- Hear that? That scream is a couple’a engines roaring as that Abram fella come peelin up the roads from down south. Hellraiser, I hear he calls it – gouts a flame and got zed smear all over the damn thing. That’s a machine for ya.
- I’ll bet you five lugs I can cook an egg on the ground over there.
- Seems like the McLeods have gone quiet. Nice bit for a change to not have every at each other’s throats. Maybe they’ve moved on finally?
- I heard they’re building something called a ‘spa’ in Steel Horse. Must be why all them Pures are headed north.
- Who keeps writing messed-up letters to folks from supposedly dead people? Its been messing folks up in the head. That aint funny, its mean. Some say the graveheads think its the gravemind. I don’t think that thing knows how to write, buddy.
- That… thing? The one that pinned up Jackson? What the heck was it, and why was it talkin to folks? Seems to come around more than just a few times.
- You haven’t seen any dead babies on the road, have you? No, no reason.
- I heard the Navy shelling is to try to keep the raiders back. They said they won’t stop hitting the front line, even if it comes into town. That ain’t no good for townsfolks.
- I heard tell a couple new folks almost set the whole town on fire again. Not sure why they’re so impatient for summer to start.
- A great ‘Merican hero killed a self-proclaimed nemesis right in the middle of town!
- See this hole in the ground? Just toss something valuable down there, and make a wish.
- Seems the fire mines started up kinda early this year. Somebody said a few steam vents opened up right in town and spit up some zed right into the Corvid kitchen and the hostel.
- Them pures talkin about a Lemonade Stand Massacre might’a been exaggerating before, but they set up right up by the Depot last trade and got hit real bad a few times ‘cause of it. Some angry lady natural ones and some nasty raider docs, I heard. I wonder if they still turned a profit?
- The say Gary lost his marbles and ascended. I heard the hostel got real messy there without him for a while. I wonder if folks are gunna be mad or more appreciative of him when he gets his head settled?
- You want to make some money, boy, you gotta learn to hustle. You’ll have time to sit around and drink hooch once you’re rich.
- Looks like the Chancellor almost got her a letter. Guess she has people to screen out the boring ones and send off an attack hound instead.
- I heard the whole town’s gone crazy and started hearing things. Probably just the Hedons drinking Spirit Walk again.
- I heard someone wants to set off a bomb in the caves below town to put out the fires. As if burning season wasn’t enough of a reason to leave town!
Hey, Did You Hear? - May
- “Heard people made out real good at DeeCee. Lemonade stand, Jones’, & Corvids prolly real rich by now. Hope summa that makes it into town cause the rest of the folk are real poor still.“
“Wonder if some of that won’t even make it back into town at all?”
“Whatchya mean? Ooooh….”
- “Fuck me, she actually got the letter? And she’s responding?”
- “Iron Works is looking to crack down on illegal slave trade. You a slaver you best have your paperwork in order least they check you. Rumor has it they just cut you down where you stand you sell slaves without a license.”
“Course real slavers came into town again over last trade with some unusually skilled slaves. Not much business to be had though. And people wonder why real slave auctions don’t happen?”
- “Looks like folks are starting to feel a lot better. Guess the doctors found the cure to that plague that’s been going around. Just in time too, who knows how much worse it could have gotten.”
- “I heard the Final Knights are trying to take over the town, made the hostel holy ground and everything. I say we just let them have it, can’t be any worse than what some other folks have been doing.”
- “Shshsh, I hear lotsa people been learning about the Gravemind from one or two people. I wonder how long it's gonna take before anyone realizes they're all gonna go crazy?”
- “Poor Marcy… her wedding was going to be so beautiful. Nothing stops the horde though, those zed rolled through and left naught but bones.”
- “My ma told me this guy new to town named Farmer Charlie died trying to save a fancy pureblood. Ma said he crawled outta the ground and everybody made fun of him and almost let him die a second time. What kind of people do that?”
- “Things is heating up, almost time for the vents to start burping up fire again. You know what that means, all sorts of flaming critters. Hell, I even saw a flaming yeti one year run by, and it’s best not see that again.”
- “Sounds like the Action Committee had to sign some kind of contract to be recognized by the Works. I wonder if they hang when townsfolk break the law? That'd be one way to get rid of ‘em!”
