ND Cragsand S3E11: The Maw Blockade

:Return to character article: Sten Berglund
==Season 3: Neon Divide==
===Episode 11: The Maw Blockade===
====Work orders====
Resuming the work for "Zach"'s sniper rifle and Skully's GU rifle, Maxie has been working overnight on an armor project. Wishing to upgrade his weapons Sten gets to work on making a machine pistol for Maxie, it's rapid fire and not too large for him. Since he works there they agree on Shura's debt going to the store instead as sufficient payment.
:-2 Titanium
:-1 Iron 
:-1 Carbon
:+1 Machine Pistol for Maxie
Willie is working on a custom loader for Jeremy, seeing as he has trouble using a revolver since he lost his arm. 
Skully returns the shotgun he borrowed yesterday, limping slowly and shockingly lacking his head. Taking a guesses at what the heck happened to the dutiful patrol bot he confirms when Sten speculates that he stayed out during the sandstorm. Making a mental note to speak to Henderson or Prowler to tune down his defensive parameters he must have stayed out guarding the gate all night. 
Joining Herk at the gate, Sten makes some final adjustments and they successfully manage to close it. It's screeching and making a lot of noise but good enough. They might have to reinforce the gate with something better than scrap and iron. Peaches is back to resume guarding the gate, making himself useful instead of walking around aimlessly.
From a truck inside the gate, Ty shouts that she's heading out. Ignoring any warnings and complaints from Herk and Sten she drives out anyway. This wont end well, and it doesn't. 
Spotting unknown people approaching it's three wastelander traders as well as Hendersson returning in his truck. Telling him how glad to see that he survived the sandstorm he grumbles that of course, a sandstorm could never kill him. His truck will probably require repairs though. The traders are questioned by Herk before being allowed in. Carrying some trade and hand weapons Sten follows them for a bit before leaving them alone and returning to guard duty at the gate. 
====Giant creature problems====
As expected Toolbox reports one individual being under attack on the radio. Ima heads out with Maya, Cactus Charles, Mercury and Herk. According to reports Ty is under attack by some "giant creature larger than a sandworm". Never seen any creature larger than that it ate a whole car... This is bad. 
Relieved of guard duty by Henderson and Silas, Sten sees to some customers at the shop. There Fee-Bee informs of Willie completing work on a revolver for a customer who paid up front. A stranger enters, looking corporate and sporting Shometsu logos. She's wearing an oddly familiar hat she wishes to make a special order. Wearing a facemask she looks sickly and out of place, as if fatigued and the wasteland sun being painful to her. She wishes to have an RPG launcher that can be fired from a shoulder crafted. Not satisfied with a scrap cannon, too heavy, Sten asks for some measurements and some sketches for blueprints to be sent over to get the measurements right. Introducing herself as "Lizana" she explains money wont be an issue and also asks for help in making a Valkyrie rifle receiver. Not giving any promises as he's lacking the proper tools to make anything corporate class, Sten tells her that he can make the metal base parts, but details someone else will have to put together. She offers a Shometsu SMG to be salvaged if that is helpful. Salvaging the pistol, the parts don't fit the blueprints and will have to be re-made. It should be enough to make what she needs for a receiver but no complete gun.
:+1 Titanium
:+1 Steel
Torok is going through some stuff, probably related to his "circus" being around. He explains that he's been crying while "dreamwalking" with Sheila, needing to replace his clown paint. Asking what ails him, he responds that he doesn't even know himself.
Stellar appears at the shop, glancing carefully at all the completed firearm orders piling up the counter and shelves. He tells Sten that he figured out how to enchant his crowbar, and should be able to make it more durable. Returning later he hands over a green glowing and now magically enchanted and much more durable crowbar to Sten. 
Prowler is looking to upgrade his armor and purchases a scrap armor for the moment, intending for something better eventually. Maxie makes and prepares some kevlar. He also reports selling an SMG from the store for good price to some "cyber looking person". Sten commends him on his good work becoming a successful businessman. 
:+5000 credits
:-1 Row SMG
:+155,000 credits 
:-6 Nitrolium
:+3 Kevlar
News spread that all expeditions have been suspended by the town council due to the giant creature out there. Fee-Bee hands a photo of the creature. 
Grabbing food at the restaurant Shiloh is walking on a crutch after having shot himself in the foot again somehow. Peaches walks in saying something but his voice modulator is so rough it's difficult to understand. Asking Odd and Shilohs impression of him, they say they like him but that his voice kind of hurts. He could use some work and Sten tells them that he's an ownerless synth with nobody to report to who was dropped off or dumped in the salt flats yesterday.
