A Necromancer in New Vegas
Chapter IV: Respite, or The Benefits of Aid
It was not long after his involvement in the skirmish that Arrelus found himself welcomed into the bar it had taken place in front of. The barkeep, a woman by the name of Trudy, offered him a mug of something he didn't quite catch the name of. It was alcoholic, technically speaking, but so weak compared to what he was used to in Skyrim that it tasted more like water than ale. He accepted it all the same though. It was never a good idea to turn away free food and drink, especially when you needed information.
Sunny and Ringo joined him, still thanking him for his intervention. There was also an older man that was introduced to him as Easy Pete who'd taken refuge in the bar during the scuffle. If what Arrelus had heard in hushed tones from other patrons was any indication, Trudy and Pete were about a hair's breadth away from adding another gun and copious amounts of dynamite to the fight had he not shown up.
"You're an awfully interesting character, Arrelus." Trudy mentioned as she cleaned a mug behind the counter. "Not many'd pop into a gunfight on so little information as Ringo must've given you. Then again, don't think there's many that could do what you did. So, what's your story? I caught the tail end of whatever it was you were doing with one foot out the door soon as I'd loaded up my shotgun and I ain't never seen anything quite like it in all my years."
Taking another drink from the mug, he gathered his thoughts. Arrelus was slowly becoming accustomed to the watered-down taste, but really hoped they had something far stronger in whatever other places he'd end up. "I am not from this place. What you saw was my magic; I can mold the energy within myself and enforce my will onto the world for various purposes. It can be used to maim and kill, as I did to those Powder Gangers, or to heal as I did with Ringo and Cheyenne. I was trying to contact a goddess in my world when my ritual was interrupted by a couple of ruffians with sword and ax. Whatever went awry caused me to end up here in the Mojave."
It wasn't necessarily a lie. Really, it was the quickest way Arrelus could have explained the events leading up to his exile from Nirn without going into details of his past that would surely bore them. "So, you're not an angel, but a priest." Ringo commented as he drank from his own mug. "I knew there was something holy about you, nonetheless. Either way, I really am in your debt, Arrelus. I don't know how I could ever repay you."
"The same goes for me." Sunny piped in. "You really saved our asses out there. Cobb would've probably killed us for sure. I would've taken out at least one or two, I'm sure, but there was just too many of them. You even pulled Cheyenne back from the Reaper, so there's no end to the gratitude that I have for you. If it's within my power, I'll do whatever I can for you." As she spoke, she leaned down and ran her hand through the fur atop Cheyenne's head as if to emphasize her point.
"At the moment what I really need is information." He admitted freely. "Angela has been quite forthcoming with me so far, but she doesn't really know quite as much as a local would." As he said that, Arrelus couldn't help but glance momentarily towards one of the tables. Angela had seemingly taken the opportunity to take a nap, her head atop her arms as she snoozed away in the bar without a care in the world. Well, given a little time any wounds she had should close up as Magicka coursed through her semi-undead body.
"I'm sure we can manage that much, at least." Sunny replied all too happily. The necromancer nodded appreciatively as he began to collect his thoughts. Things had gone quite a bit better than he could've hoped and it appeared they would be more than forthcoming so long as nothing he said or did implied that it would place Goodsprings in any danger. Well, he would like Goodsprings to remain safe as well. He knew that a village burned to the ground attracted looters, and that might lead someone, by happenstance, to the Ritual Stone.
No, his plans to begin building his armies would take him elsewhere. "I am curious about these Powder Gangers." He finally began. The memories of Angela, Cobb and Cox had coalesced to give him some idea of the situation. That said, it may still be incomplete at best, given Cobb was little more than an underling at present, and a prison slave very recently. "This prison north of Goodsprings, it was manned by the Californian Empire before they took control of it, and rather than send soldiers to quash the uprising they are content to leave it be?"
The locals and Ringo were quiet a moment. "Well, it's not so much that they're content to leave it be, I think." It was the merchant, rather than any of the villagers, that spoke. "From what I've seen of the NCR, they're stretched thin beyond reckoning. The troopers are only too happy to complain about things to anyone that'll lend an ear, you see. The Mojave Outpost, which is the closest base they've got to their country, is barely able to keep their soldiers equipped to deal with the local wildlife from what I remember. I was up there a week ago since the way north is having some Deathclaw issues."
Leaving aside whatever these Deathclaws were, Arrelus hummed in thought. "I see. So, the Californian Empire is having logistical issues. It's more practical to let their slaves roam free than to try and put them in their place. Whatever benefit their labor might provide is outweighed by the lack of resources they have to corral them. These Powder Gangers have taken the opportunity to prey on passing merchants like so many other common bandits then?"
"Raiders, the lot of them, yeah." Trudy's voice was full of contempt reserved for the lowest of criminal scum. "Ain't been a shortage of passerby to complain about them since they unshackled themselves and killed whatever guards didn't high tail it back to the Outpost. NCR ain't much better than schoolchildren. Unless you've got some rangers to keep 'em in line, they'll turn tail at the first sign of opposition. Biggest surprise is that this didn't happen sooner."
What the barkeep said did line up with Cobb and Cox's memories of the prison riot, if it could even be called that. The Californian Empire would perhaps be less of an issue than he first thought, depending on just how competent these Rangers that Trudy mentioned were. "Well, if I know bandits, and I've dealt with my fair share of them, they may seek revenge for the deaths of their own." Arrelus mentioned. "I'm unsure how their numbers and equipment stack up against those here in Goodsprings, but their mettle could probably make up the difference considering the defenders might be limited, at best, to three of you after Ringo leaves."
Trudy frowned at the accusation but didn't speak. Sunny similarly kept quiet at that point, petting Cheyenne a bit more. The lack of defenders had led to her companions' death, after all. "That said, I did say that I would help, and I intend to see the job out to the end." He interrupted the silence after a moment. He wanted the prison for himself anyways, and there was no downside to letting the people of Goodsprings believe he was doing it for their sakes. "Angela and I will head out tomorrow and take care of the rest of the Powder Gangers and clear out the prison. If the NCR won't clean up their mess, it'd be best to ensure that the roads are at least safe enough to travel since I may be in the area for some time."
"Usually, I'd have words for anyone bold enough to make claims like that, but I did see some of what you did before." Trudy noted as she took Arrelus' empty mug and refilled it. "With that group you took out gone, no way that the ones at the prison will have any idea what's coming for them though. You really do take care of them and I'm sure the people of Goodsprings can chip something of a reward in for your sake. Opening up the roads a bit more to traders and prospectors is always welcome 'round these parts."
The mage nodded. "I'll certainly keep that in mind. Though, I do have to ask if there are any lodgings in Goodsprings we might be able to borrow for the night. If not, we can make our way back to the cave we've settled in for the last few days. It would just make things a bit simpler if we could head out from Goodsprings itself in the morning rather than having to make the hike down at dawn and lose time."
"After what you've done and plan to do for the town? I think we can get something arranged for you and your companion without any problem."