quoth
Junior Member
Posts: 82
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Post by quoth on Jun 6, 2023 20:35:53 GMT -5
“The gate guards have all the fun,” a soldier remarks, leaning over the wall to watch the farmer get bayoneted until he stopped twitching. The guards at the gate tire of their sport quickly, and set to looting the cart of fruits the farmer had been hoping to sell in town. Other merchants flow in and out of the gates, heads down, trying to ignore the blood-sticky gravel under their feet.
Up in the gatehouse things are much less interesting. There are few opportunities for casual violence, so the ragged collection of soldiers the Enforcers could round up are far less dedicated to things like ‘duty’ and ‘readiness’ than their comrades below.
Anyway, the gatehouse garrison don’t really have anything to do unless there’s an attack. Occasionally one or two soldiers will patrol the wall, just for the look of the thing, or to stretch their legs.
There is also the tower, accessed by a ladder in the gatehouse, where the soldiers take turns looking out into the plains and aiming the heavy bolted emplacement at the wagons or trucks coming in and making explosions noises
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quoth
Junior Member
Posts: 82
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Post by quoth on Jun 6, 2023 20:36:18 GMT -5
Today trooper Bryar Jex wasn’t fast enough to avoid getting grabbed by the iron collar still around her neck. The Enforcer had yelled at her a bit, cuffed her on the back of the head, and shoved her in the direction of the gatehouse, so here she was.
She had spent maybe a minute in the gatehouse with the others looking at her before scuttling out to the wall parapet. She now sits on the wall, dangling her legs and idly disassembling a detonator. The tripwire she set up in the door was deliberately easy to spot, and only had a smoke grenade on it anyway.
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Post by hobbsy on Jun 6, 2023 22:30:52 GMT -5
"Hey! Were did that other scum you were on patrol with go?!" The voice of the enforcer bellowed, filling the silence which had settled after the cries of the murdered farmer had died down. To those around who raised their heads to the new distraction from boredom, they would see a repulsively imperial uniform of a Cadian standing before the present individual of authority. Though those who were in the know would know better than to mistake the form of 'Cadia' as a loyalist in any regard.
With her lasgun resting on her scratched shoulder pad, she looked up in an almost mocking smile of ignorance. "Oh, he jumped off the wall about two minutes ago. Now why would he do a thing like that?".
Slightly bewildered, the enforcer hurried off to see what had become of the potential escapists. Cadia knew he would only find a mess of a body on the ground below the wall though. Some of the soldiers on duty relaxed at the enforcer's momentary absence. Others looked at Cadia nervously.
Cadia herself made her way over to Jex and rested up against the wall beside her. "You know, you might want to be careful on the wall there. You probably wouldn't survive if you fell or were even pushed off and fall to the ground. Trust me, I know." She suddenly said to the trooper. Looking over to Jex she gave a normal, friendly smile. Though the smile could still be considered unnerving after that kind of statement.
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quoth
Junior Member
Posts: 82
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Post by quoth on Jun 7, 2023 9:25:13 GMT -5
Jex turns wide, mismatched eyes on the newcomer. She had hoped the tripwire would give her enough time to spot anyone approaching, but here she is, being talked to and possibly threatened. She manages to croak “I’m always careful.”
She shuffles a bit further away from Cadia, but tucks her legs under her for a more stable stance in case of, for example, a sharp push. Turning the majority of her attention back to the detonator, she keeps half an eye on the other woman, tensed to react to threatening moves.
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cyg
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by cyg on Jun 9, 2023 20:16:12 GMT -5
A rustling and clattering sound would be heard as a horrid figure approached down the wall. At first glance, it could be assumed to be a normal, if somewhat repulsive, mutant making it’s way along with a slight limp to its gait. Maggot grey skin and a dirty blue naval jumpsuit gave it a strange camouflage amount the industrial area, and it’s horribly hunched gain was silent save for the clattering of whatever it had in a large duffel bag. However several traits, and a general air that seemed to follow it like an invisible, noxious miasma, would point to a more unnatural form of alteration.
