Icerust

Mid-Apocalypse Chaos Carnival Turn 5 Orders
Building:

• Continue Heat catcher(184/200 labor)

Labor:

• 5 labor on guzz(15 guzz)
• 5 labor on junk(20 junk)

Expertise:

• 5 expertise on plush(50 junk)

Finesse:

• 1 finesse to finish project.

 

Mikeland - Turn 4 Orders

Gathering & Conversion
Spend 50 labor gathering grub
Spend 50 labor gathering junk

Construction & Promotion
Build a protein pool
Build a "Killer" Buggy armed transport.
Build 2 of a new vehicle variant:

• “More Killer” buggy exploration vehicles
  
• Buggy, Skeleton car frame, Boomer engine, Anti-materiel rifle, spikes, ram, 2x shotgun desants
  
• Description: Variant of the Killer Buggy that replaces the cargo space with a ram, protective spikes, and a pair of shotgunners

Recruit a new commander:

• Unlucky Larry
• 2 Ruse / 1 Tactics / 0 Spirit
• An old gambling buddy of Mike’s and one of Mike’s closest “friends” who’s been mooching ever since Mike struck gold in taking over a settlement. Nickname comes from his uncanny tendency to win a dozen small bets straight but losing big to Mike whenever Mike starts get a bit annoyed with losing. Of course it’s intentional, but Mike doesn’t need to know that.

Quest
Spend 32 labor, 5 finesse
It is right and proper that a great man deserves a great statue. Every great king of every age had a great statue to back him up. Take for example old King Ozymandius—had a statue so amazing it inspired a poem centuries after he died. Now it ain’t enough to just build a statue and be done with it. Most people are stupid, and can’t see anything that ain’t in their sights. That’s why we need to add a big ol’ plinith, smack dab in the center of Popsicle Junction, to stick the restored statue on, so that every eye need only look up and see the mighty visage of their ruler and savior. While most people will be suitably awestruck and speechless at such an impressive sight, a few simpler minds might need a bit of extra encouragement. That’s why we ought to make sure people know their place. Any time time any non-clout walks in front of the statue they’re gonna got to get down and their knees and make well sure that they’re praising Mike loud and clear, to show the proper respect to the man they owe everything.

Exploration
Capt. Molly takes both Killer armed transports to explore Norhtwest, exploring long-fabled rumours of a "Northwest Passage", a highway that would lead all the way to exotic, far-off lands, replete with bountiful resources

 

Icerust - Update 5
Long Winter Y100.M6: Guilt, Speed, and Carbon



Greylaw
The month started with an exhilarating bloodshed for Greylaw. Attracted by the (mostly false) rumors of Thunderbolt’s merry prosperity, a group of outriding Highwaymen attempted to infiltrate the settlement on their motorcycles made of mountain bike frames with moped engines. Having painted their bikes white and wearing winter camouflage, the Highwaymen thought they could sneak past Thunderbolt’s defenses uncaught and quickly set fire to the town’s twin bordello (which, apparently, was the very source of Greylaw’s infamy and envy). Unfortunately for the poor sods, their reckless plan didn’t work quite the way they hoped. Two “Tree Hugger” bikes, despite their agility, couldn’t cross the rockpile before the gangsters garrisoning it took to their positions. One raider did sneak past the barricades, but he and his bike were obliterated with a machine gun burst from the sentry tower, ending the comically bad assault there and then. His two comrades on the other side of the rockpile turned their damaged steeds back and sneaked away from the Greyhound Den. As for the “battle’s” only victim, he revealed before succumbing to his wounds that their outriding group serve the People’s Republic of Arboretum, an isolationist utopia that sides with the Mother Nature’s treatment of humanity and refuses to obey the hypocritical, warmongering laws of Icerust. With this little triumph behind his belt and confidence that the Arboreals won’t dare to attack for some time, Conan the Snowflake decided to capitalize on his accumulated reputation. A roll call was sent across the Old Ypsilanti ruins, attracting many candidate rookies to Thunderbolt. Some of them were sent to scout Greyhound Den and hunt it for food (stray dogs and feral cats, for the most part), while at home many rookies were put to work building yet another protein pool tank hosting a colony of domesticated meat-rats. For better or worse, Greylaw’s luck seems to be changing, despite a war on the horizon.
(Thunderbolt: +17 Grub, -10 Guzz, +2 Plush, +200 Proles, +1 Protein pool)
(Greylaw: -2 Glory, -3 Notoriety. +1 Experience)

Alfa-Alfa’s challenge: Games of Greylaw (Completed)
Basking in the glory of his newly discovered warlord-populism, Conan the Snowflake doubled-down on his old plan to organize the Games of Greylaw as the gang’s tradition. The arena was quickly put together out of crushed bus station overhangs, marking a crude arena dotted with fighting props and various obstacles. The games included several non-lethal combat contests, an axe-throwing competition, a violent scavenger hunt, a parkour tag, and other types of bloody entertainment worthy of watching. At last, the first set of games came to a close, to the great joy of the Greylawmen and -women, who broke into changing the Alfa-Alfa’s name several times. (Investment: Labor 100/100, Expertise: 4/4, Finesse: 4/4, Award: +1d4 Plush (10% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

Alfa-Alfa’s challenge: The Greycoats
Now that the gang’s fortunes have turned, many Betas started reminding the Alfa-Alfa about Greylaw’s proud past. The legend has it that they used to be a thin (and often blurry) grey line separating the darkness of cruel chaos from the light of Greylaw-abiding civilization. Whether it's true or not, nobody knows, but one thing is certain they used to wear a uniform, and that uniform was a source of significant authority. The proposition is to adopt a similar uniform now (or anything resembling it, anyway). That could send a message far from Greyhound Den - although, unfortunately, it could attract the attention of possible challengers.
(Investment: Labor: 0/60, Expertise: 0/20, Finesse: 0/5, Award: +2 Glory (one-time gain), +1 Notoriety (one-time gain))

The Wobblies
Ravenswood Commune enjoyed a quiet, but productive month, as the much anticipated heatcatcher power plant finally came online and provided electricity and heating for the tiny settlement. Small proletarian teams not needed in the construction were dispatched to scan Raven’s Wood for food, and they came back with nut-rich pinecones and black squirrels, a humble, but tasty game. Meanwhile, the Wobblies continued planning their future expeditions, despite still lacking the manufacturing prowess to outfit a proper vehicle fleet. This time, another expeditionary unit was added to the (still theoretical) order of battle: a Crash team, outfitted with a combination of improvised melee weapons and eight steel-bow arbalests.
(Ravenswood Commune: -185 Grub, -4 Plush, +1 Heatcatcher)
(The Wobblies: +1 Variant (“Icebreaker” Truck w/ Crash Team))

Grand Foreman’s challenge: Gob rigging
The gob rigger remained only a blueprint throughout the month, but the Executive Committee already turned into an enthusiastic editorial board, although some discussions continued over the desired direction of the newspaper’s journalism.
(Investment: Labor: 0/60, Expertise: 20/20, Finesse: 3/5, Award: +2 Glory (one-time gain), +1 Notoriety (one-time gain))

Monolith of Sarkic
Everyone knew that the rising star of the Cathedral couldn’t help but attract the Highwaymen’s attention sooner or later. It’s finally happened this month, as the hum of heavy vehicles was heard just south of Still Mill. The raiding party somehow chopped through the residential ruins overgrown with fir-trees and appeared in the vicinity of the Cathedral’s lone sentry tower. This approach was made possible by a light snowbike with a mounted industrial buzzsaw and a trawling hook, plus a sidecar transporting a chainsaw-weilding lumberjack. It was followed by a slow, but purposeful all-terrain utility buggy with stone- and ice-drilling equipment and a desant of hardy battle engineers with power tools. However, after changing their battle order the two lighter vehicles let yet another machine lead the attack: bare armature frame with improvised steel screens installed on top of a resilient light crawler chassis, with a searchlight-enhanced anti-armor rifle, dozer blades, and a theft-preventing killswitch, carrying three shotgun warriors, to boot. The attacking trio lumbered through the woody shrubland under the warning shots of the Cathedral’s sole sentry tower, ignoring the clinking of warning shots on the tankette’s armor screens. However, once in the range of the tower’s heavy equipment, the tankette was obliterated, although not before blasting through the tower’s autocannon nests and killing some of the sentries. The last two vehicles attempted to rush the tower after getting into its blind spot, from which they couldn’t retreat for the risk of being blasted by the sentries’ heavy weapons again. The battle for the tower turned into a bloody slaughter, in which the Highwaymen seemingly triumphed. Unfortunately for them, Grand Karcist Maxwell inspired his people to a spirited countercharge that captured the Highwaymen’s vehicles left at the tower’s entrance and besieged the attackers in the fortification. The standoff lasted for over a week, during which Maxwell directed the Yaldabaouthites to build another twin tower on the Cathedral’s opposite end in an expectation of a rescue attempt that never followed. Eventually, one of the Highwaymen chose to turn coats, out of hunger and desperation. He struck a deal with Maxwell and led the Sarkic levies into the tower, costing lives to the remaining Highwaymen. The turncoat told Maxwell and his priesthood in his weird dialect that he belonged to the Iron Range, a gang of Cornish miners and timbermen dominating the Upper Michigan Peninsula. He enjoyed the fruit of his betrayal for not too long, as he was later sacrificed to the Geometer of Flesh in an act of redemption. The sentry tower was again re-garrisoned and rearmed as a part of Maxwell’s buildup plan, which also saw another biofuel plant and metal recycling facility built, along with the pride of the Monolith, a fully functional radio tower. With it, the Monolith of Sarkic spread the word of its victory across the Northwestern Ontario tundra, Lake Superior iceland, and the Upper Michigan Peninsula, attracting dozens of initiates to the Cathedral. This increase in population did have a negative effect on Still Mill, though, as overhunting eventually decreased the amount of game in that location.
(The Cathedral: +116 Grub, -355 Junk, -30 Guzz, +3 Plush, +87 Proles, +1 Sentry tower, +1 Waste kitchen, +1 Scrap chowder, +1 Signal tower)
(Still Mill: -1 Fertility)
(Monolith of Sarkic: -1 Glory, -1 Notoriety, +1 Experience, +1 “Piskie” Lumberbike captured, +1 “Bucca” Auto-knocker captured)

