Miss Vicious , Her saga and story... Options

[Renee]

@Acadian: yes, Rattler is deceased. <--- notice my smile. I have no idea when the actual date of his demise occurred, but I figure since the game starts some time in August, and Lopov gamed with the snake for a few weeks, the dates should nearly coincide.

Vicious telling Buck to call her Tan is an oversight on my part (one of many, the disadvantage of writing week to week). She would've normally introduced herself this way. Oops.

Another thing I've not gotten around to is the turmoil my gal feels about her Witness family. I'll get to that eventually.

You noticed the missile launcher.


@SubRosa: see I had no idea there is a Hubris Comics. Where is it? Okay, somewhere near The Citadel! Damn. Been playing this game for 11 years, had no idea there's a comic factory or whatever, and in that location!

I agree, that is kind of lame she gives up her silly anti-heroine costume.

Buck Norris cannot die. Even the Grim Reaper is afraid of (Ch)Buck Norris.


@Lopov: And Norris is off into the sunset.


LAST WEEK, on Miss Vicious!!!

Vicious returned to Dogmaster's hideout to conclude Dog's first mission: the assassination of Cr4nk$haft and BODDY BAGGZ. She received 9,000 Prewar bills from the Dog for getting it done, while Cheese Head, Dogmaster's top minion, rewarded her a missile launcher. Vicious could not foresee ever needing the large weapon, so she dropped it into the trash can in front of the raider boss's hideout, A Cuppa Joe.

She then received a second mission, to rescue Dogmaster's son, who is being held captive by a slaver named G Zuss, located somewhere north of Big Town. Once the kid is rescued she must bring him back to daddy.

Now... Miss Vicious has just found G Zuss's location, but will she be able to rescue Dogmaster's son?



Episode 69: Conclave of G Zuss

Date: Saturday October 6, 2:28 PM

Location: Conclave of G Zuss (Hallowed Moor Cemetery, modified for no mutants.)


It takes two days to locate the chapel where the guru/slaver who calls himself G Zuss runs his operation, which indeed is an operation. Hallowed Moor Cemetery. The place is typically inhabited by super mutants, but apparently the mutants are no longer here. The sky is overcast, weather is chilly.

Using her binoculars, she spies the chapel of Hallowed Moor Cemetery from a distance, and notices a large military-style tent had been erected nearby at some point. Several individuals are milling in front of Hallowed Moor. One, a woman, is definitely wearing a white robe (as portrayed in the photo Dogmaster had given her). So this must be the place. Nobody else in the Wasteland goes around dressed like that! -- Accompanying the woman are a couple others, both wearing the typical clothing of settlers. There also appear to be guards standing in front of the chapel.

Before leaving Georgetown, Dog and Cheese had given Vicious a few guidelines.

Firstly: She is not to attempt an outright attack on G's homestead. This should be a delicate operation; a rescue, not a bloodbath or a siege. The child is not to be harmed. If Vicious wants to try freeing other slaves, she can do this as well. But Dog's son is priority, of course. Killing G Zuss or any other slavers on the premises, is optional.

Second: Her choice of clothing will probably make a difference; the more appealing, the better. According to Georgetown, G Zuss is a typical old-school creepy guru guiding a typical old-school cult (under the pretense of religious doctrine, of course). Which means he is apparently swayed by beautiful females. Probably, he preaches all sorts of prophetic *bullcrap* to the ladies of his group in an attempt to get into their skirts and trousers. So, the more seductive Vicious appears as she strides into camp, the better chance she'll be received.

"Ugh. Bleah!"

She exchanges the cruddy Badlands armor she'd worn across the Wasteland for a stylish set of Prewar apparel: jeans and a sports bra, begrudgingly so. Vicious hates what she's doing; removing protective raider gear so she can change into something cute, only because one of Georgetown's scouts had surmised sexier outfits might make a difference. Outside of Sunday school, Tan's rarely been the type to doll herself up.

Third: No visible weapons! Especially, she is not to carry her high-powered Blamhammer, or the grenades and mines she's brought anywhere near the camp. According to Dog's intel, Vicious could be shot on sight if she shows up packing massive firepower. So these items are stashed aside her armor.

...However, discreetly hidden weapons such as knives should be okay. Especially if she'll been given one of their silly robes to wear. She'll then be able to hide whatever she's carrying, if so. Because...

Fourth: The final suggestion from Georgetown (this one from Cheese, who had done some studying on Prewar cults) was that she should try joining G's clan, rather than sneaking into it. She should convince them she's ready to devote herself and her life to G Zuss, instead of removing Dog's son covertly. Try gaining their trust, Cheese had said. She'll be more successful at removing the kid from G's camp this way, with less chance of bloodshed.

