Nipton
Nipton had not been subjected to mass murder in this alternate universe; although Vulpes Inculta would certainly prefer it if the town of thieves and whores had been subjected to his planned 'lottery'. Instead, he had to be content with the mayor being burnt alive, the Powder Gangers being decapitated, and the NCR soldiers peacefully strangled when it turned out they knew nothing of importance, before being dumped into a mass grave. Now, servants of the Artificer King Actus, client of the New Legion, had been sent to the town to turn it into a deathrap for the inevitable NCR counterattack, preparing state-of-the-art defenses, including land mines, bear traps, and spiked pits, with the town's populace watching on as they were turned into human shields.
When those profilgates came, the New Legion would be ready...
Jeffery Wagner - Camp McCarran
Jeffery Wagner would receive orders from the higher-ups through a coded letter, who, to other eyes, would read like a set of average poetry - not too bad, not too good - but to someone who possessed the Cabal's codes, would tell a rather...different message.
Nipton has been occupied by the Legion, who seek to set a trap for a presumed NCR counterattack. Disappoint them; there are any number of expendable assets. And by that, he was to hire or trick mercenaries, gangs that would otherwise be the enemy of the NCR, or even some of Mr. House's more ambitious goons to attack Nipton and get themselves killed. This would also keep the NCR and the Cabal's name out of it, a bonus.
Paradise 'Par' Rapids
Paradise 'Par' Rapids was looking for a thief. Not because anything of his' was stolen or because he felt the need to punish someone for something, but because he needed a thief's services. Why? Because he'd been chasing rumors of his company, the Crimson Caravan, doing unsavory stuff that might get the head brought down by the NCR higher-ups should word get back to them. Said rumors, if true, might bring him up the ranks again, which in turn, would help him steer the Crimsons down the 'right' path once more.
So, he had used his contacts among the Kings to search for someone who might help him, someone who knew how to be discreet, not excessively bloody, and finally, knew the meaning of consistency; not loyalty, but consistency.
And so he would wait, wait for anyone who wanted to take up his offer...
((This 'plot hook' can be followed by any PC/Major NPC with SPECIAL stats who isn't already taking another job))
The Muted Man - Vegas Strip
With the various Couriers sent to get the Platinum Chip dead, the Muted Man, Mr. House's most capable servant in this alternate universe, now had a new job; find out what became of the chip, and get it back, by any means possible. His contacts at Goodsprings would already be hearing reports that a person matching Benny's description had been seen at the scene, with more confirmation to be had at Primm, where one of his agents had destroyed a nest of those damn Powder Gangers and acquired information from Deputy Beagle - wait, just Beagle now that Primm Slimm had become sheriff.
Should he move now, or should he wait for more evidence? On the one hand, every moment the Platinum Chip was lost meant a continued NCR presence. On the other hand, the evidence was hazy, still hazy...
Elsewhere in the Wasteland
There is a spike in the number of Feral Ghouls, and various figures have offered a reward for their heads, or in one case, a 'live sample'.
Joshua Graham, who in this universe, had remained the Malpais Legate, was offering good caps and purified water for each Ghoul head, as well as the good graces of the Legion. Surprsingly even for this relatively less sexist alternate Legion, female adventurers were offered the job as well.
NCR Commander Boone, whose wife and child were still alive in this universe, had issued a similar offer, basically Ghoul heads for caps, purified water, and of course, a favor from the NCR in the future.
And finally, Jason Bright of the Bright Brotherhood had sent a message to the effect that those who captured a live ghoul for him would receive...his or her weight in Energy Cells! This would be useful for those who used Energy Weapons and them alone, though...
((Anyone can take up these plot hooks if they're not already doing something else))
@chiru@Hopeless@ClocktowerEchos@Wernher@chiru@thegreenleafe@APRoll201984@Vulkan
Nipton had not been subjected to mass murder in this alternate universe; although Vulpes Inculta would certainly prefer it if the town of thieves and whores had been subjected to his planned 'lottery'. Instead, he had to be content with the mayor being burnt alive, the Powder Gangers being decapitated, and the NCR soldiers peacefully strangled when it turned out they knew nothing of importance, before being dumped into a mass grave. Now, servants of the Artificer King Actus, client of the New Legion, had been sent to the town to turn it into a deathrap for the inevitable NCR counterattack, preparing state-of-the-art defenses, including land mines, bear traps, and spiked pits, with the town's populace watching on as they were turned into human shields.
When those profilgates came, the New Legion would be ready...
Jeffery Wagner - Camp McCarran
Jeffery Wagner would receive orders from the higher-ups through a coded letter, who, to other eyes, would read like a set of average poetry - not too bad, not too good - but to someone who possessed the Cabal's codes, would tell a rather...different message.
Nipton has been occupied by the Legion, who seek to set a trap for a presumed NCR counterattack. Disappoint them; there are any number of expendable assets. And by that, he was to hire or trick mercenaries, gangs that would otherwise be the enemy of the NCR, or even some of Mr. House's more ambitious goons to attack Nipton and get themselves killed. This would also keep the NCR and the Cabal's name out of it, a bonus.
Paradise 'Par' Rapids
Paradise 'Par' Rapids was looking for a thief. Not because anything of his' was stolen or because he felt the need to punish someone for something, but because he needed a thief's services. Why? Because he'd been chasing rumors of his company, the Crimson Caravan, doing unsavory stuff that might get the head brought down by the NCR higher-ups should word get back to them. Said rumors, if true, might bring him up the ranks again, which in turn, would help him steer the Crimsons down the 'right' path once more.
So, he had used his contacts among the Kings to search for someone who might help him, someone who knew how to be discreet, not excessively bloody, and finally, knew the meaning of consistency; not loyalty, but consistency.
And so he would wait, wait for anyone who wanted to take up his offer...
((This 'plot hook' can be followed by any PC/Major NPC with SPECIAL stats who isn't already taking another job))
The Muted Man - Vegas Strip
With the various Couriers sent to get the Platinum Chip dead, the Muted Man, Mr. House's most capable servant in this alternate universe, now had a new job; find out what became of the chip, and get it back, by any means possible. His contacts at Goodsprings would already be hearing reports that a person matching Benny's description had been seen at the scene, with more confirmation to be had at Primm, where one of his agents had destroyed a nest of those damn Powder Gangers and acquired information from Deputy Beagle - wait, just Beagle now that Primm Slimm had become sheriff.
Should he move now, or should he wait for more evidence? On the one hand, every moment the Platinum Chip was lost meant a continued NCR presence. On the other hand, the evidence was hazy, still hazy...
Elsewhere in the Wasteland
There is a spike in the number of Feral Ghouls, and various figures have offered a reward for their heads, or in one case, a 'live sample'.
Joshua Graham, who in this universe, had remained the Malpais Legate, was offering good caps and purified water for each Ghoul head, as well as the good graces of the Legion. Surprsingly even for this relatively less sexist alternate Legion, female adventurers were offered the job as well.
NCR Commander Boone, whose wife and child were still alive in this universe, had issued a similar offer, basically Ghoul heads for caps, purified water, and of course, a favor from the NCR in the future.
And finally, Jason Bright of the Bright Brotherhood had sent a message to the effect that those who captured a live ghoul for him would receive...his or her weight in Energy Cells! This would be useful for those who used Energy Weapons and them alone, though...
((Anyone can take up these plot hooks if they're not already doing something else))
@chiru@Hopeless@ClocktowerEchos@Wernher@chiru@thegreenleafe@APRoll201984@Vulkan