THE BURNING SANDS--A Mutant Future Scenario Part 3

THE BURNING SANDS
A Mutant Future scenario
(c) Jerry Harris, 2013

Index


THE WHITE DESERT


The Setup

The White Sands national monument has vastly expanded on this side of the Organs. A sea of glittering white sands blinds the group as they crest the pass. It is a vast, inhospitable wasteland with sparse vegetation, dangerous mutated creatures and high radiation in places. Only a rough, mangled road is a semi-safe corridor: a thin, black line in the white sand. Only a few small oasis permit any humanoid life.

Roadside Attraction:

The party sees a Jackalope (Rabboxen) herd foraging nearby. Hunting them could provide possible food and pelts for barter. Attempting to recover a shot Jackalope, brings them next to a Screech Bush. The ground suddenly quakes. The next round, a Purple Worm appears. First, it will swallow the corpse. It will chase the group until it reaches the road and will then burrow off.

Scenic Rest Area:

The Skullf*ckers were a group of biker mutants, who squatted in the old White Sands Visitor’s Center. Past tense. Their camp is now a smoldering ruin from a recent attack.

Upon entering the camp, another Screech Bush goes off. This draws a Giant White Horned Lizard. It attacks from surprise due to its natural camouflage, even though the party will be on alert. It was the mutants’ watchdog/pet and will fight to the death.

Behing the camp (and plainly visible) is a crude oil derrick. It is surrounded by full oil drums and hovering over a large pit. Dangling over the pit by a crude winch assembly is a cage with a captive inside. This is the Skullf*ckers’ leader (Irradiated), Rokko, who ‘hid’ himself here to avoid capture. He calls out for rescue as soon as the lizard is defeated, as the assembly has been damaged and the cage is locked, thus stranding him there. The pit contains a vicious Land Squid, that the Skullf*ckers fed captives to. It will attack anyone who comes near, but retreat if it loses half of its hit points.

Rokko saw the UFO land off in the ruins due northwest and then it came back and took captives. Most of the bikers were stunned and didn’t fight and were simply lead off. He knows where they went and won’t go there. The suburb ruins are a deathtrap. He will point the party to Driver’s trailer, visible near to the ruins, as a possible guide. Rokko then hops on his bike and takes off. (Alternately if Rokko is killed not consulted, Driver and Bounce simply show up to loot.)

If the party wishes to loot the camp, they can find these items over the course of a half-hour: binoculars, guns (pistols and rifles), ammo, swords, knives, food (disgusting), a med kit, a rad Sickness kit, a repair kit, a Geiger counter, ten motorcycles.


Trailer Trash:

A trailer home sits out in the middle of nowhere. This is home of Driver, Encephalized Coyote humanoid, and Bounce, rabbit humanoid (Leaper). (Picture a proper Englishman and a little toadie.) Driver claims the ruins, and since he’s the only one who knows how to safely navigate the surrounding minefield, and knows creatures inside, he can make it stick. These two are hardy adventurers. Their property is surrounded by Screech Bushes and guarded by their pet Gray Worm, Sid. Bounce comes guns blazing after the bushes and Sid are set off and demanding, “Who’s there! What the hell do you want?”

Provided they don’t accidentally kill the group for trespassing, Driver and Bounce will be happy to lead a group to their certain deaths in the White Sands Ruins. For a price, paid up front. They also warn the group, they’re going to desert them if things get hairy. They negotiate over dinner. The boys want most of the goods from the Skullf*cker’s camp (except for the med and rad kits). Driver saw the UFO land, attack the bunker, take off, attack the biker camp, and then return with captives. The party can safely rest for the night in the trailer.