Dr. Antiquity [played by Stephane Bonetti] and Artemis [played by Lonni Holland]

Part Two: "We're not in Kansas anymore..."

Yes, someone did mention this phrase during play. It was Doc Antiquity/Stephane actually (he just beat the rest of us to it first).

The PCs did a quick recon of the courthouse and secured their prisoner with an extension cord salvaged from a closet. They began asking their captive a ton of questions as they tempted to figure out what was going on.

They learned that their captive was a Skyraider known as VOJTEK of the clan, O-ZAR. He spoke broken English with a heavy Eastern European (Czech) accent. He was hostile to the PCs, but was even more hostile when his fellow Skyraiders were mentioned. Their actions (by leaving him behind) has disgraced his honour. He blames this dishonour on a rival Skyraider clan (clan TARKUS) bribing his fellow clansman.

When asked about the Skyraider activities, VOJTEK spits at the PCs and tells them that the whole area is cursed. "Many moons ago, this strange Downsider city appeared floating in the sky." Skyraiders, being the kings of the sky, began raiding the city for potential slaves. The PCs learn that any slaves caught would be taken to the cliff-city of KULAN-TITH (located approx 4 miles west).

But that isn't the only problem facing the PCs. They also learn from VOJTEK that an organization known as TOOTH & CLAW have also expressed an interest in the Downsider town. They have taken residence in the North-West portion of Ashland and are making systematic excursions into other parts of the town. They have been rounding up Ashland natives (not the ones that the Skyraiders have been poaching) and something is happening at the Ashland High School (a large force of TOOTH & CLAW has taken residence inside the high school).

Further questions about the nature of TOOTH & CLAW reveal that they are a theocratic brotherhood/army dedicated to THE PARADOX KINGS. Who or what the PARADOX KINGS are is still a mystery. While the PCs learn that the Skyraiders rule this world from above, they do not mess with TOOTH & CLAW (who have located a citadel on this planet).

The PCs decide that a quick recon is needed to get a lay of the land. Artemis flies into the sky to get a look around while Dr Antiquity kept an eye on their Skyraider captive. The view that Artemis saw was breathtaking. She saw the town of Ashland floating on an island of rock (its original rockbed/earth) high in the air. Here is a pic of the view (looking westward):

After the aerial recon, Artemis returns to the Clark County Court House and begins planning the next move with her Zero Agent partner, Dr. Antiquity. VOJTEK tells them that they don't stand a chance against TOOTH & CLAW (also known as the BROTHERHOOD). What TOOTH & CLAW wants, they take. This branch of TOOTH & CLAW serve someone known as GALAHAD (one of the PARADOX KINGS?). Another name was mentioned... someone or something known as BRUTACUS.

While the PCs were deciding what to do, they heard the floor boards above them shift and creak. This surprised them since they thought they had the building to themselves. They secured their prisoner and headed for the second story. Upstairs, they found a shaken and frightened male with a ragged & torn US Postal Service uniform. He introduced himself as DAVID CASEY and it became clear that he was a shaken by the whole affair (DAVID thinks that the Czech-sounding Skyraiders prove that the Russians are behind this whole situation).

The PCs regroup downstairs and try to figure out what to do next. General consensus is they should check out the high school but before they can do so, someone (I forget who actually) notices, from the nearby window, of an approaching squad of four soldiers. These troops are fierce looking and are armed with equally nasty looking rifles. They are humanoid in appearance with violent swashes of colour as tattooes and spikey, boney ridges along their jaws/skulls. Dr Antiquity surmises that these soldiers appear to be descendants from Neanderthal stock (they are investigating the area because they saw Artemis flying about earlier).

Artemis approaches VOJTEK and asks him for his help against the soldiers. He tells them that they are TOOTH & CLAW and they have no hope of surviving. She asks VOJTEK that if they give back his weapons (a machine pistol and a sword), will he fight with them? VOJTEK is hesitant but then Artemis vows that they will free him if he fights against these TOOTH & CLAW here & now. He agrees. She has him swear on his clan's honour and the three characters prepare to take on the neanderthal soldiers (David Casey remains hidden in the courthouse because he is a coward ).

Combat ensues with Artemis taking to the air and throwing Lightning bolts at her targets and Dr Antiquity bashing his enemies with his enchanted hammer, Vulcanus Malleus (Vulcan’s Hammer). VOJTEK uses his machine pistol with little effect and eventually draws his sword and closes into HTH combat. During the combat, our heroes overhear VOJTEK curses at one of the TOOTH & CLAW goons for killing his family. Both sides take some damage, but eventually our heroes are victorious. VOJTEK nods at the PCs and then walks away into the night.

The PCs regroup in the court house (whose front door has been shot to pieces). Now they have four TOOTH & CLAW prisoners (two are unconscious while two are still awake) and that's it for another session.

To be continued in Issue Three.