- “Navy patrol got hit hard, heard a few fell in the fights. Pit stops are getting worse, someone’s gotta do something soon or it’s gonna get worse!”
- “Apparently there’s some guy going around killing local monsters. Maybe the Iron Works should hire him to go about killing all these raiders next?”
- “Those stupid Darwins hunting that Hodag were apparently chasing a rat the whole time. It wasn’t even one of them giant mutated rats or nothing! What a bunch of idiots.”
- “Why’s a bunch of people turning into raiders all of a sudden? Was it Little Red Schoolhouse? All the raider hordes? Bad food? It's getting really bad ‘round here.”
- “Sounds like everyone’s trying to rally their friends to go after this family of killers, good luck to ‘em, I wouldn’t be caught dead goin’ out there, because then I’d just be dead.”
- “Ma also told me that the local tribe came into town to get some help in their outside church and the townsfolk left them out there to die. Maybe Steel Horse Crossing ain't as hospitable as we thought, huh?”
Announcement time!
First up on the block: Advanced Professions
AP submissions are now open and available on the SHC website, link below. If you want to submit your PC for an advanced profession, please use this form only (all other requests will be discarded). Further, read every detail extremely carefully on the page. It's not a trick submission, but every detail must be followed. Once you hit submit, that's your one time for the next 12 months you can do so. Please make it count properly!
http://steelhorsecrossing.com/apply-for-an-advanced-profes…/
Second: Rarity strain changes
In our initial three year story arc, there have been a few things planned from the day we opened our doors. The information here includes details of things that are changing around you and due to your influence. All changes take effect now, and all original details are still valid and need no change (such as, you pay no extra AP for any change made now).
1) Despite the harsher conditions than normal, the Reclaimers have felt a push to become more insular and less open. While most have not yet fled north, there is an honest sentiment that northern Wishigan is less than hospitable for them. You will likely see even fewer than usual, including a few trading groups that had been openly offering amenable trading with Steel Horse.
Reclaimers have been moved to Rare (300 AP)
2) Conversely, with the town overwhelmingly supporting the RPM in their efforts to improve the surrounding area in a time of need, Dick Berken and the local DJs have slowly come around to helping residents more openly. While still bitter over certain topics, the RPM has started to engage a smaller, but regular, presence in town.
Diesel Jocks have been moved to Uncommon (150 AP)
Please continue to remember that ALL restricted strains have particular requirements placed on them. Having the list amount of AP for any strain does not ensure that you will play that strain. If you'd like to review the current restricted strain list, it can be found here:
http://steelhorsecrossing.com/announcemen…/…/strains-in-drwi
Thanks all!
Heather and Mike
April's Rumors!
· “I heard a rover got dragged out into the night by a monster and eaten alive. Heard he ain’t come back yet neither. Some folks been sayin’ that everybody could hear him screaming but his friends were too afraid to go out and save ‘im. It’s a damned shame.”
· “It’s such a shame! Did you hear that the Wyleson Family plots got decimated? The Wylseon are hysterical! Poor Addie has been crying for days.”
· “Story goes people have been asking for slave traders to come in through Steel Horse. I don’t know how they been saving up all that money, but I suppose folks do need some help rebuilding around here. I wonder if the abolitionists are gunna come out the woodwork now?”
· “Healed up some folk the other night, I did. Said they was from Pine Grove, came lookin for the Dereck brothers. Barely paid ‘em no mind when they got in, though, so says they. Had to give ‘em some food and such to get ‘em back to their home.”
· “That rancid smell coming from Steel Horse Crossing is the corpses of all those orphans what went missing several years ago. They just bury them under that inn whenever they kill another.”
· “Lots of religious folk been coming into Steel Horse to get followers. TVs, Final Knights, always some kind of Sainthood looking to do some good. Maybe the town’s starting to wear on ‘em and they need some prayin’ to get ‘em through the hard times?”
· “Ain’t no mistaking, that fella Zell-Ann was asking on about a while back was in town again. Old fella in his lab coat, all bundled up right for cold. Hear that he got his hands on some new fancy Doc, tore his eyes straight out. Wonder if Zell’s heard? Seems he’s a nutter now.”
· “Can almost smell the sulfur in the air. It’s burning season coming to be sure. You see a hole in the ground, you best step away so you don’t get burned by the fire spouts.”
