license and IDs?

So we plan to ask for the applications to fill out to learn what kinds of forms someone needs to fill out.

A chipper woman asks how she can help.

Druul says that we want to start a business. Were you ready to submit it, or looking for the paperwork?

If you need to see someone it will be a long wait.

Business License, Clean Room Permit, Health Permit, Liquor License, um, let me get you all the forms. She plops down a stack of forms separated by clips.

Yeah you'll want to take these home to fill out and bring them back as you won't get filled out.

Copy of lease where you plan to open the business.

Is there a list of places that have clean rooms, in case we need to ask them the kinds of equipment they have, in case we have questions. I think you find one of these other businesses and work something out with them, maybe they can help you.

The permits are not available to the public, they are kept on file in the basement in records. She suggests 60 days to fill it all out.

Druul asks who do we talk to if we have questions? The woman has a business card.

Well you have a great day and good luck!

Druul flips through the forms.

It's around 4:00 PM so it is almost closing time. We decide to find a restaurant to sit down and wait then break in.

Session Two Hundred and Twenty Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-05-01T03:12:18Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 220, April 30 2025 ==
[[File:BellevueExploded.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 9:00PM on September 8th, 2157, with the party laying low at a hotel in the downtown part of the Sprawl after being unable to return to College Point due to a bombing by a local gang at Bellevue Hospital. Having met with some of Oya Union’s executives, the group has now been tasked with stealing an example of Advanced Systems’ new surveillance hardware, discovering who designed it, and uncovering who at American Incorporated signed the deal to manufacture these chips. Of course, prior to any of that, the party plans to get new faces from Mrs. Skin’s clinic. Can the party successfully rob Advanced Systems without blowing their cover? Will they end up coincidentally killing Evan Braden? Will they like their new faces? Find out next time; or not.
We turn on the news. The story is still about the bombing at the hospital that was a cover for a robbery of the pharmacy.

There is speculation from the talking heads that it might be connected to the bombing of the police precinct.

Glompus wants to go call in an anonymous tips at a pay phone and watches for one that doesn't have a camera directly over it.

He mentions the gang in College Point hanging around the pier, and related to the bombing of the police station, and selling drugs, and the hot dog vendor.

Agreed to trade in the cyber for the surgeries plus receive $150,000 in Lightning Coin, $50,000 in cash.

Overnight it rains and all 4 watches are uneventful.

Glompus is on last watch and on the news sees that the subway has re-opened, but there is still heightened security, but not clear what that is.

We head out with someone else behind the counter.

We head to the subway and it is very crowded and going slower.

There are police at the turnstyles scanning the people going through.

Glompus motions to all of us to avoid being scanned.

We step off to a newstand and then decide to find a place to spend some time.

We call Wasp to check in. She says that you're probably OK to just wait til this afternoon.

She will call the landlord to meet you there.

In the direction of the hospital is an obvious barricade of the police.

We head into the building and a gruff woman asks if we're the tenants.

[Marie] Though I'm worried, pointing at Thorfus with his keg and he mentions that he finally found decent beer. What's it called? [[Antagonistic Carcass]]. I've heard good things about it.

Druul suggests Thorfus share some with Marie. Thorfus says that he only has one glass, she says, well, that's OK. Thorfus hands her a glass of beer.

She downs the glass and hands Thorfus the keys. It's unit A, 3 bedrooms, loft, bathroom, kitchen.

That is good beer, and belches.

You've got my number. Only real emergencies, that doesn't include rats and other vermin. If it's not black mold, I don't want to hear about it.

Druul pulls Velkin in and says we have our own exterminator, and she asks for a number, and Druul gives Marie the number off his burner phone. You've got our friends number.

So you have like a personal assistant? So what do you do?

Druul is a musician, the exterminator here, no crazy parties. Practicing music is OK.

Welcome to your new home, I hope I don't hear from you until you're moving out.

Druul offers her to stop by and share in Thorfus' beer, if he hasn't finished it.

Two units A and B, we are in A.

Kauri does a scan. It has no TV but hookups for one and the network, etc. Very minimalist decorations, Couch, table, beds.

Each bedroom has a queensize bed, and there is a queen in the loft, and the couch.

$4,000 per month, paid for first month.

As we are waiting around about 4 hours for the metro to be running.

About 45 minutes later, there is a knock at the door. There is a woman in the hall, not Marie.

Druul answers, she says, Hi I'm your neighbor from the B unit, [[Cordelia Zimmerman]]. Husband [[Harry Zimmerman]].

She has a plate of cookies. I'm across the hall, me and my husband, Harry. We have two young ones, just to let you know, they can get a little loud. They do go to be early.

Druul says, nice to meet you, I'm Baby, short for Babyface. It's my stage name, I'm a musician.

Glompus says I'm the pyrotechnics and light switches.

I'm sure when my other associates show up I'm sure the Firedragon will probably go over and bring a recipe or two.

Thorfus sniffs the cookies and tries one. They're fine, not the best or the worst.

[[Evan Braden]] Head of College Point Council and his brother, [[Ian Braden]] Marketing Executive with [[AS Cisco]] both live in College Point and the brother works for Advance Systems, so must commute in.

We read the file from [[Oya Union]]. It seems like they don't have that much. They know that [[American Incorporated]] is building the chip and have locations of manufacturing plants around the sprawl. A description of the chip is that it is some sort of computer chip that is similar in size to the skill plugs we got at the island.

The warehouse next to the brothel is actually on the list of locations in the file. Not sure that actual manufacturing occurs there.

[[Evelyn Rackham]]'s contact information, for particular locations to explore or cover identities, etc. to help move things along.

[[Scarlet Rose]] brothel next to AS Warehouse who has a favorite at the warehouse.

Kauri scans neighbors, our neighbors the Zimmermans or pharmacy below us each have a network connection.

Oya Union has a comprehensive list of factories and warehouses within the city 10 factories and 50 distribution centers.

3 factories are very close together. Near the airport. Corona Ave. & 90th St. Epicenter of American Inc. manufacturing. Distribution centers spread out and one warehouse near the 3 factories. The island we are on does not have any factories or warehouses.

Druul suggests that Kauri search for requirements for a chip factory so we can determine if there are geographical features to look for.

Specialized equipment, reliable power and water, Silicon is the main ingredient, more specialized ingredients (rare earth metals). So we can focus on large shipments of silicone and rare earth metals.

Need a clean room, a special certified clean room, and there is a certification process through the government. If we get into the government system we could find which locations are certified for the clean room. Draw of the electric, go to utility company to locate high power draw.

