ND Cragsand S3E15: Out There

:Return to character article: Sten Berglund
==Season 3: Neon Divide==
===Episode 15: Out There===
====Morning Trades====
With Willie out visiting someone in the city and Fee-Bee busy elsewhere it leaves just Sten and Maxie at the shop. Running low on materials they decide to head out scrapping and wave down Skully who is out patrolling. Head of organizing the runs now, Skully is glad to oblige and any misconception with the council before should now be cleared up. The large truck has also been repaired by Ima and a run is planned in about an hour. 
Going for breakfast the restaurant is a buzzle with some visitors from the undercity. Getting a burger both Sten and Maxie refill their water bottles in preparation for the trip. 
:-550 credits for food and water
Joining Norbert and the newcomer wastelander Sten learns that her name is Ren. Norbert is planning further "upgrades" and Sten jests that he better not be planning to replace his last remaining arm. Teasing him for just having four fingers and how that must detriment him while working the tech junkie explains he just wanted to try out how it feels, not really needing all digits. Suggesting Charles join them Ren questions their thinking, risking engaging those hostile synths again. Having to make a living it's a part of scrap town life, taking risks. 
Offering her services to help pay for her stay Sten asks her what she's good at. Knowing the enemy and how to use a gun Sten agrees to lend her a weapon and pay her if she decides to join them on a scrapping run. Asking about Henderson acting weird they explain how he tends to have his faculties a bit messed up. Sten assures her that even though his brashness, he always ends up making good decisions for the town. Although putting his trust in him, when he turns really rowdy it's still a good idea to keep a safe distance from him. Like how he smashed one of the magic users shrines.
Pillbugs barging into the restaurant Jyggal attempts to shoo them away. Not liking them to try and sell their food there, competing business and all that. Checking what they have for trade one has some iron, another a salvaged part and something that looks like dumplings. Mentioning trade and "boom booms" meaning guns, Sten invites them to follow him to his shop and gets them to leave the restaurant. Trying to trade a pistol for the salvage part and iron they aren't convinced of it being an equal trade and settle on the dumplings and salvage part. Herk spots the trade and protests that giving them any weapons inside the town is a bad idea. Thinking it should be fine as long as they don't shoot Sten quickly clicks the safety on for the gun. Off they go, Sten cracks open the salvage part to reveal a valuable component. Not daring to taste the dumplings himself he leaves them on the counter at the store and asks Shura if he has a strong stomach, daring to try them. 
:-1 Pistol 
:+1 High Tech Part 
:+3 Dumplings?
Requesting access to the shooting range Sten teaches Skully the code. Herk collects his new helmet and Sten resumes work on his improved fuel tank. Needing a payment plan he doesn't seem to be paid enough for his deputy duties and even worse has forgotten his ID payment card pin code. Trying to figure out solutions checking places were he could potentially have written it down, like the back of his helmet - unfortunately lead nowhere. Suggesting a decker or paying a visit to the bank he eventually remembers it was "1111". Blaming it on the shop it doesn't help that Sten hardly types in the full names of customers into the register, instead just settling on the first 2 or 3 letters and an emoji. Typing is terribly arduous.
Yuna asks for an upgrade from a pistol to a revolver.
:+1 Pistol
:-1 Revolver
:+14,000 credits
A bounty hunter named Leon and his companion Chuck from Astral corp is desperately looking for work or a spot in an arena match. Sten tells him that whenever there's a criminal in town awaiting punishment they get to fight but no fights are expected today. Mentioning Fee-Bee being of Astral he's never heard of her. Leaving a card a behind Sten doubts he's going to trust this person enough to contact them ever again. 
Prowler is running the garage for Ima today. Chester and Shiloh both expressed interest in ordering more kevlar to Maxie. Cross stops by to restock on ammo.
