"Well you've been causing quite a stir since you woke up. Glad to finally meet you. Welcome to the Prospector Saloon." "I overheard your argument with that guy. What was that all about?" "Looks like our little town got mixed into something we didn't want to be mixed in. About a week ago, this trader, Ringo, got into town. Survivor of an attack, he says. Bad men are after him needed a place to hide. We figured he was just in shock, so we gave him a place to lie low for the time being. But we didn't actually expect anybody comin' after him." "Where's he now?" "He's holed up at the abandoned gas station up the hill."
"Why not just kill the guy instead?" "You mean murder him? That's not our way, even if Cobb is a scum. He can bluster and threaten us all he wants but we won't budge." "Well… what would you do?" "Some of the folks, like Sunny, will probably stand up for Ringo if he asked of which he hasn't. Personally, I hope he sneaks out of town one night and takes the powder gangers with him." "Who are the Powder Gangers, any way?" "Chain gangs, really. The NCR hired 'em to work on the rail lines. Problem is the NCR gave 'em dynamite. It was a big escape not too long ago. Some of 'em stuck together so they could make a ruckus. And that's what we're dealing with now." "Anything else interesting going on in the Mojave? Or is the Powder Gangers all there is?" "There's always something interesting happening here. But the biggest news is the upcoming brawl between the Legion and NCR over at Hoover Dam."
"What happens if I help Ringo?" "Well if you were able to help Ringo out of this mess, you'd have a good reputation here in Goodsprings. I'd set you up with a discount even. Of course helping Ringo would just attract some unwanted attention from the Powder Gangers and they've got a lot of friends out in the wasteland." "Who's the guy you were arguing with again?" "Well for starters he's a convict just one without his chains. Said his name was Cobb. "Powder Gangers" is what they call themselves and there are dozens more out there in the wasteland." "Well other than Cobb, I'm trying to catch up with the guys who shot me. Got any info?" "Not much, only a bunch of freeloaders who expected a couple of free rounds but I got 'em to pay up nonetheless. Of course one of the Great Khans did knock my radio down "by accident" and damn things not working ever since." "Did they spill any info where they were headed?" "They were all arguing about something but with all the shouting I couldn't hear anything. The guy in the checkered coat kept shushing 'em, I expect that'd be the leader. Sounded like they came north from the Quarry Junction; if that's the case I don't blame them for not wanting to go back." "Why's that?" "That whole area's filled to the brim with critters that just get mad if you shoot 'em. Merchants avoid that whole area of I-15 like it's radioactive. Which it could be for all I know" "So where were they headed?" "Like I told you I couldn't hear anything clearly but the checkered coat was talking about the Strip. Fella wants to get there and avoid the 15; he'd have to go east. Take Highway 93 up." "You want me to take a look at your radio?" "Sure, the outside looks fine but I think it's something broken in the inside. There'd be caps in it for you. I always like to hear what's happen around the world. And that Mr. New Vegas seems like such a gentleman." "Alright I'll take a look." "Alright I'll trust you." I headed over to the radio and examined it and the outside was fine and dandy but after examining the internal components they were broken but this wouldn't be a difficult repair job and after doing some repairs it was fixed. "I fixed the radio." "Yeah I heard it start right after you did your handiwork. Here are a few caps for the trouble." "50 caps only, look I'm trying to be modest but the repairs that I did to the radio would at least give me more." "Not at all; I'm never sure how much these things cost but here's a few more caps in return for the work, that should be enough. And how about spending those caps in the saloon" "No thanks I got to use 'em wisely since I only have small amount." "Well I hope I see you back here in the saloon."
Mojave
I walked out of the saloon and walked to the gas station where Trudy said Ringo was but before going inside I saw a sunset sarsaparilla vending machine and looted the remaining bottles inside and got at least 5 bottles of the sugary root beer.
Goodsprings Gas Station
"That's close enough. Who are you, and what do you want with me?" "Hey, hey; I'm not an enemy I'm a friend" "Oh! Sorry about the gun you just caught me off guard and gave me a little fright, that's all. We got off on the wrong foot how about a nice game of Caravan, know how to play?" "Do you know a man by the name of Joe Cobb who's also by chance looking for you?" "Yeah, he doesn't give me any frights though. I hear he's afraid I'll shoot him from one of the windows when I catch a glance of him and he's right. But I can only handle one of 'em at once and they don't play fair." "What're you going to do about it?" "I'm gonna lay low for as long as I can until those bastards either forget about me or don't care, assuming the town doesn't throw me to the wolves that is. I've got no chance against the gang on my own." "You need a friend, well you got one." "Well that's swell; all I've got on me as payment is a handful of caps, but you get me out of this, and I'll make sure the Crimson Caravan pays you back. You've got my word." "So… what now" "We'd just share the same god forsaken grave if it were just the two of us. Now, if some of the folks in town were also on board…" "You don't think I can handle myself in a gunfight?" "Actually I was thinkin' about myself really. Who's goin' to watch my back while I watch yours?" "I'll try to get as much assistance we'll need around town." "Start with Sunny Smiles. She's the friendliest one around here." Ringo started making a plan for the incoming battle while I took the liberty to "borrow" a copy of the survival magazine "Lad's Life" to 'prepare' myself for future moments where I am forced to cook and make ammo or even weapons.