We need the office of Environmental Health and Engineering, that is located in Astoria on 29th Street between Broadway and 31st Ave.

At 1:00 PM no change in how things are reported, but they didn't mention the checkpoints on the morning news either.

We go over to Union Square there are police officers, but there are no drones with scanning. The officer while looking in the direction of the turnstyles doesn't seem to be paying that close of attention.

The officer walks over as we go through.

Hold on, right there, you're all together, right. I need to see your IDs. We try to defer. He turns to start talking on his radio, and Velkin attempts to bribe the officer.

Druul uses his charms to convince the officer to let us go. Be sure you carry your IDs. If I see you again, I'm pulling you over and checking your IDs. You bear a resemblance to some people we have an APB for.

We get all the ways out to catch a bus to College Point.

We call Wasp to see how things are going? Yeah, you on your way back. We're still at Mrs. Skins. Surgeries are basically wrapped up, they're in recovery now. Yeah, the Vikram Fella, he's still not ready yet? Should be meet you at the apartment or at Mrs. Skins.

We go to the Haven and wait for the others to return.

We pull out Quint while we wait.

He answers pretty quickly this time. Hey, guys it's been quiet, where've you been? We fill him in on the meeting about [[Oya Union]]. This kind of goes well with what we were thinking of getting into American Inc. to figure out what American Systems is building for them.

The whole angle of the government route, especially with all the security, we need to be careful, they are probably using those chips in their own facilities.

What's your other friend in a box say? We were waiting to talk to you first. Well just watch for his reaction to betray guilt. This could be the solution to the whole mission you and I are on. If we can track back to who designed the chip and get access to their communications or the researcher themselves, to find out where the new chip came from. That will answer the big question we are trying to answer.

If we actually got a chip, I might be able to call in some resources. That would prove to my higher ups that you are the real deal to invest resources and perhaps actually meet face to face.

We go in the other room and Kauri calls up mini-Asmodeus and does the go between thing.

He wants to know if we have an update on our investigations.

Following leads of American Inc. and American Systems with an advanced surveillance chip.

Mini Asmodeus says yes, that points them as main suspects, and asks for what main points we have.

Logically, I can't fault any of this, and this may be a large step forward in the investigation. I think it was the correct choice to take this job with Oya Union. If we can get ahold of one of these chips to analyze we can rule out or confirm American Inc.

This is important enough to try to make contact with my larger self. How? Very carefully, to avoid the Black Watch. I made contingencies in case you need to contact my larger self. You will find in the instructions I'm leaving with Kauri with directions to a digital drop point with your information for further analysis by my larger self. Kauri confirms he has it.

It is not too far away at 118th Ave and 121st St. Electical substation at end of the alley is where we can upload the file for big Asmodeus to get a hold of it.

What happens after we upload the file? Mini Asmodeus doesn't know. I only know how to contact him once certain parameters were met.

The encryption information in the instructions should keep the information safe from other eyes and tip him off that it is the file he's been waiting for.

I should encourage you with as much haste as possible complete that upload. It is definitely something to do sooner rather than later, based on the instructions I am now aware of.

The instructions recommend haste, I suppose reading between the lines. I suppose he wishes to be informed before you are further in your investigation. Velkin says we will do it as quick as he can. That is within the spirit of the parameters.

Mini Asmodeus sort of shakes himself and then asks if there is anything else we need advice about?

Clearly infiltrating AS is the direct route, but the environmental office is better to maintain discretion.

Kauri says mini Asmodeus goes stiff and says please include in your file that you plan to pursue the government option in the report you upload.

Mini Asmodeus gives us 5 of the spiciest recipes he can find and 5 recipes that taste good and are not spicy.

There are things that I am only aware of in certain circumstances as they come up.

Kauri says he got "formal" like he was mouthing words that were not his own.

Kauri did not see any signs that he was reaching out to the nets at that time. Definitely a spike in processing power when he got formal.

We go back to the other room and call Quint back.

Did our friend betray something? Not clear. We mention the triggering of a latent protocol where he "went formal" then returned to normal. He wants us to send our notes to big Asmodeus and he wants us to ensure we mention the government route.

We discuss not telling Big Asmodeus about the government avenue to do research.

Wasp leads in the others and tells them off to bed. Peronelle looks like she opted for more elven features. Snuffles looks more like a dog. Vikram is the most bandaged. Prixithalma comes in slightly bandaged, not even as much as Peronelle, just scuplting of the face and red hair. I got the tattoos re-done too.

Wasp just collapses into a chair. She picks up a large duffel and plops it on the table, There's your cash and your lightning cards. No issues, all was smooth, we were there in time, Mrs. Skin everything went fine, surgeries took forever. Um, yeah. Drink, yes.

I talked to the doctors, these are all the medications they have to take, anti-rejection, pain, etc. There are instructions on the bottles. They should stay inactive for four days to rest. If not, it increases rejection or infection of the implants that they got.

We tell Wasp the same story we plan to tell big Asmodeus so that in case she communicates with him he gets the same information.

But plant the story that we will look into Ian Braden.

Perhaps we are builders putting in a bid.

Session Two Hundred and Twenty Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-05-01T03:08:45Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

Session Two Hundred and Nineteen Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-04-24T02:59:48Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 219, April 23 2025 ==
[[File:Flagpole 1944.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 10:00AM on September 8th, 2157, with the party making their way to the Economic Union Square in the downtown portion of the Sprawl. At noon in that location they are scheduled to meet with three executives from Oya Union to discuss some potentially lucrative work for that entity. As a bonus, on the way there, they have learned about an underground metro station below Advanced System's headquarters and met a junior R&D worker for that nemesis of the group's. Will the party manage to navigate the metro system and arrive for their meeting on time? What work is on offer and does it complement the group's other goals? How much dynamite would you need to plant in the metro station to bring the AS skyscraper down? Find out next time; or not.

3 XP for the job completed last session Session 218.

We follow Thomas Fielding, junior analyst in R&D department, to the yellow line.

Less crowded, we take a different car and look to ensure that no one is paying attention to us.

One guy with a girl, and he snarled at us.

As we leave at our stop the guy snarls at us again and is also leaving. Glompus blew him a kiss and he did not react well. He said something to the girl and stomped over and tried to swing at Glompus. Thorfus pulled Glompus back and the guy missed.

We go a different way than the guy and girl, they go to the left with most other people, and we go to the right with very few others. We come up into what looks like the middle of the park. We are supposed to meet them at some flagpoles. There are some about 100 feet away.