Grand Karcist’s challenge: Flesh temple
With the spiritual awakening going on, the Monolith had little practical experience to invest into the practical side of religious architecture. Yet, some basic truths have been captured in the first draft plan of the flesh temple - like the fact it’s supposed to have walls and doors.
(Investment: Expertise: 1/40, Finesse: 5/5, Award: new structure available only to Monolith Of Sarkic in the Building list, +1 Glory)

Mommaz Boyz
Rattled by the recent visit from the Czech Mates, the Mommaz Boyz sunk their resources and time into constructing a proper bunker overlooking the main approach to the Crib. Deeper in the settlement, a biofuel facility was also set up, fed with useless byproducts of Candyman’s narco-confectionary experiments, adding up to the humble bounty of gasoline canisters brought by the fuel harvesters from across the abandoned town. Grandkids’ hunting parties were sent into the multicolored fog of the Land of Five Seasons, trying to feed the swelling settlement that added over a hundred hungry mouths just this month, after Grandma Bubblegum sent a call across the Old Cedar Rapids ruins and backed it up with yet another rich food offering for newcomers. Uncle K-9 also didn’t miss an opportunity to ramp up his base of support, promoting the most capable grandkids into mechanic apprentices. However, the main development for the family cult took place not inside, but outside the Crib. Grandma Bubblegum Ultraviolet and her trio of newly promoted commanders chose to go into four separate solo reconnaissance missions, riding their “Peekaboo Puffy Paw” quadricycles into the snowy wasteland. Jerry the Race Car Driver was the first one out of the gates, but his zooming trip ended abruptly when his unarmed vehicle faced a massive aurora wall just east of the city ruins. He ended up getting high on crystal meth and spent a day or two simply staring at the colorful anomaly, returning home only after running out of his drug supply. Unknown to him, the aurora wall he faced stretched much farther northwest, blocking Grandma’s path north as well. While it’s expected to disappear eventually (Oz’s will), Bubblegum Ultraviolet also had to come back home with nothing to show for her venture. Directly to the west, Pierce the Fireman had more luck, taking his red-painted cutie-quad down a narrow, but well-preserved highway and then turning into a country road piercing the snow-covered agricultural flatlands of the ancient Iowa corn country. This trip took him to a legendary country of Norway (at least, according to the road sign). The country turned out smaller than Pierce expected, composed of a puny village ruin stuck amid a snow-covered, anomaly-ridden plain intersected by a rusty track of the Union Pacific Railroad and hosting a well-preserved Baseball Museum (dedicated to the sport of true Vikings!). Farther south, John Fisherman had a more challenging task, which he completed with his signature calm and discipline. He was forced by the Oz off the high road and managed to navigate his vehicle down a wide stretch of open, wooded flatland infected with roaming anomalies. Having mapped his trail (which he named the Fishing Rod), John reached the ancient capital of bituminous coal mining and now a barren wasteland, attracting refugees with its dirty-black pools of carbon fossils useful both for trapping animals and defending against enemies. The news of Pierce and John’s discoveries soon made it to the Crib and from there spread across the Iowa wasteland.
(The Crib: -66 Grub, -3 Junk, +30 Guzz, +1 Plush, +139 Proles, +6 Jacks, +1 Bunker, +1 Waste kitchen)
(Mommaz Boyz: +1 Glory, Highways discovered: No Way (Expanse: 90, Openness: 220, Perils: 300), Fishing Rod (Expanse: 360, Openness: 260, Perils: 20), Sites discovered: Norway (Population Growth: 3, Fertility 2, Deposits 1, Fossils 1, Protection 2, no anomaly), Black Water (Population Growth: 5, Fertility: 3, Deposits: 0, Fossils: 4, Protection: 4, no anomaly)))

Grandma’s challenge: Barter with the ferals
With all the energy of a deeply dysfunctional family, the Mommaz Boyz proceeded to plow their way through the screaming matches of trade-related diplomacy, building some useful links with some migrant families of Iowa wasteland in the process. (Investment: Labor: 30/60, Expertise: 4/4, Finesse: 3/8, Award: -1d20 Grub, +1d20 Junk (10% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

Order Implacable
Hammertown continued being a Mecca for pilgrims wishing to join the stern, but prospering Order Implacable. As great hunting and gathering parties were dispatched down Hammerhill to scavenge Old Milwaukee ruins for food, scrap, and oil, the city itself continued growing in sophistication. An biofuel facility was built in an old campus cafeteria building, while a neighboring university lab ruins hosted two more scrap chowders. Meanwhile, the conference building was turned into a solemn, but joyful evensong eatery, in which the congregation could gather for happy passing of time, post-fasting feasts, and other community-building activities. All that normal human pursuit of happiness was lost on Sir Ducati, who quietly prepared for his first out-of-town expedition since the time he saved the first of his flock from the Highwaymen many years back, at the eve of Hammertown itself. Taking a place in a “Giftgiver” carlet, Sir Ducati lead the entire vehicle fleet of Order Implacable out of town along what used to be the Memorial Drive. This safe corridor quickly led the group toward the iced-over Michigan Lake, and the column proceeded along a wide stretch of relatively flat ice, hugging Old Milwaukee beaches and the industrial dock ruins. Eventually, the expedition made it to a clearing in the Oz, centered in a spruce forest intersected with snowy paths of a one-time hiking park, facing the lake with an oil barge stranded ashore. Having explored the location, Sir Ducati’s crewmen and -women named it after the ancient bridges crossing its ravines, and soon they returned home with a simple, but proud story to tell the Hammertown citizens.
(Hammertown: -121 Grub, -288 Junk, +100 Guzz, -4 Plush, +100 Proles, +2 Scrap chowders, +1 Waste kitchen, +1 Smilo joint)
(Order Implacable: Highway discovered: Ice Shore (Expanse: 350, Openness: 140, Perils: 260), Site discovered: Seven Bridges (Population Growth: 1, Fertility: 2, Deposit: 2, Fossils: 2, Protection: 1, no anomaly))

Grand Master’s challenge: Fast and faster (Completed)
Thanks to Bishop Lamborghini’s preaching, the people of Hammertown have finally accepted the tradition of monthly fasting, enriching the Order’s culture in the process. (Investment: Labor 60/60, Expertise: 4/4, Finesse: 4/4, Award: +1d40 Grub (20% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

Grand Master’s challenge: Carapace armor
Sir Ducati is an inspirational person, in a certain way. Not much of a talker, he or she simply projects their charisma through the sheer force of their presence. Partially, this is achieved through the impressive set of custom-made armor Sir Ducati wears at all times when outside of their ascetic shelter. This month, some Hammertown smiths started experimenting with making their own sets of carapace armor, partially imitating Sir Ducati’s looks and partially looking for better protection for the Order’s knights. With some experimentation and labor investment into prototypes, the Order could become a unique center of armor-making in Icerust. (Investment: Labor 0/100, Expertise: 0/8, Finesse: 0/2, Award: new Small Arms available only to Order Implacable in the Small Arms list, +1 Glory)

The Speed Freaks
Joe’s Pitshop continued staying true to its reputation of the most joyful place in Northwest Ontario wasteland. A massive BBQ festival was held to attract migrants from all across the surrounding snow desert, with newly hunted deer and even some bear meat being served to the newcomers. To supply for the feast, the Pitshop crew worked hard, scanning Buried Sod throughout the month and even dragging plenty of scrap from an abandoned pyrite mine..
(Joe’s Pitshop: -337 Grub, +296 Junk, -2 Plush, +100 Proles)

Speed-Ace’s challenge: Bandwagon joiners (Completed)
Ever an entertainer, Speed-Ace Joe made sure to prioritize his admission stick race idea over other important tasks. Thus, the “bandwagon slum” was born on the lower level of the dealership building, and the stick racing track was cleared, zigzagging through Buried Sod in full view of the settlement. (Investment: Labor 60/60, Expertise: 1/1, Finesse: 1/1, Award: +1d4 Proles, 1d2 Plush (5% chance/turn))

Speed-Ace’s challenge: Speedfest
Joker as he is, Joe One-Toe had opened a big can of worms with his idea of a stick race prank. With all of the Speed Freaks’ cars having been long lost, Joe’s followers had long been starving for entertainment that involved high speeds, sharp turns, and, hopefully, a few crashes. The stick race gave them an idea: why not have races that don’t involve internal combustion engines? Buried Sod is an area dotted with frozen lakes that could be turned into a skating rink, and the dark bedrock cliffs surrounding them are perfect for sledding and tobogganing. This month, these speed enthusiasts proposed to Joe to start organizing a proper Speedfest that could cheer up the Pitshop dwellers and even attract attendees from the surrounding Ontario wasteland. (Investment: Labor 0/100, Expertise: 0/2, Finesse: 0/2, Award: +1d2 Plush (5% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

Speed-Ace’s challenge: Scrap-mania
Metal is the skin and bones of every speedy car or bike. Yet, so many people greedily collect the precious scrap for their mediocre needs, building shelters instead of race wagons. Joe One-Toe has finally had enough of this heresy this month, and he proposed to his people that, whenever possible, scrap metal should be “liberated” from passersby, in order to be given a chance to live as an oil-guzzling mechanical steed. Joe’s own contribution aside, the Speed Freaks do have plenty of work to do before this extortion plan is set to work. Joe’s crew would have to build some roadblocks around the most popular refugee trails, along with some hauling sleds for transporting the toll back to Joe’s Pitshop. However, once completed, the plan may create a humble, but decent supply of salvaged metal. (Investment: Labor 0/60, Expertise: 0/4, Finesse: 1/4, Award: +1d8 Junk (20% chance/turn))

Ogayori Clan
Still expecting a visit from the Funk Brothers at any moment, the Ogayori Clan continued preparing for war. A “Yari Ashigaru” trike was manufactured in the bike stables, and a sentry tower stylized after a traditional Japanese castle was built on top of the yacht club ruins. Meanwhile, Ryūgū-jō continued prospering, with fishers and scrap salvagers bringin rich hauls home, and construction workers setting yet another metal recycling facility operational. Ogayori Denji once again proved that he was called the Great Unifier for a reason, attracting dozens of gaijins to join the clan with a lavish offering of food and shelter. However, these newcomers quickly notified the Ogayori clansmen and -women that Ryūgū-jō’s reputation as a rich and quickly growing town is starting to spread through the Old Detroit ruins, with the Highwaymen undoubtedly listening.
(Ryūgū-jō: -20 Grub, +251 Junk, +145 Guzz, -1 Plush, +42 Proles, +1 Sentry tower, +1 Scrap chowder)
(Ogayori Clan: +1 Notoriety, +1 “Yari Ashigaru” Trike Cavalry)

