ND Cragsand S3E8: Daring Expedition

:Return to character article: Sten Berglund
==Season 3: Neon Divide==
===Episode 8: Daring Expedition===
====Work and trade====
It's top of the morning and the shop is empty. Looking for his employees outside Torok, Zes and Willie are talking. The big tortoise has run out of his "medicine", in other words the drugs he takes to avoid his painful memories. Going into the city after all the commotion sounds risky. 
Over the Trident terminals a message is broadcast globally from Conrad Ludovic. One of the high and mighty's of Trident Corporation. He goes on about taking personal risk in order to ensure safety in the city and some humanitarian effort, whatever that actually means. He asks to recruit more security guards to keep everyone safe, a bunch of corporate bullshit more like.
Cactus Charles returns to pickup his Shometsu firearms, all of them, intending to hand them out instead of disassembling. 
Savire's cartridges to deliver toxins in regular shell are complete but Sten tells her that she will have to test them, as they'll be fired as quite a high velocity and might turn out to be more deadlier than intended. After trying them out they seem to satisfy her. 
Verren returns to pick up the weapons he stored and tells of the undercity being really tense and his bar getting trashed. Any visit for drinks will have to be put on hold for repairs.
"Green" Gus has acquired a substantial amount of credits and purchases a Sniper Rifle, not even needing a payment plan. Having issues in the undercity his project to provide a new network for scrap town has been halted. 
:+135,000 credits
:-Sniper Rifle and ammo
Fee-Bee got the Sniper Rifle that was lent out returned and work orders for 2 kevlar vests. Councilman Hadwyn seeing the Rifle returned purchases the last remaining one.
:+100,000 credits
:-Sniper Rifle and ammo
A stranger with a hat introduces himself as Gary. Having slept at a dumpster overnight he was rescued by Henderson and Ima, having been strapped to a bomb by the volcano yesterday. Looking to arm himself and make his way back to his wasteland tribe he lacks any credits to his name. Sten agrees to lend him a bat that he can keep if he can manage to bring back something valuable like two pieces of scrap, iron or nitrolium and offers to pay for any surplus. Planning to head out in a bit he could ride along halfway on the next caravan. He manages to find 2 pieces of nitrolium to pay off his debt.
:-Barbed bat
:+2 Nitrolium
Phineas trade of the day is a cup of melted cheese or boiled pizza. Yuk, he really shouldn't ever trade in anything you put in your mouth... 
Proteus returns to pick up the special gun repair and with an extremely generous tip from this "Trigger".
:+40,000 credits
Reeza informs that she plans a trip past Bramble Canyon today in about an hour and asks to borrow a firearm so she can do some damage at a range. Trusting Reeza completely Sten lends out a shotgun free of charge. Not heading out on an empty stomach Sten goes to get breakfast. At the restaurant are all the damaged synths accompanying Maya and Midge - Sunshine, Care and Re-con.
:-400 credits food
====Synthetic problems====
As he's finishing his food one of the damaged synths starts making coughing noises and malfunctioning. Gathering a crowd after completing his food one after another start going haywire. Recon starts making noises, throwing sparks and announces that their battery is malfunctioning and for everyone to keep their distance. Taking cover Sten watches Recon all but blow up leaving a pile of parts. Unsure what to do, he tells Maya to find Mr Prowler, the roboticist and asks Midge if there is anything he can do. 
Midge busy, the red one starts going mad. Care charginges people at random and jumps Sten, smashing him with a hard hit and bringing him to the ground. Herk and Midge together overpowers Care holding them down. Crawling away, medical arrives and Juno and Yuna help carry Sten to the hospital to get checked out. One closer examination it seems like a broken rib that should heal in time with enough rest. Wishing to continue for the day and not miss the expedition Sten insists on paying for a painkiller. Yuno asks if he's allergic to cactus and offers an injection of something. Glad to keep going Sten pays for the painkillers and is offered more later if he needs.
:-5,000 credits
Prowler investigating the cause for the various synths malfunctioning, checks them one by one for any viruses. Asking if he can help in someway, Prowler tells him to keep any wireless connections or synths far away from the undercity. Luckily both Anna and Toolbox get cleared. Fee-Bee thinks her Astral firewalls will keep her safe. Offering reassurance, she tells that if she did turn into a murder robot she'd be so quick that nobody would even notice. That's no comfort at all. In other news she retrieved nitrolium and made more kevlar for armor and sold a revolver. 