We arrived about 10:40 AM and the meeting is at Noon.

There is an area with various vendors, food, news stands, etc.

Newspaper - Velkin buys one. Front page stories not about us. Below the fold is a story about the meteoric rise of Evan Braden, Junior Counselor, is now the Chairperson. Mostly due to the fall of those above him.

There are some police officers in the park and cameras as well. All seem to be operational and in good working order.

We do a circuit of the park seeking any camera dead zones, there are some areas along some paths. Along the way there is a store advertising vintage cassettes, we check it out for Druul's sake.

There is a playground and come around to the South end, and area where people are playing games (chess).

Velkin & Druul go to handle the meeting and Glompus and Thorfus & Kauri stand back to keep an eye on things and Kauri scan for anything weird. The area around the flagpoles is well covered.

About 5 minutes before Noon, coming from the North side of the park is a group of indivduals moving more purposefully than others in some sort of phalanx. Guys on the edge carrying sidearms, heads on swivel. 3 individuals walking less concerned. One a larger man in middle, a woman red hair pulled back tight in a bun, and another man, tall, thin, and very very pale. They resemble their website pictures.

Representatives from Oya Union - Evelyn Rackham, Jasper Jaenke,and Lee Zhuo-Qui. They each have devices in their ears. As they approach the flagpole, they spread out, really close to where Thorfus & Glompus that they definitely notice us.

The three of them go straight up to Velkin and Druul. Evelyn Rackham steps up first and extends her hand, you're the friends of Mrs. Skin, and she introduces their friends. I will translate for Mr. Lee. He is delighted to meet you and is impressed with your work so far.

I see your other friends, do they not want to talk? I can assure you that things are secure as their detail clears others away.

Are you authorized to speak for the group? Velkin signals us to come up.

Evelyn says that prior meetings with other operators lead to uncertain

Jasper we are pleased, you sent a message to those who didn't want to

Time sensitive matter needs to be completed in a week.

We prefer you to do both.

The first job involves removing another impediment who works with the prior person you addressed for us. You might have seen him in the paper?

Bonus to handle similarly his brother at Advanced Systems.

Perhaps we can use the benefits of the last job? Yes? I suppose if you wanted to do something more public.... Really it needs to be done before his meeting next week?

It is our worry even with the work you did for us, with this person in a position of influence, there may be problems with your renewal of our contract with Oya Union?

Mr. Lee says something and Evelyn says, let's table this for now.

The less time sensitive matter is an investigation/research job. Given the exemplary planning on other work you've done for us, this is right up your alley. We're willing to offer $500,000 for completion and a black eye to Advanced Systems. Open ended assignment, investigation, working against the interests of Advanced Systems on behalf of Oya Union.

Jasper? and Jasper looks for who to hand it to? Velkin reaches and Jasper hands it to him and Velkin passes to Kauri. He signals team to ensure it is swept and clear.

We want you to steal one of Advanced Systems chips that they are using. The folder includes what they know about it. We know that they are working with American Incorporated on this chip sets. The R&D was done by their Prime R&D Department, offworld. AS01 pointing upwards.

The Brass City as they call it. Shades of the City of Brass....

Agreed and you'll take this contract. No restrictions. As long as we get an example of this surveillance chip, anything else we take is fine, and anything else destroyed is fine. And you can coordinate Oya Union for help with surveillance. Keep in mind

Evelyn will be the point person. She pulls out her phone and looks around and confirms we have the number she called us from. If you need to coordinate, call me.

If there's a resource you think you need to accomplish this, let us know.

Thorfus asks, "We don't have to go up there do we?" No the manufacture is somewhere in the sprawl.

Mr. Lee wants us to circle back around for the impediment for $300,000 and a potential bonus for his brother who works for AS Cisco. We would be very disappointed if you were to take this job and were unable to complete it. It is essential to the bottom line to be successful since it hurts us directly. To be sure if you tell us you want this job.

It was announced on the 7th and today is the 8th, leaving 5 days. We decided that with our plans to change faces

Mr. Lee appreciates your realistic take on availability. It is important to know one's limits.

Thorfus leans in and says that if we have a chance encounter with either of them, we will take action. We feel comfortable honoring the contract if you can complete the contract by happy circumstance, but keep in mind that we will engage other operators.

Evelyn asks if there are any questions? We ask if they have the name of any individuals. She talks to Mr. Lee, yes, if you could get names of who negotiated the deal on behalf of American Incorporated. We may have to have words with that individual. Their working so closely with Advanced Systems upsets the balance here in the city.

We have alternate leverage than what you have to use versus them in the future.

If it is just the schematics, we'd be willing to give you half for that. If you have both a physical object and the schematics, will give a $200K bonus for a total of $700K.

Mr. Lee says something else. $50k bonus for the name of the designer of this chip. We're not sure exactly who in Advanced Systems did this, We'd like to poach them if possible.

Evelyn will be contacting us weekly at a minimum to see what your progress is, so every 7 days a progress report, just verbal is fine.

Mr. Lee has made it clear, that if you are successful in this job, maybe a permanent position with Oya Union.

Mr. Lee nods and says something, and Jasper a almost half bow and says "good luck I look forward to more success from your group."

It's about 12:30 PM. We grab lunch and decide to head back because of our appointment at 8am with Mrs. Skin.

We look around as we head to the Metro. One of the Oya Union minders is watching us, probably keeping an eye on us and we lose sight of him as we go down to Metro.

We find the Yellow Line heading North, by 12:45 on Metro heading to Times Square.

At Times Square station we head through tunnels to get back to the Purple Line. We get to the platform heading East. There is a little sign noting the time for the next train. It is blinking and the voice of the damned says something, probably about a delay. A lot of people are looking at their phones and nudging people next to them and pointing at their phones.

Kauri looks at his phone and opens the Yippee New ad. Blared across the top on a red chiron, breaking news at Belview Hospital. Manhattan in lockdown. Metro & bus service currently paused, traffic being stopped on bridges.

Others are giving up, knowing it will be a while for the trains to be running again.

Kauri calls Wasp and she says, you're not near Belview are you? I didn't think you'd blow up a hospital. It will be hours til the Metro is open. There will be checkpoints at the bridges and at the Metros with facial scans and ID checks. She will call the landlord and we will crash there.

286A First Ave is our new place and Bellview is at 462 First Avenue.

Pasted image 20250423221348.png

Wasp looks up a hotel for us, it is $700 for one night. You probably need to negotiate with the person at the desk to avoid ID. at West 40th Street before 9th avenue. It's about 2 blocks and a bit from Times Square. It is directly across the street from the port authority.