Vicious becomes Taneesha Jones. Once she's finished zipping and buttoning what equates to a disguise, she places her weapons and and ammo into a rusty old footlocker she finds in some grass, but then waffles a bit about her Tazer.

"Hmm. Should I?"

Her final decision is to bring the stunner. Wastelanders are always mistaking her electric 'Peace Officer Assistance' device for a toy, so the Tazer remains hanging from her belt.

Everything situated, Jones begins her approach.

... Hmm. Not that it matters, but suddenly she realizes: she has no idea what the boy's name is. The Dog never bothered to tell her!

"Good afternoon, my child!" an older female standing in amidst Hallowed Moor's gravestones greets enthusiastically. "My name is Tdekka," she smiles. "Are you lost? Or are you perchance interested in joining our flock?" Tdekka's voice is pleasant, entirely comforting in a grandmotherly way. "Maybe you've come here after hearing about of our Good Works, hmm?"

"Hi, my name's Sharon," Taneesha says, plastering a smile which feels entirely forced. "Sharon Tates. Pleased to meet." The name she gives is false of course, just in case things happen to go wrong. Like if somehow, her act gets discovered (and she needs to flee), it might be better if these idiots happen to send their guards after a 'Sharon' (a common name, even in the Twenty-third century) rather than the near-unique name of Taneesha.

And now that she's here, Taneesha realizes Tdekka isn't wearing a white robe, she's wearing a white cape, draped over ordinary clothes. The guards who stand near the chapel are donned in Talon Company outfits. As Dog and Cheese had briefed, nobody's carrying weapons, not visibly anyway, except the guards.

"Um yeah, guess I'm lost. Was trying to find Big Town, when I happened to come across y'all." There's a smile in her voice as she speaks, which (again) is entirely fake. A bit of improvisation not covered by Georgetown. She figures it'll be important to put these white-caped dweebs at ease. "So, what is this place? ... What do you mean: join our flock?"

"Well, we are the Conclave of G Zuss," Tdekka announces proudly, raising her hands to the sky. By now, two other conclave members have become curious. They drift nearer, abandoning their cleaning, to get a better look at the newcomer in jeans. "G Zuss is our leader! All hail to G Zuss!"

"All hail to G Zuss," the others repeat. Taneesha notices that everyone present at the moment is female, except the two guards.

"We receive the words of our pariah..."

Oh, I bet that's not all you receive...

"... who guides and inspires our days, leading us away from sin via His aspirational insights!" Tdekka says ecstatically.

"My goodness, that sounds... divine!" Taneesha/Sharon lies, the second of many lies to come.

"You should join us!" one of the worshippers, a girl about twenty with hair the color of cornsilk suggests. The girl's eyes are red. For sure, this chick is on chems.

"Your epidermis, it is dark!" the second female comments, coming closer to examine Tan's almond skin. Taneesha flinches a bit as the devotee touches her arm, but there's no harm; poor girl is merely curious. She turns to the others and says, "such a delightful contrast she'd make once she's disrobed for Bathification, along with the rest of us!"

Um, what? "Uh, Bathification?"

"Yes, my child," Tdekka takes over. By now, Taneesha/Sharon is completely annoyed, being called 'child' over and over. "Perhaps I can explain. You've heard of John the Baptist, yes?"

"Um, John the who?" Another lie, especially considering how she was raised.

Tdekka explains who John was, while Tan does her best to keep a straight face. Tdekka mangles Bible lore; the elder woman's description of Jesus's first apostle is entirely ridiculous. Next, Tdekka then details what 'Bathification' is.

"During Bathification, everyone makes a neat circle around our bathtub, which will be filled with non-radiated rainwater! We do so under light of the full moon. When the new convert, which in this case is you Sharon, disrobes, we all join within our Lord's ecxtacy!"

The moron explains that G Zuss subsequently "performs" several "acts" to prepare the "nubile woman-folk" to "take" "His Offering", while whichever female who is so lucky gets to receive his offering while sitting naked within the tub.

"Oh! And do not worry about the cold. We always prepare a warm bath before Bathification occurs," the drugged girl with cornsilk hair gloats. "You shall see! ... Oh, how I wish I could be in your place, Sharon Tates! Was such a wonderful revelation, my first time!"

Taneesha Jones does her best not to cringe, or vomit. To her, Bathification sounds like a ludicrous combination of secular baptism and a sex orgy.

"Would you like to meet Our Father?" one of the girls asks.

Ugh.

"Why yes, I would!" 'Sharon' says with glee. Yeah, let's see this so-called 'prophet'...

Everyone turns to the large tent behind the chapel, apparently awaiting their prophet.

Where is the cage? Tan/Sharon wonders. Where are the slaves?

