^{See OOC tab for details.} The town hall was as packed with as many people as a small town like Startere could muster, all insisting to know what happened and brandishing telescopes and newspapers and other assorted things that didn't really have anything to do with the topic at hand. The excitement was building upon itself, causing the crowd to surge and intensify as time went on and even more rumors started flying around. With a little effort, the mayor managed to squeeze through the admittedly quite small crowd to stand behind the short podium at the front of the hall. After banging a comedically-oversized gavel on the podium a few times with no success at calming the really small and actually quite orderly crowd, he had Johnson, Startere's only police officer (who incidentally was also self-appointed), shout into a megaphone to get everyone's attention. "HEY! EVERYONE LOOK UP HERE AND YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED!" The megaphone screamed mechanically with every other word and everyone in the building stopped and covered their ears and some screamed. "Thank you, Johnson." The diminutive mayor cleared his throat and continued, his bushy white moustache shuffling as he spoke, "Fair citizens, over the past few weeks, we have all seen the bright lights flying over our town. And if you haven't seen it, you've surely heard it! I can't imagine how anyone could sleep through that blasted whooshing and whirring and buzzing." This comment was met with nods and murmurs of agreement throughout the crowd. "Last night, I decided that enough was enough, so I took matters into my own hands and shot the damned thing down, whatever it was. So today, we are putting together a task force to go investigate the crash." At this, the crowd started bubbling with activity again as everyone started talking about seeing what that thing was and "giving it a piece of their mind" and such comments. Johnson shouted into the megaphone again and everyone stopped talking again. The extremely short mayor continued talking. "We are looking for volunteers to come and help us figure out--" The crowd exploded again with statements like "I'll go!" and "Take me!", cutting off the mayor. For a third time, Johnson shouted into the megaphone, the squeals of which were again more effective than Johnson's shouting. The tiny mayor (who really could easily have been confused for a child if it wasn't for his white hair and wrinkles, I mean come on) continued again, more urgently this time. "Please know, we don't know what this thing is, so it could be dangerous! We need any volunteers to know this and be willing to charge headlong into danger nonetheless!" A slight, uneasy silence gripped the crowd. "So those who are willing to risk their lives for the sake of curiosity, please come forward and we'll figure out a plan!" Only three men came forward: Ronnie the general store owner, a gangly man with patchy stubble and a hammer looped into his gray canvas apron; Stewart, Harry's grandfather, a wrinkly old gentleman in a fancy-but-old-fashioned suit; and Hans, the gigantic foreign body builder who nobody knows how he ended up in Startere but who helps with construction and other heavy lifting jobs. "Oh, and you two, Isaac and Harry. You come, too! You two youngsters are the oldest youngsters in town, and you need to learn how to become men. So you'll be coming with us!" Stewart piped up, pointing at the boys as the crowd dispersed around them.

Isaac yawned, sleepy and slightly bored. He had been called on to investigate the crash that occurred when the mayor shot some mysterious bright lights in the sky. In all honesty, that was a stupid move. What kind of person tries to shoot down something that flies, glows and makes weird noises? It even crashed and a fiery explosion was what they got. Granted, the noise was annoying, but still, this wasn't how Isaac wanted to spend his Sunday. Isaac checked his pockets. When he had gone outside for the meeting, he secretly took some knives from the kitchen, just in case something like this happened. Next, there was a teddy bear, and a marshmallow he had planned on eating. Well, he wouldn't have to pull out his knives unless anything bad happened, and he didn't really need the other things. The other person called on to help was Harry, a boy 1 year younger than Isaac. Isaac knew Harry, and he was an alright person. He hadn't really talked to him that much, but Isaac didn't talk to many people that much anyway. The more the merrier, though. Right? If it was up to Isaac, he wouldn't have been at the meeting or whatever, but this expedition was for peace. And for peace... Isaac would do anything.