:-350 credits Food
Dining Sten has a chat with the fella who bought some tools before and listens to him ranting about politics in the undercity. Having monster problems of their own Bub is still hunting that kraken. Bernie is his name and he tells of them having problems with the Masaru corporation. Not familiar with the details aside the refugees the corporation is trying to convince them that it is in their best interest to hand over everything to the corporation. A load of bollocks and intrigue he apologizes but Sten tells him it's alright. These things are good to get off your chest somehow and Sten recommends him to try the burgers. 
====Council meeting====
Discussing ideas on how to deal with the monster Sten suggests making a trap for it. Lure it into a narrow area loaded with explosives where all can hit it at once, maybe. Curious Sten goes to have a look from the watchtower but can't manage to see the monster from it. Peaches is up there keeping a lookout and Sten shows him the completed watchtower constructions. He is a bit too heavy to try the ladder though. Timely Tesh, a nomad bugkin from last year who makes his living surviving out in the wasteland arrives at the gates to report his findings about the creature. Vegetation out there is making a return so he's able to make a decent living alone viable. Meeting with the council. Ima, Henderson, Deputy Herk, Sheriff Mercury, Tesh and Savire Sten tells them his idea. It is not received well. Tesh having following such a creature before, now nicknamed "The Maw" has never seen it actually get injured and no clue how they function. He's seen them pick up rocks, eat sand, sandworms. He even saw it survive an encounter with a sandworm queen. A near indestructible creature like that you can't fight, the only option seems to run. After the impromptu meeting the councils orders are to always keep a scout with anyone heading out.
Tesh offers some aid to the town by scouting. Sten gives him a spare flare gun to fire in order to warn in case the creature approaches the town again. Back at the shop Skully and "Zach" picks up their orders. "Zach", happy with his purchase offers a recommendation - to stay away from the row for the rest of the day. 
:-1 Flare gun
:-1 Sniper Rifle and ammo
:+128,000 credits
Payment for the flare gun and Skully's weapons should go through Hendersson. Now to summon the courage to confront the big man... 
Willie and Silas returning from the city reports on there being complete chaos there. A nice man he knows named Bat got unprovokingly shot in the head twice. Sten updates them on the maw situation and to lookout for any flare's in the sky, if they see it - it means everyone needs to take cover somewhere.
====Guard Duty====
Visiting Peaches guarding at the gates, Sten updates him on the situation with "the maw" and he tells that two raiders came by wanting to participate in the race but they didn't let them in. Good call. Asking Sten if he knows of the raiders he answers no. At least not since last year when someone named "Darius" caused problems. The raider who killed Sten's friend - Scoots. Offering his condolences Sten tells Peaches that the raider got what he deserved and now is very much dead. 
Sheila startles Sten while watching the flats, asking to be let out into the wastes. She is unconvinced of the danger of "the maw" and insists on being let out. Not one to argue with the shaman she is let out, followed by a man lacking any arms. Sten asks him what happened to him and he just responds: "I have become worm, so I must eat sand and become sandworm." Not sure how to respond to that, Sten just tells Peaches that the shaman has her ways. She may say some seemingly crazy things but more often than you'd think, they turn out to be correct. Leaving one of the lizards that usually follow her around behind it doesn't seem to want to follow her out there. Rolling over, Sten gives it belly rubs.
While on guard duty more people come charging out the gates blindly to find Skully against better judgement. Bernie attempt's to get a grip on what's happening, asking curious questions. More people from the city appear asking about the gathering at the gate but Herk won't let anyone out. The man who rode a hoverbike before comes to the gate, in tow by a floating ghost. Bernie explains that those two are Theris and his dead wife... They think the wasteland is strange, well the undercity people sure has got a lot of stranger things to boot.
After a while everyone returns safely. Asking Skully what he was thinking running out alone it seems his defensive programming demands he confronted the creature. Arguing with him with Herk and Toolbox he doesn't seem convinced and will need his programming adjusted by his "administrators" Henderson or Prowler.https://clips.twitch.tv/BetterCloudyCobblerNononoCat-LEbvUNgykG6n1HGX
Midge followed by some of her friends come asking for Maya, wanting to check in on how she's doing. Unsure of her current location she introduces her friends to Sten. A synthetic named "Cynthia", a girl named "Sari" and her invisible friend "Wraith". Confused to hear a disembodied voice it's about as strange as the undercity ghosts and spirits. Sari came here looking for scrap and some projector unit but with the maw blockade nobody is being allowed out on any scrapping expeditions so they might have better luck visiting the garbage chute in the row. Impressed by Sten and Charles hats Sten recommends them to seek out Ty the tailor, maybe she can make something for them. Appreciating that someone spoke to them they go looking in town.