Goodsprings
I walked to the Prospector Saloon but in between going to the saloon I overheard a radio that the DJ maestro of Radio: New Vegas aka Mr. New Vegas. "I heard over in the town of Goodsprings that a courier was shot twice in between his eyes by surprise, and surprise, surprise he was recently reported to have been spotted to be helpin' the town…. *Blah blah*…." I was surprised how fast information got over to the Strip I was even surprised that news was even broadcasted. I continued to the Prospector Saloon.
Prospector Saloon
"Hey… still sticking around Goodsprings for a while longer" "I'm helping Ringo and we need your marksmanship to take on the powder gangers." "Say no more I'm in." "That fast?" "Cobb always rants about leaving us if we handed them over Ringo but I know he's not the type to leave a weak prey. He and his friends will come after us eventually. However between me, you and Ringo, we aren't exactly enough to be feared of by Cobb and his goons; a lot of people around here trust Trudy. If you could convince Trudy to help us, some of the folks in town might help us in our fight. I know Easy Pete keeps a box of dynamite somewhere and Chet just got a shipment of leather armors. Talk to them first after talking with Trudy. Lastly ask Doc Mitchell if he could give us some stimpaks because I know some bullets will hit us." "Alright I'll try and get as much help as possible." "I'll be waiting." "So you're planning on taking Joe Cobb and his marry men of Powder Gangers, huh. It's a big risk, but I suppose you do what you have to do." "You should help us out, Trudy. Bullets corpses and probably explosions it'll be tons of fun!" "I was planning on sitting around and just watch. But for some reason I can't help but like you, alright you got my side. Let me have a few words with some of the folks in town who are willing to join this militia you're creating. While everyone owns a gun, I advise you to go to Chet, owner of the General Goods Store near here, and ask him if he could 'donate' some of his guns to us. It's better to be equipped with better weaponry than to have guns that could only pierce Gecko hide." "Thanks Trudy." "Be careful out there."
Right outside Prospector Saloon
"Well we talk once more… What can Easy Pete do for you today?" "I heard you got a box of dynamite. We're fightin' the Powder Gangers and it would be great to have some of it." "It's too dangerous having you young folk even touch it, better off having it rot in a hole than have it used once more – safer that way." "I'm familiar with the care and handling of explosives including dynamite." "Uh huh; Guess you know what you're doin'. I'll go dig it up and get it ready." "Goodbye." "You'll have the dynamite once fightin' starts."
Goodsprings General Goods Store
"Lookin' to buy some supplies?" "Actually I need you to 'donate' some leather armor and guns to fight the Powder Gangers." "Now hold on a minute! I never voted on fighting the Powder Gangers. If you'll need armor and weaponry than in exchange I need some investments." "Sure let them take the town and you'll get your caps but someday they'll just gut you like a Gecko and steal your shipments." "Okay! Okay… you made your point. I can provide the town with some leather armor and extra ammo. I hope that'll be enough to fend off those raiders. And, uh, I'll be guarding the store while all the bullets go flyin'. Gotta put my business first, you gotta understand." "Thanks." "Be sure to kill all of 'em." I was given a .357 revolver, 50 Magnum rounds and leather armor as a token from Chet. Doc Mitchell's House "Welcome back! I had hoped you wouldn't have come see me so soon. So… what can I do for you?" "Doc… the town's going to be attacked by a group called the 'Powder Gangers' and uh… we could use some stimpaks." "Sad… everywhere I go I always see people fightin' others because they want somethin'. I'm not good in a fight, with my bum leg. And my supplies are scarce but I'll give as much as I can." "Sorry Doc but… you got anything for serious injuries. They'll use explosives like dynamite." "I got somethin' for those but I can only spare 2 of it. I'm sorry but that's all I can spare for now." "Thanks Doc." "Take care now. And don't get yourself killed."
Goodsprings
On the way to Ringo I bumped into Victor again and with his robotic strength I asked if he could help us in the fight. "Victor…. there will be a fight in town later and it would be great if you could help us win it." "Sorry, Partner. But my circuits are broken and those circuits are for fightin' and stuff so I'll just be useless in a fight like that." "Oh! Well get somewhere safe because this fight will get destructive." "Thanks for the heads up partner I hope you make those bandits run." "Sure will Victor."