Wretch didn’t really see himself as a member of the rebellion against the Imperium. He saw himself as more of a…survivor, doing what anyone would reasonably do in his situation really. And beyond going with the side that wasn’t going to kill him on sight(at least not cause of his looks), he was set on making sure he had a nice little pile to call his own at some point, and his old skills as a tinker helped him there.
And that’s why he was on the wall, and not to do guard duty. Bored soldiers were more willing to listen to a sales pitch, especially when it had to do with weapons. And oh did he have a haul this time.
“Well hello there,” he croaked out as he spotted those on the wall, and hefted his bag, “you fine soldiers looking for something new, shiny, and ready for some use?”
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Post by hobbsy on Jun 9, 2023 23:51:42 GMT -5
Cadia continued to smile, though went slightly crosseyed at Jax's stares. As the tinkerer shuffled away, she shuffled a little closer after her to keep the same distance.
She opened her mouth to say something again, but her attention immediately shifted as voice behind her croaked about 'shiny' stuff. As she turned around, Cadia's excitement jumped to fright at the appearance of the newcomer. Within a flash, her las gun had gone from her shoulder to being gripped by the barrel to be brandish as a makeshift bat. She had propped herself on her back foot and had her weapon cocked for a swing before her mind caught up.
For a moment she froze in this position. Thankful so, for if she had swung it back any further, she might have made contact with Jax on the wall behind her. Who knows what the results might have been if she had continued the backwards swing with any force...
The moment passed and she returned to a normal position with a sheepish smile towards Wretch. "Sorry. I thought you were a little one of one of those spawn things.". Not giving a moment for anyone to question what she meant by that, she quickly continued with a new topic. "So, what shiny stuff do you have?".
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quoth
Junior Member
Posts: 82
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Post by quoth on Jun 10, 2023 21:59:45 GMT -5
Hooray, more people. Bryar’s sarcastic thought is undercut because the arrival of the newcomer draws attention away from her. Always a good thing.
A peddler. Hopefully not more “mystic talismans” or looted treasure from some noble’s house. She could use a few more grenades, though. And some new socks. A half dozen other small bits a soldier can never have enough of. Might be worth hearing him out.
“Not buying junk,” she rasps, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jex’s Guide to Haggling: Step one, make the vendor work for it.
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cyg
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by cyg on Jun 11, 2023 16:57:02 GMT -5
Wretch looked over at the weird mutant with cat ear, flinching as the weapon came up but his expression quickly flashing to a snarl at the mention of his appearance. He knew he wasn’t the best looking but he hated when people compared him to mutant spawn, like he was the same. But he quickly smoothed his expression, as best he could with its perpetual snarl, and looked over to the trooper who had whispered at him. However, one of the vestigial white eyes on his face seemed to track Cadia as the rest of Wretchs head turned.
“Junk? No, Guns! Fresh from the workshop, primed and ready to take some loyalists souls.” he chuckled, and set the bag down beside him. “Though if you two aren’t wanting anything I can just move one.” Rule of the merchant, set the line but don’t look desperate.
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Post by hobbsy on Jun 11, 2023 21:24:19 GMT -5
Cadia didn't mind the snarl, she got a lot of strange looks as it was. Though she couldn't help feeling the salesman was looking above her helmet. As a realization came to mind, she pulled out a cracked mirror from inside her flak vest.
Moving it to the right position, she could see that her 'phantom limb' cat ears were visible. Ever since she had developed her pyskic abilities, she tended to materialize fake ears were her original had once been. This usually happened when she was overly emotional, such as now with her excitement over the prospect of new toys. Although usually unnoticeable in the chaos held territories, when it happened above her helmet, it tended to attract attention.
She quickly concentrated to dissipated the elusion and drew ever bit of her short attention span to see what was on sale. Rule number 13 of acquiring a shiny: Don't be too excited, but show your interest.
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quoth
Junior Member
Posts: 82
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Post by quoth on Jun 12, 2023 7:16:46 GMT -5
Gesturing over her shoulder to the lasrifle slung there, Bryar grates out “Don’t need guns. They give those away for free when you’re in the army.” This much talking is making her throat itch.
