to the Index or back to Over Hill and Dale
Team R54 - Episode 14
report covers: 23 September, 2139 to 7 October, 2139
23 September 2139
weather report: temp low 4 C (40° F), high 15 C (59° F); winds light (12 kph) from NW; cloud cover 10%.
The team had been in Mountain Home, the capital city of the Kingdom of Ultraviolet, for about 35 hours; they were staying at King Jubal's house, atop the bluffs looking out out over Middle Park. It was a cool day in early fall.
a map of the likely areas traversed from Ultraviolet to Boise
The blaring roar of the deuce-and-a-half's engine signaled the team's departure. King Jubal and his family shook everyone's hands and wished them good luck and godspeed. Traveling with the team was a young man:
|
Brad Fillveng
|
|
A knight's son from Middle Park, age 19. He's tall and muscular, with dark hair and some odd tattoos. He'd like to find a wife to bring back to the Kingdom. He's literate, and skilled with axe, sword, or bow. He has good Riding and Fieldcraft skills. He's never ridden in a motor vehicle in his whole life; he's fired a musket fairly often (just enough to be base level with Rifle skill -- but unfamiliar with cartridge weapons).
STR 16, CON 14, SIZ 16, DEX 12, INT 12, POW 10, APP 14, EDU 8
Unarmed Combat 75%, Sword 25%, Sword Parry 15%, Bow 35%,
Axe 50%, Throw 50%, Riding 50%, Fieldcraft 40%
|
They traveled north through Middle Park and North Park, towards the interstate freeway near Rawlins -- but in the mid-late afternoon, they spotted a thin trail of smoke to the east (on the interstate, more or less, on the route leading to Laramie and Cheyenne).
Jesse James Pettigrew was sent ahead on foot to check out the burning armored car; it turned out to be a trap, but three of the four ambushers were killed, and one was captured. He was Astaroth, a Shadow of the Doom Singer -- a spy for the Doom Riders.
Astaroth was loaded into the back of the repaired armored car, and hauled along.The team camped near the interstate that night.
the plains of Wyoming near where the ambush was found
24 September 2139
weather report: thunderstorm after sunset
The team traveled around the Shirley Mountains and the Green Mountains, then west past the Red Desert to the Green River Valley; they spent the night at the ranch of a man named Sawyer, who was used to putting up travelers (being the furthest east ranch in the valley). Vita and Corinne were invited to stay in the ranch house; and, during the evening, Astaroth the Shadow was tortured and interrogated in the truck shed.
25 September 2139
weather report: clear skies
The Green River Valley was crossed, to the south end of the pass between the Salt River Range and Bear River Range. Some folk at ranches and small towns gave a wink and thumbs-up, due (no doubt) to "good press" via the Wild West Gunfighter Girls. Mid-day, the team cut the prisoner's throat and hung the body from a tree near the road.
26 September 2139
weather report: clear skies
A long, uneventful day's drive, through the mountains and into the Snake River Plain, arriving at Pocatello. They had visited this palisaded town just a week before, so their arrival didn't cause much fuss.
27 September 2139
weather report: clear skies
Barreling along the reasonably safe roads in the Snake River Plain, the team made it to Fort Boise by sunset. Corporal Travis Schafer, of the Rangers, told the team about the refugee march to Bone City (in the ruins of Spokane):
About halfway to Bone City, we were attacked by about a hundred men riding horses, from the west -- Pale Riders, out of Burns. Their ambush was only spotted at the last minute, but we drove them off fairly brisk-like; they hung around for a day or two, watching and sniping a bit. They didn't capture anybody, which was good luck considering we were spread along a couple of miles of road. Eight people died from the fighting, and another seven died during the march -- old age, wounds, or just plain tired to death. Mischief Jones and some of the Montanan chiefs and nobles pursued the Riders west a few miles. The hundred Montanan men armed with muskets did good work, I have to say.
At Bone City, me, Tom, and the hired outriders and freight wagon crews stayed a couple of days. The River Folk and Bone City elders decided that another six days of march, to the Columbia River, would be the best way to travel; so we left most of the freight wagons there and came back with just a couple of the wagons. Jones stayed to help escort the Montanans to the river; the River Folk and Bone City people provided guards and more teamsters.
