11 AM District 0 ("The Colony), Main Road, Center of "The Square"
Herbie Brown walked the streets, freshly discharged, in his Dress Greens with his Ribbons [MCUF x2, Purple Heart, Combat Service x2, Rifleman MOS, Medic MOS] all on display and his Lance Corporal Stripes on his sleeves. A small pack slung over his shoulder contained Cr 500 worth of personal items. He had Cr 1500 cash in his pocket - a stipend from the Army to help him readjust to civilian life. Tucked safely away in his boot was a Cr 4500 preloaded Credit Card from his mother that was only valid for 30 days. Herbie needed basic supplies beyond the personal toiletries in his pack. He needed civilian clothes. He needed a place to sleep tonight. He needed a plan and a job. Once he got his feet under him, Herbie could decide how to leverage spend the Cr 20,000 that he had saved up in the bank into a future.
Herbie saw commercial buildings in every direction ... where would he start?
Just a heads up, I am treading a little light with Herbie. With the others, I had a chance to see them interact and get a sense of who the character is. I don't have that with Herbie, yet.
P.S. REDACTED to reflect the corrected service record. The ball is in YOUR court ... who is he and what does he do?
"welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness" - e.e. cummings
The Square:
[2] Grocery Store
[13] Repair Shop
[10] Assisted Living Facility
[1] General Contractor
[5] Real Estate Office ("sales & Leasing")
[16] Brulantfort Educational Services
[23] Wholesale Food & Grocery
[12] Bar & Diner ("District 0, Building 12")
[19] HVAC & Filtration Construction and Repair
[25] "Warehouse 25"
[3] General Store (like a micro-Walmart)
"welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness" - e.e. cummings
4 years seemed like a lifetime ago. The colony still smelled, well like the colony. He took in a deep breath through his nasal filters and sighed. “Guess I’m finally back home.”
He dodged puddles and traffic as he made his way through the ill kept colony streets. Better go check on Nan, he thought. She’d get a kick out of seeing him in uniform. Or maybe a kick in the pants, it was hard to tell sometimes with Nan which one you’d get.
Nan, the woman who’d raised him wasn’t his real ma. Both his parents were killed in an accident when he was still a baby. But she was the closest thing to family he had on Beau so he made his way steadily towards the Assisted Living facility she had called home the past 5 years.
He hoped nurse May was working the front desk. She was real nice and had never once teased him like many of the others had. ‘Course he was a man grown now and a veteran to boot, though technically still just a Private.
His step was a little spryer and he stood a little taller as he walked up the steps and into the lobby.
Last edited by Hvalreki on Thu Feb 29, 2024 2:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
May was happy to see Herbie and told him how ‘grown up’ he looked in his Army uniform. She didn’t keep him long because she knew that he would want to see Nan … and Nan would want to see him.
Nan greeted Herbie with a big hug and kisses. (Herbie was embarrassed, but liked it, too). Nan said she was afraid to wrinkle him, as she released him. She had read all his letters but still wanted to hear him tell her all about the Army first hand. Letters just aren’t the same as hearing your voice. Nan asked about money. Nan told Herbie not to fret over losing his ‘partner’. Nan reminded Herbie that she had taught him how to “hustle” and earn a living. “As long as you can buy and sell, you can support yourself.” they both repeated together the lesson that Nan had drilled into Herbie from the moment she took him in. With a conspiratorial wink, Nan leaned close and whispered “I may be old, but I’m not dead. I keep my ears open. There is a shortage of THREAD, STRING, TWINE and ROPE in town at the moment. You know what to do. You can do it alone. You’re a man now, Herbie.”
Herbie left the Facility [10] as a man on a mission. He did know what to do. Herbie knew how to “peddle”. He went to the woods and his wagon was where he had left it. Technically, it was a cart, since it had only two wheels. However, it could tilt to load like a dolly, and with it Herbie could transport up to 1 tonne of goods at a time. Herbie and his Cart visited the CITY. Herbie didn’t really like the City much … too many people always getting upset about something … too many rules that Herbie was always getting in trouble for breaking. Yet the City had rope for cheap, and Herbie knew where to find it, and the people of Colony hated the city more than Herbie did. So they would buy the rope from Herbie.
[PC] Herbie Brown (Age 22): Cr 20,000
Below average (2-5) DEX, INT; Average (6-8) EDU; Above average (9-C) STR, END, SOC.