"Eh?" Harry raised an eyebrow as his grandpa demanded he join the investigation. "I'll go, old man. But do you have some loose screws in your head? It's way too risky for you." Harry didn't want to risk his grandfather getting injured on the trip, even if he did show his concern in a disrespectful manner. Besides, who knows what those lights could've been? Harry tipped down his hat enough to cover his hat. He had developed this habit with the belief that it would make him seem way cooler, but it kind of made him look a bit dorky. "Maybe you should just sit this one out, gramps." While his grandfather wasn't one to give up so easy, but it was worth a shot. Harry glanced at Isaac. He thought that the older boy was okay, albeit a bit of a wallflower in his opinion. They had never really hung out all that much, but he knew that Isaac was pretty loving of his family. He inspected his own supplies for the trips. All he had in his overalls was a stick and a couple of treats for the trip. While the stick wasn't all that great, it was the only thing he could find. Admittedly, Harry himself was very curious to find out what had actually crashed off in the distance and likely would've volunteered on his own either way. Although, couldn't help but feel as if his supplies were a bit weak, but they would have to do for now.

"Harry, remember what I've told you: a gentleman never runs from a challenge! And you, my boy, shall become a gentleman if it takes me the rest of my life!" Stewart replied hautily, sticking his nose in the air. And so, the party headed south, following the now-thin line of smoke that had been a billowing plume just hours ago. After passing the last few buildings in town (a dilapidated old house painted with ugly yellow paint, broken, boarded-up windows, and no visible door and an old gold trading outpost with a sign that read "Gold for your gold!"--nobody ever really knew what to make of that sign), they could see that the crash was about 2 miles away thanks to the utter flatness of the desert. Cacti dotted the path to the wreckage, and a few mangy coyotes and vultures could be seen wandering around aimlessly. As they walked, one of the cacti started moving its "arms", uprooted itself and started running toward the group at an alarming pace!

Name: Panicked Cactus Stats:

• Speed: 1
• Strength: 2
• Guts: 0
• Wits: 0
• Pointiness: 5

• 1. Isaac
• 2. Ronnie
• 3. Harry
• 4. Panicked Cactus
• 5. Hans
• 6. Stewart

Dice for Action Checks

As the cactus ran towards the group, Isaac ran ahead, drawing the larger one of his 2 knives. "Cactus incoming!" Isaac yelled. Isaac sliced at the cactus, wary of its spikes [rolled 2]. The knife was large enough to put distance between Isaac's hand and the cactus spikes, but it was too short to do great harm. Regardless, his knife drew blood, or whatever a cactus had for blood. It was clear that he hadn't done much, however. Isaac jumped back, hopefully out of reach of the now living cactus.

Ronnie tried to befriend the cactus by introducing himself. [Rolled 1] The cactus did not seem to notice his outstretched hand as inviting a handshake and instead pricked Ronnie. Ronnie yelped in pain.

Harry tried beating the panicked cactus with his stick! [Rolled 1] Harry misses the cactus!

The Panicked Cactus flailed wildly and fell over in [Rolled 3] Harry's direction. [Rolled 6, yikes, first roll!] SMAAAAAASH! The Panicked Cactus connects, landing directly on top of Harry, leaving cactus spikes all over him. Hans went to Throw the Panicked Cactus off of Harry. [Rolled 3] Without much effort, Hans lifts the cactus and throws it a few yards, where it lands with a thud. Stewart, at the sight of his grandson being pummeled, shouted, "Come now, Harry, old sport! Let's not let this stop us! Stand up!", tossing Harry a Peppermint and retreating behind Hans' massive frame. The Peppermint is cool and refreshing, and it numbs some of the pain from the cactus spikes protruding from Harry's body.

It's stupid. Isaac thought. But it's alive... The living cactus didn't seem all that smart. Even an animal would run away from the superior numbers. But if it was alive, then it could be killed... Isaac jumped at the cactus, bringing down his knife for a downward slashing strike. [rolled 5] His knife finds it's mark as Isaac goes down, tearing a large gash into the cactus. Isaac landed and jumped back. Stupid as the cactus was, it could still dish out some pain, as proven by the unfortunate Harry. He wouldn't appreciate cactus spikes sticking into his flesh.