Clan Head’s challenge: Red Beach memorial (Completed)
With Ogayori Denji’s personal artistic contribution, a proper shrine was built in the middle of the Red Beach memorial, cementing the stone garden’s reputation as a center of Ryūgū-jō’s cultural and spiritual life. (Investment: Labor 100/100, Expertise: 2/2, Finesse: 6/6, Award: +1d2 Plush (15% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

Clan Head’s challenge:Yacht wharf
With all the newly built Japanese-style shacks and facilities, it’s easy to forget that Ryūgū-jō was built on top of the Detroit Yacht Club. With ice fishing having become the biggest source of the town’s prosperity, many komin craftsmen suggested that the clan explored an expansion of its fishing industry. They pointed to the polynya of open water surrounding Utsukushī Shima from three sides, making yacht fishing with nets possible. However, in order to even start building a first fishing yacht, they’d need to resurrect the long-forgotten art of shipbuilding. (Investment: Expertise: 0/40, Finesse: 0/5, Award: new structure available only to Ogayori Clan in the Building list, +1 Glory)

Mid-Apocalypse Chaos Carnival
Shelby Carnarium had a peaceful beginning of the month. The shrimp delicacies from the Chaos Clown Confections were finally produced for the Chaos Carnival’s managers to enjoy, while the majority of the carnival crew members ran small salvaging parties across the Carnival Ground and continued constructing the heatcatcher power plant. The biggest news, however, came not from the town itself, but from the outside. Loud music and indecipherable ranting were heard by the salvage teams coming from the south, prompting them to seek shelter behind the settlement’s rockpile. The source of the yelling and music became obvious when a small group of vehicles entered the Carnival Ground. Two were imitations of muscle cars hiding subpar "Magpie" engines under their carbon hood, as well as a regular car chassis; what place not taken by two goons with Molotov's cocktails in each, was dedicated to massive sound systems for blasting their favorite music. They were joined by a cross-country biker with a loudspeaker built-in their helmet and a vein-feed of energy stimulant. Ringmaster Vanessa at first considered riding out and meeting the Highwaymen in her personal “Lion Tamer” Battle Hatchback, but the raiders moved too fast, and she was forced rushing to the rockpile along with a squad of riflemen. The battle started rather anticlimactically as the two Highwaymen’s “Night Ranter” cars attempted to drift around the rockpile and damaged their suspension on the rocks, which forced them to turn around and limp away under the Chaos Carnival’s garrison’s fire. The single bike didn’t notice this development and quite impressively hopped over the barriers, only to be riddled with rifle rounds, along with his motorcycle. With the battle over, Vanessa managed to extract some information from recent newcomers about the gang that attacked them. Apparently, these were the Trolls, once proud Lower Michiganians that lived under the Mackinac Bridge and extracted tolls from whoever used it. However, after the Huron froze over during the Long Winter and the tollway stopped being used, the Trolls’ economy collapsed, and their community got taken over by rash and hotheaded youths who eventually migrated south and reformed the Trolls into a true raider gang. Now, they claim their birthright on the Mackinac bridge ruins, which must certainly bring them into a conflict with the Mid-Apocalypse Chaos Carnival once again.
(Shelby Carnarium: -13 Grub, +111 Junk, +6 Guzz, +2 Plush, +1 Heatcatcher (214/230 Labor))
(Mid-Apocalypse Chaos Carnival: -2 Notoriety)

Ringmaster’s challenge: Carnival visitors (Completed)
Ringmaster Vanessa made her final contribution to the Chaos Clown Confections stands, designing and hand-drawing extravagant leaflets with a map of trails leading to the Carnival Ground and an inspiring “letter of invitation” for circus visitors. (Investment: Labor 60/60, Expertise: 1/1, Finesse: 2/2, Award: +1d10 Proles (10% chance/turn), +1 Glory)

Ringmaster’s challenge: Madhouse Circus
Life in Icerust is hard and cruel, but Ringmaster Vanessa kept being reminded by her followers that Mid-Apocalypse Chaos Carnival was and had always been, after all, an entertainment venue. With enough efforts put toward building a proper arena and some talent dedicated to rehearsals and stunts, the Madhouse Circus may indeed become an attraction, for which survivors would be flocking to Shelby Carnarium, bringing with them gifts of all sorts. (Investment: Labor: 0/100, Expertise: 0/4, Finesse: 0/6, Award: +1d4 Plush (15% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

Mikeland
Popsicle Junction continued eating through its previous surplus of food while supporting its light industry with an aquaculture pool. Meanwhile, Mike’s indentured servants dug the ice sheet of Singing Ice, reaching some buried houses and cars, bringing back scrap and fuel canisters. That harvest went directly into supplying Mikeland’s growing manufacturing capacity, as three more vehicles were produced in King’s Own car shoppe. One of them was a tried and tested “Killer” buggy transporter (more on that below), while two were more combat-ready versions of the same vehicle, featuring snowplow rams, spikes, and two shotgun-armed goons riding the skeleton frame. These vehicles were given to Mike’s trusted sycophant Unlucky Larry, known for losing to the King after long streaks of luck down at “Mike’s Favorite” smilo joint. Some losers claimed Larry did it deliberately to keep Mike happy, upon which the liers were enrolled into the Royal mechanized force, and Larry himself was sent to lead them toward fame, discoveries, and, hopefully, well-deserved death. While that was playing out, Mike’s beloved daughter, Captain Molly Clever, led Mikeland’s existing mechanized force of two “Killer” buggies toward the famed Northwest Passage across the frozen-over Michigan Lake. The hope was that the expedition could hook over the grand polynya in the center of the lake and reach its scrap-rich opposite shore. Unfortunately, the Oz had a different idea for Molly’s venture. Short-living aurora walls and minor anomalies forced Molly’s force make a wide hook across the desolate, but serene moonscape of crushed ice. Eventually, the Captain’s buggies reached an idyllic mouth of a frozen creek, nestled between high bluffs, rich in wildlife and fish, and dotted with virtually untouched resort cabins and yacht stations on both sides. In one of the icy piers, Mike’s daughter discovered a well-preserved boat that was disassembled and transported back to Popsicle Junction as a gift for daddy.
(Popsicle Junction: -464 Grub, -2 Junk, -122 Guzz, +1 Plush, -10 Proles, +1 Protein pool)
(Mikeland: +1 Glory, +1 Design (“More Killer” Armed Buggy w/ Shotgunner Team), +1 “Killer” Armed Buggy Transporter, +2 “More Killer” Armed Buggies w/ Shotgunner Teams, +1 Commander (Unlucky Larry (Ruse: +2, Tactics: +1, Spirit: 0), Highway discovered: Northwest Hook (Expanse: 290, Openness: 150, Perils: 390), Site discovered: Bestie River (Population Growth: 2, Fertility: 4, Deposit: 3, Fossils: 1, Protection: 4, no anomaly))

King’s challenge: Mike’s statue
With Unlucky Larry no longer distracting him with his stupid gambling, Mike finally had some time to consider the architectural sophistication of a statue of himself. He insisted that the ancient monument is restored and painted to look like Mike, while his indentured servants put together a proper pedestal for that architectural wonder. (Investment: Labor 32/100, Expertise: 0/2, Finesse: 4/4, Award: +1d2 Plush (10% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

The Motors Parliament
The Parliamentary Garage had an incredibly quiet month due to Prime Motor herself resting and recovering from the risky and exhausting expedition of the month prior. Without her supervision and energy, the garage crew spent time only bringing PM’s favorite “L’Amerique Pleur” patrol car back into road shape. However, even amid this time of rest, the Motors Parliament’s reputation grew, as the news of PM’s previous glorious trips spread even farther across the Upper Canada wasteland.
(The Parliamentary Garage: -57 Grub, +94 Junk, +92 Guzz, +3 Plush)
(The Motors Parliament: +1 Glory)

PM’s challenge: Syrup of Fast Life
Perhaps, some day the Syrup of Fast Life will flow… But not now, for now is time for rest and contemplation. At least, such were the words of the wisest Prime Motor. Or, perhaps, she was just talking in her sleep. (Investment: Labor 0/300, Expertise: 0/4, Finesse: 1/1, Award: +3d4 Plush (5% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

The Republic of Sinclair
Tolerance, responsibility, moral leadership: things were getting too good to be true for the idealistic Republic of Synclair recently. This month, democracy showed that it had a lot to learn from conventional warlordism. An ex-slaver immigrant emerged as a firebrand political leader in Sinclair, criticizing its socio-economic system for inequality with passion of a true ideological convert. Despite all of her reputation, Captain-Defender Eugenia St. Clair had to spend all month trying to organize her political allies against the demagogue, eventually leading to a massive split in the young republic, when her political challenger led dozens of Sinclarians away from the settlement. This string of rallies and protests didn’t bode well for the Republic’s prosperity, as all harvesting stopped to a crawl, leading to a few poorer families starving when Sinclair’s food storage ran out. A lot of work is ahead of the young state if it wishes to stand strong again.
(Sinclair: -134 Grub, +100 Junk, -4 Plush, -105 Proles)

Captain-Defender’s challenge: Republican Watch
Between ruthless politicking and the famine, the Republican administration had no time to organize the Republican Watch in any capacity. (Investment: Labor: 0/120, Expertise: 0/10, Finesse: 0/5, Award: +2 Glory (one-time gain), +1 Notoriety (one-time gain))

Restless Spirits
After the stress and heartbreak of the prior months Autos Bastille descended into the quiet routine of simply existing and enjoying tasty food and warm shelter. At least, such were Dame Clara Eden’s prayers. (Autos Bastille: +30 Grub, +100 Junk, -2 Plush)

Dame’s challenge: Spiritless strangers
For now, the cult of the Restless Spirits enjoyed its quiet isolation and spent no effort in converting any migrants and refugees to its faith. (Investment: Labor 0/60, Expertise: 0/1, Finesse: 0/1, Award: +1d10 Proles (5% chance/turn))

Map:

Spoiler :

GM's notes:
- stats are up to date
- the map is up to date
- orders are due next Wednesday, November 4

 

Turn 5

As in the times of old, when the great snows sweep in, it’s time to huddle under the covers with a hot steaming mug of cocoa. What any of those words mean is unclear, but they are to be taken as truth. However, just as much, when the sun shines again on the ice, it is time to pull on the parkas, shovel the drive, and get back on the road!