An unknown spacecraft approaches and makes a grand entrance landing on the salt flats. Expecting the worst like Torok's strange circus it's just a rich upper city man showing off his richness. The Trident man Maxwell. Explaining himself he is using a shuttle because the whole Row is under lockdown after an open war in the streets of the slums.
====Armed hold up situation====
Leaving his guard after hearing shouting there's a situation outside one of the living complexes. Some unknown city people are held up and shooting openly on each-other. Quick to respond the area is cornered off and isolated by Sheriff Mercury and Deputy Herk. "Green Gus" announces that "he knows Voxene" and is allowed through the blockade. Whispering to Prowler if he knows anything, none of the onlookers know what's going on. The scrap town police doesn't seem to want to involve themselves unless they have to. On guard is Hunter Charles and Titus.
Gus gives a short explanation that there's some hostile cat-like synths held up and he's trying to mediate between them. Willie complaining about not trusting synths earns his ire and Gustavo snaps at him. Both Sten and Willie look at each-other, thinking the same thing. Must be that catlike red corporate looking synth sneaking about from before. Willie suggests grabbing one of those shock grenades just in case and Sten takes the long route around to get it from the shop. Prowler thinking and doing the same thing, they both position themselves at the ready to throw their shock grenades. 
Luckily they don't have to. Gus and Ron are successful in leading the synths away and back to the city. Among the synths is very much the cat-like one from before. Making a mental note that these synths can't be trusted, it may be wise to hold on to one of those grenades just in case it comes back causing trouble again. Titus and Charles leaving Sten thanks them for the help in security and Charles hands Sten a tech part as thanks for the gun help before. 
:+1 Medium tech part
Meeting Sari again it turns out her invisible friend "Wraith" is very real and not imaginary. She managed to get the components she was looking for and got an old projector working, displaying "Wraith". Her disembodied voice now a body seems to trigger some memory from the Titan incident in Mercury, who suddenly sees her as hostile. Sten, Gus and Willie all try to calm him down telling him its just a holographic projector. Sari turns the projector off and Wraith disappears, as simple as that and Mercury seems satisfied. 
====Things calming down====
Commending Gus on a great job done in disarming the tense situation before he says that he could use a drink. Sten cheers and agrees loudly. Prowler hears and obliges by timely opening up the bar behind them. Cheering he shares the troubles he went through today ranging from a giant gerbil infestation in his shop breaking his equipment, dodging open war on the streets and malfunctioning synths. 
:-1000 credits bottle of strong liquor 
Willie hires Gus for some help with navigational software. Hopefully he isn't starting to lose his sense of direction with old age. Resuming work on the canon order in the shop Peaches asks if the shop needs resources. Sten goes through the usual needs of the shop and promises to compensate him for anything he manages to bring back. 
Shura returns to continue pay off a little of his debt and reports what was actually in the treasure map he got before. The "treasure map" was a note with the writing:
"Suck my dick, suck my dick, in the pit, suck my dick" 
Apologizing profusely for not checking the note from the traders beforehand Shura tells him its alright.
:+2,000 credits to Shura's armor debt (paid 15,800 out of 30,000)
The sandstorm moving in Mercury reports that the town is secure. Fee-Bee is looking for a high-tech part for some project but Sten has never even seen one of those. Mercury offers a disassembly of one of his Shometsu pistols to look at tomorrow. Hendersson walking by, mentions having disassembled 3 of them already. Sten offers to help him but this just seems to have insulted him and he insists that putting things apart is his thing. The council's blockade still in effect, but with reports of people heading out regardless both Fee-Bee and Willie are not happy with the conflicting information. The council rejecting all the suggestions on how to deal with it there's some animosity brewing. 
Before calling it a day Willie tells that Torok got arrested in the Row. He supposedly ate two security officers and busted away from confinement. But he haven't seen him since.
:Next Episode: S3E12: Black Hole Carnival
==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 11: The Maw Blockade 
*YouTube VOD: Neon Divide S3 E11: The Maw Blockade
===Twitch Clips===
*Why did you run after the maw monster ALONE?