Skills: Medic-1, Rifle-1, Vehicle (tracked)-1
[10] Nurse Mila May (Age 30):
Below average (2-5) INT, SOC; Average (6-8) END, EDU; Above average (9-C) DEX.
[10] Stella ‘Nan’ Smith (Age 72):
Below average (2-5) DEX, SOC; Average (6-8) STR, EDU; Above average (9-C)END, EDU.
[retired merchant; raised “Herbie”]
"welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness" - e.e. cummings
The factories were right where Herbie remembered. He was not stopped and questioned this visit … probably his Army Uniform made him look important. Herbie was able to contract for 4 tonnes of assorted rope products [the smallest order the factory would accept]. Herbie paid the man Cr 500 and loaded 1 tonne on the cart and headed back to The Colony.
Nan was right. (She was always right and really good at business.) The Medical Clinic [9] purchased some. The Laundry [21] wasn’t here when Herbie shipped out, so he didn’t know the owner, but they purchased half his cart. The Clothing Store [17] purchased the last of the load in his cart. Herbie had paid Cr 500 for and sold it for Cr 1000, that means he earned … Well, he earned a LOT of money.
[PC] Herbie Brown (Age 22): Cr 20,000
Below average (2-5) DEX, INT; Average (6-8) EDU; Above average (9-C) STR, END, SOC.
Skills: Medic-1, Rifle-1, Vehicle (tracked)-1
Buy Rope Roll = [5] -2 (NI) = 3 = Cr 500 / ton
Sell Rope Roll = [5] +2 (NI) = 7 = Cr 1000 / ton
Herbie Law Level Roll [stop on 7-] = [9] … no stop and question.
"welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness" - e.e. cummings
Herbie hurried back to the factory with his cart to collect another load. The Restaurant [11], the new Insurance Office [22], the Bank [4], the Drawing Guy [6] all purchased some and the General Store [3] purchased the rest on his cart. The Chapel [14] and the Government Building [8] didn’t need any rope. The man in the Government Building tried to talk Herbie into signing up for a job, but Herbie told him that he already had a Job. Herbie was a grown-up merchant.
"welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness" - e.e. cummings
Herbie paid his Cr 500 and headed to Warehouse 25 [25] with a load of strong Rope. Truckers were always tying things down with strong rope. He saw lots more Truckers than usual and someone standing on the top of a container waving his arms around and shouting. It was Mr Jim. Mr Jim must be here on vacation again. Herbie visited with Brom and sold half the cart of rope to him and the other half to the new Air Cleaner business [19]. Brom introduced Herbie to the owners. Herbie had earned another Cr 500.
[PC] Herbie Brown (Age 22): Cr 20,000
Below average (2-5) DEX, INT; Average (6-8) EDU; Above average (9-C) STR, END, SOC.
Skills: Medic-1, Rifle-1, Vehicle (tracked)-1
[25] (Asst Manager) Brom Yang (Age 28):
Below average (2-5) STR; Average (6-8) INT, EDU, SOC; Above average (9-C) DEX, END.
[NOTE: Pause for dramatic effect … and to give Herbie a chance to step in at any point before the climax when I unite him with the group. ]
"welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness" - e.e. cummings
Herbie paid his Cr 500 and headed to Warehouse 25 [25] with a load of strong Rope. Truckers were always tying things down with strong rope. He saw lots more Truckers than usual and someone standing on the top of a container waving his arms around and shouting. It was Mr Jim. Mr Jim must be here on vacation again. Herbie visited with Brom and sold half the cart of rope to him and the other half to the new Air Cleaner business [19]. Brom introduced Herbie to the owners. Herbie had earned another Cr 500.
1:57 PM Warehouse 25 [25]
Leitz wrote: ↑Tue Feb 27, 2024 7:14 pm
Enroute, they approached a man in Army dress greens, pulling a cart. Jim looked at the man for a moment, and then broke out in a grin. "Herbie? Really? Army? Herbie? I haven't seen you in years; now I know why. You're looking very sharp today!"
Jim turned to Joe, still grinning broadly. "Joe, this enterprising young man is Herbert Brown. He's a local, and made a name for himself as a young merchant here in The Colony. It looks like he ran off to join the Army for a while. Herbie, meet Joe. He can drive an exoskeleton like you would not believe."
[NOTE: We have reached a fork in the road ... Herbie has an opportunity to interact with Jim and Joe and join the group at this point. I have a planned post that will offer Herbie a chance to use his MEDICAL skill and meet up with Val instead. Either opportunity is Herbie's to take.]
"welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness" - e.e. cummings
[an alternative for Herbie to join the group through Val ... player choice. One of those Sci-Fi time/alternative universe things. One reality collapses when you choose.]
1:45 PM Medical Clinic [9]
John was nothing like Herbie. John had spent a lifetime avoiding letting people tell him what to do. John had invested 20 years in the Army. John had survived more than a decade behind enemy lines on a dozen different worlds. John had killed more people than most people knew. … That was THEN. Now, John was just another broken ex-soldier. Another forgotten casualty of a forgotten war, barely surviving beneath the radar of any Government Agency and far below any Government “safety net” … an anonymous citizen in an eclectic community called ‘The Colony’.
It was serendipity that at 1:40 PM the paths of Herbie and James crossed in the middle of the main road, in the center of the Square in the center of The Colony. John’s filter had reached its final limits long ago, but John was accustomed to ignoring the warning signals from his body. It was at this serendipitous meeting that John’s body sent him a signal he could not ignore ….
Herbie was excited after his third trip. He had quickly sold his rope. He had made a new friend named Jim. He had only one more trip and he would be finished with work. Herbie almost ran over John. It wasn’t Herbie’s fault. John was laying in the street and coughing blood. John couldn’t catch his breath. Herbie knew what to do. Nan had taught him all about Mask Safety and what to do if a mask stopped working … because the outside air was really bad for you.
Herbie tried to put John’s mask back on him, but John was fighting him. John was always angry at people, but John wasn’t angry at Herbie. This was something else. Herbie lifted John and placed him on the cart - just like a crate of rope - then Herbie started racing down the street towards the Clinic [9].
1:50 PM Medical Clinic [9]
Val was heading down the road towards the group when Herbie, a local character, almost ran her down with a cart full of “man”. Fortunately, Val was nimble enough to easily dive and roll out of the way. Herbie tried to apologize, but his “sorry” was breathless and barely audible. Running with the cart had left him winded and close to collapse. Herbie croaked “clinic” and Val saw the man on the card didn’t look so good.
Grabbing a handle, Val and Herbie pushed the cart to the Clinic [9] and right past the emergency doors. For a moment everyone just stared incredulous at Val and Herbie and a Pushcart and a man on the pushcart all sitting in the center of the small ER.
“John needs O2, stat” shouted Herbie and broke the trance. People jumped into action and John was being treated.
Val observed that the Medical Clinic had several Computer terminals. As long as she was here … but again the answer was no public terminal.
A ‘doctor’ named Zane … technically, Zane was a Nurse Practitioner, but he was studying to be a surgeon … overheard and waved Val aside. He led her to a small storage room with non-critical supplies [uniforms, linens, extra bandages and gloves] and pointed to a computer on a desk. “They forget that it is here. I use it to study. Help yourself.” Zane smiled “Just don’t steal the sheets.”
Val got on and found both access and no government firewalls. She had barely started her search when she got the strangest hit. Someone was selling a Broker Contract … a list of a buyer and a seller with an already agreed upon sale … worth thousands of credits for literally pennies on the dollar to “the first person to show up”. Then it listed a name, and a Lot Number, but no street address or contact phone number.
2:05 PM “Snipe Hunt”
Val took the information and headed back towards the Lobby. Time had run out and she needed to hurry.
Herbie had never left John’s side and insisted on helping treat John, since Herbie learned all about healing in the Army. John was resting so Herbie went to thank Val for her help. Seeing the name, Herbie said “I know her. She’s nice. Lives right up there.” he pointed away from the main road towards the houses OFF the main road (or any road).
First come meant first come … Val had Herbie lead her to the house. Val met Merideth. Her husband had just run off with a girl he just met and decided was his “soul mate”. Meredith was responsible to sell the Brokered deal and divide the money 50/50. “He wants me to SEND HIS money to their new ‘love nest’ “ she spit out. “The contract is worth Cr 3000, so pay me Cr 2 and it is yours. One credit for each of us.”
Val handed over Cr2 and left holding a contract.
Val and Herbie hurried back to the Bar [12] and arrived at 2:15 PM.
[main road] John Saar (Age 40):
Below average (2-5) STR, INT; Average (6-8) END, EDU, SOC; Above average (9-C) DEX.
[9] Zane John (Age 26):
Below average (2-5) SOC; Average (6-8) STR, END, INT, EDU; Above average (9-C) DEX.
A Nurse-Practitioner studying to become a Surgeon.