Spend 3 Glory for 300 proles, drawn in from the last great blizzard.
Spend 190 Labor on gathering grub
Put down 4 expertise on coaxing the seeds to come to life.

Spend the necessary resources to build 1 Amerique Prit.

The remaining labor goes into beginning to cut soil and planting the seeds, for a great garden to the icons of yore.

L’amerique Pleure and L’amerique Prit will attempt the same journey that rebuffed the car, heading to the ancient royal seat of the Kings of the Mount.

 

Salvation Radio​

Goooood mmooorning my fellow brothers and sisters! Faithful and the Enlightened! Another gloriously chilly day here in the Geomter's great test for us, isn't it? You're listening to Salvation Radio; the frostlands' number one broadcasting station for preaching the true word and one and only faith from atop our lovely new signal tower here at the Cathedral, the most holiest and serene utopian capital there ever was or will be. I'm your host Zend Jonas Duncan, Zend and faithful of the Monolith of Sarkic - and if you're hearing this then boy-oh-boy do I have some good news for all of you out there who are not already saved!

To all of you poor, unfortunate souls out there who are lost: Your search is finally over! Yes, that's right your ears are not deceiving you! Your true calling and eternal salvation is right around the corner, so what'ya say? Seek out the Cathedral right now, today! We offer a warm bed and hot food to all who wish to learn of the one true faith! Bless the Geometer!

..now everbody kneel and turn your eyes up towards the heavens as we pray to our eternal Lord:

"Love the Geometer, for It is the salvation of mankind."

"Obey Its words, for It will lead you into the light of paradise."

"Heed Its wisdom, for It will protect you from evil."

Whisper Its prayers with devotion, for they will save your soul.

"Honour Its servants, for they speak Its will."

"Rejoice before Its majesty, for we all walk in Its immortal shadow."

Very good, my brothers and sisters! And now, a special musical masterpiece by the Monolith's very own Red Choir! This particular song goes out to all the blind and damned highwaymen out there - vile, deplorable blasphemers.. But I disgress. Let's hear it in three.. two, and-a-one..​

Spoiler Red Choir's "Keep your rifle by your side" :

Sing along with me, all you true believers out there - All together now!

"They'll look high and they'll look low
They'll look everywhere we go
But when the sinners find us we won't hide!"

"They'll come loud and they'll come fast
But we shoot first and we can last
Keep your rifle by your side!"

Singing, "Oh, Lord, this Earth was made for us!"
Singing, "Oh, Lord, this sinful life just ain't enough!"​

"So we'll take a stand
'Cause we must protect our land
Keep your rifle by your side!"

"They'll come day and they'll come night
They'll have our children in their sights
But if they don't have Faith their eyes are blind."

"They can scream and they can shout
But they will never smoke us out
Keep your rifle by your side!"

Singing, "Oh, Lord, this Earth was made for us!"
Singing, "Oh, Lord, this sinful life just ain't enough!"

"When we hear the voice
You know we have no other choice
Keep your rifle by your side!"

"They'll have bombs and they'll have tanks
Because they have money in their banks!
But we won't fall as long as we can fight"​

"They'll go on and preach their hate
But they won't get past the gate!
Keep your rifle by your side!"

Singing, "Oh, Lord, this Earth was made for us!"
Singing, "Oh, Lord, this sinful life just ain't enough!"

"When I see your face
I know I must protect my place
So, keep my rifle by my side!"​

Singing, "Oh, Lord, this Earth was made for us"
Singing, "Oh, Lord, this sinful life just ain't enough"​

"When I see your face
I know I must protect my place!"

"I'll keep my rifle by my side..
Keep my rifle by my side..
Keep your rifle by your siiiide.."

Hot-gosh-golly, that was simply amazing! A great applause and praytell; the approval of our Lord and Master Itself for the Red Choir, my pious listeners! And again, to all the faithful out there - do not despair. We are coming for you.​

 

Karcist Kane, the "Hand Man"
***

Spoiler NSFW :

Going simply by the name of Kane, appointed Karcist to the Monolith and diehard believer in the tenets of Sarkicism. Whispers speak that Kane was once a savage wildling, stumbled upon through mere chance or perhaps because the blessed Geometer simply willed it so, by a passing patrol of huntsmen in the dead of night, deep in the woods sometime after initial founding of the holy Monolith and the creation of the Cathedral in Still Mill. Naked and covered in the viscera of some mighty - unnatural creature; the tales continue that revered Maxwell lost a lot of men that dreary night attempting to capture this wild brute. After a three hour long struggle resulting in the deaths of nearly two-dozen sarkites he was eventually brought low and brought battered and bleeding before the Grand Karcist. What happened next is uncertain and tainted with a wild myriad of speculations, but it is commonly believed that Maxwell reached out to the blessed Geometer of Blood, who in turn opened Kane's eyes to the truths of the universe. He has since served Maxwell as his mighty inquisitor of the faith and keeper of purity to thought, ensuring that Maxwell's flock do not stray from the path of righteousness.

There is a burning zeal and supernatural might to Caine. His determination matched only by his passion for making blasphemers repent through prolonged suffering from his vicious methods for punishment. People have come to name him the hand man, for he always claims the severed hands of those that are unlucky enough to face his judgement, nailing them to his "Wall of Sinners" as a message of what happens to the heretical and the wicked that dare oppose the Grand Karcist and the Monolith. The Monolith are however painfully aware of the Hand Man's "old-school" methods and have installed a pair of Võlutaar advisors tagged with a small retinue of the faith militant's strongest men to ensure that the eager Karcist does not spill too much blood in the Geometer's name.

Kane developed a holy pledge that he uses to test the loyalty of unbaptized Orin. Maxwell and his Klavigar has since adopted it, making it official and mandatory for all members of the Monolith of Sarkic. Luckily, all members of the religious organization were well informed and even granted written examples a month in advance as to avoid.. unfortunate educational visits from the Hand Man in the middle of the night.

The Monolith Pledge
What is your life? My honour is my life.
What is your fate? My duty is my fate.
What is your fear? My fear is to fail.
What is your reward? My salvation is my reward.
What is your craft? My craft is my flesh.
What is your pledge? My pledge is eternal service

 

John the Fisherman

When he was young you'd not find him doing well in school,
His mind would turn unto the waters.
Always the focus of adolescent ridicule,
He has no time for farmer's daughters.
Alienated from the clique society,
A lonely boy finds peace in fishing.
His mother says John this is not the way life's supposed to be.
Don't you see the life that you are missing?
And he says
When I grow up I want to be,
One of the harvesters of the sea.
I think before my days are done,
I want to be a fisherman.
Now years gone by we find man that rules the sea.
He sets out on a dark May morning .
To bring his catch back to this small community.
He doesn't see the danger dawning.
Four hours up, oh the ocean swelled and swelled,
The fog rolled in it started raining.
The starboard bow. Oh my God we're going down!
They do not hear his frantic mayday.
And he says
When I grow up I want to be,
One of the harvesters of the sea.
I think before my days are done,
I want to be a fisherman.
I'll live and die a fisherman.
Calling John the fisherman.​

Primus​

John is a newcomer to the Crib but quickly trusted as a semi-independent scout for his competence and seeming selflessness and lack of interest in tribal politics. Extremely introverted, John spends a lot of time outside the Pitts, taking greater pleasure in walking under the grey snow-filled skies with his dogs than partaking in moonshine or the Candyman's various 'candies'.

Despite his mistrust and lack of interest in other people John trusts his two dogs, who accompany him wherever he goes except into the Pitts where he knows they would swiftly be trapped, killed, and eaten by the loathsome savages that make up Mommaz Boyz. One is named Neiz and the other Meech; they are sisters and both are husky crosses. Extremely loyal, they serve as scouts and hunters for John while routinely enjoying the fruits of his fishing labor, being particularly fond of the heads and entrails of his filleted catch.

John is often found by the river, his line sunk in a hole in the ice, a hand-rolled cigarette in his mouth, while his two dogs scamper and play in the snow nearby.

More recently John has been awarded command of a Puffy Paws quadricycle. His skill in navigation has quickly been recognized though in truth, much of his success can be attributed to the alert ears and noses of Niez and Meech.

 

Mommaz Boyz Orders for Turn 6

Glory:

• Bank glory.

Buildings and Vehicles:

• Build 2 protein pools (20 grub, 200 junk, 20 guzz, 140 labor, 2 expertise)
• Build 6 puffy-paws (36 grub, 114 junk, 60 guzz, 114 labor, 6 expertise)

Resource Gathering:

• convert 80 grub and 8 expertise into 8 plush
• 14 labor towards gathering junk
• 383 labor towards gathering grub

Recruit:

• Recruit 145 proles.

Quest:

• Spend 10 labor and 3 finesse towards establishing trade with the 'ferals'.

Combat Tactics

• No changes.

Vehicle Design

• None.

Exploration (Cutie-Quads Go Forth!)
The Mommaz Boyz will send out their scouts once again!

• Grandma Bubblegum Ultraviolet will take 1 puffy paws vehicle north-east towards Manchester.
• Fireman Pierce will be tasked with breaking through the aurora wall that Grandma Bubblegum could not, taking his puffy-paw west towards Marshal-Town. Please adjust appropriately if existing highways already cover this.
• John the Fisherman will attempt where Jerry the Race Car Driver failed, taking his puffy paw east towards Clinton.
• Finally Jerry will take his quad south-east towards Mt. Vernon.

If any of these destinations need to be adjusted, thats more than fine... please select appropriate destinations as required.


Orders finalized.

 

Death is here

Glory: Bank Glory

Promotions

Promote 3 Proles to 3 Jacks with 30 Grub

Design: 1 expertise to create variant

Giftgiver Varient: Mule

This design's got a surprise kick to it.

Quadracycle
Minicar
Spike
Warscythe

37 labor, 1 expertise, 6 grub, 22 junk, 10 guzz to construct

............................................................