Gas Station
"So what's goin' on did Sunny agree to help us?" "I didn't just get Sunny assist us; I almost got the whole town to assist us." "Well hot dang we'll make Joe Cobb and his friends run like chickens later." "We sure will. You ready?" "All right, I'm ready. I hope." Sunny ran as quickly as she could to us. "Time to ready your guns, the Powder Gangers are here and they're ready to play." "How many are there?" "At least six, Joe Cobb included. They look pretty mean." "I'm ready." "Oh! Easy Pete came through with the dynamite. Here's your supply. Hope I don't blow myself up. I'll set up near the store; hope the gang doesn't make it that far." Goodsprings Joe Cobb and his 5 Powder Gangers were ready to shoot their revolvers at anyone. Once they saw me they rained bullets at me but with my speed I ran as fast as I could behind cover, Ringo was next to me while Sunny took cover near the store. Don't know where Trudy and her friends were so I had to step up and use my marksmanship to stall them for long enough. I took out the varmint rifle first picked out the crazies wielding goddamn butcher knives. Each one took 1 bullet to the head but I missed some shots but I got each of them in 5 minutes. Joe Cobb and the ones using revolvers and rifles were close enough to the Prospector, by now I'll have to switch to the revolver. I ignited a dynamite and threw it hoping it will either kill some of 'em or stagger them with the noise, 1 died from the explosion from blood loss after losing his right arm and his hearing while Joe Cobb and 2 others were now on their knees with a never ending ringing sound in their heads for a few seconds. I used this opportunity to run like a cheetah and shoot them while they were down; I only have 5 seconds at most until they got up. Joe Cobb was taking cover at the Prospector Saloon while the two goons were at a rock all three of them lined up for a shot. With the speed I was going I had to roll and mid-air fire the gun in a perfect angle and… *BANG* the goons heads went rolling by with their necks pierced by the force of the Magnum round but the angle wasn't perfect and Joe Cobb just got a bullet to his shoulder. "AHHHH, GODDAMN COURIER! YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT KID… I SHOULD'VE KILLED YOU WHEN I FIRST MET YOU IN THAT SALOON!" The former gang boss was now lying on sand and crying with tears running down his face and his shoulder gushing out blood staining his NCRCF jacket, bulletproof vest and undershirt. "Please don't kill me! Look you want caps, I got tons of it! Look I can pay you to be rich enough to live in the Strip for a year! Just… just please *Painful moan* get me to a doctor and I'll give you everything I have" I reloaded my revolver… the sound of the gun's cylinder covered the silence in the air. "For all the things that you did and could've done… No second chances for the wicked." *BANG* *BANG* *BANG* Joe Cobb's screams ceased but his blood continued to gush out like a river. After that moment I would be vilified by the Powder Gangers and Idolized by Goodsprings.
"I owe you a HUGE favor for this – here these are technically Crimson Caravan funds but I know they'll understand once I'll explain things over to them." "I thought you couldn't pay." "I did have what was left of the Crimson Caravan money, but I wasn't sure if it was my right to instantly give it to you once you said you'd help me. I owe you more than that though. Look me up at the Crimson Caravan camp up in New Vegas if you ever visit." I was given 100 caps by Ringo as reward for fighting Joe Cobb, with the Powder Gangers of his tail, Ringo could be at ease but because of current events happening between the Caravan companies, he couldn't go back to the Crimson Caravan camp up north and was forced to lay low in Goodsprings in the Prospector for a while. I looted what was any of value to me at the time; from what I got I had 2 single shotguns, 18 20 Gauge rounds, 20 dynamite, 6 20 Gauge Hulls, 2 Varmint Rifles, 11 5.56mm Cases, 57 5.56mm rounds and 189 caps (18 from the goons and the rest from Joe Cobb). I went to Chet and sold excess loot such as 1 shotgun and 1 varmint rifle.
Prospector Saloon
Sunny, Ringo, Trudy and all the others were celebrating the victory against the Powder Gangers but before I left and said my goodbyes I had to ask Sunny if she knew a way to Primm. "You were great at gunning those Powder Gangers and that dynamite was genius!" "Know a road that could easily take me to Primm?" "Yeah, take the road southeast out of town till it hits the freeway. Primm is the town with the roller coaster, straight south. You won't miss it. NCR rangers and patrols keep the freeway clean of raiders but I'd have my gun loaded and near my hand because you won't ever know who you'll meet up at the freeway. Off road you might encounter some dangerous critters and as rare as they maybe, deathclaws can come up near there so stay on the freeway as much as possible." "Well gott any jobs… I'm a little on short of caps." "Nope, none that I know off, well there is scavenging and over at the old schoolhouse has something of value. Most of it is junk but there's a safe even Easy Pete's dynamite couldn't even crack." '*Laughs* I already cracked it.' "- If you want to take a shot at it, take these." Sunny gave me a lockpicking magazine called "Locksmith's Read" and 3 bobby pins. "Actually I already cracked the safe when I went there for the Xander root." "Oh! Well go ahead and keep the stuff I gave you. It'll be more useful in your hands than mine." "Well goodbye." "Until next time, I hope we meet again."