After about an hour, the prophet finally appears. Comes out of the chapel, wearing a white cape, of course. Not only is he wearing a cape, the man has put an obvious effort into making himself a poor copy of the real thing.



----------------------------------------

Dogmaster & Vicious

Sobbing

Taneesha struts

Priestess Tdekka

"Your epidermis is so dark!"

G Zuss heeds the call of a new convert.


--------------------------------------

Notes: Vicious attained Level 8! After speaking to Red in Big Town, concluding the Germantown rescue. Apparently, my gal never spoke to Red in the past. I gave her Lead Belly, and put points into Small Guns, Sneak, Lockpick, Medicine, and Repair.

2). The 'robes' worn by Tdekka and G Zuss are from Wasteland Capes.

3). Miss Vicious's wardrobe by Gypsy Outfits.

This post has been edited by Renee: Oct 28 2024, 04:18 PM

[Acadian]

Rules? Taneesha don't need no stinking rules. Cheese gave her a missile launcher and now she has a great use for it! Oh, wait, she dumped it before leaving. Oh well. She's gonna try joining the cult. She certainly does have a delightful little figure but I hope she doesn't get any cult on herself.

Yeah, hmm, where are the boyz/slaves? More pointedly, where's her target?

[SubRosa]

So Miss Vicious is Taneesha Jones once more. But not normal Taneesha, spy Taneesha. This sounds like a very difficult and delicate mission, much different from the usual sort of thing one does in the Wasteland (namely just shoot things). Still, I imagine her time in the Witnesses will help her here, when it comes to fitting in and adopting the right demeanor and apparent mind set.

Tdekka has a robe. She must be important. I wonder if those guards are actual Talon Company mercenaries, of if the cultists simply found the armor and decided to use it.

Sharon Tate! I hope Tan does not inherit the same end as poor Sharon... At least she has her zap gun, that might be what tips the balance and insures her survival.

Preparing for the offerings, epidermises and all. About what I would expect.

[Renee]

Today's my birthday, and the present I'm giving myself is the next Vicious episode. Two, maybe three more stories to go.

Lopov is on vacation in Croatia with his family, lucky guy. He should return this weekend.

Cheese gave her a missile launcher and now she has a great use for it! Oh, wait, she dumped it before leaving. Oh well.

ha ha you really want my gal to lug that giant weapon around! Not gonna happen. But good you've paid attention to the launcher.

Her next target shall grace us with his presence very soon (gack). I tried really hard to make sure G Zuss has the look I want, learned a few new things about the GECK as well.

So Miss Vicious is Taneesha Jones once more. But not normal Taneesha, spy Taneesha. This sounds like a very difficult and delicate mission, much different from the usual sort of thing one does in the Wasteland (namely just shoot things).

If you can remember the mission I made in Cho's game a few months ago, to escort a couple children (a boy went to Big Town and a girl to Tenpenny) this mission in Tan's game is similar. Indeed, she cannot just blast and bomb her way in this time.

Good point about the Witnesses, although G Zuss has no kinds of religion going on for him at all. He's just a typical cult slimeball like NXIUM's Keith Raniere. From Tan's perspective, she grew up Christian so right away she's able to tell G Zuss and Tdekka are a couple of phonies.

The Talons are explained, you'll see.


"Preparing for the offerings, epidermises and all. About what I would expect."

Yicch.

[Renee]

Episode 70: G Zuss

Date: Saturday, October 6







G Zuss emerges from the tent. Strides toward them slowly, as if he's got all the time in the world (which he literally does). It seems three entire days have passed before he's finally within walking distance of the cemetery, while a few brahmin mew in a nearby pasture. The guru's flock begins mumbling a series of saying and passages; pure nonsense. Taneesha turns her head so she can roll her eyes without scrutiny.

The prophet's gaze alights upon Tan, and he cocks his head.

"Egads, we have a visitor!"

His voice is fluid and melodic. It sounds as though he's from Kentucky or West Virginia, perhaps. Not quite southern and definitely not Jersey. He's mountainfolk.

"See?" he asks Tdekka and the others. "As I've promised in the past, My Father always provides."

My father, yeah. Guy's got an ego. Still, the man's voice is butter, melting on a hotplate. Cult-guru or not, he could certainly be adept at delivering a good sermon. Tan can tell he's got a presence which Rivet City's Father Clifford lacks. He would blow the Church of Atom's Confessor Cromwell straight off the pulpit. If G Zuss were to address her actual temple way up north, chances are he'd be pretty good behind the altar.

His eyes nearly pop from his skull once he sees the newcomer up close. Must be the clothes.

"Well, he-llo, my little lamb. Indeed, My Father always provides..." Unlike Tdekka, G doesn't bother to ask if she's here to join, he merely assumes that's why she's here. "Have you been blessed by the passion, lamb?"

