CR Cragsand S2E25: Invasion from two fronts

===Chapter 25: Invasion from two fronts===
====Calm before the firestorm====
Exhausted after having worked in the smithy all through the night Sten has to snap out of it to stay awake. The giant turtle reflexively banging on the anvil while snoring, Sten has to clap his hands repeatedly to wake Torok, having pulled two allnighters in a row.
In the distance a large rumble and smoke comes from the volcano, marking how grim things are looking. Fitting the armor Reeza ordered on her, she appreciates the quick work. Willie walking in is updated about the situation of the alien invaders and the town teaming up with Quixote for support. Sten shows him that he can now craft Galactic Union Rifles, hands over hid first craft to Willie and asks him to start working on making incendiary ammunition, seeing as that may be effective against the invaders. Willie shows a thing he's been working on himself, a scrap sawblade that can be used to cut up pieces easier as well as possibly a weapon. Worrying about where the aliens might hit Torok suddenly drops some random wise words of battle strategy from his memory to target main settlements first then falls asleep again.
Charles, the big orc asks how the town is doing. With no news Sten asks if he heard about and knows any other news about the supposed aliens in orbit. Charles gives contrary info from before, having heard that they can absorb energy as well as magic. If that's true hitting them with fire won't do much good. Juno getting an adrenaline shot to help wake Torok up comes timely as Toolbox warns that there is something at the gates of town. Grabbing his mace Torok charges to the new gate of town ready to fight. Borrowing out guns to those lacking, Horizon gets a shotgun, War-Togg and Speedy scrap shotguns. Depleting the inventory of firearms. Commending McCuldger on completing the gates, they stand tall as a token of Scrap Towns resiliance and enginuity to make due. At the gate Sheila paints her scrap town symbol, of Crabby on everyones clothes.
As Sten joins the rest in standing guard at the gates, a spirit appears introducing itself as one of the old people and speaks to Sheila and Ahi. It tells that all wildlife has fled like from that of a forest fire and warnes that "father fire" from the volcano is arriving soon. Sean asks to purchase a spare shield. Offered one free of charge he promises to pay back. Sten lending out gear tells him and others to focus on surviving and keeping the town safe and worry about money later. Returning to the gates, stationed are Torok in front with Atlas, Horizon and Skully on the sides. Up top is Willie and Ryzy. In the back stands Charles, Mercury, War-Togg and Wit. Outside the gates are a group of fire spirits consumed with rage with Sheila, Ahi, Reeza and Tynan attempting to reason with the beings. 
====Fire spirits attack====
Breaking through the gates the elementals charge in burning their way, peppered with bullets. As they're shot the beings absorb the fire and grows further enraged. Sten realizing that firing at them is useless runs back to the smithy and brings a shield and mace. Luring it into the former mayors old pool seems farfetched, lacking hoses and short on water that wont do any good. Charles and Reeza fighting them manage to destroy one using Steins old enchanted weapon. Ryder from the row garage approach with news that mayor Eric is now accepting refugees if Scrap Town decides to evacuate from the volcano. Sten noting the untimeliness asks if they happen to have a fire department somewhere as that could be really useful. With a resound no, Ryder puts her legs on her back away from the war zone.
Returning to the gates Ima, Charles, McCuldger and Torok have cornered the last elemental, bashing at it with blunt implements. In a weakened state Sheila summons rain upon which extinguishes its last embers. Fighting the creatures is extremely taxing but they seem to have figured out their weak points being their central core. 
Korgak arrives from Mars bringing presents. A crate with with 5 corporate weapons and ammunition which sadly wont do any good against elementals. Toolbox knowing some first aid informs that they are offering treatment for burns. Positioning himself on top of the gate with Willie and War-Togg they remark of how disconcerting it is to fight something that cant be killed with bullets. Willie assures he saw them being talked down by the "spirit talkers" which seems to be the best option, solving it peacefully. Listening in to Sheila that is exactly what they intend to do. The spirit talkers prepare to travel to the volcano to try and find the source spirit and reason with it. Them leaving does leave Scrap Town open to more attacks. Shortly after as if on cue another wave of fire elementals attack. Running and firing with Willie they luckily move slowly. In a game of chase Willie tricks an elemental into the Thunderdome cage where it is cornered and destroyed. The effort proves futile however as the fires spread and engulf the rest of the scrap yard. The little water tanks wont do much and they're just going to have to let it all burn. Torok asks where the hospital is located, suffering from burns. He managed to crush 2 cores of the elementals, extinguishing them. 