*Just shaman "things"
*Shura's crab claw
*Willie's mega slap
*That treasure map was... not that
==Gallery==
ND Crag S3E11 01 Skully damaged Willie Jeremy Shura Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 02 Skullys head missing.png
ND Crag S3E11 03 Ty heading out Herk Peaches Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 05 Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 06 Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 07 Henderson return safe.png
ND Crag S3E11 08 Peaches Herk Skully Wastelanders.png
ND Crag S3E11 09 Wastelanders Herk Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 10 Wastelanders Peaches Herk Toolbox Skully.png
ND Crag S3E11 11 Toolbox Skully.png
ND Crag S3E11 12 Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 13 Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 14 Fee-Bee.png
ND Crag S3E11 15 Fee-Bee Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 16 Lizana (Olm Makker) Willie.png
ND Crag S3E11 17 Fee-Bee Lizana (Olm Makker) Willie.png
ND Crag S3E11 18 Lizana (Olm Makker).png
ND Crag S3E11 19 Lizana (Olm Makker) Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 22 Lizana (Olm Makker).png
ND Crag S3E11 23 Fee-Bee Torok cried his clown makeup away.png
ND Crag S3E11 24 Prowler Fee-Bee.png
ND Crag S3E11 25 Maxie and Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 26 Maxie and Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 27 Maxie and Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 28 Maxie and Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 29 Maxie and Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 30 Maxie and Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 31 Fee-Bee.png
ND Crag S3E11 32 Maya Shiloh.png
ND Crag S3E11 33 Odd Shiloh Peaches.png
ND Crag S3E11 34 Fishbowl Bernie.png
ND Crag S3E11 35 Fishbowl.png
ND Crag S3E11 36 Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 37 Peaches.png
ND Crag S3E11 38 Tesh Herk Ima.png
ND Crag S3E11 40 Herk Savire Hendersson Tesh Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 41 Herk Ima Savire Hendersson Tesh Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 42 Herk Ima Savire Mercury Hendersson Tesh Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 43 Herk Ima Savire Mercury Hendersson Tesh Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 44 Herk Ima Savire Hendersson Tesh.png
ND Crag S3E11 45 Herk Ima Savire Hendersson Tesh.png
ND Crag S3E11 46 Zach Tesh Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 48 Willie.png
ND Crag S3E11 49 Sten updating Willie Fee-Bee Silas Herk on the situation.png
ND Crag S3E11 50 Sten updating Willie Fee-Bee Silas Herk on the situation.png
ND Crag S3E11 51 Sten updating Willie Fee-Bee Silas Herk on the situation.png
ND Crag S3E11 52 Peaches.png
ND Crag S3E11 53 Peaches.png
ND Crag S3E11 55 Sheila.png
ND Crag S3E11 56 Sheila.png
ND Crag S3E11 57 Worm (Wrench) and Sheila charging out.png
ND Crag S3E11 58 Bernie.png
ND Crag S3E11 59 Theris and his wife and Bernie and Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 60 May Peaches.png
ND Crag S3E11 61 Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 62 Toolbox Skully Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 63 Toolbox Skully Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 64 Skully.png
ND Crag S3E11 65 Cynthia Midge Sari.png
ND Crag S3E11 66 Cynthia Midge Sari.png
ND Crag S3E11 67 Wraith and Sari.png
ND Crag S3E11 68 Wraith Sari and Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 69 Sari.png
ND Crag S3E11 71 Sari and Cynthia.png
ND Crag S3E11 72 Sari and Cynthia.png
ND Crag S3E11 75 Shuttle drop ship Willie Norbert.png
ND Crag S3E11 76 Skully Maxie Jeremy Charles.png
ND Crag S3E11 77 Neither Charles Maxwell Herk Stellar Peaches.png
ND Crag S3E11 79 Sten guarding.png
ND Crag S3E11 80 Mercury Herk blocking off an area.png
ND Crag S3E11 81 Herk Gustavo.png
ND Crag S3E11 82 Prowler Mercury Herk Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 83 Prowler Mercury Titus Shiloh Herk.png
ND Crag S3E11 85 Mercury Charles Titus Prowler Herk Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 86 Ron Gustavo escorting the synths away.png
ND Crag S3E11 87 Synths escored away by Gustavo and Ron.png
ND Crag S3E11 89 Sari Wraith.png
ND Crag S3E11 90 Sari Wraith Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 93 Sari Wraith Mercury.png
ND Crag S3E11 94 Prowler Gustavo Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 95 Gustavo bellyrub lizard.png
ND Crag S3E11 96 Mercury Herk Toolbox Wraith Sari Gustavo Sten.png
ND Crag S3E11 98 Mercury Toolbox Herk Wraith Sari Gustavo.png
ND Crag S3E11 100 Ty.png
ND Crag S3E11 102 (Vicse).png
ND Crag S3E11 103 Peaches.png
ND Crag S3E11 104 Gustavo Sten.png
NeonDivideCreditsInfographicThingy.png|Neon Divide RP approximate prices infographic (outdated)
Category:Neon Divide Cragsand Episodes