|
Post by Zeno, Lord Camelith on Jan 27, 2010 0:15:47 GMT -5
Harmund pushed himself up from the bush where he and Sigbrand had been hiding, the gunfire had stopped almost fifteen minutes before but they had stayed hidden until they could see STALKERs coming out to search the bodies of the fallen soldiers.
"Come on, lets go." Said Harmund, and he helped his younger brother to his feet. While Sigbrand stood up, Harmund took a good look at him. His brother was barely 19 but the few days they had already spent in The Zone made him look almost twice his age.
Upon entering the village, Harmund and Sigbrand could see the damage wrought by the raid. There was a crater in the middle of the rough dirt road, and a few of the houses looked like they were about to collapse. After walking farther down the road they saw two STALKERs, one was looking through the belongings of the dead soldiers and seemed relatively unharmed but the other was a little worse off. They approached the STALKERs and Harmund said, "We heard the gunshots and came to investigate, are many of you injured? I have a few extra first-aid kits with me."
|
|
|
Post by Διμι on Jan 27, 2010 0:42:08 GMT -5
((let's not use the 'STALKER' acronym here, in caps, at any rate. It just stands out quite a bit when used repeatedly. 'stalkers' is fine if not continually abused, and 'loners' just sounds more natural as a whole. Also - Chaos - please wrap up the 'first raid' thread when you have time with one last post))
Looking up, Victor saw a mountain of a man peering down at him. He was almost involuntarily surprised, even in the Zone, in which the hardiest of men typically thrived, individuals of this build were hard to find. He glanced at the figure by his side. By comparison, the massive loner's companion looked almost diminutive, with a figure even more slight than Victor's own.
Painfully, Victor rose to his feet, speaking up. "Thank you," he responded to the offer "An extra med-kit definitely wouldn't hurt here, although I should be fine. Some of the rookies will no doubt need the attention and I'm all out." He surveyed the two newcomers again. Despite their differences, the two seemed to be siblings, both had similar features and the same blue eyes. "Who are you folks? I don't think I've seen you around here before."
|
|
|
Post by Zeno, Lord Camelith on Jan 27, 2010 1:16:43 GMT -5
Harmund handed the loner a medkit then said, "My name is Harmund, and this is my brother Sigbrand." "We just got past the guards at the fringe a few days ago. We were walking across that old bridge to the north when we heard the gunshots." he said, gesturing back over his shoulder. "That and the Hind was hard to miss!" He said jokingly.
While his brother was talking to the loner, Sigbrand decided to take a look into the rucksack of one of the soldiers. Finding nothing of interest he removed his violin case from his back and checked the instrument for damage, it was free of dings, scratches or any other noticeable flaws. Satisfied, Sigbrand returned his attention to the loner his brother was still talking too.
"We're fugitives from the law back in Norway" said Harmund, and proceded to tell of their journey from home back in Oslo to The Zone. After his tale was complete, Harmund addressed the loner directly,"And what might your name be, friend?" He said.
|
|
|
Post by Διμι on Jan 27, 2010 18:21:41 GMT -5
"Name's Victor, and I'm Russian, like most around here are" the stalker replied, "I'm something of a medic in these parts. Over there's my friend Chaos." He nodded towards the other loner picking through the bodies of the grunts. "it's been a real mess around here lately." He added.
Victor glanced around. The rookies spared by the grunts were now scurrying out of their holes, checking on their friends and supplies. He saw Fanatic disappear into Sidorovich's bunker, which was somehow left untouched by the carnage. The trader was no doubt going to get a railing for not hiring any real protection with all his money, choosing to spend it instead on well-equipped personal agents. Victor had seen them every now and then, determined faces, the ubiquitous Vintorez or G36 and even the occasional exoskeleton. They came from the North, and typically not a word passed between them or the denizens of the village as they headed straight for the bunker.
"You said you came from the North," Victor addressed the tall loner beside him. "Do you guys know the way around there? I've been planning to leave this place for a while now, and it wouldn't hurt having a few extra people in the group."
|
|
|
Post by Zeno, Lord Camelith on Jan 27, 2010 20:34:26 GMT -5
"Pleased to meet you Victor" said Harmund, "We met a guy by the name of Fox a ways north of the old car park, according to him, if you just follow the road north you should come to an old deserted Army checkpoint." Harmund said, "And past that is someplace he called the 'Garbage'".
While he was speaking, Harmund took the time to get a good look at Victor, the loner looked to be around Harmund's age and seemed to be only a few inches taller than Sigbrand.