A stranger introduces himself as Theris Fueler working with The Hellbats mercenaries, knows of Stens name and offers a trade. In exchange for GU Rifle schematics he wants one crafted for himself. On the terms that delivery, seeing as they have a situation to deal with might take 1 to 2 weeks he still agrees. After Theris leaves Elwin timely, comes asking for him and brings news from the rest of the city, The Upper City is apparently under attack from the aliens.
====Elementals overrun====
Guarding the gates alarm is raised as more elementals appear from the other side of town. Using the radio to communicate Sean assumes they used the racetrack back entrance to enter town, rendering the new gate useless. Announcing on the radio that someone will need to remain at the main gate Sten offers. Watching the elementals fly around and ravage the town Sten opens the gate to let them out if they come this way. A large elemental utters words "CONSUME, BURN, ANGER, HATE, DESTROY", ready to lay waste to town. TB calls for Sten to retreat to the restaurant and he complies.
On the way back Sten sees the four spirit talkers Ahi, Sheila, Tynan and Reeza return from their trip to the volcano and shouts at them to charge their water magic and use it on the spirits at the scrap yard. Running towards the scrap yard Sheila summons a storm of rainclouds on the raging elementals. Having put the whole scrap yard on fire the rain soothes them and they begin to speak to them, calming them down and hostilities end. War-Togg badly burned needs help, being quite huge Sten and Willy try to drag and support him back to the clinic. At the scrap yard McCuldger doesn't seem to realize that the threat has passed and after as the elementals dissipate he drops a scoopful of sand from the crane above. Nobody is harmed but everyone has to dig themselves out. 
Word spreads of The Undercity being under siege from Talaris.
After their conversation with the enraged elementals the spirit talkers plan to head to the volcano and try to reason with the spirit "father fire" within it and ask for aid against the alien threat. A stick in the wheel for any expedition is that the elementals have destroyed all the town vehicles. Ima, Toolbox and Sten inspect the damages and they might be able to use spare parts to get one functioning vehicle going - if - they can get a replacement engine from somewhere. Mercury, Toolbox and Sten head to The Row and happen upon Mayor Coach. Dealing with their own problems citizen of the Row have barricaded themselves, fortifying The Dirty Diamond and expect the alien invasion to come down from the upper city. Mayor Coach informs that they are still accepting evacuees from the volcano but that the window of time will expire soon. 
Back in town the prospect of evacuating from one danger but walk right into another is a hard sell and most locals seem to opt for being stubborn and stay in town or evacuate to the mushroom cave instead. 
Heading out without any vehicle the spirit talkers run into trouble. The canyon path leading to the volcano is blocked from an earthflow of boulders. Requiring a skilled mechanic to get through, they call on the radio asking for aid to locate someone with great skill in machinery. Giving up they return to Town and spread out looking. They eventually locate Bethany who is extremely skilled in mechanics. Heading out again right before the sandstorm sweeps in she does fix the machinery and get it to start digging.
Gathering up for a town meeting Hadwyn has some grave news. The invading aliens can "body snatch" and steal peoples appearances. To countermeasure the risk everyone decides on a shared password, "I know the preachings of the great clown", come up by Torok, and to buddy up and avpod sleeping alone. Another way to get them to break their cover is to threaten them by their life. 
Tired but taking the initiative Sten find himself a nice sitting position to overlook and guard the racetrack path. While guarding Mercury joins him and asks some personal questions and Sten offers him some relationship advice of sorts. Having noticed how he and Anna looks at each-other he explains the benefits of finding a partner. Mercury asks why and Sten explains that while being a synth or of a different species, pair-bonding is still beneficial. Having someone you can always rely on to help you stand up whenever you falter.
Following the buddy system Sten sleeps at the restaurant bunking with Torok, Willie, Mercury, Anna, Ima and War-Togg.Twitch VOD: Callous Row RP S2 E25 Invasion from two fronts YouTube
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Category:Callous Row Cragsand Episodes