:+4000 credits
====The unknown threat revealed====
Ty reports being shot at by bandits in red, silver armor and waking up in the clinic with one of the dead attackers brought back as well. She tells that her invisibility usually protects her out in the wastes but they had some way of sensing her presence. All they said were "Kill the beast!". After restocking on ammunition Sten join her to have a closer look at the dead one. Catching Juno, Sten and Ty are invited to inspect the body on the topmost floor.
:+5000 credits
Worried the body might suddenly rise up Odd follows but keeps a safe distance. Their fears are quickly alleviated however because on closer inspection the supposed "synth" is not a synth at all. Finding blood, it's a cyborg. Part organic, part synthetic. Moving the pieces apart with Ty they find blood and a heavily augmented human with mechanical legs, arms, face and chest. Looking for corporate logos, symbols or similar it's clear that model and serial numbers have all been scraped off from all the parts. It's all unregistered and clean. The only mark is a symbol of a heart and a cog. Juno aiding sees the cause of death was being slashed by a sword. The way they implanted their cybernetics look brutal and invasive to an otherwise seemingly healthy person. With this new information they head to inform the council and the wanderers. Sten informs Mr Prowler, Herk and Ima and describes the symbol to them all. Ima twitches when he is told about them and Sten describes them being similar to him in a way.
Before leaving town what looks like a mage of unknown name, sporting Masaru colors walks around town followed by four armed guards. Suspicious of what they're up to and not responding when questioned, Sten and Skully both shadow them. Making sure they don't cause any problems they all leave for the lifts. Very strange.
====Scrapping for fortune====
Taking the big truck Sten joins Skully on a scrapping expedition. Hosted by Skully, Maxie, Shura, Norbert and even Ren joins them. On the way towards pillar canyon the crew spots some wildlife but encounter no danger at first. Sten informs everyone about the strange cyborg attackers, clearing up the misconception about them being synths and their strange insignia.
Some large wildlife walks by when they reach the canyon and Norbert calls them out. Sten recognizes them from last year as being docile and friendly creatures who sometimes stop by the oasis to drink. Most likely herbivores and no danger unless you provoke them, he shouts for all to continue the trip. In the canyone the crew finds some iron ore and encounter Sheila, Reeza by the obsidian wall. Reeza warns of raiders in brass armor having attacked before, possibly the cyborgs. She also tells of Traverse taking an interest in the volcano. A goblin may be interested in purchasing power crystals and having 2 in storage Sten tells Reeza to send them to his shop later. 
:+4 Iron Ore
:+2 Carbon
Reaching bramble canyon the group carefully considers it and decides to risk it. Creating a perimeter and agreeing on how to proceed however they quickly change their minds when encountering a giant scorpion inside. Backing out of the narrow canyon the party decides to give up, not having enough combatants to defeat one of those monstrosities. 
:+2 Iron ore
On the way back while picking up the last piece of iron they are ambushed by gunshots. Turns out to be none other than the red clad cyborgs. Calling for retreat and running, Skully engages them regardless and a firefight ensues. Not used to open gunfights Sten is hit in the armor but on closer inspection it didn't seem to hit anything vital and he pushes on. Returning fire half of the expedition takes cover behind the truck while Skully and Shura flank and manage to make short work of the attackers. In the fight Ren takes a shot in the arm. With the sound of gunfire quieting down and inspecting the damages Skully seems to have taken a lot of hits. Being a heavy synth, together they drag him back to the truck. Driving Sten beeline the truck back to Prowlers mechanics shop.
Back in town dragging Skully into the shop, Norbert and Sten try their best to keep him from breaking apart completely. Muttering "fulfilled", repeatedly as if already clocking out they try to convince him to stick around still. Not giving up on him just yet. He may be a synthetic machine to some but to the locals including Sten, he's a vital and dear member of the community. Prowler eventually arrives and they mange to get Skully to a minimally operational condition, able to limp around. Downloading his data and combat logs to a backup, his recording of the encounter is saved for the council to review. 
Ima reports his findings and believes them to be an offshoot of the same fanatic cult that made him the cybernetic mess he is today. If their goals are the same they aim to become synthetic themselves and are hostile towards most other organic beings. 