We got back here on August 30th.
28 September 2139
weather report: clouds rolling in from the west
With a fresh load of charcoal in their truck, the team headed north-west across the Snake River and into Oregon, along the route of old Interstate 84 -- the route of the old Oregon Trail. Unwilling to get into a firefight with the Pale Riders, they continued up into the Grande Ronde Valley. There seemed to be no current inhabitants in the area -- possibly due to the depredations by the Pale Riders.
Unfortunately, the pass over the Blue Mountains was impassable; the team decided to take the easier route north into Indian Valley the next day.
Notorious Ted and his gang robbed the morning train heading out to Liberal from Oregon City.
29 September 2139
weather report: clouds gathering, light rain in the evening
In the morning, the team set out along US Highway 82, and eventually crossed the Blue Mountains at Tollboth. Driving west across the grassy plains, they saw a few small settlements -- none near the road; probably related to the Umatilla reservation before the Atomic War. They took a wide path around Hermiston -- still radioactive after more than a century -- and followed the Columbia River west. The weather persuaded them to stop about 35 kilometers east of the Sam Hill Bridge, and camp.
30 September 2139
weather report: 50% cloud cover
With an early start, the team reached the Sam Hill Bridge before noon. The work to complete the suspension spans was finished, and the River Folk were at work on defenses at the bridge heads, housing, and other secondary construction. The team's appearance called for a big lunch! A fast boat was sent downstream to let other River Folk communities know of Gootz's return.
After the lunch, a fast (1 hour) drive took the team to The Dalles, where the rest of the day was spent in a big celebration.
1 October 2139
weather report: scattered clouds
Waking up slowly, the team got a late start, but the trip to Bonneville Falls only took two hours. An even bigger celebration was in store, with bands, fireworks, and several thousands of people turning out to swell the team's heads. Clan-captain Emma Parker filled the team in on the progress of the Montanan refugees.
2 October 2139
weather report: very light rain all day
The team woke late again (a bit of a luxury, with hot running water, helpful locals, etc.) and set off to Oregon City -- a four hour drive. The locals had in fact heard of the team's return from "back east"; a few dozen people turned out at the city gates with a welcoming banner, a half-dozen musicians, and glum looks (in all fairness, it was raining).
There was a semi-sober meeting with important citizens and the Combine Regulator that evening. A lot of the discussion was about the Harris clan's control of the Willamette Falls dam, locks and generators. Scotty attempted to work up some indignation: "How can you let them have such a stranglehold on you? Why, at any time they can set their power rates as high as they like, or shut down the mills!"
The Project members decided to buy or lease a proper house in the city, and spend four full days recuperating from their travels.
3 October 2139
weather report: overcast, cool, light rain in the evening
The team "checked in" with the caretaker of their warehouse, picked up their laundry, bought new clothing, and looked at several homes. The most suitable was a six-bedroom home at 211 Tumwater Drive, looking across McLoughlin Boulevard and down onto the Willamette River and the dams, etc.
map showing the house and truck barn; about 250 meters of fence
|
House Costs
|
|
The building would probably fetch $3000 to $3700 on the "open market"; the team can buy it for $2000 on the strength of their ominous, well-armed appearance community-minded reputation and Persuasion skill rolls. Or, it could be net leased for $50 per month, with a $500 deposit.
It's a six-bedroom home, with five bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs; downstairs is the master bedroom (with its own bathroom), kitchen, pantry, washroom, dining room, and family room. There's a full basement, with not much of note except the electric water heater and sump pump. The existing electrical system is very basic -- light bulbs are scarce in Oregon City. It comes unfurnished, with only built-in appliances (kitchen stove, sinks, bathroom fixtures, etc.).
Putting up the two-truck garage will cost about $250; repainting, changing locks, minor upgrades to wiring and plumbing, etc. will cost about $150. This includes a tall flagpole to serve as an antenna tower. Furniture for seven persons will come to $350, if you'd like to have proper stuff for each person (but don't feel the need for pianos, etc.).
|
4-6 October 2130
weather report: overcast most days
With a home to call home, the team arranged for carpenters, painters, cabinetmakers, electricians, etc. to improve the place. A large "two truck" garage began construction on the parcel; Corinne was introduced to the teachers at the public school (though the team considered hiring a tutor instead, as her education was pretty far ahead of the local students); several men were hired to help with unloading and storing the contents of the truck ...