:-Nitrolium
:+3 Kevlar
:-Revolver 
:+20,000 credits
Maxie got a stomach bug of sorts after eating mystery meat fed to him by Sheila and is at the hospital so won't be able to make the orders yet. Sten checking in on him is met by the cactus cousins tell that hes fine but needing to rest to recover. After recovering he completes two sets of armor and sells them.
:-4 Kevlar
:-4 Scrap metal for 2 Iron for 2 Steel
:-2 Carbon
Stellar thanks Sten for the knife he borrowed but unfortunately lost it. Instead of returning it he hands over a flare gun that seems broken but repairable and offers his services for something he can do - enchant weapons. Now this sounds like something useful so Sten asks him what he could do with a crowbar. Either enhancing it's durability, make it resistant to plasma weapons or light it on fire at will. What he would need for it would be fire crystals and "puffballs" or other plant based materials to research. Other options would be an obsidian dagger sharp enough to cut through crab armor. Lacking any such materials Sten shows him a piece of Vulcanium to study. If some metal container could be built for it he might be able to use it for something.
:+1 Flare gun to repair
Some pillbugs trading various things, not accepting credits they want "boom booms" in exchange, meaning guns. Declining any trade Sten later learns from Stellar that one of their things was an actual "puffball". Unfortunately that opportunity was missed. 
Updating Willie on the situation with the broken synths, they all managed to find "medicine" for Torok but none have seen Maya. Her being close to the synths they all hope she's alright. Midge later reports that she had to put them all back in the graveyard where she found them. A sad day.
====Expedition held up====
A mercenary from the Wyverns speaks to Reeza about reimbursement for scheduling expeditions but not attending. They're after titanium and carbon, who would have guessed! Gathering interested for the expedition Toroks tells of Zes supposedly taking control of a sand flea. Using magic she commanded it to dig up and find scrap beneath the sands. The little red dragon seems to have a lot of hidden cards up her sleeve. Jeremy is tagging along and shows a GU Rifle he got from Horizon, before he died.
Reminded by that, before heading out Sten uses the two credit chips he has to divide all his funds into 1/4 and 3/4 and leaves the majority behind for the store in a drawer in his apartment. In the unfortunate situation that he doesn't make it back, anyone searching through his home - most likely the council - would find he left it behind.
As a runner who recently hired a vehicle intends to head out at the same time as the expedition but they get interrupted. From gunshots fired at the gates another bandit raid attacks. Sten rushes to the gate and sees two hostile vehicles firing wildly, clearly trying to rile up and bait the locals to go outside. Shouting that the towns under attack and to stay inside the walls, more gather at the gates. 
Circling for a moment they eventually retreat. Sten tells the runner that was heading out that it would be a death penalty and whoever they hired the vehicle from might not appreciate it. Set in their ways he opens the gate regardless but has to close it again. The bandits are back. 
Forming a siege, Hendersson calls for Hadwyn who with his new sniper rifle starts picking them off at a distance. Stens fine handywork put to good use. The raiders eventually tire and abandon it.
====Trip to the volcano====
Heading out in two vehicles are Sten and Reeza up front. Willie, Torok, Zes, Ima, Jeremy and Silas. Followed by Henderson and Savire in another truck.
Passing by and dodging both a sandworm and a giant crab they make it without issues to Bramble canyon. Outside by the vines there is a "family" of giant scorpions and smaller sand fleas. Careful not to startle them they slowly circle around and away. 
Henderson starts sawing and Torok biting through the vines. The large scorpion circles around as everyone move the vehicles into the canyon. In good luck Sheila and Stellar arrives, riding "Crabby", kitted out with full armor. Scaring off the "family" they all go inside. 
Going through narrow passages they encounter some spiritual things Sten doesn't understand but go by mostly without issue, gathering Carbon, Iron and more Titanium. Finding a large red plant with some crystal inside, Sten is curious but decides not to touch it. 
Coming out the other end is an abandoned dig-site with a huge digging machine. It fits the stories retold from the expedition that went here last year. Aside from some dried up skeletons there's no danger. The path already cleared they pass through some glassy sand flats with obsidian walls on the edges. Coming up to facility sporting Valkyrie logos the caravan gathers before heading in and leaves some behind to guard their flanks and raise alarm over the radio if they get discovered. Henderson notices that the facility is still active and tells everyone to cover their faces to conceal their identity in case there are any cameras. Sten covers his face with a cloth and goggles. The volcano is intimidating with running lava down below. Not daring to touch the lift in case of alarms they create a buddy system to not go alone and head down into the volcano from a ramp. Some large red crystals look valuable but Reeza stops them from touching them. Jeremy tells how he got magically trapped in one of them last year and best not to repeat that. The group gathers lots of Titanium and Carbon for a bit but to avoid conflict they head back. 