· “That town committee thing has been waiting on approval from the Elder Council, but I hear rumors that the Natural Ones don’t feel the town helped where they were requested. No Pitstops gone, no committee? That’s an even split as best I can tell. Who breaks those ties?”
· “Did you hear that music the other night? If you could even call it that. Sounded like some court were getting rowdier than usual.”
· “Some kid came into town looking for their Da, Lorra I think their name was. Poor kid couldn’t get anyone to help her find her Pa and instead the townsfolk just sent a little food home ‘cause they too spooked to leave their buildings. Everybody lookin’ out for themselves, I guess.”
· “Rumor has it Pitstops is coming out of Steel Horse proper, like they is in cahoots or something. I don’t believe it, but could you imagine?”
· “People been sayin’ they got ate by a snowbank, a giant monster with horns, and that some folks didn’t even die proper-like when they were dead. I’m guessing the madness sunk in real deep this Winter. Thank goodness it’s Spring and they all can get their heads straight!”
Hey Did Ya Hear?
“I heard one of them Pures went and made a coat out of some raider skins. I sure hope that fashion trend don’t start catchin’ on.“
“If you don’t get eaten by a giant beast while looking for food, you’ll starve to death, or die from some nasty disease. It’s never been this bad before!”
“Sounds like that new disease has been killing people off in other towns already. Wonder why our folk seem so resilient?”
“Words got ‘round that someone wrote the Chancellor a letter. Said she should come visit! Either that’s the worst idea ever, or someone wants us all dead.”
“There’s gonna be a rocket launch in two months!”
“Sounds to me more like there’s gonna be another giant crater in two months…”
“Another?!”
“Kinsford, Pine Grove, Litzon and then Penn Angle. Four towns, three local morgues gone, and all within walking distance of Steel Horse. So, where are we going to put our next morgue?”
“Some scientist went and gotten himself eaten alive in the middle of town by zed. Why didn’t he just go inside and let the town kill them?”
“Where’s the Navy been this Winter? They sit back and watch us starve while they play with their guns and eat fancy sammiches and cider.”
“Well, they cleaned up Kingsford after it got run through. Sounds like they’re getting pulled all over keeping all the raiders and zed in check. I could use some of that food though.”
“I heard the Lemonade Stand folks pissed off all the rovers and ended up having to pay for three rover weddings and give them a year’s supply of hooch!”
“Didn’t that piggy girl say she lost all her blueprints? Wonder if that means I’ll get to eat again.”
“If the raiders are all on the same team now, are they going to outnumber the regular people?”
“All remnants have this secret code that they gotta all support each other against normal people. They all are different except they all are born with the secret language to use without anyone knowing.”
“Some folks last trade were asking around, trying to pick up some resources from out in the Wastes. Never heard of Blood Leaves or Firebush Berry, have you?”
“Nope. More important, who’s got the money to import random things right now?”
“I saw a real live Postman leaving town last trade! Maybe this means we’ll get some more trade and money flowing through town—you know, if they ever fix the train tracks.“
“Did you hear, there was some kind of glowing raider thing that blew up when it died!”
“What, with fire and explosions?”
“No, with some kind of weird radiation. Melted the damn workbench and some other things in Zell-Ann’s place! Just a puddle of slag when they were done.”
A Letter from Dick Berken
The OOG aspects from this post:
If your character wants to pitch in anything, please send mail to our usual email address (wisconsin.dystopiarising@gmail.com) to detail the following three categories:
1) What cards or currency are you submitting before game on?
2) How much body, mind and/or infection are you committing to these efforts?
3) If you offer physical labor beyond mind/body/infection pre-game, please indicate that you are willing to take an extra 2 hour NPC shift at the start of game.
Player input from last game, pre-game for March, and at March's game will continue to contribute to ongoing overarc plot. The items submitted above will not enable any downtime action, but will be collected at the beginning of the game (for items/cards), potentially adjust your character sheet per your indicated expenditures entering the March game (to be announced), or be realized at game (per extra NPC shift).
Plot and Player Agency – What’s the Impact?