7 October 2139
weather report: clear skies, a little cool, brisk winds
Vita was left in Oregon City to look after the house and Corinne; the team set out in just the V150, south along the Portland Road, joining up with Interstate 5 north of Salem. They passed within a couple of kilometers of Jefferson, without any incident, and turned west towards Corvallis. They swam their vehicle across the Willamette River (not within sight of the Harris clan, as far as they know) and drove to the University.
There were a few hundred students attending classes there; one odd structure was a large, steep mound of dirt in the middle of campus, with brambles and weeds growing on it, and a simple livestock fence around it. The staff explained the hill was piled on the TRIGA reactor building, after the Atomic War. Many of the remaining "old buildings" were ruins, destroyed by floods and fires; sturdy earth banks and berms surrounded much of the university's remaining buildings.
Professor Ted Rogalski, Director of the University, had a long, friendly chat with the team; the only academic departments operating were medicine and "normal studies" (i.e., school teaching). Medical degrees covered doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and veterinarians. The library was in pretty good shape, considering.
The town of Corvallis, outside of the University, seemed to have a population of a few hundred people. The city hadn't been damaged by nuclear attacks, but the Long Winter, and many heavy floods since then, had left only a few masonry walls recognizably from the Twentieth Century. The team had lunch at the Hilton -- the only lodging and eating-place for travelers.
"You wouldn't happen to have Volume 6 of the Encyclopedia Britannica, would you?"
There were particularly heavy floods in 1996 and 2007, before the "new" University had begun its work.
Notes
The Montanan Refugees
The refugees left Fort Boise on June 28th; the trip to Bone City was going to take 38 days ... 40 days it turned out, due to an attack by the Pale Riders and other delays. Fifteen of them died on the way, due to the attack and other causes. Thus they reached Bone City on August 7th; at that point you were returning to Santa Fe, having helped the nice people of the Wet Mountain Valley against the Waste Lords.
They rested in Bone City for a couple of days (five of them stayed there), and then set out (August 10th) northwest to the Columbia River ... 6 days travel on foot. At the former town of Hunters, on the river, they began loading into River Folk craft on August 16th; the 800 kilometer trip to Bonneville only took two days, but the boats had to travel upriver again to pick up more refugees, and the upriver trip took four days. Moving all 1200 people ended up taking fourteen days: the last refugees reached Bonneville on August 30th. Thirty-five of them ended up staying with the River Folk, in total. The next day they were all ferried to Oregon City; the Regulator and town officials had been notified for a week or two about the arrival of more than 1000 persons, of course.
From September 1st to September 10th, the refugees were camped in and near Oregon City, while debates, decisions, countermanded decisions, and lots of discussions went on. A common sentiment in Oregon City was "send them to Beavertown", a hard-but-fair (but really hard) settlement for refugees, outlaws, and exiles. In the evening of the 10th, representatives of the Harris clan approached Mayor Fred Willis and the heads of the more important guilds, and offered to move and settle the refugees at Newtown, about 40 kilometers away -- the Harris clan has a lot of influence and "stuff going on" at Newtown.
The Mayor, guilds and even the refugees liked the offer, and two days later (September 12th) a bunch of Harris clan boats carried the refugees away -- it was a short trip, the boats made several round trips each Forty-five of the refugees didn't go with the Harris clan -- either staying in Oregon City, or off to other nearby locations.. So by the time R54 arrived at Oregon City (October 2nd), the Montanans had been in Newtown for twenty days.
People in Oregon City told the team they'd heard that "things were changing" in Newtown, and that groups of armed men from there -- possibly the refugees -- had been seen at Doctor House along the river, and traveling in Harris clan boats south along the Willamette, near McMinnville.
All the team members should gain 5% automatically in Drive Truck, plus a skill check.
Everyone also has a check in Mechanical Repair (you've all learned a lot about gasogen engines, an important technology of the post-apocalyptic world.
JJ has a check in Fieldcraft and Sneak (due to Dee Dee's training); Jesse has a check in Signals.
next report: Trailers
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.