BEAU has a Thin, tainted atmosphere, like "high altitude" on earth [living in Denver or the pressure inside an airplane]. The "taint" is a high level of ozone [O3] at surface elevations.
Ozone has a pungent odor and exposure has the following effects:
[seconds] irritate the nose and throat.
[minutes] cause headache, upset stomach, vomiting, and pain or tightness in the chest.
[hours] irritate the lungs causing coughing and shortness of breath.
[days] cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath.
[weeks] cause permanent lung damage.
A simple Carbon Filter Mask will remove the ozone.
CONTRACT: Val has an executed agreement to purchase 60 tonnes of non-metalic ore for Cr 57,000. Val has a second executed contract to sell 60 tonnes of non-metalic ore for Cr 60,000. Val agrees to deliver the ore within 7 days or pay Cr 100 in late fees. Both contracts are local to Brulantfort.
[Identical post in HERBIE and VAL]
"welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness" - e.e. cummings
OOC: I will leave the individual "Part 1" threads unlocked for a while in case there is anything you want to do BEFORE 2 PM. After 2 PM, there is a new thread for House of cards - Part 2 where the group is back together.
"welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness" - e.e. cummings
Nan always made sure Herbie minded his manners, sometimes with a shoe, so even though he was in full "Hustle" he slowed a little and lifted one arm off the cart handle to wave a friendly hello at Jim.
"Nice to see you too Jim and pleased to make your acquaintance Joe. I'd stay and talk but I'm on the clock!"
Barely winded from pushing the heavy cart with one hand he repositions his grip and moves back into a high gear.
atpollard wrote: ↑Tue Feb 27, 2024 9:49 pm 1:50 PM Medical Clinic [9]
Val was heading down the road towards the group when Herbie, a local character, almost ran her down with a cart full of “man”. Fortunately, Val was nimble enough to easily dive and roll out of the way. Herbie tried to apologize, but his “sorry” was breathless and barely audible. Running with the cart had left him winded and close to collapse. Herbie croaked “clinic” and Val saw the man on the card didn’t look so good.
Grabbing a handle, Val and Herbie pushed the cart to the Clinic [9] and right past the emergency doors. For a moment everyone just stared incredulous at Val and Herbie and a Pushcart and a man on the pushcart all sitting in the center of the small ER.
“John needs O2, stat” shouted Herbie and broke the trance. People jumped into action and John was being treated.
Val observed that the Medical Clinic had several Computer terminals. As long as she was here … but again the answer was no public terminal.
A ‘doctor’ named Zane … technically, Zane was a Nurse Practitioner, but he was studying to be a surgeon … overheard and waved Val aside. He led her to a small storage room with non-critical supplies [uniforms, linens, extra bandages and gloves] and pointed to a computer on a desk. “They forget that it is here. I use it to study. Help yourself.” Zane smiled “Just don’t steal the sheets.”
Val got on and found both access and no government firewalls. She had barely started her search when she got the strangest hit. Someone was selling a Broker Contract … a list of a buyer and a seller with an already agreed upon sale … worth thousands of credits for literally pennies on the dollar to “the first person to show up”. Then it listed a name, and a Lot Number, but no street address or contact phone number.
2:05 PM “Snipe Hunt”
Val took the information and headed back towards the Lobby. Time had run out and she needed to hurry.
Herbie had never left John’s side and insisted on helping treat John, since Herbie learned all about healing in the Army. John was resting so Herbie went to thank Val for her help. Seeing the name, Herbie said “I know her. She’s nice. Lives right up there.” he pointed away from the main road towards the houses OFF the main road (or any road).
First come meant first come … Val had Herbie lead her to the house. Val met Merideth. Her husband had just run off with a girl he just met and decided was his “soul mate”. Meredith was responsible to sell the Brokered deal and divide the money 50/50. “He wants me to SEND HIS money to their new ‘love nest’ “ she spit out. “The contract is worth Cr 3000, so pay me Cr 2 and it is yours. One credit for each of us.”
Val handed over Cr2 and left holding a contract.
Val and Herbie hurried back to the Bar [12] and arrived at 2:15 PM.
[main road] John Saar (Age 40):
Below average (2-5) STR, INT; Average (6-8) END, EDU, SOC; Above average (9-C) DEX.
[9] Zane John (Age 26):
Below average (2-5) SOC; Average (6-8) STR, END, INT, EDU; Above average (9-C) DEX.