Back in business Skully pays out 8000 credits to Maxie and Norbert for joining on the run.
====Medical derps====
Realizing he's hurting more than he noticed at first Sten goes to get checked out with Ren at the hospital. Keeping her company to make sure she doesn't doze off somewhere before getting her arm checked. The hospital is closed and the only response on radio channel 19 is Herk. Insisting on doing something Herk finds Prowler to open up the door to the clinic. 
Helping themselves without any of the cactus girls present Sten searches for bandages somewhere and applies what he believes to be so to Ren. Not really knowing what he's doing turns out it was paper, not cloth. Luckily before making it any worse like getting it infected Hank timely arrives and applies proper bandages to them both. 
====The Reborn Tortoise====
Back at the shop is a sight. Torok has returned after a close encounter with his mortality. Covered in purple runes, he doesn't remember much of what happened but Crunch explains that he was saved from dying in some dangerous nightmares. Knowing Torok, his danger would be becoming sober, but that is no longer an issue. He has an offer to Sten, to join the carnival. Gulp.
To become a member you have to survive a "big show" which he explains is a "marching" apart of a "planetary invasion" where you prove yourself worthy a la the "survival of the fittest". Having survived last years alien invasion, this supposedly counts as having passed the induction ritual. Jeremy will go through the induction soon and extending a hand towards Sten, he asks if he would like to as well or even if not, at least partake in the festivities. The planned festivities involves getting painted in clown makeup and someone baiting a sandworm into a trap, blow it up with explosive that set off fireworks and ends it all with a huge dinner party barbecue and a show. 
Worried that participating in this will likely lead to his death Sten tells him that the last part sounds nice. Finding the most courteous way possible to decline he asks if he possibility could avoid the whole dangerous induction part. Torok and Crunch considers it. Making fireworks and explosives, Fee-Bee has agreed to help but will probably need Stens help. Herk approves hesitantly on the condition it's all held outside in the salt flats. 
====Trades and supplies====
Reeza sold some weapons from bandits to Fee-Bee. It's unfortunate that the bandits seem to be getting better armed. Counting the remaining funds by the end of the day it seems Fee-Bee paid way over the usual going rate. 
:+1 Hand canon 
:+2 Row Revolvers
:-175,000 credits
A stranger lacking an eye going by "Sci" attempts to bargain himself a really expensive weapon from Maxie for just 30,000 but Sten stops him. With that little you can only get so far. Shiloh does vouch for him though so Sten agrees to a payment plan and the discount for locals. 
:+50,000 credits (out of 80,000 in total in a payment plan to Sci, vouched by Shiloh)
:-1 Row SMG 
The goblin woman who Reeza mentioned before is looking for a volcanium crystal and is curious on how to find more. Introducing herself as Vesma Bolt (Vethpa Bholt), Sten tells her they got it from scrapping far out near a place called skull cavern, named from a large painted skull on a rock. Interested although expensive Sten tells her of them being radioactive and explosive prone. He tells her that as long as she avoids sleeping next or spending too much time with it shouldn't be more dangerous than a regular chest x-ray. And of course, avoid hitting it with any blunt instrument, like a hammer. She's also interested in a steel machete and agree to make a deal. The card she uses to pay is black, has a yellow T on one side and a crescent moon on the other. The payment goes through without any issues so Sten thinks no more of it.
:+80,000 credits
:-1 Steel machete
:-1 Vulcanium 
Norbert having earned some credits purchases a pistol and trades in a scrap one. Him seeming to always be short on funds Sten offers him a really good discount. 
:-1 Pistol
:+1 Scrap Pistol
:+8,000 credits
Skully almost functioning restocks on ammunition on Henderson account.