Buildins

Build 1 Bunker with 250 labor, 200 junk.

.......................................................................................

Gather 300 food with 100 Proles

Gather 200 junk with 100 proles.

.......................................................................................

Build additional "Giftgiver" carlet with 82 labor, 3 expertise, 6 grub, 41 junk, 65 guzz

Build additional "Zard" Bike with 26 labor, 1 expertise, 6 grub, 20 junk, 10 guzz

Build 1 "Mule" carlet with 37 labor, 1 expertise, 6 grub, 22 junk, 10 guzz

.....................................................................................................
Spend remaining 2 finesse and 13 labor on quest

 

Ogayori Clan
Turn 6
1 Glory spent 20 Jacks

Invest Order Yacht wharf Completion
4 Finesse
12 Expertise

520 Labor
Building Order:
Build Heatcatcher (230 labor, 400 junk, 2 expertise, 30 guzz)


Production Vehicle
3x Yari Ashigaru Cavalry (168 labor, 6 expertise, 24 Grub, 78 Junk, 105 Guzz)


Production Order:
100 labor will be designated to to fishingman district (Grub)
22 labor will be designated to junkman district (Junk)

Clan Head’s challenge:Yacht wharf
With all the newly built Japanese-style shacks and facilities, it’s easy to forget that Ryūgū-jō was built on top of the Detroit Yacht Club. With ice fishing having become the biggest source of the town’s prosperity, many komin craftsmen suggested that the clan explored an expansion of its fishing industry. They pointed to the polynya of open water surrounding Utsukushī Shima from three sides, making yacht fishing with nets possible. However, in order to even start building a first fishing yacht, they’d need to resurrect the long-forgotten art of shipbuilding. (Investment: Expertise: 12/40, Finesse: 4/5, Award: new structure available only to Ogayori Clan in the Building list, +1 Glory)

 

Sorry I forgot orders were due monday, I think I might have to drop out of this one for now. I may return in the future.

 

Okay, that happens. Thank you for participating, hope to see you again.

 

Monolith of Sarkic Orders - Turn 6 (Closed)

Within

Challenges & Projects
+ Invest 3 Expertise into "Flesh Temple"

Admin & Planning
+ Promote 6 Proles to Jacks for 60 Grub
+ Spend 1 Finesse on designing a new vehicle: Zealot
+ Spend 1 Finesse on promoting 1 Commander: Karcist Kane (3 Ruse, 3 Spirit, -2 Tactics)

"Zealot" Militant Interceptor w/ mounted 50. BMG
Chassis: Buggy
Body: Skeleton car frame
Engine: Gunsel
Weaponry: x1 Anti-materiel rifle
Small Arms:
Addons: Recon Kite, Semaphore

Mining, Agriculture, Extraction & Manufacturing
"Faster you dogs! Faster! Harvest all we can lest we be damned to oblivion! The Grand Karcist demands it!"

+ Spend 200 Labour on tending the Monolith's maggot pens & moss fields (560 Grub)
+ Spend 106 Labour on salvaging parts & material from the ruins of Sault Ste. Marie (530 Junk)
+ Spend 100 Labour on siphoning precious fuel out of Sault Ste. Marie (100 Guzz)

Construction
"Ignite the great furnaces of war so that we may don the holy armour of the Lord!"

+ Build 1 Waste Kitchen for 80 Labour, 1 Expertise, 30 Grub, 100 Junk
+ Build 2 Zealot Interceptors for 210 Labour, 4 Expertise, 20 Grub, 104 Junk, 100 Guzz

Labour put to work this turn: 406
Expertise put to work this turn: 3
Labour put to construction this turn: 290
Expertise put to construction this turn: 5
Total Cost: 696 Labour, 8 Expertise, 110 Grub, 204 Junk, 100 Guzz

Without

 

Mid-Apocalypse Chaos Carnival Turn 6 Orders
Building:

• Finish Heat catcher(16/16 labor)
• Smilo Joint (100 labor, 1 expertise, 50 grub, 100 junk, 50 guzz)

Labor:

• 22 labor on guzz(66 guzz)
• 10 labor on junk(40 junk)
• 50 labor on quest

Expertise:

• 3 expertise on plush(30 junk)
• 4 expertise on quest

Design:
Battle Bugg:

• Chassis: Buggy
• Body: Skeleton car frame
• Engine: Boomer
• Weapon: Minigun
• Small arms: 2 shotguns

Scouting:

• Ringmaster Vanessa will take 1 "Lion Tamer" and scout to the south.

 

Mikeland - Turn 6 Orders

Gathering & Conversion
Spend 1 glory recruiting 100 proles
Spend 100 labor gathering grub
Spend 100 labor gathering junk
Spend 68 labor gathering guzz

Construction & Promotion
Build two protein pools
Build a Sentry Tower

Quest
Finish quest with 68 labor, 2 expertise

Exploration
Captain Molly takes a "Killer" transport and two "More Killer" explorers and explores to the Northeast.
Unlucky Larry takes a "Killer" transport and a "More Killer" explorer and scouts out to the South.

 

(FINALIZED)

Republic of Sinclair
Orders 6

In St. Clair:
Production:

2 Glory to attract 200 Proles.
203 labor on producing 406 Grub: 203 x 2 = 406
40 labor on producing 120 Junk: 40 x 3 = 120

Building:

70 labor, 1 expertise, 10 grub, 100 junk, and 10 guzz on a Protein Pool.
120 labor, 1 expertise, 200 junk, and 20 guzz on a Food Sizzler.
80 labor, 1 expertise, 30 grub, and 100 junk on a Waste Kitchen.

Captain-Defender’s challenge: Republican Watch

Between ruthless politicking and the famine, the Republican administration had no time to organize the Republican Watch in any capacity. ​

(Investment: Labor: 0/120, Expertise: 0/10, Finesse: 0/5, Award: +2 Glory (one-time gain), +1 Notoriety (one-time gain))

7 Expertise, 2 Finesse (what remains): invest in this challenge.

Don't ever sleep on Sinclair!

 

Fireman Pierce

The icy wastes blow cold and hard. His eyes are protected behind thick goggles but his bushy beard collects frost and the glue that holds it to his face cracks, brittle, and falls, the hairs falling with it.

When Fireman Pierce returns, triumphant after finding Norway, his entrance is more muted that would be expected and he heads directly for his small pile of rags and crawling lice he calls his 'room'. Arriving he looks under the false floor and finds his treasure whole but his glue and hairs gone. Instead, in its place, a single peppermint candy.

* * *
​

Jerry the Race Car Driver

Ain't much better than going fast and feeling the wind bleed your eyes of tears and your knuckles white then blue. Thats so very far away though when the engines are purring and the wheels are humming over the snow. Jerry weaves gently back and forth, slaloming between ancient telephone poles long turned to so much useless waste, just to feel the shifting weight of the machine. The steel frame is an extension of his skeleton, the tires like a second pair of hands, the motor a second heart. There is no machine and man, only Jerry, Jerry the Race Car driver.

When he tires he pulls to a stop, staring into the beautiful shining swirls of the mysterious anomaly, he pulls out his pipe and burns crystal, a renewed ferocity returning to his gaze and an intense shifting restlessness to his stance. The swirling colors call to him and he pulls an aluminum can of the Candyman's beer from machine's saddlebags, popping the lid and drinking the entirety in two long greedy pulls. He grabs a second and sips this one more slowly, savoring the alcohol's mellow and the racey frenzy of the crystal together. Today will be a good day.

He leans back and gazes into the colors, enjoying the moment and suddenly realizes there is more in the anomaly than swirling colors. Something is moving within the mystery, many somethings, crawling and jerking their way towards him in a frenzy of hunger. Rust locusts. Quickly Jerry revs the engine and peeling out, sends a broad wave of ice and snow into the air as he accelerates away... directly into a telephone pole. Jerry dies instantly and the quad is quickly consumed by rust locusts. RIP Jerry the Race Car driver. We almost knew you.

Jerry was a race car driver
And he drove so goddamn fast
He never did win no checkered flag
But he never did come in last
Jerry was a race car driver
He'd say el sob number one
With a Bocephus sticker
On his 442 he'd light 'em up
Just for fun

Jerry was a race car driver
22 years old
Had one too many cold beers one night
And wrapped himself around a telephone pole.​

Primus​

 

Icerust - Update 6
Long Winter Y100.M7: World Does Not Weep



The Motors Parliament
The Parliamentary Garage grew twice in size over the course of one month, as PM sent a call across Old Ottawa ruins, inviting people to join the resurgent Motors Parliament gang. The tales of her achievements had surely spread far and wide by that point, and hundreds of refugees flocked to the Garage, many of asking for a special permission to partake in the construction of yet another beautiful patrol car, this one being the “L’Amerique Prit'' variant with two grenadiers in the passenger seats. Meanwhile, almost two hundred garage crewmen were dispatched across the city’s surroundings, hunting wildlife and gathering pinecones across Old Ottawa in order to feed the swelling settlement. Prime Motor herself, however, had a more fitting task to attend, venturing in her re-crewed “L’Amerique Pleur” car far east, past the Exec Way and through the land that had previously defied her ambition. Careful not to be noticed by another territorial pack of pseudowolves, she instead chose to navigate the rough, anomaly-ridden terrain of crushed ice in the middle of the Ottawa River, eventually making her way to a safe clearing in the Oz. The safe site was an icy passage under a half-collapsed highway bridge, attracting plenty of nomadic ice fishers and surrounded by a relatively intact village ruin with rusty remnants of a highway traffic jam. Having mapped her way, PM returned home to the garage dwellers’ applause, only to discover some of them whispering that Highwaymen are starting to learn about the Motors Parliament’s achievements as well.
(The Parliamentary Garage: +14 Grub, +37 Junk, +2 Guzz, -3 Plush, +298 Proles)
(The Motors Parliament: -2 Glory, +1 Notoriety, +1 “L’Amerique Prit” Patrol Car w/ Grenadier Squad, Highway discovered: Ottawa River (Expanse: 200, Openness: 330, Perils: 50), Site discovered: Hawk’s Bridge (Population Growth: 5, Fertility: 4, Deposit: 4, Fossils: 0, Protection: 4, no anomaly))