"That wasn't very nice at all!" Ronnie shouted, pulling out his hammer and rearing back to prepare a strong swing. [Rolled 6] SMAAAAAASH!! Ronnie's hammer knocked off one of the Panicked Cactus's arms, severing it where one of Isaac's knives had previously cut! The Panicked Cactus seemed hollow inside, but it kept running around, though a little slower and still silently flailing its remaining arm. "Oh! Good show, old bean!" Stewart shouted, peering out from behind Hans' back and thrusting his fist into the air.

"Damn, that hurt!" Harry felt ashamed by that poor display. Poor show, gent! The peppermint did help stop some of the pain, but that dumb mistake really harmed his pride. Almost as much as the spikes! Harry jabbed the cactus with the stick! [rolled 4] The attack connected and the stick left a hole in the cactus. More of its juices were pouring out!

The Panicked Cactus is wishing it could run away! [Rolled 1] The Panicked Cactus tripped over its roots as it tried to run away and fell down on its...face? It's hard to tell. Anyway, it lay trembling on the ground, juices dampening the desert ground. Hans runs to the Panicked Cactus and grabs it, preparing for a Suplex! [Rolled 1] The Panicked Cactus' spikes dug deep into Hans' skin as he squeezed trying to lift it, causing him to cry in pain and release the Panicked Cactus. Stewart, now without a hulking body to hide behind, yelped and threw a rock he found on the ground! [Rolled 1] The rock traveled only inches from Stewart's outstretched hand, useless.

Were these guys serious? Isaac thought. Did Hans seriously try to suplex a cactus? Of course it would hurt. And Stewart through a rock, as if it would do anything. It was up to Isaac to finish the job. Isaac paced to the prone and bleeding cactus, squatting down raising his knife for the kill. [rolled 6] SMAAAAAASH!! Isaac brought his knife down, stabbing the cactus in its 'neck'. A swift movement and its 'head' was rolled onto the dusty floor. Isaac stood and stared at the twitching, bleeding cactus in front of him, cactus juices pouring out. A moving cactus... Isaac thought. This was surely a sign of strange times.

"What was up with that cactus?" Harry observed the cactus as it lay on the ground, barely moving and juices flowing out of it. "That isn't exactly something you normally see here..." Harry realized that he still had several spikes stuck all around his body. "These'll be a real mess to take out..." Harry has seen several instances of unfortunate children getting cacti spikes stuck to their fingers, the end result was always painful...

The Panicked Cactus stopped moving!The entire party earns 8 experience points. Inside the hollow husk of the Panicked Cactus, there was a Water Bottle. [Please decide who takes the Water Bottle in the next post.] The party took some time to regroup before moving on, Ronnie handing out Granola Bars (x2) to the injured Harry and Hans. "A true man embraces pain to make him stronger!" Hans shouted, his muscles flexing and his "R"s rolling, as he initially refused Ronnie's offer. Ronnie persisted, however, eventually shoving the Granola Bar into his mouth. "Yes, but a smart man finds ways to avoid it! Remember that, Harry!" Stewart cooed, brushing off his suit, which was already free of dust and not in need of dusting. "Oh my heavens, no! I've scuffed my shoes! Ruined! Ruined!" he lamented upon discovering a slight scuff on his almost mirror-like dress shoes. Once everyone was ready, they continued southward, and soon the wreckage was in sight. A large, metal orb about the size of a small house lay in a small crater in the desert floor, covered in deep dents. The smoke, which was now just a thin stream, was trailing out of what were clearly shotgun shot holes near the top of the orb, and different colored glass panels made two perpendicular rings all the way around the orb, many of the panels cracked or broken completely and revealing shattered light bulbs. A circular opening in the side of the orb seemed to be the only point of entry, and its hatch lay open on large, heavy-looking hinges. Upon closer inspection, two sets of footprints could be seen running east...