A Nurse-Practitioner studying to become a Surgeon.
BEAU has a Thin, tainted atmosphere, like "high altitude" on earth [living in Denver or the pressure inside an airplane]. The "taint" is a high level of ozone [O3] at surface elevations.
Ozone has a pungent odor and exposure has the following effects:
[seconds] irritate the nose and throat.
[minutes] cause headache, upset stomach, vomiting, and pain or tightness in the chest.
[hours] irritate the lungs causing coughing and shortness of breath.
[days] cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath.
[weeks] cause permanent lung damage.
A simple Carbon Filter Mask will remove the ozone.
CONTRACT: Val has an executed agreement to purchase 60 tonnes of non-metalic ore for Cr 57,000. Val has a second executed contract to sell 60 tonnes of non-metalic ore for Cr 60,000. Val agrees to deliver the ore within 7 days or pay Cr 100 in late fees. Both contracts are local to Brulantfort.
[Identical post in HERBIE and VAL]
Cross-posted with VAL
"Herbie, you're a good luck charm for several people today!" Val says as she pats the young vet on the back. "Wanna join me and my friends in this delivery deal?"
[main road] John Saar (Age 40):
Below average (2-5) STR, INT; Average (6-8) END, EDU, SOC; Above average (9-C) DEX.
[9] Zane John (Age 26):
Below average (2-5) SOC; Average (6-8) STR, END, INT, EDU; Above average (9-C) DEX.
A Nurse-Practitioner studying to become a Surgeon.
BEAU has a Thin, tainted atmosphere, like "high altitude" on earth [living in Denver or the pressure inside an airplane]. The "taint" is a high level of ozone [O3] at surface elevations.
Ozone has a pungent odor and exposure has the following effects:
[seconds] irritate the nose and throat.
[minutes] cause headache, upset stomach, vomiting, and pain or tightness in the chest.
[hours] irritate the lungs causing coughing and shortness of breath.
[days] cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath.
[weeks] cause permanent lung damage.
A simple Carbon Filter Mask will remove the ozone.
CONTRACT: Val has an executed agreement to purchase 60 tonnes of non-metalic ore for Cr 57,000. Val has a second executed contract to sell 60 tonnes of non-metalic ore for Cr 60,000. Val agrees to deliver the ore within 7 days or pay Cr 100 in late fees. Both contracts are local to Brulantfort.
[Identical post in HERBIE and VAL]
Cross-posted with VAL
"Herbie, you're a good luck charm for several people today!" Val says as she pats the young vet on the back. "Wanna join me and my friends in this delivery deal?"
Herbie blushes at the attention.
"Why thanks ma'am! I'm ah, not sure how long 60 tonnes will take with just the cart though... Will there be lunch?"
[main road] John Saar (Age 40):
Below average (2-5) STR, INT; Average (6-8) END, EDU, SOC; Above average (9-C) DEX.
[9] Zane John (Age 26):
Below average (2-5) SOC; Average (6-8) STR, END, INT, EDU; Above average (9-C) DEX.
A Nurse-Practitioner studying to become a Surgeon.
BEAU has a Thin, tainted atmosphere, like "high altitude" on earth [living in Denver or the pressure inside an airplane]. The "taint" is a high level of ozone [O3] at surface elevations.
Ozone has a pungent odor and exposure has the following effects:
[seconds] irritate the nose and throat.
[minutes] cause headache, upset stomach, vomiting, and pain or tightness in the chest.
[hours] irritate the lungs causing coughing and shortness of breath.
[days] cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath.
[weeks] cause permanent lung damage.
A simple Carbon Filter Mask will remove the ozone.
CONTRACT: Val has an executed agreement to purchase 60 tonnes of non-metalic ore for Cr 57,000. Val has a second executed contract to sell 60 tonnes of non-metalic ore for Cr 60,000. Val agrees to deliver the ore within 7 days or pay Cr 100 in late fees. Both contracts are local to Brulantfort.
[Identical post in HERBIE and VAL]
Cross-posted with VAL
"Herbie, you're a good luck charm for several people today!" Val says as she pats the young vet on the back. "Wanna join me and my friends in this delivery deal?"
Herbie blushes at the attention.
"Why thanks ma'am! I'm ah, not sure how long 60 tonnes will take with just the cart though... Will there be lunch?"
Val laughs. "Lunch is on me. We'll need something bigger than your cart, but bring it along. You've been quite useful with it already today.
"Let's get to the bar," she says,as she helps him push it along.