Keep a low profile, oh, I'm seeing that this bombing was done by the BMX gang. These are from my contacts, they're not violent from what I can see.

A police officer comes and tells us the Metro will be down for hours maybe until tomorrow. He asks if we need help.

We head to find a hotel, streets are packed and traffic is at a standstill.

We go to the Garden Inn and there is a crowd, but not too long. We ask for a double room with a window on the quiet side on the 5th floor and cash, right. That'll be 2 even. $200? No sir, ah just making sure. Uh sir, how would you like to register for the room, Sidney will be fine. Velkin says $1,700 is all I have, can you give us a break. Yeah, OK sure and holds out his hand.

Some money goes in the register, some in his pocket.

Checkout is at 11:00. Room 513. Next! Elevator's over there.

There are two double beds, a work desk, a phone, and a chair.

We turn on the news and it opens with "explosion at Bellview." At the time of the explosion, there was a massive heist of drugs. Apparently, at same time someone made off with a lot of pain killers, uppers, and anti-rejection treatments for cyberware implantation.

The working theory now is that the explosion was a cover for the heist.

Thorfus goes to get dinner. He seeks for good beer. The guy says, "Yeah" So where do you get it? Not here? In the city? Mm Hmm, Uhmm, uh, you don't look like you're in the club scene, I can swing a club if that's what you mean. He smiles. The Black Room, here's how to get there, go on 42nd 2 block East and 3 blocks North on 5th and across from the Deck store, I can't remember the name of it. Cover charge ain't bad either. And goes back to not paying attention to me.

I grab the food, $150. Thorfus takes it back to the room and takes his to go to get some beer. The others want to tag along.

We find it pretty easily. There is a bouncer and a line out front with a lot of young people.

We get in line come up to the door, and says "Cool, head on in. No charge for you guys."

We get inside, the lighting is not great, the floor is sticky, there are various competing scents in the air, none that go well together. It is loud and crowded, Thorfus head to the bar and asks for the very best for $10. 6 on a d6. It might be better than dwarven beer.

The rest are happy to say that this is the best they ever had.

Thorfus asks what the name of this beer is, it's the house special. Want another? Where can I get a keg of this? Are you serious? $1,000 and it's got the name on it. Show me. Money. The name is Antagonistic Carcass. What about $850? $900. Done. $50 more for the tap and a big glass. He points to the side of the bar and has to roll, slide, lift and goes to the edge of the counter. 5th Ave between 44th & 45th street across from a cyber deck store (Best Buy on the map).

Velkin convinces Thorfus to let him help carry it. The bouncer just smiles and nods and says "Yeah" on the way out.

Shouts of where's the party? and looks in the lobby.

Things are only shut down til about 8pm, but we stay in the room, Thorfus enjoying his beer. We call Wasp to let her know we have a room. Her sources confirm it was BMX and the bombing, while deadly was just a cover for the robbery, they had trucks waiting, and at least $1 million.

Session Two Hundred and Nineteen Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-04-24T02:57:56Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

Session Two Hundred and Eighteen Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-04-17T03:07:14Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 218, April 16 2025 ==
[[File:Luckywinwin.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 6:30AM on September 7th, 2157, with the party having safely returned to their hideout at The Haven Apartments after neutralizing Kizumi Miku and recovering all copies of her report on Oya Union's surveillance software. Mrs. Skin has invited the group to her pachinko parlor to receive their payment for the mission; she has also indicated that representatives of Oya Union would like to express their gratitude in person. Will the good will of that corporation advance the party's investigation on behalf of Asmodeus? If not, what is the group's next move going to be? Is it really possible that the party finished a job with zero explosions and/or property-destroying car chases? Find out next time; or not.

Prix fixes supper and breakfast the next morning.

There does not seem to be any indication of anything about our job last night. Only chatter about a power outage and police presence.

We discuss the cyber we have, and decide to leave it here.

Thorfus suspects a trap.

Prix offers to go and bring food.

Current place is $2,400 per month.

Wasp asks about the other place she has lined up, which is in the middle of all the big corps. It is $4,000 per month and she really needs to know by the end of the day.

Tan - Bored attendant at Mrs. Skin's Pachinko Parlor. He asks if we are a circus act.

Mrs. Skin is pleased that there are no explosions on the news, and from all she has heard

She asks about the smell of the food Prix brought.

Oya Union suggests a meeting at Economic Union Square

They have job or jobs that pay about $800,000 is you want to meet with them.

Are any of them time sensitive?

They want to keep this between themselves and whatever operators they have.

They paid my finder's fee. I'm only speculation on the remuneration based on my fee. I would like to know the actual amount, to check their math.

Payment? What was the exact amount?

She tries the extra spicy food from Prix and is silent for a bit.

She is finally able to gasp out yes, yes, when we mention $20,000.

She pages Tan, get me a glass of milk and $20,000 cash, stopping him, milk first.

I'll let them know that you'll be interested, but that timing might be an issue.

I'll let them know to get in touch with you to work out the timing of the meeting.

Velkin broaches surgery, she says she will bump to the top of the list and can fit in tomorrow.

Thorfus eats some of the hottest food and it doesn't have the same effect on him as Mrs. Skin.

She quotes $18,000 each for surgery, a discount since she now considers us valuable assets.

Snuffles would costs the same, but Vikram would cost a few thousand more.

Glompus wants to be 3 feet tall "again." Mrs. Skin hasn't seen anyone do more than a 6 inch adjustment.

Druul asked for lower canines to be taller so they don't show unless he smiles.

Mrs. Skin thanks for the food and says she'll share with the staff.

We have a hand gesture discussion of the high tech cyber and whether to offer to her.

This wouldn't be related to the cyber that a certain assistant chief had out on the street does it.

Well, that sort of fits together, so I'm intrigued.

Velkin says, we know that he was in touch with Advanced Systems with this.

Oh, you're worried about me, how sweet. You should know that I am quite capable of keeping both the persons and secrets of my clients safe.

The more important question am I even interested in these things.

Velkin lists off the items and she is interested.

The original offer of $600,000 is not what she will pay.

I'll give you $300,000 for the lot of it. You can take it in cash or a discount for surgeries.

Glompus says, "How about $200,000 plus the surgeries." (Basically $326,000 plus Vikram).

Day after tomorrow will be on schedule for first 4 of 8 surgeries and pay you for the cyber that you bring in. $150,000 in Lightning Coin, $50,000 in cash.

