( npc ) enter: the packrat

[officialnotice]

mini-event: the packrat

The community of Wayward Pines is nothing if not cemented in its routines.

The children go to school in the morning, as the adults go to work. It's not a terribly large town, and business is about what you'd expect for a town like that. Often, local shops are able to close briefly around noon, to allow their employees to leave for their lunch hours, before returning at one to complete their day.

It's very... stable, if not terribly exciting. The sort of town that you could almost set your watch to - a fact that the recent arrivals are becoming intimately familiar with.

...which is why abnormalities like the one this morning stand out so much.

An old, rusted-out pickup truck is parked on the side of Main Street, next to a fire hydrant. In the bed of the truck, a small tent has been set up, and a small cardboard sign has been duct taped to the bumper. It reads: "SHIT FOR SALE."

Anyone approaching the truck will be met with a rough, male voice greeting them from within the tent.

"Greetin's, friend," the voice says. "You lookin' to buy? Here, check out my catalog."

The voice doesn't wait for a response - he's already unzipping the bottom of the tent door and pushing a dirty white binder out at whoever is standing nearby, containing many pictures of items, some of which may be familiar.

( mod notes! )

This is an NPC merchant known only to locals as 'The Packrat.' Through some ICly unknown means, he's come into possession of all of the items that characters have been missing since their arrival.

The good news? He's more than willing to give them back.

The bad news? He's going to ask for something in return. He doesn't seem very interested in money, either - and as such, he operates entirely on a barter system. Your characters will have to find items within their homes or around town to trade with him, or otherwise offer him an appealing favor as compensation.

The Packrat will be a reoccurring character. For the first month a character is within the game, their player has OOC dibs on the item that was taken from them. In subsequent months, however, it becomes fair game and anyone will be able to trade for it if they want it.

Any questions regarding the Packrat should be directed to the FAQ page.

Comments

[overdraws]

A stack of old books, probably published sometime in the 1920s. The covers are worn. Some of them have pages that are stuck together.

[officialnotice]

The Packrat seems interested, but unwilling to cut a deal on just that alone. Allison is asking for a bow case and all the things within it - surely that's worth more than just a couple of dusty old books.

[overdraws]

What does he want?

[inventor]

( in an act of supreme charity, howard will intervene and bargain on allison's behalf. )

Listen here, Rat Pack. And be straight with us. None of that philosophical bullshit. Now, how are we gonna find out what we gotta find out if you don't tell us what we gotta find out? It's only fair that we learn the exact terms of this here transaction. That'll cover a lot of ground. Speaking of which, you cover a lot of ground yourself. You'd better beat it. I hear they're gonna tear you down and put up an office building where you're standing. You can leave in a taxi. If you can't get a taxi, you can leave in a huff. If that's too soon, you can leave in a minute and a huff —

( any attempt to speak by the packrat will be cut off by endless and loud chatter from howard. )

— You know, you haven't stopped talking since we met. You must've been vaccinated with a phonograph needle. Don't look now, but there's one man too many here. And I think it's you.

[officialnotice]

[The Packrat doesn't seem terribly amused by Howard's... Let's call it salesmanship. ]

...I have shit. You have shit. You trade your shit for mine.

[From the look hes giving Howard through the unzipped opening in the tent, its clear that he doesn't think the other man understands that simple concept.]

A bow's a useful tool - I ain't gonna trade it for something that I ain't gonna get use out of. That's not how trading works.

I don't want useless shit like books, neither - bring me something of real value and we'll talk.

[inventor]

Pal, listen. This isn't just any book. ( howard pulls out the third book in the stack, rubbing the grime off the cover with the sleeve of his shirt to reveal a scantly clad, big breasted woman giving the viewer a "come hither" look )

I won't give you a demonstration of its value, but I think the pages — ( he lets the book fall open to a picture of a woman's naked backside. several of the pages are stuck together. this is some quality porn, bro ) Speak for themselves.

[officialnotice]

Lemme see that.

[The Packrat reaches his hand out of the tent, making a grabby motion for Howard to hand it over to him.

....as soon as he does, though, the Packrat opens up the book and spits in between the pages, before closing it again. He throws it back. ]

I don't want your grimy porn, pal. Come back with something useful or don't come back at all.

[inventor]

( i don't think the packrat's gonna be called up for the dodgers anytime soon. if his intended target was howard's face, it sails completely passed him and lands a few feet away. )

You got some better porn in that tent? ( howard tilts his head to peek behind the packrat's shoulder into the tent, suddenly more interested in that than helping allison with her deal. )

[overdraws]

Tell you what, if the packrat gives her back her stuff she'll drag Howard out of his face.

[officialnotice]

....make sure he doesn't come back, and you've got a deal.

[overdraws]

Deal. Allison grabs her bow case and Howard and leaves.