Lamb....

It suddenly strikes Tan. Here she is, dressed to kill, yet G's congregants are all wearing typical brahmin and burlap. Cheese's prediction had therefore been very wrong. Probably, she could've shown up wearing a paper bag and the prophet would be just as eager. Still, this'll make a great story someday, the fact that she'd gotten completely into character just to convince the fool before her. Something to tell the grandkids.

"Hey, you were right," Tan say aloud to Tdekka. "Suddenly, I feel in awe... the spirit of His Presence... why, it confounds me!"

G Zuss speaks. "Ah, I do have that effect upon my subjects, but truly I'm just man. Well, a man who has been gifted with His Holiness, and the spirit of the Lord."

"Mm hmm, it is true," Taneesha grins. Oooh, just you wait, buddy...

"Her name is Sharon!" The girl with shale-colored hair blurts, perhaps out of turn, because Tdekka glares at the youngster.

"Sharon, how very lucky you are to have joined us! But if you are truly come to join my faith, you must abandon your given name."

"Give up my name? But Tdekka still retains her name."

"I long ago abandoned my original name and was eventually given a new one," the grandmotherly-looking woman answers. "Only because my Consummation has been accepted by His Holiness. But these two here," she points to the blonde and the raven-hair standing nearby with what looks to be contempt, "at present have not reached Consummation. Therefore they have no names."

"Interesting," Sharon/Taneesha says. Unbelievable. So I must temporarily give up my temporary name. Not like she'd been Sharon Tates for long...

Just then, G Zuss lifts a hand to the sky, and is bathed within light, causing the stoned blonde and her partner to sigh. "Someday soon, you shall feel the glory of My Heaven," he claims.

Ugh. They're fooled by a cheap party trick. Tan's tempted to perform exactly the same trick, flicking her Pip Boy's light on while it's still in her pocket, but she stays in character. Already, she's losing patience with this phony. Time to gain some intel.

"Hey, um."

"Yes, my child?"

"Aren't y'all worried about starting your flock out here in the open? Big Town's just across the bridge, true, but this spot just seems kind of vulnerable...."

Oops. She's made a mistake. An hour ago, she'd told Tdekka she has no idea where Big Town is. That she'd only found Hallowed Moor after getting lost while looking for Big Town. Yikes! Thankfully, the elder lady doesn't seem to notice.

"I shall answer thy query. Yes it is dangerous out here, but The Lord always provides."

G Zuss explains they're in the process of building their congregation, almost literally from scratch, and have had zero interference from strife due to divine intervention from the heavens. Since Hallowed Moor is a half-ruined church, it'd already been consecrated long in the past. G's plan is to eventually hire carpenters, electricians, and craftsmen, or induct them into his congregation if they're willing to join. Eventually, the chapel shall be rebuilt. Hallowed Moor Cemetery will eventually become the Conclave of G Zuss, hopefully by springtime. They'd only been here a couple weeks so far. The people on location (those Tan is seeing now) happen to be the very first arrivals.

The sleaze also explains he's in cahoots with Talon Company, somehow. He'd gained a lot of money from past 'donations', and had paid dearly for the two mercs they've got on the premises. More Talons are apparently on their way, he says. Their temptation is money, not worship, but this is okay.

And just how DOES this fool get his money?

"So Sharon," Tdekka broaches the subject on everyone's mind, "are you interested in joining our flock?"

"Why, yes! I will! Already, I sense my future life shall be full of meaning," she answers, really hamming it up. "Before this moment, why, I must admit I was lost. Literally lost without a map, and virtually, my soul has also been lost."

"Well then, certainly you were meant to find me," G Zuss says smugly. "Please come feast with me tonight," he adds, making her wonder what is meant by 'feast?' - "You cannot officially join until your Bathification, which can only be performed under the light of the full moon, of course..."

Oh goodness. Which phase is the Moon in? she panics.

"...but you may certainly join our feast."

The newcomer looks to the sky, straining to see Earth's companion, but the Moon is nowhere in sight. She has no idea which phase it's actually in (waxing? waning? new?) but since nobody's mentioned Bathification is to take place tonight, certainly the Moon can't be full. -- Phew! -- This'll save her from needing to improvise an entire set of behaviors and lies.

"Hey, what happens if it's cloudy?" she asks the flock out of curiosity. "You said the light of the full Moon must be shining, but what if it's not?"

The answer both stuns and appalls her. "G Zuss shall then part the clouds," Tdekka answers, "as Moses parted the Yellow Sea."

Yellow sea?

"You've parted the clouds before?"

The prophet begins to answer, but then stops. Slyly changes the subject. Apparently, even a con artist such as him has limits.