Harry rolled his eyes as his grandpa fretted over his shoes. He could be such a silly man sometimes! He chose to leave the water bottle to Isaac, not like he needed it or anything. Harry looked at the orb as they arrived, wondering what could have come out of it. "Hey, what in the hell's this thing?" He went closer to inspect it further. He saw the holes left by the mayor's shotgun and the smoke coming out of it. He noticed the opening in the side of the orb. Did some sort of monster from the sky come from here? Whatever it was, it was certainly very large. The footprints suggested that there were possibly two of them. His curiosity got the best of him, causing him to stick his head into the entrance to get a better look at the interior.

Isaac pocketed the bottle of water left to him. He'd probably just put it in the fridge later. What concerned him more was the mysterious metal construct that had crashed outside of their town. Undoubtedly, this was the wreck of a UFO, because they didn't know what it was, it was an object, and it flew (or at least, it used to). This would likely gain the attention of the government, and a hush-up would probably be in order. In fact, the fact that it crashed near their town would likely bring a world of annoyance to the quiet town, which Isaac didn't want. Isaac was of 2 minds in this, reporting it to the authorities and getting the government to take action, or not letting them know and hiding the truth. Letting the government know might result in a clean-up and cover-up of the situation and Isaac would never have to bother with it again. Or, it could result in a quarantine of the town and questioning. That was likely, considering there were footprints leading east. That was where the second option came into play, keeping it secret. If the government knew nothing, they would do nothing. But that had a low chance of sucess, and the government had probably already sent something their way to deal with it. Both options looked as if to turn the lives of the town upside-down. Isaac's face went dark for a moment. [Laid-backness -1. Blood lust +1] If this incident would break the peace of the town, then he just had to do something about it. Isaac looked around first. For now, he couldn't do anything. He had to investigate the crash for more information, or chase the footprints east. If he had more information, the path ahead would be clear. First, however, he had to see what the others were doing.

As Harry peeked his head inside the orb, he saw a metal paneled floor that was slightly angled from the way it had crashed, a solid sheet metal wall that seemed to perfectly bisect the orb, and a ladder that again bisected the wall, stretching down through a hole in the floor and up through a hole in the ceiling. He could see that there was something on the other side of the wall through the ladder, but there was no way to get around the ladder from here. The hole in the floor seemed to suggest that one would need to climb down all the way and climb back up the other side of the ladder to get to the other side of the wall. An odd design. Looking left and right, he saw the inner walls of the orb were lined with rectangular metal counters jutting out from the wall, apparently just welded in place at their corners, as the curve of the orb left gaping holes behind behind the perfectly straight backs of the rectangles. The mess of broken pots and dirt and plants and scraps of paper and glass cluttering up the corners and foot of the wall around the ladder seemed to suggest that some objects had shifted from the countertops during the crash. To the right of the ladder, lying on the floor with a broken frame, was a framed poster of a 1800's-style portrait of a bearded man in what looked like (but wasn't) a Confederate general's uniform from the American Civil War. The hook on which the painting had been hanging seemed to be holding something else that glinted in the faint light streaming through the hole, but Harry couldn't see what it was from where he stood (hung? The opening was about 6 or 7 feet off the ground) in the opening. "Well, this is certainly intriguing!" Stewart mused, squeezing his monocle closer to his eye and squinting from a safe distance. "Harry! Be careful up thayer!" Ronnie drawled in the incredibly friendly way that he always spoke. "Do yuh see annehthin' innerestin'?" he asked as he scurried up the side of the orb to look inside with Harry. Hans simply stood there by Isaac, admiring his biceps as he flexed.

"Yeah!" Harry called out to Ronnie. "I've never seen anything like this before!" Harry climbed into the opening and went farther into the pod, noticing how foreign everything looked. He took a few more steps inside. Noticing the broken frame on the floor, Harry picked up the poster to examine it further. It looked really anachronistic, maybe Stuart had some idea of what it was? The old man was always a very smart and cultured type of guy, it would be no surprise if he was able to identify the image. He rolled it up and stuffed it in his pocket to check out later. He looked at the ladders that showed the other the other side of the room. It seemed like all he would need to do was climb a bit before reaching the next room. Once again, adventure called to him! He certainly took after his grandfather in this regard. Harry grabbed onto the ladder and climbed down it, curious to find out more about this place.