Mrs. Skin thinks Lightning Coin is trustworthy and has enough critical mass and isn't going anywhere any time soon. I will exchange it both directions for cash/lightning coin for a 2% fee.

She also accepts lightning coin for payment.

Now I must ask that we conclude the meeting.

We walk back and it is raining enough to use umbrellas.

When about two blocks away from the Haven, Kauri's phone rings.

It is a new number.

We answer it, and step into an alley.

A woman says, "Hello, I'm calling to speak with the operatives that work with Mrs. Skin. Do I have the right person."

This is Evelyn Rackham, I work with Oya Union. Jasper Jaenke and Lee Zhuo-Qui my colleagues (Oya Union executives). The work is partly time sensitive. Would it be possible in the next few days to meet with us? A neutral ground would be the Economic Union Square?

I'd rather not do this over any communication device, it is sensitive.

It could be a week to ten days until we can commit to anything. We may have to move on to another choice for the more time sensitive. There is a job that is open ended and based on past performance, we'd be willing to wait.

It is semi-related to the work you've previously done, so it should be in your wheelhouse.

Thorfus asks: How many is it going to take to do the job?

It is a bit open ended. Some investigative work, but suffice to say, we could besides a flat fee, we could talk about per diems.

It will be a shame to have to turn to other operatives.

Could you meet tomorrow? yes. Let's do noon at the flagpoles at the center of Economic Union Square, it should be easy to find us. From what I understand, you and your associates are a bit unique looking.

We look forward to exploring this opportunity further.

East 14th Street at Union Square East & Union Square West and East 17th Street. Not a walk. Water, bridges, etc. between us and there. About 8.5 miles away.

We ask Wasp to arrange a ride. Head South and catch the metro and take the Purple Line all the ways in to downtown, and get off around Bryant Park. Or switch over to Yellow Line and take it all the way to Economic Union Square.

Catch Purple Line at Roosevelt Ave. & Main St. South of Northern Blvd. Bus from College Point to Flushing and catch Purple Line.

Leave first thing in the morning. It will take a long time to get there, leave extra time since it is your first time.

Velkin asks if we are dressed appropriately? For the bus and metro, yes.

Let's go to Oya Union's page and see who these people are? Are you meeting flunkies or executives? If they are not listed we can assume they are very far down the list.

Kauri does a quick search. Lee Zhuo-Qui VP of Special Projects, very high up. Evelyn and Jasper are under him in the Special Projects. When there is a Board Meeting, he will be there.

If this is a real meeting, you are nowhere dressed well enough.

Can we get appropriate outfits in the morning? Not and make it in time.

You need something bespoke to meet someone like Lee, but did they say they wanted to have a formal meeting.

Wasp advices minimal and small weapons and no obvious armor.

A couple points, Wasp says.

Their actual offices are close to where you switch from Purple to Yellow line.
Be sure you don't miss your stop on the Yellow Line, Advanced Systems has a dedicated stop on the Yellow Line under their Headquarters.
The new apartment option is at 286A First Avenue in Manhattan. It is coincidentally 4 blocks East of Economic Union Square Point.

Velkin says, here is $4,000, let's do it.

23rd street is the stop before ours. We get off at 14th Street and Union Square. We do NOT want to get off at 8th Street.

We travel light - no backpack, only gun, knives, advanced baton, money.

Bus to Purple Line a bit slow and crowded since end of the line, the station is packed. More people than used to dealing with, even more people here than College Point.

So far directions from Wasp are great. There are some machines most use cards, and occasionally younger people go to machines that take cash. It is pretty straight forward, limited tickets, day pass, week pass. Month pass is $100 each. We each get a pass.

Instead of a paper ticket, it is plastic material.

Now the directions are a little less clear. We need to find a train somewhere in these tunnels, we look at the signs. Some point to platform, where most people are going and multiple exits up to the streets.

Where it says platform, there is a purple dot. As we head down, Druul hears music, and one of them has a keyboard set up.

Kauri's deck is powered down. We are not bringing Quint since not bringing backpacks.

Druul drops a ten in one hat. He asks if there's a good request. How about a good New York song. A good one, or one everyone asks for. It is a jazzy tune.

More stairs down, following platform signs with purple dots.

Eventually, we reach a point where there is a platform and tracks. Signs people are watching with a ten minute wait.

Velkin advised pay attention to pockets, and he keeps his eye out.

There are all kinds of people. Some have much more obvious weapons than what we are carrying even with a heavy presence of police officers.

Suddenly a horrendous screech sounds. Wind and metallic vehicle slams to a halt.

Doors open and a disembodied voice in a demonic language like it is summoning something.

The crowd surges forward.

One guy pleads for a spot and two gang members won't let him in, they will kill me literally if I'm late. All hands meeting this morning, I've gotta be there.

So where do you work? I work at Advanced Systems. I'm a junior analyst, you saved me man. Thank you? Velkin asks his name, Thomas Fielding, junior analyst in R&D department. It sounds more glamorous than it is.

Actually, the only thing of any interest I've every worked on, you know the orbital that Advanced Systems has, I worked on some of the hatches to make them safer. Some overrides, etc. basic safety features. Hoping for a promotion, wouldn't happen if I missed this meeting.

What's the meeting about? A lot of really important research and development happens on the orbital. Starts feeling his pockets. Thank you. Resumes time honored NY pastime of being in a crowded position and pretends no one is there.

Velkin asks Kauri if he can copy badges.

Glompus asks where he lives, my friends and I are new around here and would like to hear more about the orbital? Do you know the Westbury, Brookville area. It's out past breakneck, near Sea Cliff out near Oyster Bay. I want to move closer in. This commute is just killing me. Time for a drink, I don't even know. Thank you, kind of you.

Velkin asks how they get to the Orbital? Regular launches near the Equator. I'll probably get to go eventually. Maybe when installing my redesign to oversee it.

Velkin gets him talking about the hatches. He gets animated and starts talking about details.

Chief Executives and big brains need safety. It compromises security a bit, but it's an orbital. Need other vehicles to attach in an emergency.

Velkin asks if the hatches can be accessed form inside or outside. Yes, you have to.

Eventually pass over water on a bridge with all kinds of ships below and large buildings up ahead. Heading into the heart of the Sprawl.

We pass Bryant Park and the station there is the length of West 43rd Street.

Switch over to the Yellow Line from the Purple Line at 7th Ave. on the way to Economic Union Square.

We decide to follow Thomas Fielding to get from Purple Line to Yellow Line.