I wanted to take a few minutes to talk to everyone about story given current discussions. We’ve had a number of people write in on two parallel, but very different topics. The first is “How do I get involved in plot?” – you see plot and story, but you’re not sure how to insert yourselves into the mix. Since that is one of the primary aspects of a LARP, we want to offer you some ideas on what some of the easy avenues are to jump right in. The second is “I don’t like this plot, it should go away!” – on this tangent, I’m going to briefly discuss this mentality and why it’s self-destructive, as well as how to address that concern.
Engaging Plot:
So, you have seen something that calls to you, and you want to jump in. Perhaps you’ve never LARPed before, or this LARP is very different from others that you’ve participated in, and you’re not sure how to do that. There are a few ways you can readily join the fray, and be as engaged as you feel you want to be.
- NPCs and the world around you: DR is a living world, which in short means that whatever you see or experience is possibly an avenue into plot or something entirely new. Since NPCs are sent out regularly, and the world exists continuously, this is a simple way to jump in when you’re ready to see what exists. Have you asked an NPC about a problem you’ve been looking at for the last hour? Perhaps they know of someone or something that leads to another step?
- Research: As a high technology area, with a focus on things your character may not know much about straight out of the gate, using research can be a huge boon to helping to get that edge on something you’re working on. Research can be done by anyone that is Educated at a library. Don’t have the Educated skill? Team up with someone that does! You can work with others to ensure proper research is done, even if you don’t have the skills yourself.
- Working with other PCs: Sometimes, certain plot hits smaller groups than the whole game. If you want to see what else is out there that could use your character’s input, check around. As a social game, DR thrives on player interaction. Just because a plot didn’t start in your hands doesn’t mean you can’t get your hands on it.
- Staff: As a last resort, you can always talk to the storytelling staff if you have story questions or need particular answers. We highly recommend using the first 3 avenues if you haven’t tried them already, and you may be asked to use those options (particularly research) if you haven’t tried that already. Sometimes, though, story needs input more directly. That’s what we’re here for.
Whatever your method, engaging in plot is open-ended. If you think you can’t impact a plot, or that what you can or can’t do is pre-established, you are likely in for a surprise. Every plot that we’ve approved has player agency written in, no matter how big or how small that plot is. Thinking you can’t impact a plot based on a pre-conceived notion may keep you from trying, and that is a guaranteed way to not achieve any impact!
Disengaging from Plot:
On the other side of the spectrum, sometimes you find plot that isn’t to your tastes. There are two things to keep in mind here. First, you don’t have to actively participate in any plot that exists in the world. You have the choice to avoid or pass on plot that has engaged you, and telling the staff that it is not something you want in your game is viable. You should not use this as an escape from negative repercussions, but if this story isn’t healthy for you, no one wants to ensure you have a bad time. Second, lack of direct participation in plot doesn’t mean you’re not going to experience plot that hits the game as a whole. Across the network, plots anywhere from nationally to locally happen that impact players both positively and negatively. You should expect that will be no different from game to game, with the exception of how it is implemented.
Now, let’s look at this a different way. If you think something is hard, or makes the game more difficult, you have the above ways to engage the plot and more. If you’ve ever said “I didn’t like that particular thing”, did you try and fix it with any of the methods above, or even others of your own making? Bad things happen in the DR world, and if you’re not interested in trying to help resolve those things, bad things tend to linger when unattended. Downfall mechanics have played a huge part in a lot of chapters over the last few months, and a variety of negative impacts were explicitly and publicly called out. These impacts and more are up to players to resolve (or not), which means by disengaging, you are effectively forcing others to solve problems for you without any input.
This is a game based around plot and story. It’s also a game that values “playing to lose”, or valuing that plot, story, and the larger community above a single person or character. This is not to say your character sheet is unimportant, but the ink should be only a small part of the experience. If you approach plot with the attitude “I don’t like this”, and decide it is not important or shouldn’t exist because of that, you are effectively suggesting that all the other characters in the game mean less than your character, and their experience is less important than your own.
In short, if you’re feeling like story or plot is hopeless, and you haven’t looked into any of it or taken any action yourself, the best you’re likely to be able to offer the problem is hope that it gets better while others are trying to fix it.
If you have further questions, or this didn’t answer something you’ve asked, please feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to have further discussion.
Mike
Midwinter Hype Post #4
Groups of travelers had clustered together, deciding which way each would travel to find supplies for the winter. The gathering was the same every year. This year, however, there was a population spike the likes of which most had never seen. Steel Horse Crossing had little to spare on good days. This winter would be harsh if this month of gathering came up short.