PM’s challenge: Syrup of Fast Life
Aflush with the newly gained glory, Prime Motor herself directed her garage crew to concentrate on developing the garden of Fast Life trees inside the Parliamentary Garage’s rooms that get the most sunlight after insulating them from the freezing cold of the outside. Apparently, the inspired new joiners of the Motors Parliament were more than happy to lend their labor this awesome enterprise that may yet see the first drop of Syrup harvested soon. (Investment: Labor 167/300, Expertise: 4/4, Finesse: 1/1, Award: +3d4 Plush (5% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

Mommaz Boyz
Less than three months had passed since the legend of the early Icerust, Ol’ Bunger himself fell victim first to his old age and then to his deviant lieutenant's gastronomic choices. And yet, while Grandma Ultraviolet lived (and she was quite lively indeed), the old epoch of nomadic car gangs seemed to be still living with her. Unbeknownst to her grandkids, however, she already had her doom chasing her. It started as yet another daring series of exploratory expeditions, in which Grandma and her three top drivers took the cutie-quads in four different directions in a search for a salvage-rich site. As usual, Jerry the Race Car Driver took off ahead of everyone and… was never heard from again. A story from the grandkids joining the family later that month claimed that they saw a man fitting Jerry’s description stuck on a road, trying to clean his cutie-quad from a rust locust infestation with machine oil. Another couple of new joiners said that they passed by his frozen body on their way to the Crib, alleging that he probably froze to death while trying to carry the remnants of his quad (mostly the tiers) back home. John Fisherman, accompanied by two of his favorite huskies, Neiz and Meesh, headed east, where Jerry was greeted by an aurora wall a month earlier, only to face a massive mindbender, through which even the stoic Fisherman couldn’t pass, eventually returning to the Crib, confused and disturbed. More luck was met by the braggart Pierce, who was sent north to find a way around the aurora wall that had blocked Grandma Ultraviolet a month ago. Pierce later claimed that he indeed chopped through the shining wall with his fireman’s axe (which he, in fact, had left in his shack), but one way or another, he did navigate the Highway 380, littered with rusty remnants of old-world cars, until reaching an abandoned hamlet sitting in the middle of snow-covered agricultural field, with a single machine shack standing on a hill, full to the brim with well-preserved fuel canisters. With this knowledge, Pierce came back, only to discover Mommaz Boyz in the midst of grieving (and some, secretly celebrating). From the newly arrived grandkids, they learned that Bubblegum Ultraviolet was ambushed by a gang of Czech Mates somewhere in the north-east. The gang consisted of two beautifully reconstructed classic old-world Czech recon motorbikes with a cost-effective European engine, a sidecar and a machine gun team each, followed by a couple of three-wheeler minicar replicas of a classic urban zoomer, with a mediocre "Barnacle" engine, a semaphore signal installation, and an anti-armor rifle on each. Despite the shots being fired, Grandma could still make it out alive, but her path was intersected by a roaring open-wheel Formula race car with a turbocharged gran turismo engine and a vicious combination of low-set warscythes and articulated mechanical saws. Trying to escape the cackling raiders, Grandma turned off the safe road and into a wild field full of Oz anomalies, one of which sucked her in and threw hundreds of feet into the sky, where she exploded in a cloud of blood and gore (as for her cutie-quad, it was damaged, but got later recovered by a rescue expedition). The mourning didn’t last too long, as the same witnesses stated that the Czech Mates were becoming more certain of the Crib’s location and prosperity. Taking over Grandma, the grim Candyman ramped up the production of his narcotic confections and dispatched a truly massive hunting party across the Ruins of Five Seasons - an action that hadn’t resulted in overhunting yet, but might in the future. To prevent this, Candiman (true sadistic managers as he is) enrolled many migrating “ferals” into the Mommaz Boyz and sent them to the construction sites for two protein pools, hosting colonies of edible cockroaches. Uncle K-9, the leader of the mechanics’ faction, did end up persuading Candiman to also agree to produce six more cutie-quads for the Mommaz Boyz needs, giving the jacks the much needed sway in the family’s affairs.
(The Crib: +230 Grub, -10 Junk, +21 Guzz, +139 Proles, -2 Clouts, +2 Protein pools)
(Mommaz Boyz: +1 Glory, +1 Notoriety, +5 “Peekaboo Puffy Paws” Cutie-quads, 1 “Peekaboo Puffy Paws” Cutie-quad is disabled, -2 Commanders (Grandma Ultra Violet, Jerry the Race Car Driver), Highway discovered: Three-Eighty (Expanse: 180, Openness: 110, Perils: 350), Sites discovered: Shady Grove (Population Growth: 1, Fertility 4, Deposits 1, Fossils 4, Protection 2, no anomaly))

Stepdad’s challenge: Barter with the ferals
With the demise of the legendary Grandma Ultraviolet, her past favorite, Candyman, put a much greater emphasis on diplomacy over adventuring. This saw some more effort dedicated to courting the nomadic “ferals,” with some more primitive trade stations built and manned at the very edge of the Five Seasons’ fog. (Investment: Labor: 40/60, Expertise: 4/4, Finesse: 6/8, Award: -1d20 Grub, +1d20 Junk (10% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

Stepdad’s challenge: Mommaz Boyz no more
Grandma is dead. Long life to the Stepdad! Grandma Ultraviolet was the binding glue of the Mommaz Boyz’ family throughout her messy life, and her equally messy death paved a way for a necessary change in the family affairs. With Jerry gone, John Fisherman recovering from a deep trip through the mindbender, and Pierce being just too busy telling his cock-and-bull stories to the gawkers, Candiman is poised to rise to the role of leadership. However, if that were truly to happen, the Mommaz Boyz would have to become something else entirely. Many grandkids are seen asking: what should their family be called? What should it stand for? What would define it in the wild blizzard of Icerust? (Investment: Labor: 0/60, Expertise: 0/20, Finesse: 0/5, Award: +2 Glory (one-time gain), +1 Notoriety (one-time gain))

Mid-Apocalypse Chaos Carnival
Promoting her Madhouse Circus, Rignmaster Vanessa took her impressive “Lion Tamer” on the road, riding south of the Carnival Ground in her first venture outside of Shelby Carnarium in a long while. Without encountering any issues, the single-car tour went south along the snowed-over highway, densely overgrown with pine trees and bushes, until reaching a quaint campground inside a coniferous wood, nested between three frozen lakes. With the news of this discovery, she returned home to enjoy the well-earned prestige. In her absence, the carnival crew scouted Carnival Ground for scrap and fuel, but the main effort was put into finishing Shelby Carnarium’s long-awaited power plant. Upon her arrival, Vanessa added another construction to the bill: Crusty The Clown’s tavern, in which the Chaos Carnival’s visitors could relieve some stress. She also put her expeditionary experience to good use, helping design a new, cheaper vehicle fitting the rugged terrain her battle hatchback had just covered. Named “Battle Bugg,” it’s designed as a skeleton-frame buggy with an “it-will-do” “Boomer” engine, Gatling gun installation, and seats for the two-people strong shrapnel troupe of shotgun warriors.
(Shelby Carnarium: -17 Grub, +1 Junk, +7 Guzz, +1 Heatcatcher, +1 Smilo joint)
(Mid-Apocalypse Chaos Carnival: +1 Glory, +1 Design (“Battle Bugg” Utility Vehicle w/ Shrapnel Troupe), Highway discovered: Seventy-Fiver (Expanse: 120, Openness: 60, Perils: 170), Sites discovered: Rigged Valley (Population Growth: 4, Fertility 4, Deposits 0, Fossils 0, Protection 4, no anomaly))

Ringmaster’s challenge: Madhouse Circus
Ringmaster Vanessa’s tour south was a great promotional opportunity for the Madhouse Circus. Meanwhile, at home, the carnival crew worked hard on putting together a tented arena, while the jacks figured out the lighting, the music, and the logistics of future shows. (Investment: Labor: 50/100, Expertise: 4/4, Finesse: 0/6, Award: +1d4 Plush (15% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

Restless Spirits
The recent schism proved to be lethal for the cult of the Restless Spirits. With Dame Clara Eden losing her followers quickly, the sect’s cohesion evaporated, paving way for her past challenger to return to Auto Bastille and start his proselytization in secret. By the month’s end, the orthodox cult followers found themselves a minority, and soon the schismatics all but took over. Their interpretation of the original faith was much more apocalyptic, believing that Icerust was but a hellish punishment for the souls of past sinners, making them get reborn into the frigid hellscape over and over. The resolution, they preached, was the Wild Hunt, an apocalyptic event in which all souls of Icerust could be freed from their flesh prison in a carnage of automotive slaughter, breaking the loop of rebirth and placing them to rest once and for all.
(Restless Spirits: game over)

The Wobblies
While many factions across Icerust turned their gases to expansion, the IWW organization continued looking at the inward improvement. With the heatcatcher plant fully operational, first potato farming greenhouses were built on the patches of land thawed by its heat pipes and the shy summer sun. Of course, no harvest could be gathered from those, as a potato plant can’t grow to full harvest in merely a month, but this source of food was supplemented with hunting the animals attracted by the power plant’s warmth, and the hunting teams were joined by scrap gatherers as well. In the meantime, Grand Foreman Chandra Gardener spread the word across Old Northside Chicago that the gates of the commune are open for new joiners. She also encouraged the incoming proletariat to help with the scrap metal drive, and the resulting bounty of metal junk surpassed all expectations, being enough to put the foundation of the Wobblies’ first scrap chowder facility that stood half-finished by the end of the month.
(Ravenswood Commune: -115 Grub, +101 Junk, -20 Guzz, -4 Plush, +100, +1 Scrap chowder (45/90))
(The Wobblies: -2 Glory)

Grand Foreman’s challenge: Gob rigging (Completed)
With the qualified working hands finally freed up from the completion of the power plant, Ravenswood Commune could concentrate on finishing its humble publishing house with an operational ‘gob rigger’ printing press. By the end of the month, the survivors inhabiting the Windy Ruins were surprised to discover packages of freshly printed copies of “Icerust Worker” at every avenue corner, spreading the word of the IWW’s ascendency. (Investment: Labor: 60/60, Expertise: 20/20, Finesse: 5/5, Award: +2 Glory (one-time gain), +1 Notoriety (one-time gain))

