Slatepocalypse: Unlocked Arcanum

Back at the Reservoir, Tommy was taking a quick break before lunch. He wanted to follow up on the things he discussed with Doc Redmond. The only way to do that was to ask Skipper. He needed to avoid Jerry during his investigation. After discussing it with the doc, Tommy believes someone is lying. The problem with asking Skipper is he hasn’t been around the last couple of days. Jerry comes out of his office giving orders to the scavengers and the meetings they used to hold about the state of this encampment have just stopped. They used to give out assignments in those meetings to make sure everyone was working toward their collective survival.

As Tommy passed through the internal gate that separated the no phones from those with access to their slates, he noticed several more scavengers wearing those new uniforms. They all had a new symbol sewn into them of a flaming pitchfork. Once he noticed it on one of the men, he began to see that iconography all over the building. There were spray painted walls and even the numbers on the doors had small pitchforks hand drawn beside them.

The interior walls were standard poured concrete like you’d find in any other government building. The doors were basic lacquered wood with brass doorknobs. Typically, Skipper could be found upstairs in the old foreman’s office. It was more humid inside the building due to the fact that the first floor was primarily the cistern that held the water. All the offices and converted living quarters circled the massive purification system. Tommy passed by an open door where he spotted Cynthia Redmond sewing away at a table.

“Hey Cynthia, have you seen Skipper?” asked Tommy hopefully.

“Not since the last meeting. He’s got me pumping out these god-awful padded uniforms for the guards. Put that down honey, mommy will play with you a little later. How are things going outside?” asked a distracted Cynthia with two needles hanging from her lips.

“Not bad. I’ve got most of the reinforced with wooden crossbeams. Seems like over kill to me. Good thing is my wood carving skill hit level three. Everything looks more standardized now,” preened Tommy.

“We really need to find someone with a teacher class. These children need to be in school,” joked Cynthia knowing full well everyone was just focused on survival right now.

“I know what you mean. Some of the no phone kids outside do nothing but run around causing mischief all day. On a side note, have you heard anything about missing…” Tommy trailed off as an unfamiliar golden notification bloomed in his vision.

World Notice- The first safe zone has been erected in the small hamlet of Leaf’s Bend, NJ. Congratulations to CJ Thompson for accomplishing this task months ahead of expectations. A safe zone repels corrupted mana and keeps mana mutations at bay. The first Quest Pillar has been installed at Leaf’s Bend. Through this you will receive additional ways to gain levels and grow your personal power. Keep fighting to make the world safe for those who will return in nine years and ten months’ time.

“Did you just…” mumbled Cynthia as a loud crash came from deeper within the facility.

“What the hell was that?” asked Tommy as multiple people ran down the hall past him in the direction of the foreman’s office.

Tommy joined the parade of people heading in that direction. He was brought up short when a crowd standing was just standing around the open door to the foreman’s office. Tommy couldn’t see into the door, but he could definitely hear what was being said.

“You told me that giant cicadas ate our best runner. You told me he was dead and now I have a slate notification with the name of a known no phone not only very much alive but completing a task I’ve been failing at for ten days. Find him. I want that safe zone under our influence. CJ still owes me. Lean on him until he lets us take control of the territory. I’ll be staying here now get out,” yelled an irate Skipper.

“You got it boss. Leave it to me,” replied a terrified Jerry as the door to the office slammed shut in his face.

Jerry’s face looked like it was covered in suit. His hair was sticking up in the front and his new uniform was singed around the shoulders. He turned to the gathered people and pushed the thug nearest to him to give him space.

“Kowalski! Get you big ass over here. Find me a map of the area. The no phone was on foot and couldn’t have gotten far. Meanwhile, does anyone know where the fuck Leaf’s Bend is? Never heard of these bullshit little burgs,” barked Jerry as the biggest of Skippers goons sidled up to him.

It looked to Tommy like Kowalski came up empty handed. Tommy has had several conversations with the big man in the past. He’s a nice enough guy but his mental capacity peaked in high school. Tommy needed to find Redmond. CJ was alive and in a safe zone. Tommy’s loyalties waivered. CJ saved his life numerous times, but Skipper offered safety in an increasingly dangerous world. Tommy didn’t like the idea of CJ being out there all alone but what could he do? He wasn’t a fighter. Who knew how many monsters were between him and CJ right now? That made Tommy consider how CJ had survived on his own long enough to… Monty!

CJ approached the gleaming crystalline pillar. He looked down at Monty before touching it. The bunny looked like he wanted to say something but then the rabbit looked away.

“What is it, Monty? You’re acting kind of strange,” asked CJ.

“Things are going to get harder from now on. The quests these pillars give out will be dangerous. I think we’ll need more than the Trinchar’s to manage them. No offense but, you don’t really have a way to fight back. Don’t get me wrong, we should take the quests, but it would be better if you could finish your first one and train with you know who. My opinion,” answered Monty with his ears down while wringing his front paws.

“I’m not a fighter Monty. We both know that. Most of the time you’ve been incredibly happy to do the butt kicking for me. We’re a team. Just look at the things we’ve been able to do together already,” said CJ softly while kneeling down so Monty didn’t have to look up at him.

CJ had never known Monty to be so overly concerned about him. Maybe it was because their bond was growing now that he had access to his slate. He didn’t know. Life or death situations were just part of his day to day since the apocalypse began. What did it say about CJ that he was acclimating so quickly?

“Did you say training? I’d be more than happy to teach you how to shoot CJ. In fact, I owe you at least that much for everything you’ve done for us,” commented Rubio as he walked up to the pillar.

“I may take you up on that offer. A lot of my spells and abilities are consume my mana. If I run out, I’ll have to rely on something else. Lord knows there are plenty of guns in this country. If that’s settled. Let’s check out this pillar,” replied CJ before putting his hand flat to the crystal.

Pending Quests

Cicada Matriarch- Eliminate the Cicada Matriarch before the beginning of summer or the Pine Barrens will be overrun. Rewards: Class Ability, Rare. Accept Y/N

Winged Serpent- Reclaim the town of Bass River Township from the winged serpent. Rewards: access to a Mystical Foundry. Accept Y/N

Clear the Atlantic City Dungeon- There is a corrupted City Dungeon located at Atlantic City. Rewards: Variable depending upon performance. Accept Y/N

Clear the Newark Airport Dungeon- There is a corrupted Town Dungeon located at Newark Airport. Rewards: Johnny’s Appleseed. Accept Y/N

Defend Leaf’s Bend- There is a group of marauders intent on taking Leaf’s Bend for their own. Defend the safe zone to maintain control. Rewards: Control of the safe zone, various gear, Active Party skill book. Accept Y/N

“Damn it. This is exactly what I was afraid of,” said CJ.

“Well, what did it say?” asked Rubio before putting his own hand on the pillar.

CJ shared the prompts with both Monty and Elena while Rubio read them directly from the pillar. Rubio took his hand off the pillar before running his hand through his salt and pepper hair. He then looked for the tallest building that wasn’t a burnt out husk.

“I didn’t know you could share notifications. You have to teach me how to do that,” Elena said to CJ while she was still reading.

“I’m going to get a bird’s eye view. Hollar if you need me for something,” Rubio called out as he jogged toward the churches bell tower on the east side of town.

CJ thought that was a brilliant choice since the bell tower overlooks the highway overpass. As this is one of the towns that most people just drive over, he’d get a great view of anyone using the roads.

“Didn’t you already complain about people invading here?” Monty asked confused.

“Not that, we’re going to have to go home and fight that damn flying snake,” answered CJ.