~*~
Travel was slow at times, if for nothing else than the uneven land and hills. The snow on this terrain never helped. Heading west of Mill City, a group of townsfolk had met up with other travelers to trudge the roads to Madtown. The cold was bearable at most times, but the wind kicked up here and there just to remind the group how badly the environment wanted them to freeze. It had been days, and there was very little found on the roads. Things had been looking bleak, and there was discussion on whether some of the group should turn back and search off the roads for some hope of a hidden treasure of food or scrap.
Finally, late into an evening on the road, the camp had been set. Fires were tended but burned low as to not give off too much light. Quiet conversations murmured around the small camp deciding how to proceed. Coleman and Svana hung loosely around the Corvid’s jet black caravan, having some manner of deep discussion while lending a hand sporadically as the kitchen came to life. Levi tended a stove while meals were prepared by Valrvn, who ensured that each item was properly distributed for cooking. Pol pitched in where possible, ensuring she pulled her weight. Bartok stood watch, carefully scanning the distance of the tree line.
It was Matt and Del who were pondering next moves, seemingly in agreement that splitting the larger group into two would be wise. One would head back toward Mill City, scavenging what could be found by heading alternatively north and south of the road back the way they had come. Knowing the way back was likely clear based on recent travel, it wasn’t a surprise to hear Septima chime in that she would be happy to return now rather than push on.
Fitz, taking a deep draw of his dwindling alcohol supplies, shook his head slowly while mumbling, “Damn land legs.” He suspected no one could hear the disdain in his voice over the mild chaos that was starting in camp. Shore leave had never been so disappointing.
It happened quickly, and Coleman’s voice was easily heard across the small expanse of camp. Raiders. The small band turned as the first few bodies spilled out of the trees across the road in the distance. Preparing weapons, and hoisting shields, this would be yet another day defending camp. Except this time, the bodies didn’t stop pouring from the trees. In fact, the width of the emergence grew, and from less than a hundred yards, the sparkling snow became a spray of dust and shadows. Bodies blacked out the horizon.
“Move,” came a voice from within the camp. It sounded vaguely like Stabby. “Move now!”
As the dawn of realization struck, the camp burst out in a frenzy of activity. People grabbed gear, tried to stow things, or even outright ran. Small, subdivided groups fled in multiple directions. Whether this was planned or a factor of chaos wasn’t important, as it likely saved many lives; the onslaught of raiders pouring in began to splinter in different directions to pursue each smaller group. Even with the diminished ranks, the main contingent of raiders smashed into the camp like a wave, pushing everything they encountered back. Only a few made it into the Corvid caravan, which was spared most of the initial attack. Without an option, those left furiously battled their way into a clearing, where the raiders seemed to stop abruptly. Up on a small hill was a house, quiet and dark, and the raiders were slowly spreading to encircle it.
Midwinter Hype Post #3
They had followed all the protocol. Appropriately scavenging what clothing they needed, using the local money in the proper locations to secure food and passage, and even arming themselves just enough to look more dangerous than stupid. It had served them well, and the plan had been well conceived as far as they were concerned. Each step carefully plotted in case of emergency. Each move planned beforehand so as to move freely and without being questioned. They were on the last leg of the northern trail, and had taken the turn east to Mill City two days back. The trails were covered with snow enough to cause a bit of slow travel, but by and large they hadn’t disappeared. Everyone had been able to keep pace and, as best as anyone could tell, they were on track and still making good time.
It was a night like most any other for the last few, and it wasn’t any more pleasant. They had left the last town – with a warm bed, a fire, and a hot meal – at least six days back, but there was a quiet debate that it may had been seven. Everything else had been cold, salted meals and water. No fires, no luxury. The only thing to look forward to was the next day in front of the last, when they all hoped they would be closer to their final destination.
“Where the hell is this place, anyway?” Chilt had asked on the road, the sun still hanging high in the sky.
“No idea yet,” Raynor had responded, his curt attitude extending well past the confines of the rooms they all had shared for years. “We’ll get our next drop in Mill City, and then we’ll have a clue where we end up.”