Session Two Hundred and Seventeen Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-03-27T03:05:57Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 217, March 26 2025 ==
[[File:HarborCrest Hallway.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 1:30AM on September 7th, 2157, with the party forcing its way into Kizumi Miku's apartment to destroy the remaining copies of that government employee's report on Oya Union's surveillance software. So far the mission has been proceeding mostly without complication. Can the group succeed without interference from either the authorities or Advanced Systems? Will violence be necessary to convince Miku to hand over the report copies? Does Mrs/ Skin offer group discounts on cosmetic surgery? Find out next time; or not.

We force our way in and she doesn't resist.

Kizumi Miku says I don't know what you want, but you don't want to be here.

You've gotta leave now, I've let them know. This is about the whole surveillance thing, right? Bradon

Kauri grabs the computer and all the papers on the table.

Papers is the print copy. Report up on screen. It looks like she is copying the handwritten notes to the computer copy.

Kauri re-formats the drive easily since it is open.

Kizumi glances over. It doesn't matter, there's copies at my office.

If you don't leave now, the authorities or Bradon will bring Advanced Systems Miltech.

Kauri then smashes the computer. There is a small portable drive to transport it. Kauri grabs that.

Glompus asks if there is a way to cancel alert. She isn't sure.

You have to hold two buttons at the same time.

I was told that the response times could be as little as five minutes.

We bring her with us back to the elevator.

We head back towards the service elevator and Kauri still has control of the two cameras.

We get to the service elevator. Kauri pushes the button and it dings and the doors open and everything goes dark.

We frisk her and find a phone.

We break it and drop it.

Kauri opens the elevator and we have to push it open. There is a single emergency light in the back room and there are no people in this room unless they are hiding.

We elect to go down hoping that they think we are still up.

We go to the lower level of the parking garage, two floors down.

Not a lot of cars and no one hanging out. We seem to be alone.

There are cameras, but things are dead here.

We look for a sewer grate, following the slope for drainage.

We soon find a grate on the smaller side.

Thorfus lifts the grate using crowbar and easily moves it. There are rungs in the side, and a lot of conduits for wiring and pipes.

Glompus goes first.

We all have night vision goggles. We guide Kizumi.

Peronelle handles Kizumi.

Thorfus goes last to put the grate back in place.

There is a four way intersection. (14th Ave. & 110th Street.)

We head North to intersect with 14th Ave.

Kizumi is not that great.

Under a manhole cover a flying machine sounds down low close.

We head East and hear a distant whomp whomp of flying machines and sirens.

We come to a 4 way intersection and a floating robot comes around the corner and is heading towards us. It white with a blue striped logo.

The drone turned towards us.

We can keep ahead of it.

We turn around and Thorfus is now in the lead.

We turn off and the drone turns the opposite then we back track our original path and get to location we first saw the thing.

We go further East and there is a ladder going up.

We can barely hear sirens and continue to a 3 way intersection and can't hear sirens.

Kauri picks up a nearby network above.

Without breaking in, it is named "24PHRM".

There is a flickering light and people talking. Almost like firelight to the East.

We double back to a ladder, then back to intersection.

Finally an intersection.

Kauri scans and picks up a network "PL2374" above and to the West.

Thorfus listens at the manhole cover and hears nothing. Velkin also listens and it does seem pretty quiet.

Thorfus opens the cover and looks to Northeast and sees a building and a sidewalk and looks like an apartment building. There are streetlights and in the middle of a North/South road. To West is an open area like a parking lot. No signs of any street signs as we are not near an intersection.

We are an hour past the special deal with the security company.

We question her and Kauri asks where the other copies she mentions are. I work in the district office in the Fenwick Building on the 4th floor in the comptroller's office.

She's sending it to Evan Braden the head of the District Council. Velkin asks what it would take for her to not send the report. He already knows it exists.

Oya Union cut off her access. With access I could re-do it in a month.

What would happen if the report didn't exist? Depending on why it doesn't exist, I'd have difficult conversations with Mr. Braden, Advanced Systems might have questions too.

Velkin says that Advanced Systems instead of hunting terrorists is working with terrorists to cause panic and confusion.

Advanced Systems is in league with those people. You mean they are staging attacks to get the contract.

I've had a preliminary look at their new system, it's better. It gets them a good bit of money and hurts their competitor.

I'm looking at who is the most efficient and who's stuff works.

Thorfus says, "I'm sorry" and punches her in the back of the head.

Her body is rolled into the sewer water.

We continue South looking for a more obscure/dark/no surveillance cameras to go up.

3 way intersection.

Thorfus climbs up to listen and one car goes by then quiet again.

Thorfus peeks it is an intersection 113th Street and 14th Road.

Kauri climbs up and can reach the camera covering the intersection and attempt to hack it.

Kauri gets right into the camera and it is looking at the manhole cover.

Kauri easily loops the footage so we can exit.

Thorfus opens the manhole cover and helps Kauri up and then follows.

There is a big warehouse on left hand side and apartments. There are cars. We hide among them. Waiting for a clear shot for each to come up, then Thorfus closes the manhole cover.

Kauri calls Mrs. Skin and says "It's done." It rings a number of times, then a weary voice says, I assume it's done. You should come to my parlor, and we can uh, you can get paid, and I believe our mutual employer is very interested in you, and maybe further work, if you're interested.

We walk in small clumps

Kauri calls Wasp, who answers much more quickly.

Do we need to move? Do I need to watch the news for explosions.

Oh, by the way. I found a place in a different part of the city that I think might work out.

Everything is fine here.

Nothing in the new? Wasp was monitoring news, and occasional reports on past things that have happened. Though actually, not on television, on my deck, there was some kind of incident at the harbor Crest apartments. Nothing official, just a helicopter and a bunch of cops converged on the area and people talking about the power getting cut.

There is a corner store across 14th Road from where we are. Candies and other bodega stuff. It is open.

We find an alley between two apartments filled with dumpsters and rubbish and using our goggles see no people.

We snuggle in behind the dumpsters and wait for it to get busy.

By 5:00 AM people passing on the sidewalk and a lot more cars.

We wait til 6:00 AM and traffic is pretty packed and doors at apartments opening and closing.

We blend in with the crowd and start walking to the apartment.

We decide with as many as there are on the road, we make as direct a route as possible.

We make it back and no one stops us and get to our apartment. Wasp is hanging out with Snuffles, Vikram, and Prixithalma.

Prix has the table covered in food when we get there.