6:06 PM
An hour later they're under the tent, gathered around a worn-out table once used for Prewar picnics. Also under this tent are several beds and bedrolls, some furniture, and what looks to be a safe. It's the safe which catches Taneesha's attention.

G Zuss gestures, then orates a few words of ludicrousness which aren't from any Bible she's ever read. He then breaks the bread.

"By the glory of My Father, I now feast with my flock!"

The guru puts two and a half fingers to his lips. Pieces of bread are passed from him to Tdekka and the others. The two unnamed conclave girls eat ravenously, Taneesha notices; wild dogs have better manners. Chances are they're both starving, poor things. Here's a bit of mind control from their leader, who (like many cult sleazeballs) prefers his subjects scrawny and craving. Too weak to protest. Tdekka and G Zuss nibble more slowly. Taneesha/Sharon pretends to take a bite, pretends to chew, but also manages to jam her food into a pocket. Yeah, because no way am I gonna. Later, the 'food' is thrown into some grass.

Wine is also shared between the conclave. This time Taneesha's more honest. Claims she's become a teetotaler recently (all true) and cannot partake of alcohol due to her desire to keep her body pure. Fortunately, G and Tdekka don't make a fuss. They're impressed, in fact. The prophet is virtually drooling. An untainted virgin, perhaps!

At some point after dinner, just as she's wondering if Dog and Cheese got it wrong and there are no captives on the premises, she notices one of the Talons striding into the half-ruined chapel. The man grabs something from a chest, bends to the floor, and opens what looks to be a hatch. The guard lowers himself underground, as though descending a ladder. Ah-ha! -- Something to look into after everyone's asleep.

"So, who are you, really?" G Zuss asks, surprising Tan from her reverie as he appears by her side. His former melodic voice has been replaced, now he is shrewd and suspicious.

"What do you mean?"

"Well. As Our Father's son come to Earth, I of course have many gifts, many talents."

"Like parting clouds in the sky?" Tan does her best to keep sarcasm out of her tone of voice. Probably fails!

"Mmm, let's just say I've got a sixth sense about certain things," he murmurs, ignoring the jab. "Something about you, Sharon. Just so you know, one of my guards is on a ham right now, asking about a brown-skinned chick who goes around wearing fancy and rare Prewar clothes. Checking you out. Got something you'd like to tell me?"

Taneesha says nothing. Wonders if her cover's been blown. But everything's cool. A moment later the second guard appears from the chapel, and gives a thumbs-up. Apparently, it's her clothes which bothered the prophet, not the fact she's on a mission to rescue some slaves. Her apparel is super-rare in the Wasteland; who knows what was on his mind. But the Talon's got nothing to report. Taneesha Jones is in the clear.

10:12 PM
After a few hours of wine-drinking (nothing sexual, thank the heavens), G Zuss, Tdekka, and the blonde-haired convert pass out. Both guards are also snoozing on bedrolls. The gal with the dark-colored hair is milling about somewhere, but she's probably too stoned to notice what's coming next. Time to get to work.

First thing Tan does is grabs a bobby pin from her hair, a penknife from her pack. She begins fiddling with G Zuss's safe. Just two pins are broken, a couple minutes go by before she picks the lock. She's in! And what she discovers doesn't surprise her. Firstly, a key. Second, a journal. Third, an enormous amount of bottlecaps. She steals the key and the journal, then slips away from the tent. She also grabs a half-worn police baton she finds on the ground.

Sneaking into the cemetery, she takes a moment to read the journal under the light of her device. Which is more of a ledger, actually. A list of foodstuffs, of items (such as the ham radio), but also, a description of persons. 'young, brownskin, boy' catches her attention most of all. Ah-ha!

And now that she's outside and it's also nighttime, she looks toward the sky. The Moon is out! Looks to be three-quarters full. Very good.

Time to search the chapel.

There is indeed a hatch in the floor, which Taneesha lifts, there's the ladder. It's entirely dark down there. She descends through the hatch, and presses presses the button on her Pip Boy 2500®. Light floods the vicinity. She finds herself in a metal-walled room, maybe thirty by twenty feet. The room is dominated by some sort of ancient generator; some sort of machine anyway. And straight ahead are what look to be the bars of a cell door.

"Oh lord..."

"Hey, who's there?" calls a child's voice. "Please don't take me tonight, I deserve another chance!"

Though she can't see who is speaking, it's definitely a boy. Taneesha rushes forward. The key she'd found fits the barred door, which swings open without a word.

"Hey, I'm not here to harm you!" she calls. A staircase is before her, which descends into what looks to be a cavern. The cavern is rather large; she has no idea which way to go. "It's dark in here," Tan says. "See my light? Just tell me where you are."