Grand Foreman’s challenge: Literacy program
“Icerust Worker” was a great success… among the few that could read it. Ironically, the ones reading it were, for the most part, the ones having written its articles, so Grand Foreman Gardener had to do something to help her people keep up with the news of their own struggle. Thus, the IWW literacy program was born. The idea was driven by Ravenswood Commune’s working intelligentsia, who readily contributed their time and skill to developing a fairly robust teaching program. However, soon it became obvious that for the literacy program to be successful, the proletariat’s contribution was also needed - at the very least, the students need to sit through the classes, during which they can’t contribute their labor. However, with enough investment, the Wobblies may establish a society in which even its lowest members could at times enjoy the luxury of reading for entertainment.
(Investment: Labor: 0/100, Expertise: 12/12, Finesse: 0/2, Award: +1d12 Plush (5% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

Greylaw
For once, Conan the Snowflake had an uneventful month, during which he could put his sharp mind to good use guiding Greylaw through necessary internal development. Inspired by the recent humble victory of the People’s Republic of Arboretum, many survivors from Central Michigan wasteland flocked to Thunderbolt, where they joined the salvaging and hunting rookie teams sent to comb through Greyhound Den. In the meantime, in Thunderbolt itself, the heavy and light industries expanded once again, with a meat rat colony being built right next to a loud scrap recycling facility.
(Thunderbolt: +18 Grub, -90 Junk, -30 Guzz, +2 Plush, +100 Proles, +1 Protein pool, +1 Scrap chowder)

Alfa-Alfa’s challenge: The Greycoats
Alfa-Alfa really liked the idea of legitimizing his gang by dressing them in a uniform. With Thunderbolt swelling on the news of the Arboreals’ raiders’ defeat, a primitive textile sweatshop was put together with the newly gained labor, and now the Betas and Alfas need to figure out some of the production-related issues before it starts spewing out legit-looking grey jackets, pants, boots, and hats.
(Investment: Labor: 60/60, Expertise: 10/20, Finesse: 4/5, Award: +2 Glory (one-time gain), +1 Notoriety (one-time gain))

The Speed Freaks
In Joe’s Pitshop, construction of the Speed Freaks’ two protein pools producing edible moss was completed this month, as the Speed-Ace aims to make his growing cult self-sufficient. This time hasn’t come yet, as huge hunting parties were dispatched across Buried Sod, and some metal salvagers scanned through the Old Sudbury ruins. The latter venture was particularly successful, as many deer and moose were attracted by the heat generated by Joe’s Pitshop’s new power plant.
(Joe’s Pitshop: -65 Grub, -174 Junk, -20 Guzz, -2 Plush, +2 Protein pools)

Speed-Ace’s challenge: Speedfest (Completed)
With maniacal enthusiasm, Joe One-Toe went about preparing the upcoming, (yet) non-automotive Speedfest. Instead of turning it into a competition of individuals, he chose to resurrect the Speed Freaks’ team spirits, arbitrarily dividing them into four teams: Frostdogs (Team Colour: Blue | Symbol: Howling Dog), Rotworms (Team Colour: Green | Symbol: Screaming Worm), Rustbulls (Team Colour: Red | Symbol: Charging Bull) and the Painsnakes (Team Colour: Purple | Symbol: Slithering Serpent). The Speedfest itself was divided into three event challenges. The most common one would be the Solo Race, where each team would be represented by one athlete competing against others. In the Team Race, four representatives from every team would co-op race each other on sleds, skies, ice skates, and whatnot. Finally the much awaited Death Race pitched four representatives from each team against all others in a racing game that allowed injuring or killing the opponents. To preserve the manpower, the Death Race was to be scheduled only from time to time, but the interest it generated was enormous. After all, a few human lives are a small price to pay for fun and team building, are they not? (Investment: Labor 100/100, Expertise: 2/2, Finesse: 2/2, Award: +1d3 Plush, -1d2 Proles (5% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

Speed-Ace’s challenge: Scrap-mania
Scrap-mania’s time would come, Joe had promised. That’s pretty much how far that project advanced through the month. (Investment: Labor 0/60, Expertise: 0/4, Finesse: 1/4, Award: +1d8 Junk (20% chance/turn))

Order Implacable
Recently, life in Hammertown was getting better and better. With Order Implacable ascendant, people were flocking to the growing settlement in droves. Hunting and salvaging parties combed through Old Milwaukee ruins, bringing rich hauls back. Some leaders of these parties distinguished themselves enough to be elevated to the position of jacks, while the existing mechanics worked on an unarmed variant of the "Giftgiver" moto-carlet with a more spacious trunk and additional anti-boarding spikes. One of such vehicles, named “Mule,” was being produced in Hammertown’s car shoppe, along with yet another “Zard” bike and “Giftgiver” artillery carlet, while Hammerhill’s slope was crawling with construction workers building the Order’s first bunker. However, all this happy buzz was interrupted, when a minor warband of local Highwaymen appeared crossing the Old Milwaukee ruins through a secret highway. Three of the attacking vehicles were naked armature-framed limousines with an enterprise engine and a spar torpedo at its front each, crewed by a vicious band of Greeko-Viking-looking warriors armed with clubs and butcher knives and carrying their land drakkar’s banner. These vehicles were escorted by chopper-mounted myrmidon warriors and their squires, also outfitted with personalized banners and trophy collections of enemy skulls and limbs. Having heard the alarm raised by the sentries, Sir Ducati rushed to the garage and assembled his humble force of three bike-in-arms teams and one “Giftgiver” artillery carlet. The next two days were spent in on-and-off skirmishing and maneuvers in the approaches to Hammerhill, as Highwaymen’s vehicle fleet attempted to intersect the Oz-ridden ruins and get up close and personal with the intimidating “Giftgiver,” while denying it the opportunity to fire its barrage. At some point, it appeared that the victory was after the Implacables, as the motorcycle teams were lost on both sides, but two of the attacking land drakkars were also badly damaged while trying to cross an anomaly-infected bridge. However, at the dawn of the third day the last remaining enemy limo appeared in the vicinity of the settlement, displaying Sir Ducati’s head (or was it just their helmet?) on a pike. This demoralized Hammertown’s sentries, who didn’t oppose the Highwaymen when they rounded up the Order’s salvaging party and took its haul, along with a small tribute of Hammertown’s plush. Luckily for the Implacables, the rest of the enemy warband was badly damaged, and soon the limo retreated, taking only a minor loot and letting the sentries recover the rest of the Order’s crashed vehicles from the vicinity of Hammerhill. The wounded survivors of the battle told Bishop Lamborghini and his clergy that the enemies seemed to belong to yet another militant order, originating from a place called Mars Cheese Castle. If the prideful Highwaymen warriors are to be believed, they trace their lineage to the Greek and Scandinavian families that once owned a legendary artisanal cheesery somewhere in ancient Wisconsin, and since then the warrior society of the Martians developed deep devotion to Mars, the ancient god of war and cheese-making. That, of course, raises some questions, such as where they could possibly get milk for such a long-forgotten delicacy. Some people believed the Martians must possess some cattle that’s been considered extinct for about a hundred years. Meanwhile, the cynics guessed that the only milk the Cheese Castle’s cheese can be made out of would have to belong to human mothers. One way or another, now the Martians are certainly going to return to Hammertown sooner or later.
(Hammertown: -94 Grub, +140 Junk, +6 Guzz, -28 Proles, +3 Jacks, -1 Clout, +1 Bunker)
(Order Implacable: +1 Notoriety, +1 “Zard” Bike-in-Arms, +1 “Giftgiver” Raid Carlet, +1 “Mule” Hedgehog Carlet, -1 Commander (Sir Ducati), 3 “Zard” Bike-in-Arms and 1 “Giftgiver” Raid Carlet are disabled)

Grand Master’s challenge: Carapace armor
The grim news of the Martians’ raid and the loss of Sir Ducati in battle made some people in the Order question their mission. However, Sir Ducati’s lieutenants instead dedicated their time to recreating the martyr’s iconic armor, finalizing the design that was later sent to Hammerhill’s armorers and blacksmiths. (Investment: Labor 0/100, Expertise: 0/8, Finesse: 2/2, Award: new Small Arms available only to Order Implacable in the Small Arms list, +1 Glory)

Ogayori Clan
The Ogayori Clan continued going from strength to strength throughout the month.Rich off of its fishing and salvaging runs, the clansmen and -women could concentrate much of their efforts on building up the already expansive city of Ryūgū-jō, this time adding a wood-burning power plant to its infrastructure. Several more “Yari Ashigaru” trikes were set to be manufactured in the bike stables, while Ogayori Denji used his authority to invite many more gaijin craftsmen and mechanics to settle with the Clan. However, the month’s end saw the first test to the Great Unifier’s reputation. The lone sentry tower’s garrison reported an unusual sighting on the other side of the icy bridge connecting Utsukushī Shima with Old Detroit ruins. Like meerkats of old, gun wielding observers of the Funk Brothers started popping over the ramshackled buildings, strapped to aluminum poles and observing the settlement. Eventually, the scouts showed themselves: these were recon bikers with two gun-totting crewmen each, riding underpowered sidecar bikes equipped with foldable observation poles that could be raised in a stationary position. Crossing a stretch of ice connecting the island with the mainland, they couldn’t effectively outmaneuver the sentries, so the battle soon evolved into a direct close-range shootout. Ogayori Denji opted out of riding his sole cavalry tricycle, joining the sentries instead. The blunt engagement soon devolved into a close-quarter fight, as the surviving Funk Brothers stormed the tower by using their observation poles to lift the gunmen and -women to the tower’s top floor. In the chaos of the battle, the enemy’s peep bikes were set aflame along with their drivers, but the tower also suffered irreparable damage when an ammunition box exploded inside. At the end, Ogayori Denji cut his way out of the collapsing tower with a katana in his hand, only to be the only survivor of the bloody clash. With this, the Ogayori Clan had sent a powerful message to the Highwaymen - at least, for now.
(Ryūgū-jō: +22 Grub, -155 Junk, +62 Guzz, -1 Plush, -14 Proles, +20 Jacks, +1 Heatcatcher, -1 Sentry tower)
(Ogayori Clan: -1 Notoriety, -1 Glory, +3 “Yari Ashigaru” Trike Cavalry)