:+12,000
====Straight edge====
Mentioning clowns and Torok to Ren, Sten tells her that although scary looking, he's friendly enough as long as you don't anger him. He tells her that if Torok ever offers her to become a clown or participate in some ritual it may be safest to decline. Overhearing the word "clown" Torok walks in through the door. A strange sight, Stellar commends Toroks new purple look. He explains the runes hurt like hell. Asking if maybe it will get better if he takes his drugs he utters some shocking words. He no longer needs drugs.
Along with clarity of not having a constantly drug addled brain he now starts remembers all kinds of things from his past life and begins telling Sten, Jeremy, Odd and Ren. He now remembers having 300 siblings, being the 111th child and several of his past jobs. Galapagos turns out being an extremely advanced civilization of isolationists, capable of igniting stars, terraforming and even planetary engineering. Sten is incredibly fascinated by this, remembering being taught by the educational A.I. from his childhood about the philosophy from Earth about space travel. Recalling what is called the "Kardashev scale"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale, a measurement over how much energy an advanced civilization has control over. From listening to Torok, the Galapians would be a class II civilization. Having mastered making habitable planets and constructing their own solar systems, something not even the human mega-corporations are anywhere near to even beginning to accomplish. 
Listing various jobs he's done in his past lives living among humans he's been a bank guard, chauffeur, demolitions expert, trapeze artist with the cult, masseuse, watchmaking, tailoring, cobbling, gunsmithing, florist, dentist, dentist-assistant, boxer, cook, chef, line-cook, geoscaping. "Geoscaping" as in making their own planetary system they've made over 300 planets in one single system. Being seclusive they only keep to their own and only observe other civilizations, not allowing "interfering with lesser species". A lot of information to take in, if it's all true Torok must have been very different from his own kin to escape this mindset. Torok the Gleeful is actually not his real name.
Speaking to Jeremy turns out he broke the crystal he purchased before. While trying to use fire magic on it, he made it blow up. He's considering getting a prosthetic arms and got a price estimate for 150k credits. Sounding reasonable Sten tells him that sounds good unless he want's cheaper industrial make similar to Willies. 
Asking how her projects are going, Fee-Bee has gotten upgrades, no longer need to charge every night, is working on laser tools and has gained access to corporate facilities. She's already been manufacturing ammunition to her Shometsu pistol and she can make more. Good to get access to corporate class ammunition. 
Gathering Nitrolium from the fissures in the salt flats Maxie joins him. Up some hidden Rocks north of flats while gathering, they find some plantlife and one of the trees with fruits that are usually located in the oasis. Not knowing how to gather the spiky fruits without harming themselves they decide not to risk it. On the way to the other side of the flats they hear gunshots and decide to head back.
:+1-1 Nitrolium 
:-1 Iron
:+1 Battery
Before retiring for the night both Sten and Maxie see what looks like a living rock with eyes run into the shop, hop on the counter and steal the last remaining food the pillbugs traded. Dumbfounded Sten asks Maxie if he also just saw what he saw and yeah, it was not an illusion. Following it more strange rock creatures are about. Chasing after them, trying to figure out what mystery this is the sandstorm is moving in and Sten spends the night in the shop working to restock some inventory.
:-4 Iron
:+2 Pistols
:Next Episode: ND Cragsand S3E16: Pinned
==Inventory==
Sten personal inventory tracker after episode...
==Store inventory==
Store inventory tracker after episode... This is shared with employees, credits are stored in the smithing registry.