Surprisingly, the boy comes running toward her, along with several others. They'd been locked inside this underground cave, but aren't in individual cells.

"Who... who are you?" asks the boy. Definitely, he looks like he could be Dogmaster's son. "Sure you aren't one of them?"

"Oh *heck* no! I am not one of those doofuses, okay? My name's Taneesha and I'm here to rescue you."

"Oh thank you!" the boy's eyes are full of fear. "Was so worried I'd be... next."

"Next? What do you mean, next?"

The boy's about to answer, but stops. Exactly that moment, a grating sound scrapes from above. The hatch! Someone just opened it. As everyone freezes, a series of metallic footfalls come clambering down the ladder. clomp... clank... clomp...

"Stay still. Let me handle this." Taneesha says this aloud, not caring if anyone hears.


----------------------------------------

Brainwashed Follower

The Prophet prophecizes

Heading toward the Tent - (This scene was hilarious. I didn't make a path for them, so they all crashed into the tent, then walked in place before collision finally glitched, and Popped inside!)

Bobby Pin Breakin

The Underground Cell

The Captive Boy

🗝

[Acadian]

See, if she had a magic bag of holding, she could have brought that missile launcher. . . .

Yellow Sea! No wonder Taneesha is rolling her eyes. Kudos to her for not losing it though, or giving in to either laughter or violence. . . yet.

And she finds the Dog pup!

Uh-oh. Maybe I spoke too soon about the violence.

[SubRosa]

Uh boy, G Zuss really sounds like a handful. The Behind the Bastards podcast has done multiple episodes on Keith Rainere and his cult. So I know all about him. Just what I would expect. Taneesha even has to give up her new fake name and get a new one to become part of the cult. Well, she has to eventually earn one.

So the Talons are real Talons, on the payroll. It is nice to see Talon company actually working as mercenaries. In the game they just attack me, but never seem to actually work for anyone.

Oh yeah, I remember when Moses parted the Yellow Sea. All of China was talking about it.

You are absolutely right about cult leaders liking to starve their followers in order to make them more pliable. I see Tan is also concerned bout the possibility that might be drugging the food, which I would be paranoid about too.

G Zuss is rolling in the caps? My guess is that his 'donations' came from selling slaves. My guess is when people come to join his flock, he picks out the hot girls he wants to keep for his harem, and sells everyone else into slavery.

So it looks like Tan's fancy outfit was not only unnecessary, but also set off some red flags. Thankfully she skirted that situation however, and now has a hatch in the floor to investigate once everyone else has gone to sleep.

Taneesha found the prisoners! But someone else may have just found her! My guess is one of the Talon Company guards got suspicious, or is just doing a regular patrol. Either way, I sense a fight ahead!

[Lopov]

I laughed at first when I saw the title G Zuss and the pic with the man wearing a cape right under it. But the laughing passed as the prophet turned out to actually be a stinking slaver.

It's the Dogmaster's son - the Pupmaster.

I expected that someone will come to check out the place or maybe even someone followed Taneesha. I smell a fight ahead!

The key she'd found fits the barred door, which swings open without a word.

That's good else the door might reveal what Taneesha is doing.

[Renee]

@Acadian: Nope, no missile launcher and no Magical Bag of Holding! This is a Renee Roleplay; encumbrance is a big thing with me!

Yellow Sea, yes. I can only imagine how twisted G Zuss's sermon would've been had I written up the entire thing. Full of embellishments and half-truths. One thing which isn't mentioned is that none of his followers are knowledgeable about religious stuff. As we'll see, G is able to use this lack of firsthand knowledge to his advantage.

There is going to be some violence, this is the Spike channel after all, but it will... well, you'll see.


@SubRosa: A handful, yes. I should check out Behind the Bastards. It amazes me how otherwise intelligent, successful people sometimes get caught up in that crap. "I can wake you up at four in the morning and make you take cold showers" ... right then I'd be outta there, assuming someone swayed me to join in the first place. Same with their meager calorie intake. Wait, you're going to tell me what to EAT?

Yes, well at first I began thinking these religious nuts need protection; it makes no sense that they're just out there in Hallowed Moor and the mutants are gone. So I put some guards out there. What should they wear though? Decisions like this, I can't spend all day making them, the story needs to get posted! So I just put them in the first sets of armor which crossed my mind. But how would Talon Company fit into this scenario? Well money, of course. In lore they're all mercenaries. Where does the money come from though? Ah hah.

Janet Telia is still a Talon. In her game I've written all kinds of missions: kill missions, delivery jobs, she even occasionally must escort a n00bie somewhere, trying to keep him or her alive for full payment.

