Session 10

← Previous Session — All Sessions — Next Session →

The Journey Continues: En Route to New Texas (2024-10-11)

Setting & Atmosphere

• The team — Mia, Det, and Siz — remains aboard the continental train, continuing their journey to Summer Springs, New Texas.
• The landscape has changed from the more humid climate of Bhoover to steppe and half-desert, with rivers, farmland, and small villages visible outside the window.
• The train makes occasional stops at larger settlements, where it loads and unloads cargo, taking between 10 and 30 minutes at each station.

Main Events

Research & Preparations

• Mia continues researching their employer, looking for connections between Den and Charles but finding little concrete information.
• Det reviews local information, switching between case files and potential mining job opportunities for the future.
• Siz disappears into the bathroom to change into more climate-appropriate attire.

 - She emerges wearing leather pants, a loose shirt, and a wide-brimmed hat with ear holes.
 - While the outfit would be intimidating on a taller person, on Siz it is more adorable than menacing.
 - She carries prepared toxin vials for her needle pistol.

Ticket Inspection

• A train conductor in an overly decorated uniform arrives to check tickets.
• Each of them presents their digital vouchers, and the conductor moves on without incident.
• Det remarks on the size of the train’s passenger section, noting that her home’s transport was far more cramped.

Meal Run & Conversation

• The team realizes they are getting hungry and check the included meal options:

 - Poultry with rice
 - A rich stew
 - A vegan dish with almond milk

• Mia volunteers to retrieve the meals and asks if anyone wants anything extra.

 - She orders stew for herself and Det.
 - Siz chooses the poultry with rice.
 - They also request drinks—a malt soda for Siz and root beer for Det.

• Siz and Det discuss their backgrounds while Mia heads to the food cart:

 - Siz explains how her interest in mycology and brewing evolved from the need to improve food quality on breeder planets.
 - Det describes the utilitarian lifestyle of her mining colony, where food was primarily nutrient pastes or freeze-dried meals.
 - Both discuss how different cultures handle space and resource limitations.

Encounters in the Food Cart

• The train interior is spacious, allowing for two large passengers to pass each other comfortably.
• Mia notices two wanted posters on the kitchen wall—black and white, printed on tablet-like screens rather than traditional paper.

 - Neither of the names or faces seem familiar to her.

• She purchases extra chocolate bars for the group, ensuring they have snacks for later.

A Suspicious Encounter

• On her way back, Mia briefly feels watched.
• A leather-clad figure inside a half-open cabin door winks at her and makes finger guns.

 - His face immediately registers as familiar—someone she previously saw in Den’s bar.
 - Mia glares at him, giving a clear message of disinterest.
 - He chuckles deeply, responding with an amused "Gotcha" and a smirk.
 - As Mia walks past, more giggling is heard from inside the elf’s cabin.

Next Steps

• Return to the cabin and distribute food to the others.
• Discuss the wanted posters—who are they, and should they be concerned?
• Assess the strange elf’s presence—was he following them, or is it coincidence?
• Prepare for arrival in Summer Springs and decide their next move.

Current Status & Unresolved Questions

• Who is the elf, and why does he seem amused by Mia’s reaction?
• Are the wanted posters connected to their mission, or just unrelated bounties?
• Will their arrival in Summer Springs be smooth, or will they encounter resistance?
• How soon can they begin investigating Magrete’s disappearance?