Clan Head’s challenge:Yacht wharf
Slowly but surely, the komin craftsmen of Ryūgū-jō started to work under the supervision of the nobles and intellectuals to develop a long-lost art of boatbuilding. (Investment: Expertise: 12/40, Finesse: 4/5, Award: new structure available only to Ogayori Clan in the Building list, +1 Glory)

Monolith of Sarkic
The mad preachings of the Salvation Radio were heard in the transceivers of the few radio enthusiasts across Icerust, drawing many people’s attention to the rising star of the Monolith of Sarkic. While the Salvation Radio worked night and day to spread the Sarkic faith, the Cathedral was a hive of activity as a new biofuel plant was built on top of the dirty gutter connected with the Initiates’ Quarter. Hundreds of zand acolytes and orin initiates were dispatched acoss Still Mill, hunting and gathering for food, salvaging plentiful metal, and pumping gasoline from recovered ancient vehicles and gas stops. This influx of materials was welcomed at home, as the Monolith’s car shoppe was busy tinkering with a new vehicle design produced by Maxwell’s trusted lieutenant, the fanatical and guileful Karcist Kane. Named “Zealot,” his new interceptor vehicle was a well-powered, light-framed buggy armed with a massive armor-piercing rifle and carrying a team of semaphore signaller and kite observer, both trained at the local signal tower. Not to delay the sect’s expansion any more, the Sarkic mechanics churned out two “Zealots” by the end of the month, joining them with properly restored vehicles captured the previous month from the attacking Iron Rangers.
(The Cathedral: +16 Grub, +516 Junk, +92 Guzz, -4 Plush, -14 Proles, +6 Jacks, +1 Waste kitchen)
(Monolith of Sarkic: +1 Design (“Zealot” Militant Interceptor w/ Mounted .50 BMG), +2 “Zealot” Militant Interceptors w/ Mounted .50 BMG, +1 Commander (Karcist Kane (Ruse: 3, Tactics: -2, Spirit: 3))

Grand Karcist’s challenge: Flesh temple
Slowly but surely, the architectural blueprint of the future flesh temples was coming along, as the Sakic engineers worked on it in their spare time between prayers.
(Investment: Expertise: 4/40, Finesse: 5/5, Award: new structure available only to Monolith Of Sarkic in the Building list, +1 Glory)

Mikeland
Mikeland continued to be the land of plenty, especially personally for King Mike. Ever an engineer, he ideated (and then wisely delegated to his royal engineers) the construction of two fungus-growing protein pools, overlooked by a sentry tower. The kingdom’s indentured servants, meanwhile, continued scanning the cracks of the Singing Ice glacier for squashed remnants of ancient housing and cars (they found plenty, and even syphoned some gasoline out of an underground tank of an old gas station). Hunting also continued unopposed, as the snow bisons apparently frequented the glacier as a migration route. This, of course, only attracted ever more souls that looked to join Mike’s realm - not only drawn by his crown’s rising authority, but also just joining due to Mikeland’s strong, feudal tradition. Yet, the biggest developments took place not in Popsicle Junction itself, but outside, as Captain Molly Clever and Unlucky Larry both took their buggy teams to explore the northeast and south of Mikeland’s grand capital. Larry had the easier part of the job, driving two buggies along the narrow, but relatively untouched Highway 31 and a snowed-over rural road cutting through the shrubland. This trip took him to a recently abandoned and blown-up wooden fort, constructed in the early days of the Long Winter by a Luddite cult on top of the ruins of a quaint farming village. Molly’s expedition, however, had to chop its way through one of the few still standing coniferous woods, nested in a warm highland between several glaciers and lacking any, even the most primitive trails. Molly’s feat of cross-country driving and mapping was rewarded by a discovery of a well-preserved abandoned family resort, crisscrossed with what used to be skiing lanes.
(Popsicle Junction: -300 Grub, +72 Junk, +167 Guzz, +1 Plush, +113 Proles, +2 Protein pools, +1 Sentry tower)
(Mikeland: +1 Glory, Highways discovered: The Thicket (Expanse: 380, Openness: 10, Perils: 100), Straight-n-Thirty One (Expanse: 100, Openness: 360, Perils: 200), Sites discovered: Crystal Mountain (Population Growth: 2, Fertility: 1, Deposit: 3, Fossils: 2, Protection: 2, no anomaly), Free Soil (Population Growth: 2, Fertility: 3, Deposit: 2, Fossils: 0, Protection: 4, no anomaly))

King’s challenge: Mike’s statue (Completed)
Princess Molly’s and Unlucky Larry’s discoveries were commemorated by King Mike with a statue of himself. With great pompe, it was revealed to the crowd that cheered in furor and excitement under the aim of Captain Molly’s shotgun soldiers. (Investment: Labor 100/100, Expertise: 2/2, Finesse: 4/4, Award: +1d2 Plush (10% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

King’s challenge: Tramp market
Some of Mike’s indentured servants are just not hard-working fellows. That’s as much as King Mike himself intimated to Unlucky Larry during another game of poker, before walking off and heading for his trailer palace. The following morning, Larry was summoned to the King’s throne booth and told that Mike would like him to consider selling some of these lazy hands to any passing merchant that’d pay. Thus, the idea of Mikeland’s tramp market was born. The question, however, remained, if the idea would ever take off. (Investment: Labor: 0/180 Labor, Expertise: 0/4, Finesse: 0/4, Award: -1d10 Proles, +1d10 Grub, +1d10 Junk, +1d10 Guzz, +1d4 Plush (5% chance/turn), +1 Glory (one-time gain))

The Republic of Sinclair
After the political and humanitarian disaster of the previous month, “Never Again” was Eugenia St. Clair’s motto in the first days of the short, cool Icerust summer. In order to prevent future famintes, yet another protein pool was built, and the food waste was reduced with the introduction of a pickling facility and a biofuel plant (alas, this didn’t give the city of Sinclair a particularly pleasant smell). Hundreds of refugees were attracted to the Republic with this display of positivity and can-do attitude, and public works were organized immediately, dispatching these new citizens to hunt the ruins of Old Cleveland for stray animals and salvage some scrap metal. The Republic’s quick rebound contrasted rather dramatically with the sad fate of the exodites of the previous month, who, according to the rumors, were ambushed by a Highwaymen gang somewhere outside the city’s limits and possibly revealed some vague information about the Republic’s growing capital.
(Sinclair: +15 Grub, -180 Junk, -30 Guzz, -4 Plush, +200 Proles, +1 Protein pool, +1 Food sizzler, +1 Waste kitchen)
(The Republic of Sinclair: +1 Notoriety, -2 Glory)

Captain-Defender’s challenge: Republican Watch
Looking to recover her shaken popularity after the last month’s crisis, Captain-Defender St. Claire tasked several Republican clerks and statesmen with starting the organizational part of the Republican Watch institution. (Investment: Labor: 0/120, Expertise: 7/10, Finesse: 2/5, Award: +2 Glory (one-time gain), +1 Notoriety (one-time gain))

Map:

Spoiler :

GM's notes:

• The stats are up to date
• The map is published
• The next set of orders is due next Friday, 11/13

 

Salvation Radio
​

Blessings of the Geometer upon you, brothers and sisters! Salvation Radio here - bringing you the light and truth of the true faith, now and forever. I am your host zend Duncan, reaching out today's absolutely marvelous news to all of you out there: We're coming! That's right, gentle flock, I've received word from the holy Grand Karcist himself that the benevolent and loving Monolith are sending their very own out, risking their own lives as they abandon the safeties and comforts of the greatest settlement in the frostlands, to save all of you!

So hang on, folks! We're out there - and God is on our side!

 

Mommaz Boyz Orders for Turn 7

Candyheart Grove:

We will be building a roadhub at ShadyGrove this turn. The site will be called "Candyheart Grove".
Seven 'puffy paws', led by Fireman Pierce, will transport: 3 jacks, 300 proles, 347 grub, and 50 guzz ShadyGrove. We will use 2 glory to 'find' 400 junk at the site. We will use 297 of the grub to attract 99 proles to the new site. The ultimate goal is to have a new roadhub at ShadyGrove with 399 proles and 3 jacks.

If our forces are ambushed on the way to ShadyGrove and the plan becomes impossible, do not spend the glory.

Glory:

• Spend 2 glory to 'find' 400 junk at Shady Grove (only if we manage to get our people and materials there successfully)

Buildings and Vehicles:

• Build a forge at Ruins of Five Seasons (-100 junk, -20 guzz, 80 labor, 1 expertise)
• Build a roadhub at Shady Grove (-50 grub, -400 junk from glory, -50 guzz, 300 labor relocated to site)

Resource Gathering:

• 338 labor on grub
• 43 labor on guzz
• Make 9 plush with 9 expertise and 90 food.

Recruit:

• Recruit 99 proles to Shady Grove with 297 food transported there.
• Recruit 50 proles to Ruins of Five Seasons with 150 food.
• Promote one clout with 20 food and 5 plush.
• Promote 9 jacks with 180 food (Candy Stripers (drug addict followers, all female) to help Candyman in his confectionary).
• Recruit 1 commander with 1 finesse. "Electric Auntie Sam" is a favorite of Candyman, leader of his Candy Stripers, and dependent to his chemistry if not loyal to his person. She is a giant, over 6'3" and bears extensive scars, poorly executed collagen implanted lips, and the expressionless profile of someone who has had too much botox, all courtesy of Candyman's crude and amateur attempts at plastic surgery. Ruse 3. Tactics -2. Spirit 2.

Quest:

• Spend 20 labor and 2 finesse on finishing 'Barter with the Ferals'
• Spend 20 labor and 2 expertise on 'Mommaz Boyz no more'. Our faction shall be called "Candy Land" and the Crib will be renamed "the Frosted Palace"

Combat Tactics

• No changes.

Vehicle Design

• None.

Exploration and Deployments

• John the Fisherman will take a single Puffy Paws and attempt to scout east and try to beat our bad odds; he's been luckier than most; lets keep being lucky...
• Fireman Pierce will lead 7 Puffy Paws and the load outlined above to Shady Grove to set up a roadhub there.

Next quest idea:

How about Kennels? I'd like uncle K9 and john the fisherman to work together to outlaw eating dog except in an emergency and for Candyland to set up Kennels... kennels provide puppies.... puppies would be a .5 small arm so u can hold a leash while holding a handgun but not a rifle. Would provide traverse ... 'cause they sniff out ambushes etc..