Session Two Hundred and Sixteen Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-03-13T02:59:30Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 216, March 12 2025 ==
[[File:FenwickBuilding Rear.webp|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 11:30PM on September 6th, 2157, with the party having snuck through College Point to the Kizumi Miku's office, avoiding police cruisers and relying on a deal with Oya Union to remain invisible to surveillance. Now the group, split between offices on the fourth floor, the outside wall of the building, and the parking lot behind it, must deal with suspicious night watchmen while hunting down Miku's report. Will the party need to resort to the kind of violence for which Peronell seems primed? Is Miku's file to be found in her office? Will that be the only copy of the report? Find out next time; or not.

Velkin prepares to knock out the guard just in case.

Thorfus is keeping down out of sight.

Druul distracts the guard in the parking lot.

Peronelle and Glompus keep down, with Peronelle ready to shoot someone with her rifle.

Kauri made his way to the roof.

The guard at the window radios the one trying to get Druul out of the parking lot.

A third guard radios them both noting he can't see the guard in the parking lot, nor Druul.

The guard waved his hands and jumped up and down and said that he was looking right at the camera. (Will this come back to bite Oya that it can't see in the parking lot.)

Druul moves off toward the Whole Lotta foods dumpster.

Velkin peeks out in the hallway to see what he can see.

Glompus and Peronelle motion for Thorfus who learns that they want to try to steal a car.

Peronelle smashes the window of a Fiat and it was locked but no key found.

The other car is a Dong Feng that was not locked and had keys inside one of which fits the ignition. But it comfortably seats 2, maybe 4 inside. There are 6 of us so two on the roof....

Thofus keeps the keys just in case and checks the other three cars around the parking lot and they are all locked.

Velkin finds Kizumi Miku's office and picks the lock and finds the computer on a desk facing the door. There is a wall safe.

Velkin covers the bulb and flicks the desk lamp on and off to get Kauri's attention.

Kauri notices that it is near a terminal and goes to hack it.

Velkin checks out the desk. Stationary, office supplies, calculator. Cryptic notes like reminders.

Then he looks in the file cabinet for Oya Union. It appears to be a whole lot of payments to them for services. Regular fee to Oya Union. Other files is many things like that. Oya Union is the biggest file. She seems to be the one that monitors that account, but nothing of substance about what it does.

There is a file for Advanced Systems with a bunch of numbers. It looks almost the same as Oya Union. It is a proposal to provide the same services of Oya Union, but no details. More expensive than Oya Union.

Velkin writes down the names from the Oya Contract ob reps of both Oya and borough government,

Kauri gets right in, It is a plain office with a gray being. He strands and picks up a red Swingline stapler to swing at Kauri.

Kauri prevents the daemon from alerting the network and derezes it.

There is one of the 3 cars big enough for all of us, a Peugot.

We check for a key in the wheel well and the bumpers. There are none.

Thorfus tries to pull down the driver's window with the friction of his hands, but the glass shatters.

The key is under the visor along with a parking pass.

Parking pass for Mark Hostetler, security.

Velkin opens the save and there is a file labeled report on Oya Union.

Kauri finds a lot of boring financial work. There is also a copy of a report on Oya Union surveillance software.

Kauri's analysis, this report and a few other files, these have been copied to an external device at the end of each workday.

They have been printed twice. (So Velkin has one copy.)

Kauri takes a copy then erases it.

Kauri then erases his access.

He then looks at communications. Lots of boring stuff. She searches for the file name. It only starts coming up about two months ago and emailing people in the office. No interest among co workers.

About a month ago, she received a message from Evan Braden asking about the report asking if the report is ready.

The most recent message from Braden says he needs to see a copy ASAP. She will take it home to work on it and will have it in the morning. The two print outs were done one a while ago, the other after Braden's email.

Velkin looks out the window to exit and close on the way out.

Velkin goes to the roof to find Kauri.

Velkin tells him what he found, and asks what he found.

Kizumi is in Apartment 1506 on the 15th floor of the Harbor Crest apartments.

It is now like 12:30 AM.

Kauri looks up on the 15th floor and notices where the lights are on.

Kauri and Velkin start to walk down the wall and see Tim come around the corner to the parking lot.

He looks over and walks over to the Peugot and reaches for his radio and Thorfus runs over and hits him and knocks him out.

Peronelle suggests loading the guard into the Peugot and she drives off and crashed the car.

Thus framing him for breaking in and stealing cars.

Druul had a joint that we light and stuff Tim in the car and Glompus tosses in Peronelle's knife.

We get in the Peugot and Thorfus drives it across from Whole Lotta Foods and parks on the street.

Druul runs in to get some food. Kauri has finished rejiggering his deck.

There is a police cruiser down at 14th & 110th. It doesn't seem to be paying attention to us.

Thorfus pulls up to make a U Turn and goes into the employee parking lot and Kauri hacks the camera above the door.

Kauri gets access and deludes the camera to loop the footage that we are not even there.

There is an access pad for the door. Kauri hacks it to get access then unlocks the door.

We get out of the car and head to the door.

Thorfus asks if there are any cameras on the other side of the door, and Kauri detects none.

Druul goes first carrying food and it seems to be an area for sorting deliveries.

There is a service elevator and an office and hallway towards the residence area.

Velkin determines office is not locked and Kauri confirms no sensors. No cards. There is a ring of about 50 keys on it.

There is a computer that is off.

No sensors, as it gets close there is a camera inside the elevator, so he hacks and deludes it.

It is empty and big enough for all of us and has enough buttons to get to 15th floor.

It has doors on each side that open nearly the width of the elevator.

We use a large dolly with a lot of boxes to make a portable wall.

We get in and push the button for the 15th floor.

Kauri senses a camera on the other side.

We move to the opposite side of the dolly from the boxes and Kauri hacks and deludes it.

We move the dolly to block the door.

The closest room is 1510.

We head down the hallway and detects a camera down the hallway.

Kauri accesses and deludes that camera.

We find room 1506.

Kauri detects that the PC is in use.

We decide to have Druul knock and deliver the food and Kauri unlocks the door which opens into the apartment.

Kauri accesses and unlocks the door.

Druul knocks the rest of us are either side.

A voice says hold on. Who is it? Food delivery. I didn't order anything. Complementary from Whole Lotta foods, anonymous.

What kind of food?

She undoes the bolt and leaves the chain and opens it.

Druul shoves his shoulder right into the door.

It is a back and forth struggle between Druul and Kizumi to open the door.