==Links==
*Twitch VOD: Neon Divide Season 3 Episode E15: Out There 
*YouTube VOD: Neon Divide S3 E15: Out There
===Twitch Clips===
*Forgotten PIN code and computer illiteracy
*Black hole carnival festivities sound... fun
==Gallery==
ND Crag S3E15 02 Norbert Ren.png
ND Crag S3E15 03 Maxie Charles Sten refilling water.png
ND Crag S3E15 04 Sten Pillbugs.png
ND Crag S3E15 05 Pillbugs.png
ND Crag S3E15 06 Ren.png
ND Crag S3E15 07 Sten Shura Maxie.png
ND Crag S3E15 08 Sten Herk Maxie.png
ND Crag S3E15 09 Sten Herk Maxie.png
ND Crag S3E15 10 Yuna.png
ND Crag S3E15 11 Herk.png
ND Crag S3E15 14 Herk.png
ND Crag S3E15 16 Herk.png
ND Crag S3E15 17 Chuck and bounty hunter Leon.png
ND Crag S3E15 18 Bounty hunter Leon.png
ND Crag S3E15 20 Ty.png
ND Crag S3E15 21 Sten inspecting the body.png
ND Crag S3E15 22 Sten Odd Ty.png
ND Crag S3E15 24 Sten Ty Juno inspect the body.png
ND Crag S3E15 27 Sten Ty Juno inspect the body.png
ND Crag S3E15 28 Sten Dettet DM.png
ND Crag S3E15 29 Sten Ty Juno inspect the body.png
ND Crag S3E15 31 Sten Ty inspect the body.png
ND Crag S3E15 33 Sten inspect the body Juno Sera Yuna.png
ND Crag S3E15 34 Ty.png
ND Crag S3E15 35 Masaru moving through.png
ND Crag S3E15 36 Ima.png
ND Crag S3E15 37 Skuly Expedition.png
ND Crag S3E15 40 Stene directing.png
ND Crag S3E15 41 Wildlife Shura Norbert Maxie.png
ND Crag S3E15 43 Reeza.png
ND Crag S3E15 46 Scrapping Sten Maxie Shura Norbert Ren.png
ND Crag S3E15 48 Scrapping truck.png
ND Crag S3E15 49 Sten Skully at Bramble canyon.png
ND Crag S3E15 51 Skully demaged severely.png
ND Crag S3E15 53 Skully down Norbert.png
ND Crag S3E15 54 Skully down Norbert.png
ND Crag S3E15 56 Skully down.png
ND Crag S3E15 60 Skully down.png
ND Crag S3E15 61 Norbert Skully.png
ND Crag S3E15 62 Ima Skully.png
ND Crag S3E15 65 Ren.png
ND Crag S3E15 66 Herk Hank.png
ND Crag S3E15 67 Hank Ren.png
ND Crag S3E15 68 Torok Herk.png
ND Crag S3E15 69 Crunch.png
ND Crag S3E15 70 Sten Torok Herk.png
ND Crag S3E15 71 Crunch.png
ND Crag S3E15 73 Sten Crunch Torok Herk.png
ND Crag S3E15 74 Torok.png
ND Crag S3E15 76 Torok.png
ND Crag S3E15 82 Crunch Torok.png
ND Crag S3E15 83 Torok .png
ND Crag S3E15 84 Sten Torok Vesma Bolt (Vethpa Bholt) and Herk.png
ND Crag S3E15 85 Vesma Bolt (Vethpa Bholt).png
ND Crag S3E15 86 Vesma Bolt (Vethpa Bholt).png
ND Crag S3E15 87 Sci vouched by Shiloh.png
ND Crag S3E15 88 Vesma Bolt (Vethpa Bholt).png
ND Crag S3E15 89 Sten Shiloh Sci Maxie.png
ND Crag S3E15 90 Sten Maxie Sci.png
ND Crag S3E15 91 Sci.png
ND Crag S3E15 92 Vesma Bolt (Vethpa Bholt) Norbert.png
ND Crag S3E15 96 Ren Maxie and Odd.png
ND Crag S3E15 97 Vesma Bolt (Vethpa Bholt).png
ND Crag S3E15 100 Vesma Bolt (Vethpa Bholt).png
ND Crag S3E15 101 Torok and Vesma Bolt (Vethpa Bholt).png
ND Crag S3E15 104 Nitrolium Fissure.png
ND Crag S3E15 105 Fruit tree found in salt flats.png
NeonDivideCreditsInfographicThingy.png|Neon Divide RP approximate prices infographic (outdated)
Category:Neon Divide Cragsand Episodes