The thought that most everyone had on their minds was simple. Emergency protocols were a pain in the ass. Everything had taken a turn for the immediate shitter, and this little band of misfits were the only ones left to carry out their final orders. They weren’t thrilled about any of the circumstances, but they knew what was at stake all the same.
Everyone had started to hunker down, getting as close to each other as they could. There would be no fire, and there was no tent to cover them. Only the gear that kept them warm, and a hope that no one had underestimated the weather. They had made it so far.
“What the fuck Droz, kill that light!” The voice was disembodied at that point, but the unmistakable glow of a light shone on the man’s bearded face for a moment and disappeared.
“It’s only a smoke. Piss off,” Droz said in reply, grumbling a few more words under his breath.
Raynor prepared to have them all cut the shit, knowing full well everyone was getting a bit testy after being on the road this long. He didn’t have time, as the thud in the snow accentuated the need for quiet all too well. The small party scuttled around the fallen man. Droz, with his precious cigarette, lay on his side as a small pool of red formed from the shaft of a pole lodged firmly into his chest. A fine, high pitched whistle preceded another thud, this one more metallic than the last. Another projectile had landed not far from their sleeping circle.
“Go, now!” Raynor hissed, shoving people onto their feet as he took off at a sprint northeast, angling slightly to keep the sense of the road as best he could. He pointed off in the distance at a house tucked away, flickering between the trees as he ran. “There!”
He turned, leading the group, and hoping that the glint of light he saw wasn’t too many windows. They’d likely need to barricade the place quickly.
Midwinter Hype Post #2
It was a crisp evening, the snow laying over the surrounding land like a fine blanket untouched by foot traffic. A small family, dressed in old and patched clothes, sat around a glowing hearth drinking warm drinks and sharing stories. A middle-aged gentleman, decked in finery, looked well out of sorts sharing the room with the family, but he seemed to be engaged all the same, tastefully regaling the room of age old stories with a dramatic flair between his long silences spent with his tea. Dinner was being prepared by the Irons in the kitchen, and the house smelled of both delicious meat and wafts of burning pine.
The ruckus from outside immediately drew the attention, and as uncharacteristic as it was, the finely dressed fellow was out of his seat before the rest of the room had clamored to the window. A sharp blade hung loosely at his side as his hand slid into his overcoat allowing the tips of his fingers to caress the old, oiled wood handle of his pistol. Between the great room’s large windows, at a run, and the thinner windows around the front door, he could make out a great many shadowy figures in the darkness. The noise, albeit loud, was still a ways in the distance as a handful of bodies cleared the perimeter of the house and into the lights. With a flip of the switch, the light poured into the darkness, likely half blinding those now standing in the front lawn. He opened the door, inspecting the few quickly and with a precision that was well-trained.
“Why’re you on my land then?” he asked in a hurried and hushed voice, now looking beyond the few that seemed to be no real threat. “I’ve half a mind to cut you down and go back to my tea if you don’t make it snappy.”
Before any of them could respond, a crack in the distance and the splintering of wood next to the man’s head had him raise a single eyebrow. He scanned the darkness with a slight squint, seeing what no one would ever hope to laid out before him. “Raiders,” a breathless voice coughed out in the cold, “hundreds. Pouring in. Everywhere.”
“Get in, ya gits. Can’t stay out here with them marching up.” The response was designed to sound strong, yet a bit of the fear laced his throat as he spoke them. The report he was just given matched what he saw moving toward the house.
“Cookie! Get what’s prepared and get everyone into the dining hall!” he called, turning his back on the few outside. He heard their footsteps following him, and even the door closing. Smart enough lads for the moment. He looked to the hearth and saw he didn’t need to repeat himself, as the entire family had abandoned their drinks and leapt into motion to follow.
Down the front hall and through a large archway, people flooded into the room set for a nice meal. An Iron hurriedly moved people along as they balanced and bobbled dishes, plates and pots with a variety of foods. With very little thought to it, everything was piled haphazardly onto the table, as the rest of the house was ushered in from the front hall door. The finely dressed gentleman did a very brief scan before moving about the room in a practiced fashion. Moments later, solid steel walls fell into place one at a time, creating a barrier between them and the outside world.
“Might be a bit loud, but why don’t we get settled for supper? You can tell us about the trouble outside once your bellies can be quieter than your mouths.”