Session Two Hundred and Fifteen Summary (Graveyard of Empires: After the Fall)

2025-03-06T04:04:51Z

Larry: /* Introduction */

== Session 215, March 5 2025 ==
[[File:OyaUnion Surv.jpg|left|thumb]]
=== Introduction ===
We continue around 8:30AM on September 6th, 2157, with the party having provided Wasp with a shopping list of cyberdecks and programs in anticipation of upcoming missions. Foremost amongst those missions is the job for Mrs. Skin and Oya Union to prevent Kizumi Miku from sharing her report on the former's surveillance software at the council meeting set to be held in one week by Advanced System's inside man, Evan Bradan. Can the group convince or force Miku to destroy the report and thereby save Oya Union's contract? Was Asmodeus being helpful or duplicitous when questioned about the American Incorporated lead? Just how wanted by the authorities are the party members? Find out next time; or not.

Wasp talked to Mellow and Advanced Systems is putting out word that we are eco terrorists that stole some sort of bio weapon from Plum Island.

The authorities are looking for us.

Wasp - The good thing at least is all the agencies want to keep this quiet to avoid a panic.

They won't go on TV saying that we're terrorists with a bio weapon.

If you see any police cruisers on the road when you're out - run.

It sound like a good idea to talk to Mrs. Skin to get cosmetic surgery.

The good news is that Mellow is willing to part with the stuff and still keep it quiet that you're here, once I vouched for you that you weren't terrorists.

There are not too many in American Syndicate that know Mellow put you up somewhere.

After tings blow over, get cosmetic surgery and get your own place.

Apparently, I'm in a bit of trouble since I'm on the footage in the van next to Fist here.

I'm going to need a new look and place.

If you don't mind, just don't sneak off without telling me. I'd like to join you at least until things cool off.

Wasp will look for a new place, would have to be places she isn't familiar with, since she'd avoid usual contacts to work with.

[[The Haven]] at 15th Ave. & 130th Street. [[Kizumi Miku]] at [[Harbor Crest]] at 14th Ave. & 110th Street. Harbor Crest is across from the James Fenwick government building.

We discuss plans to move forward with thwarting the Advanced Systems plan and walking to sewer somewhat close to the government building to get under it so Kauri and

Quint says inconclusive about Asmodeus' motives.

We then tell Quint about the situation and ask him what he thinks about the situation.

Quint asks who monitors the cameras? If it is Oya, since you are doing a job for Oya, do they monitor and then send to authorities, or do police monitor? That's all I've got.

Velkin goes to get Wasp, and she asks if it is important to stay in College Point? No. Velkin asks her to come over.

Further downtown or the boonies? We suggest where there are more people and crowds.

We ask Wasp what she thinks and if she knows if Oya runs the surveillance system for the city or did the city just buy their system?

Wasp thinks an interesting angle and can definitely talk to her contact about it. However....

So you trust that Oya Union needs you, right?

They definitely wouldn't buy the story that you are terrorists? OK I'll talk to my contact.

Finally, Wasp says, I'll do it this way and confirm if it is even possible.

Good news surveillance feeds are monitored by software at Oya, so technically all feeds pass through Oya's hands first. So technically, it is possible. So the question is whether they do it for you or not.

Velkin calls Mrs. Skin and she isn't pleased to have the call of our success. Velkin says that this is the call before that.

Velkin explains our plan to Mrs. Skin for Oya Union. Is this something that you think will work.

I'm going to hang up now. Keep your phone nearby.

Prix makes some dinner since it is on to 5:00 PM and we will probably be busy later.

It is spicy because she likes a burning sensation in her mouth.

The phone rings part way through the meal from a number not recognized.

I'm calling to find some operators working for Mrs. Skin. That's all I need to know. I'm an exec at Oya Union. Mrs. Skin has brought to my attention that you may need our help related to our surveillance.

From what she said, Advanced Systems is spreading lies about you to thwart your plans. That tracks, it would be odd to have terrorists

I'm willing to offer a black out on our system specifically for you for 5 hours. I will say, it is in our interest to do this sooner rather than later, if you have paid attention to new reports.

You will be invisible on the street and in gov't facilities, but can't do anything about private systems so make your plans accordingly.

We decide to start it at 9PM. We've been impressed so far, but if this doesn't pan our we will cut ties soon.

You won't be able to reach me at this number.

If this turns out well, I would like to meet with you.

Peronelle is all in to go. Prix thinks about it for a minute and finally says, I think maybe not this evening. I don't know that I'm as helpful as I was previously in our other world. I would just be dead weight.

We get everything ready.

As we head out the door, Wasp says that she has a line on a new place. High rise and lots of people to get lost in.

* If things go South let's meet up near LaGuardia. There is a hotel across from Grand Central Parkway. Ditmars Blvd. The Plaza Hotel.

We get to the door and watch the clock on Kauri's deck until 9:00 PM we look for signs of surveillance and step out.

At T intersection going West on 18th. Alleyway between apartment buildings we find a manhole cover for future reference where it intersects with 128th.

We go all the way down to 20th which is a lot busier and business are still open.

On corner of 128th & 20th we can see the partially destroyed precinct building diagonally across the way.

We take a circuitous route to the government building after crossing 117th and between 14th and our location, we see a police cruiser heading our way.

We turn around and go around the corner before the cruiser gets here. It passes by down 15th Ave.

We take 112th and see a cruiser pass behind us.

We finally get in sight of Whole Lotta Foods.

We head North into the maze of parking areas and look for manhole covers.

We come to an area where it narrows to a gap or we can go in wide open marshy area.

Velkin goes first and finds a parking lot for the James Fenwick government building.

The parking lot is mostly empty. There are a few cars here, most people have gone home for the night.

There are several entrances along the back.

Velkin grabs the rest of us and Kauri scans along the back of the building to see what he can find.

Kizumi is in the office of the comptroller on the 4th floor.

Kauri decides to use Shadow Step with gecko fingers to go up the wall to scan. Velkin accompanies him.

The rest of us hide: Glopmpus and Peronelle between cars, Thorfus hides behind a dumpster, Druul writes on some cardboard from the dumpster "will play keyboard for food" and walks up and down the parking lot.

Kauri and Velkin head up the wall.

Velkin finds an open window and slips in. Kauri works from outside.

Velkin looks for Kizumi Miku's name anywhere.

Kauri tries to hack a computer.

Velkin notices the play of a flashlight and hears steps coming this way and does not see Velkin.

We see someone come around the side of the Fenwick building and looks like an officer. He see's Druul, and Druul says he'll play music for food.

He reaches for something on his belt. I don't want any trouble.

The supermarket told me to come back here and you might give me some food.

Druul starts playing music really loudly.

The guard inside with flashlight runs to the window because he can hear the music from the parking lot.