[Video | 005: A Quest Arrow Appears!] Monday Evening, Week 12

[pepperspray]

[To say that Pepper's looking like she's been over twenty miles of bad road is really just stating the truth at this point. (And underselling it -- it's been a lot more than twenty miles, all totalled.). Still, she's back in town, her apartment's spartan furnishings visible behind her as she lays claim to a couch that's seen better days but is, blessedly, not a horse.

There remains a businesslike gleam to her eyes all the same: Pepper, it appears, has A Plan.]

I haven't managed death by horse, thanks largely to Captain Rogers and Dr. Banner, and I've got potential good news on the food situation. However, it's not really straightforward, and not really something to discuss over the network.

What I can say is that we've been asked to retrieve some goods as payment, that I have a map, but that it's very old, and that I've been warned about hazards in the location. So, while I can bring this to you, it's not something I can honestly handle myself.

If you're interested in either going along with or leading an expedition to do some treasure hunting, let me know. And if you have experience with translating very old maps, I'd very much like to hear from you. I'll be at my apartment for, um... well, let's just say that not moving sounds like an absolutely amazing idea right now.

[[OOC: Details on things here:]]

Comments

[Video]

[professorwolf]

[While Lyall has never really been the adventuring type, he has to admit to being curious. First, though: manners.]

Welcome back, Miss Potts. I should not expect you tomorrow at the hospital, then?

[Perhaps there's the faintest bit of a tease in there. Just a tiny bit. Lyall is not the best with humor, but he does try now and then with people he feels comfortable with.]

Re: [Video]

[pepperspray]

Thank you, Professor. And, um, no.

[She knows he's teasing, and her dimples appear even as she confroms that ] I think I'll be taking a personal day or two until things are a little less saddle sore. I'll have my communicator with me, of course, so you should absolutely let me know if you find anything weird, or just interesting.

[professorwolf]

[Ah, good. He didn't offend, or perplex, or invite mockery. He knew he liked Pepper.]

I may do you one better. I may visit, if you don't mind company.

[He does need to tell her about being a werewolf, and he'd love to see that map of hers, just for curiosity's sake, and perhaps to brush up on his old-fashioned cartography skills with an example. He'd even drop by tonight on his way out to hunt, but he thinks that might be a little forward of him to offer.]

[pepperspray]

Your company is never minded, Professor.

[The dimples linger, although her expression does fade back to weary and aching fatigue over time.]

Although you'll have to be ready to put up with me trying to make sense of the directions we got. It's already very clear that someone else is going to have to lead this expedition besides me, but I at least want to try and understand what I'm pointing people at.

[Video | Private]

[relicrebellion]

[The background is dark - Liara's taking a turn underground today, apparently.]

It's good to see you returned safe.

As for old maps, those are something of a specialty of mine. As, for that matter, is determining geographical locations in geography that has shifted over the course of centuries.

Millennia, really, given my particular field, but the principles are similar.

Re: [Video | Private]

[pepperspray]

Well, most of me, anyway. I keep having this sneaking suspicion that parts got knocked loose over some of the bumpier bits...

[Pepper's smile is wry and she shifts a little on her couch, visibly uncomfortable despite attempts to mask it.]

But if you've got some time to come over and, um, apply that specialty, I have the map with me. I also have someone with potential for aerial reconnaissance if that will help at all.

[Video | Private]

[relicrebellion]

How much help it would be will depend on a number of factors - if the destination would even be visible from the air being chief among them - but having some grasp of the lay of the land before anyone goes charging in is always wise.

[She glances over her shoulder briefly.] Would an hour from now be soon enough?

Video

[mentornomore]

[This is Chime's first attempt at using this odd thing, but he thinks he's got the idea.]

Would it help to have someone flying?

Re: Video

[pepperspray]

I'm talking with someone who knows far more about these things than I do, but I think it really might help. It might help a lot, actually.

[mentornomore]

Alright. That's no trouble, then. Just give me a little warning so I can make sure I've slept and eaten enough, I guess.

[Chime has next to no interest in treasure, but something to do? Now that's exciting.]

[Video]

[canandhave]

I'm certainly willing to join such an expedition, although I'm certain that I don't know enough about the situation here yet to consider leading.

[Still, it wouldn't be so dissimilar from the sort of thing she'd done with Hawke, she imagines.]

[Video]

[pepperspray]

Many of us are quite new -- I've only been here about a month myself. I'll gladly pass on your name to anyone who does feel comfortable leading, but I can also try and answer any questions you have about the situation.

[Her lips crimp slightly, good-natured as she admits that]

At the very least I can tell you who would know more about something.

[Video]

[canandhave]

These goods that you plan to retrieve, how long will the food in exchange last?

How many people are there here, that came from the...ship?

text;

[longaevus]

Would it be possible to see the maps? [ Either in a picture if visiting and peeping is out of the question ]

Text:

[pepperspray]

Absolutely. I have someone else coming to look them over tonight, in fact, so more eyes can only help.

text;

[longaevus]

That sounds wonderful. I'd be glad to give what assistance I can.

Perma Audio

[golden_retriever]

[ Boy it was good to hear that she came back safe and sound. Eliot was beginning to wonder if those bandits had caused more problems. ]

Well, nothin' burned down while you were gone. [ Said lightly, but there was a serious undertone beneath the drawl. ] Welcome back, ma'am.

And sounds like you need a retrieval specialist.

[pepperspray]

[Pepper's problems appear to be more in the line of a couple days' riding lessons not making you a rider, if the general air of achey discomfort that was threaded all through her body language before the feed switched audio was an indication. She still gives him a quick grin.]

Well, I appreciate your efforts at playing fire warden, then. And I would say that yes, we certainly could. I have Dr. T'soni and another person coming over to take a look at the map and see if they can update it to current landmarks.

[golden_retriever]

I may be able to help with that, if you're talkin' of the surroundin' area. Spent some time out in the wilderness 'fore I met up with your first caravan. [ A slight reminder of how he joined in the the middle of the trip. ]

I can be on my way over now if you want me.

[Voice]

[intherite]

And it is assured that the goods will lead to food?

[pepperspray]

As much as anything is assured in the real world, yes. The captain has much more to lose than to gain, by betraying us -- grain is, if you have a ship, much easier to come by than what she wants.

She's getting far more than her effort's worth in return, but this is a starvation situation we're avoiding, and she knows it as well as we do.

[Pepper sounds fairly philosophical about this -- business is, after all, business. And she's been helping steer a very large corporate ship for some time now]

[intherite]

If you are in need of an additional blade, I can assist. It will do me well to know more of what stands against us here.

i am the slowest [Video]

[knightoflight]

The offer is always open, if you need me.

And I can't make any promises about the map but I do know basic surveying.

[Filtered Video]: (No worries!)

[pepperspray]

There looks to be a certain level of technological familiarity required. This could be something up your alley, assuming the vault's large enough. Other than that, there could be a niche for aerial surveys, like Chime might end up doing, or transport to and from the site, once it's pinned down.

[Filtered Video]:

[knightoflight]

Any use you have for me I will gladly do.

[He gives a sheepish shrug.] Being not very useful here is...unpleasant.