Unfortunately, we did not end up playing any Relic Squadrons this weekend. Please enjoy this new entry in my A Stop Along the Way series inspired by a line from episode 145 of the Androids and Aliens podcast from the Glass Cannon Network. At some point in the episode someone throws out the idea of creatures worshiping a train.
Stepping out between two dilapidated buildings you see a gathering of people surrounding an ancient metal vehicle made up of many connected segments, like some sort of enormous centipede. From the long gouge in the ground behind the machine it is evident that it fell from the sky at great speed. Approaching the crowd you can see that they are listening to an old man who speaks excitedly of “the great conveyance” and points to a damaged blinking sign which reads in the language of old “…eriencing te–nical difficulties. Transit pers-n–l are on their way and will as—t you in reaching -our destin–ion. Thank you for –ur pa…”
Several of the buildings surrounding this crashed hover train have collapsed onto each other over the years, creating a kind of canyon in which this small community lives. There are a few simple huts made out of refuse sitting on the far side of the destroyed street where most of these people appear to live, while some more elegant structures have been created against the sides of some of the train cars. Several small stalls have been constructed in the middle of the village and form a small market place mostly selling scrap materials and some kind of bright yellow fruit.
The majority of the townsfolk are currently gathered around the far end of the train. The leader of this group, a spindly creature with two pairs of eyes and a bellowing voice, declares to those gathered in a kind of chant like ritual, pausing after each phrase for the audience to chant along. “Yes Children! Soon! Soon the great Transit Pers will arrive! and the great conveyance will rise! and those who are worthy shall ride the great conveyance! and be brought to Ion! this is our destiny!” The audience repeating parts of his speech back to him.
After a few more minutes of similar chanting it appears that the formal ritual is complete and the leader turns to you, “Ah Travelers! Have you come to join us in our preparations for destiny?”…
If the party spends any amount of time in the small village they may run into one of the following people.
| D6 | Description |
| 1 | A traveling academic has gotten into a fight with several community members after he tried to explain that the “great prophesy” is nothing more than an ancient announcement system. |
| 2 | A child says they can show you a secret way inside one of the engine cars and promises great mysteries await inside. |
| 3 | A disciple of the leader accosts the party and demands to know if they believe in the great conveyance or are they heretics |
| 4 | A shop keeper has set up a stall in front of a glowing sign on the side of the train in which they are selling ancient containers depicted in the sign. |
| 5 | A pair of young people corral a herd of large crustacean like creatures into a hole in an abandoned building. |
| 6 | An older Community member sits outside a large hut on the outskirts of the village and periodically announces in a raspy voice that “beds are available for worthy travelers”. |
That is all for today. I’m unsure when my Relic Squadron’s game will next play so I’ll likely have another location article for you next week.
A Robot Hermit's Journal 