I see Tan is also concerned bout the possibility that might be drugging the food, which I would be paranoid about too

Nice. See, that's not mentioned. Tan threw the bread away merely because they are the ones who made it. She didn't suspect chems were involved, but as you'll see...

Very astute guess about the donations. *nods* And good guess about who's discovered her. I hope you'll return to writing soon, as I'm about to take a break.


@Lopov87: Nice, I'm glad my depiction of the Second Coming, under the guise of false prophecy, made you laugh. The entire scenes when G shows up and greets my toon, and then breaks the bread while Tan throws their food away, I was rolling when I read it later on.

Pupmaster... hmm...

That's good else the door might reveal what Taneesha is doing.

Did you notice the brahmin mewing in the meadow? And G Zuss taking three days to make a journey of approximately 50 meters? Probably other Sleakisms I've forgotten.

This post has been edited by Renee: Nov 8 2024, 04:53 PM

[Renee]

Episode 71: The Traitor's Betrayal

Date: Sunday, October 7, early morning


Tonight's sermon was good. A little fire and brimstone, plenty of persuasion and soapboxing, a smattering of quotes from the actual Bible to placate the newcomer, whom he learned had been raised Christian. G Zuss had wooed his flock into fervor once again. The newcomer in jeans seemed impressed. Yes, the preacher currently has just four followers, but given time others will come, just as they had in the past.

Hallowed Moor Chapel will become a parish; this is G Zuss's plan. Once word begins getting out about the Wasteland's newest place of worship, soon to be known as the Conclave of G Zuss, those seeking redemption and guidance shall arrive from all over. The number of persons he'll then have access to will only increase, along with his secret trade. Just as it had in the past.

"G Zuss", born in the year 2245 as Aaron Ray Stumphill, had studied the Bibles (New Testament and Old) in his youth, as well as the Quran, the Bhagavad Gita, various texts of Buddhism, whatever doctrinal material he could scrounge from the centuries-old library nearby. By the age of fifteen his knowledge of religious cultures was astounding. Aaron was completely fluent in doctrine, considered a master of scripture and sermonizing in his dinky hometown. The town's equivalent to a priest at the time eventually stepped aside.

But somewhere along the way, Aaron Ray began confusing his role as preacher with the actual Father in heaven he claimed to represent. ...Which wasn't entirely his fault. The kid had been getting so much praise, he had been idolized for so long! By the time he was twenty, let's just say the line between minister and Maker had become very blurred.

It hardly mattered anymore what he preached behind the altar. For one thing, he'd been blessed with a golden coif; the exact color hair of the Messiah. He grew a beard as puberty finished, and allowed his hair to get long, which pleased his congregation to no end. His flock, they ate it all up.

Aaron began improvising; deviating from scripture here and there (eventually more here than there). Then, all it took was to perform several 'miracles' upon strangers who weren't known to the local population, which raised Aaron's credibility as a healer and soothsayer. Aaron Ray Stumphill caused a blind man to see! Aaron Ray Stumphill caused a lame woman to walk! And so on. These things were staged of course, money had exchanged hands to make these 'miracles' possible, but why not?

It was called evangelism! ... In the Nineteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first centuries, plenty of preachers performed miracles before their audiences. This established credibility amongst those who were easily fooled; a combination of prophecy and show business, though the ultimate goal was often money, not spiritualism. Still, if rich folk like Billy Shaham and Tammy Gay Taker could do it, why not a poor boy from Kentucky?

Aaron began sharing the 'visions' he'd supposedly seen with his congregants. Didn't take long before he was able to pull the ultimate stunt; declaring himself to be the Second Coming, come to save all "sinners from the flames of eternal damnation (bla, bla, bla)". Aaron took his new name, the name which'd been prophesized for the past two-thousand-plus years, bastardized to hip hop terms. When it was his turn to die, he would arise from his deathbed after three days, he claimed.

Not everyone in town bought his scheme, however. His congregation began arguing the validity of his claims. Eventually, his flock became divided between believers and heretics. The dinky town's mayor (and sheriff) stepped in after shots were fired, and G Zuss was forced to relocate.

But enough followers remained under his (...command...) uh, guidance. His congregation continued to grow.

Individuals who were lost and vulnerable (and often cute) were those who'd be targeted the most. Money became a factor, along with "trade". Some of the poor souls who'd arrived seeking Him would go "missing" at times. They could be made to disappear for the right price; yet another of G Zuss's "miracles". No friends / no family? Who would miss them over time.

In the Year 2275 G Zuss's trafficking had caught the attention of a raider boss operating along the Potomac, and for a while the relationship between G Zuss and the boss had been a compatible one. A profitable one. But as things often go in the underworld, greed and backstabbing soon overruled business.