She hopes the mutant has more to offer than some stolen lasguns. “Have you got-“ she starts coughing violently, unable to get more words out. She takes a swig from her canteen to help ease the burn.
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cyg
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by cyg on Jun 14, 2023 7:40:56 GMT -5
Hard sell, wretch thought as he eyed the two, but continued on. He didn’t climb up this damn wall just to give up like that. He did notice the other one, which he swore had had ears just a second ago, looking at his bag. Turning to her, he grinned a fang filled smile and pulled out a rough shotgun. It was based off his own Ironclaw, which he’d carefully taken apart and put back together for this.
The new models he had, his Iron Fangs, were definitely less polished than something a Techpriest manufactured, but they’d do. He just threw some extra spikes, a glyph or two to the Blood God, painted it black and boom, ready for market.
“A lasgun is good, yeah, but sometimes you need something close range and ready to punch through something soft and imperial.” He cackled, “or really anything that gets in your way. Good for making a demonstration, clearing a room, or just looking nice as you patrol.”
Time to sweeten the pot a bit. Wretch reached into a side pocket of his bag, and pulled out a paper wrapped bundle.
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Post by hobbsy on Jun 15, 2023 2:43:14 GMT -5
Cadia return the offered grin with her own fanged smile, though she couldn't tell if she was being friendly or instinctively try to show she was the dominant predator. Look over the offered shotgun, her smile faded to confusion.
'The shotgun was nice, but she had always carried her lasgun. It had character like her lasgun, but it would attract unwanted attention when she was with the other Cadians. It had spikes, but it also had those logos that made her feel someone really hated her. It was good for close up shooting, but she hadn't really had and issues with fighting at close distances..'
On and on the thoughts in her head went. She was still milling it over when the salesman pulled out a bundle packaged in paper. Cadia's eyes lit up and her fake ears reappeared as her thoughts became more frantic.
'A paper package! What could it be? Could it be a fish?! Fish comes in paper! What kind of fish could it be? I hope it's a fish!'
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quoth
Junior Member
Posts: 82
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Post by quoth on Jun 15, 2023 8:43:53 GMT -5
Jex makes a dismissive gesture at the shotgun, “Need something smaller. Sidearm?” Her voice is an even raspier croak after the coughing. She flinches at the burst of enthusiasm Cadia displays at the bag’s appearance and her eyes flick to the illusory ears with concern. She tries to catch Wretch’s gave with the implied question, you're seeing that too, right?
Being mad was exhausting sometimes.
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cyg
Junior Member
Posts: 58
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Post by cyg on Jun 18, 2023 19:39:37 GMT -5
Wretch looked up and was sure now he was seeing ears on this cultist. Must be some kind of mutation, or psykic power. He didn’t real care, just decided to keep maybe a step or two away from her. But then another croaking whisper pulled him over to the scarred Jex. Now, however, all three of the strange vestigial eyes on his face were locked on and staring unblinkingly at Cadia, each blind yet strangely seeing.
“Sidearms, oh yeah I have those.” He said, and put the shotgun back before pulling out a small selection of autopistols, slug pistols, and even some salvaged laspistols. He put them out infront of him, grinning as they were showed off.
“Same guarantee on the slug throws, all fire clean and ready to go. The laspistols will cost you more, and I can’t promised the lens are properly align but they still fired dead on.” he smoothly growled out, clawed hands tapping each of the weapons as he spoke.
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Post by hobbsy on Jun 30, 2023 1:51:55 GMT -5
As the wrapped package was placed away, the imagined ears also vanished. Cadia was sad to see the package go, but the plethora of pistol did well to distract her from her disappointment.
She could do with a brace of las pistols. Then she could be a highwayfelinid and get to keep them while around the Cadian Cadias! But apparently they costed more, now why would he it do a thing like that?
Cadia lifted herself off the wall leaned in a little closer to Wrench with a toothy smile. "What would it cost for two of those las pistols?" She purred.
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