During the banter on the way Sten learns some history about Torok's race, the "galapians". Being a warring race he's seen unspeakable horrors and while speaking so casually about some, it's undoubtedly those that pain him when he remembers them. It makes sense he dulls them with drugs.
On their way back at the digsite they get ambushed by scorpions and sand fleas. Crabby is on the case and with Sheila riding him. Wrestling the large one he manages to scare it off. Sten trying to stay in the truck sticks his rifle out of the window and fires, hitting some sand fleas. Escaping unharmed Sten helps load up 4 of the small ones to bring back for meat. Crabby taking some hits seem to be fine, if anyone can heal him it would be Sheila.
====Counting the goods====
Returning to Scrap Town Henderson claims ownership of all spoils and begins to divide out the payment. There are some sour faces but all agree though some seem to stash things secretly. Sten says that he'd rather accept pay in materials and accepts Titanium for the shop instead.
:+2 Titanium
In town Sten finally meets this "Corn" or Cornelius, aka "Hot Stuff" whom Torok speaks so highly of. Wearing a leisure shirt, his trademarked "Corn" footwear and shorts he would look like any other tourists if he wasn't a giant red dragon. Seeming friendly enough Sten heads to Hendersson to trade more materials. The representative from the Wyverns is back, but no longer requires Titanium, annoying Hendersson and he gives them a bad price. Once they leave however Hendersson gives Sten a much better deal. Having seen good capital he buys as much as he's willing to part with. 
:+3 Scrap 
:+2 Carbon
:-15,000
:+3 Titanium
:-30,000
Fee-Bee shows off her completed pneumatic rifle, something that doesn't make as much noise as the other rifles. Commending her on the good work she has already added the blueprints to the workbench. Willie tells he kept 2 pieces of Carbon in his backback that he completely forgot before. Not one to cause a problem, Sten tells him he won't tell Henderson. Willie has plans to make some sort of turret to mount on Toroks shell, something for him to hit enemies on a range. Pulling their weight together Sten offers to help Willie and Fee-Bee if they need.
:+2 Carbon 
Maya returns in a very sad mood. Sten asks her if she has anything she wishes to sell, as he is buying and offers his condolences on losing all her synth friends. Midge the only one remaining, intends to leave to the Undercity to investigate what happened. Willie digging through his stuff has a gift for her, some boxes of spare ammo. Mighty kind of him. Fee-Bee offers her the couch to stay overnight if she's feeling alone but she declines.
Ima asks for a tech part and Sten sells it for 2,000. Appreciating the generosity he informs that its worth a lot more on the market nowadays, going for upwards to 15,000 credits. He also asks for a piece of Toroks shell... strangely agreeing Willie uses his saw to cut off a bit of the giant tortoise mobile home. Asking what Ima needs these parts for, he just says; you'll see tomorrow.
:-1 Low Tech part
:+2000 credits
Resuming construction on the watch tower Sten finds Stellar speaking to a talking cat up there. Confused by the talking cat at first, it responds that it'll try to make it less weird and turns into a person. In human-ish form she turns out to be Friend who Sten met shortly last year. Completing mounting 3 large plates of scrap Sten encounters a family of lizards and attempts to communicate with them. Asking if they're looking for Sheila or someone they seem sentient enough to respond no. At the mention of food and meat they seem to peak up and Sten directs them to the remains of some crabs left over by the truck from the expedition. 
Thinking to himself; "No good deed goes unpunished"... uh no. That's not how the saying went, how did it go? "Every good deed adds up in the end when you face eternal judgement", some religious folk would say. Close enough, eh? Sten ponders as he retires for the evening.
:Next Episode: S3E9: New Trades
==Inventory==
Inventory tracker after episode....
==Store inventory==
Store inventory tracker after episode....