12:33 AM
G Zuss awakes from his bed with a start. Looks around the tent, his head slightly spinning. He'd had a bit too much to drink tonight! --- The occasion had called for celebration of course. How often is it that a stunning, provocative, potential convert wearing tight clothes literally appears out of nowhere?

Despite her enthusiasm, the lady hadn't been entirely... hmm. What is it about her, actually? ...Aaron "G Zuss" Stumphill cannot put a finger on what bothers him about the newcomer. Definitely, she is strong-willed. Confident. Not the usual listless loser he'd been wont to attract. Will this be a problem?

"She refused the wine," he mumbles.

The wine, which had been slightly spiked with Dohypnol. Not enough to knock everyone out, but enough to keep their full attentions at bay. When G Zuss orates they're going to see a spectacular vision after they've been boozed, chances are that's exactly what they'll witness. The babe in jeans (whom he refuses to acknowledge with a name) had refused to drink the wine for whatever reason, even after a couple attempts at persuasion.

"She'll be a challenge to consummate," G Zuss mutters, his voice shrewd and calculating, no longer melodious. "Well hey, been there before. I'm always up for a challenge."

Thing is, consummating her (convincing the little b---- to give up her name, her lifestyle, and her past, under the guise of religion) will likely be more than a challenge. G Zuss infers this to be so. Something about her.

"Must confer with Tdekka in the morning," he muses. Amazing that Tdekka, his most trusted apostle from the early days, is still with him. She's a wise woman. Tdekka is to G Zuss as our Twenty-first century Nancy Salzman is to Keith Raniere of NXIVM. Perhaps Sharon Tates shall soon become the equivalent of Smallville's Allison Mack, in our modern terms.

The prophet's gaze wanders about the tent. Stops at the bedroll where the jeans-wearing *strut* had crashed for the night. And then he notices: the *strut* is no longer here!

At this very moment, footsteps approach. Someone is nearing the tent.

"Cool. You're awake," says one of the Talon guards gruffly.

"What is it?" asks the prophet.

"Something going on in the undercroft, bro... think that chick who showed up earlier is fooling 'round down there."

"*Fudge!* Knew something was *messed up* about her."

G Zuss is losing his temper, which at first doesn't seem such a good idea. His façade has always been to at least appear caring and pacifistic. But then, he recalls the moments when Christ himself became angry, specifically the Book of John, chapter 2, verses 15 through 17...

...And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.”...

There. The Son of God, always tranquil and patient, had grabbed a 'scourge of cords' and then thrashed it about. Christ had used a weapon! He'd in fact lost his *kit* on several occasions, at least six times in the New Testament, is G's recollection. So relax. Let us become angry at the newcomer; she is a traitor, after all! thinks he. Wouldn't hurt to allow his flock to witness some ire from their leader.

By now, Tdekka and the unnamed girls are also awake. Woozy from the Dohypnol, but awake. Everyone's suddenly astir. Tdekka, G, and the guard discuss what to do about the situation.

As they leave the tent and move toward the chapel, only their prophet is fully aware of the truth.

-------------------------------------------------------

Notes: G's backstory sort of "surprised" me. I decided I had to write it up. I then split the chapter into two, just for my own attempt at headache avoidance. So right now it's 1,405 words according to WordCounter.net, my new favorite document editor. It'll be easier to focus on what's to come, this way, for y'all as well as me.

Final episode will be longer. More material will get written up, in an effort to maintain flow.

[Acadian]

Very interesting background on the G-man and how he came to be the piece of. . . work that he is.

Uh oh, that new hot chick’s foolin’ ‘round down in the undercroft.

Maybe Taneesha and the Dog pup and have already disappeared?

[SubRosa]

G-Man really is high on his own supply. I loved his thoughts on how impressed the newcomer was with his white hot rizz.

Yes, that golden blond hair, that *checks notes* Jews born in Palestine are so noted for. Yep, no notes there...

I like this run down of G-Zuss' past achievements, great and disastrous. Run out of town no less! Good for the people of the town.

So he did drug the wine! I knew it! This is the kind of guy who prompts every woman to cover their drink the moment he walks in the room.

Of course G-Zuss is totally down with the image of Jesus going all terminator in the temple. But he totally misses that it was all about greedy rich people exploiting others that had pissed him off. G-Zuss is literally the guy that Jesus would be scourging with that whip.

Looks like Taneesha is going to have her hands full in the undercroft. Hopefully she can take care of that first Talon and get out before reinforcements can arrive. Otherwise the parish might just perish.

[Lopov]

This story serves a prelude to the previous story, right? Now they're about to open the hatch...

An interesting backstory of G Zuss a.k.a. Aaron. He's quite an educated individual or maybe well-read is a better word. Too bad that his broad knowledge eventually led to his criminal activities though his viewpoint may differ, I guess.