"If your thinking of leaving we would be glad to go with you," said Harmund, "I don't feel to comfortable with the military just a few hundred yards down the road."
|
|
|
Post by Διμι on Jan 27, 2010 22:34:11 GMT -5
"Oh, I see you've met Fox too!" Victor was pleasantly surprised to hear word of his benefactor again. "He was the one who pulled me out of the wilderness and took me here in the first place. I don't have a shadow of a doubt that his info is reliable."
Victor looked back at the dead grunts. "There's no way I'll be able to get anywhere in my present condition. I'll rest up, sell my share of all this stuff, and stock up on some equipment in the meantime. Some of the rookies will most likely need tending to as well." He turned back to the bodies of the soldiers "If any of you need me, I'll be in the abandoned house at the end of the village, if the roof doesn't collapse on me, that is," he added.
Time to check on the loot he could salvage from the guys who tried to kill him, Victor thought. He limped back up to the house. After some effortuous labor, he managed to pull off the intact Berill-5M armored vest of the dead grunt by the entrance. He found the two AK-74/Us to be in perfect order as well, and after a bit of cleaning, lay them in a corner. Finally, after a bit of searching, he discovered two more RGD-5's on the bodies, two Makarov pistols, as well as two army-issue med kits along with other small pieces of equipment.
((Chaos - we need your further input in here so we can organize the trip north))
|
|
|
Post by Zeno, Lord Camelith on Jan 27, 2010 22:52:17 GMT -5
"Ah, Fox mentioned the Trader, where exactly can I find him? This AK is pretty beat up and I could use some new equipment." Said Harmund.
While Harmund was talking to Victor, Sigbrand had gone over to the campfire. Sitting down on an old crate, he took out his Violin and started to play, it was a simple Norwegian folk song, one of his sister Grete's favorites. The nearby rookies started to gather around Sigbrand, the music lightened their spirits and helped them forget the events of the day. As the light from the sun faded a lone Psuedowolf howled in the distance. There were plans to be made tomorrow, Victor had mentioned going north. Once he had finished the song, Sigbrand put the violin away and propped himself up against a nearby house. Harmund was still talking with Victor, and then there was this Chaos person he had mentioned. Sigbrand closed his eyes, and quickly fell asleep.
|
|
|
Post by Karcentric on Jan 29, 2010 14:23:45 GMT -5
Lt. Rurik had left the Duty HQ the day before and was approaching the rookie village, the place he'd spent his first months as a stalker hiding from the army in, looking down the road he instantly saw that it had just been raided by the army within the last 6 hours judging by the smoking crater in the path. Walking around it, he noticed several dead grunts being checked for valuables by a group of loners, normally Rurik wouldn't have bothered to stop and acknowledge them, but was curious to hear their story about what had happened.
Resting his PKM on his shoulder Rurik approached a man who looked to be in his very early 20s who had just stormed out of Sid bunker looking rather annoyed. He was dressed in a military suit but didn't look like a typical soilder. "Looks like you've had a rough day, did old Sid give you one of his usual deals?" Rurik asked
|
|
|
Post by Διμι on Jan 29, 2010 14:39:12 GMT -5
Victor stopped in his tracks. He had seen stalkers of all shapes and sizes wandering through the area on occasion, but this was completely new. The man before him was a monster, no less. He was at least seven feet tall, towering over the loners in the camp. Encasing his body was a massive exoskeleton with dark red accents that had to weigh at least half a ton, and resting on his shoulder was the biggest gun Victor had ever seen.
Despite his typical cynicism at such visitors, Victor felt positively intimidated by this moving mountain. The rookies were giving the giant a wide berth and awed looks. "A Dutier," Victor heard someone whisper.
Victor realized that the exo-clad stalker had addressed him, out of all of the loners. Shivering slightly in the 25-degree warm weather, he replied "Sid never gives a deal, only ripoffs for us folks. As for the rough day, haven't you people North gotten accustomed to Hinds flying around and dropping hellfire missiles on camps?" Victor added with a hint of sarcasm "Who are you? I've seen expert stalkers aplenty in this area over time, but needless to say, I've never seen anyone like you before."
|
|
|
Post by Zeno, Lord Camelith on Jan 30, 2010 0:20:40 GMT -5
Looking over towards where the majority of the rookies in the camp where pointing, Harmund saw Victor, and in front of him was a veritable giant, at least half a foot taller than Harmund. The stalker was wearing a black red and grey Exosceleton and was sporting a PKM. From what he could get out of the surrounding rookies, he was a member of the "Duty" Faction.