==Links==
*Twitch VOD: Neon Divide Season 3 Episode 8: Daring Expedition 
*YouTube VOD: Neon Divide S3 E8: Daring Expedition
===Twitch Clips===
*Maya runs to Prowler for help
*Sunshine breaks
*Recon breaks
*Care breaks
*Fee-Bee is sweet to Maya, after losing her synth friends
==Gallery==
ND Crag S3E8 01 Willie Torok Maya.png
ND Crag S3E8 02 Maya SMG.png
ND Crag S3E8 03 Care.png
ND Crag S3E8 04 Care.png
ND Crag S3E8 07 Sunshine Malfunctioning.png
ND Crag S3E8 08 Yuna.png
ND Crag S3E8 10 Juno painkiller injection.png
ND Crag S3E8 11 Juno painkiller injection.png
ND Crag S3E8 12 Stellar.png
ND Crag S3E8 12 Toolbox under repairs.png
ND Crag S3E8 13 Pillbugs puffball.png
ND Crag S3E8 14 Verren.png
ND Crag S3E8 15 Gustavo purchasing sniper.png
ND Crag S3E8 16 Olm and Reeza.png
ND Crag S3E8 17 Olm Makker.png
ND Crag S3E8 18 Sten Willie Gary.png
ND Crag S3E8 19 Sten Kuiper.png
ND Crag S3E8 20 Kuiper.png
ND Crag S3E8 21 Kuiper.png
ND Crag S3E8 22 Midge shirt.png
ND Crag S3E8 23 Sten Hendersson Tork Vines Bramble Canyon.png
ND Crag S3E8 24 Sten Crabby Bramble Canyon.png
ND Crag S3E8 25 Sten Bramble Canyon Plant Crystal.png
ND Crag S3E8 26 Bramble Canyon digsite Silaas Willie corpses Sten.png
ND Crag S3E8 26 Sheila Crabby Jeremy 2.png
ND Crag S3E8 26 Sheila Crabby Jeremy.png
ND Crag S3E8 27 Sten Willie digsite.png
ND Crag S3E8 28 Valkyrie volcano facility.png
ND Crag S3E8 29 Volcano Titanium Hendersson.png
ND Crag S3E8 30 Volcano Sten Reeza.png
ND Crag S3E8 31 Sten Volcano Titanium.png
ND Crag S3E8 32 Sten Reeza Volcano Crystal.png
ND Crag S3E8 33 Sten volcano caravan.png
ND Crag S3E8 34 Volcano expedition Jeremy Zes Torok Sheila Willie Crabby.png
ND Crag S3E8 35 Volcano expedition Sten Silas Willie Jeremy Zes Crabby.png
ND Crag S3E8 36 Volcano expedition Crabby Stellar.png
ND Crag S3E8 37 Volcano expedition Sten Silas Willie Ima Torok Zes.png
ND Crag S3E8 38 Volcano expedition Silas Willie Ima Torok Zes.png
ND Crag S3E8 39 Sten volcano obsidian path.png
ND Crag S3E8 40 Sten Reeza Hendersson.png
ND Crag S3E8 41 Bramble Digsite Sand fleas attack Crabby Savire.png
ND Crag S3E8 42 Bramble digsite sand fleas attack Hendersson Ima.png
ND Crag S3E8 43 Bramble digsite sand fleas attack Hendersson Ima.png
ND Crag S3E8 44 Bramble digsite Sten Torok sand flea.png
ND Crag S3E8 45 Bramble canyon digsite.png
ND Crag S3E8 46 Bramble canyon digsite 2.png
ND Crag S3E8 46 Bramble canyon digsite.png
ND Crag S3E8 47 Bramble Canyon carbon.png
ND Crag S3E8 48 Torok Zes Cornelius.png
ND Crag S3E8 50 Cornelius.png
ND Crag S3E8 51 Corneliu.png
ND Crag S3E8 52 Reeza Shotgun.png
ND Crag S3E8 53 Sten Reeza expedition haul.png
ND Crag S3E8 54 Jeremy carbon.png
ND Crag S3E8 55 Sten Hendersson Olm.png
ND Crag S3E8 56 Sten Stellar Friend cat form.png
ND Crag S3E8 57 Stellar.png
ND Crag S3E8 58 Sten Stellar Friend human form.png
ND Crag S3E8 59 Sten and lizards.png
ND Crag S3E8 60 Sten sad Maya Norbert Fee-Bee.png
ND Crag S3E8 61 Willie Torok.png
ND Crag S3E8 62 Willie sawing Toroks Shell Ima Sten.png
ND Crag S3E8 63 Willie sawing Toroks Shell Ima Sten.png
ND Crag S3E8 64 Willie sawing Toroks Shell Ima Sten.png
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Category:Neon Divide Cragsand Episodes