Walking over to Victor, Harmund adressed the gigantic Dutier, "Greeting Friend! What brings you to the Cordon?" he asked.
|
|
|
Post by Karcentric on Jan 30, 2010 0:41:38 GMT -5
"Lt. Rurik, but Rurik will do, your not duty so I don't expect formalities, nor are you required to use them, as you probably picked up I'm with duty, the 2IC, we're like those boys down the road only we don't shoot loners on sight." Rurik replied before continuing.
"Sounds like you got one of Sid's deals, that old prick would charge his own mother for meds if she needed them, the army doesn't often raid Rostok, they certainly aren't going to attack the duty HQ, not after the last time anyway, we sent them packing. And most army boys located deeper in the zone won't try anything as their isolated in Agroprom, they might have more troops located up north, but I doubt it."
"I only come here if I need something from the big land, it's been a while since I've seen this place." Turning as another stalker approached. "Good day to you also. As I was saying to this gentleman here, I've come to get some equipment from Sid." Rurik paused holding back from telling what exactly he needed. "Who might you gentlemen be?" Rurik inquired
|
|
|
Post by Διμι on Jan 30, 2010 1:16:04 GMT -5
"Serganov, Victor Yurievich." Victor replied. It had been a long time since he had last used his formal name, but it felt all but appropriate at this point. He had heard a little about the Duty faction during his stay at the village. Having an HQ at the industrial town of Rostok in the thick of the Zone, they were always ready, always well-armed, and always in an important conflict of some sort. The prospect seemed appealing for a rising medic, despite Victor's natural aversion to being a subordinate.
An idea he had tossed around in his head for some time quickly grew more shapely. This massive man could be his ticket North and up the ranks of stalkers in the entire Zone. More so than anyone else, even Sidorovich, despite the trader's extensive influence. Yes, he decided, a stalker would never be more than a petty task-performer for Sid.
He spoke to the Dutier "I take it you're going back up North?" he asked tentatively "Would it be possible if you were to take some of us along with you? I'm certain some would make excellent recruits for your faction." He added.
|
|
|
Post by Karcentric on Jan 30, 2010 1:47:53 GMT -5
"Well met." Rurik replied "I am heading back to Rostok after I see Sid. You chaps look like your eager to get out of here too and I don't blame you, so I'll tell you what, we'll leave for Rostok when I'm done and let you settle in at the the 100 rads bar, it's a lot more welcoming for stalkers and the barkeep's a good man, and he pays well for any jobs you do for him." He paused to think.
"If any of you have any useful skills you'll quickly find work there also." Rurik hesitated before adding "We're always looking for more members at duty, but most either decide being a loner is easier or they end end up with freedom." Rurik putting vemon on the last word. "Of course there is also the bandits, but most factions will shoot on sight when they see them. There's scientists at Yantar, I've heard of a Mercenary faction located somewhere near Red Forest and seen them occasionally, then there's the Monolith..." Rurik trailed off cursing.
"Anyway, I have to see Sid, I'll let you gentlemen prepare and catch some sleep, chances are the bandits will be swarming in the garbage and I'd rather leave avoid those idiots so we'll leave early in the morning, so check your equipment and be ready to move out." He flicked them a salute and headed to Sid's bunker.
|
|
|
Post by Zeno, Lord Camelith on Feb 1, 2010 1:15:26 GMT -5
Turing to Victor, Harmund said, "So you think this guy is our ticket north?", To Harmund it seemed a logical decision, this guy was obviously experienced, and extremely well armed, and by the rumors Harmund had overheard, they would need all the help they could get shooting through the Bandits in the Garbage.
Rurik had also mentioned the possibility of Duty accepting them as recruits. The thought of some work appealed to Harmund, with any luck he could some day make enough money to bribe his way back into the "Big Land" as it was called.
|
|
|
Post by Διμι on Feb 1, 2010 1:36:09 GMT -5
Victor mused for several seconds before answering. He hadn't asked Chaos yet about the possibility of heading North yet, and resolved to do so in the shortest time possible.
"Unless we want to spend time and energy gathering a sizeable group to bust through the rumored bandit outposts in the Garbage, I reckon this Duty fella is our best bet" he replied.
To be fair, he thought, he could definitely do the tasks expected of them in return for accompaniment to the outpost in Rostok. Duty didn't sound exactly his type of organization to affiliate to, but this officer of theirs didn't seem too bad. Moreover, there was bound to be more loot per stalker in the less densely populated northern parts of the Zone, not to mention potential dangers, which would only lend more use to the real virtues of his trade.
|
|