Old New Mexico Tales

Galveston Archaeological Society

In the Texican Republic few organisations have the respect and influence to rival the Galveston Archaeological Society (GAS). This august body has been a firm favourite of the great families that have led the Republic in its rise to power. Indeed it is said that the GAS was founded by President-General John Wayne-Bobbitt in the early years after the Fall.

They have done fine work in the exploration of many pre-Fall sites having salvaged a wide range of technological and cultural items. That said the GAS is famous for its exciting and well publicised expeditions in to such dangerous areas as the Bush Hell Gardens of wild Florida, The Lexington mutie nest of Christ Corpse and, of course, the Dallas Free Fire Zone.

The Director of the GAS is Herculaneum Rockwell-Steel, a distinguished retired army officer and exotic game hunter. He has the most extensive collection of mutie pelts in the Republic which he generously has on display in the GAS exhibition rotunda for the education and enlightenment of all. Under his leadership the frequency and daringness of GAS expeditions has increased though the mortality rate of expeditionaries has matched this. Still to die in the quest of knowledge is a noble death.

Expedition 473 to Traverse and Catalogue the Big Bend Badlands Region

Since before the Fall, the Big Bend Badlands area was a restricted zone purportedly due to its dangerous location and its even more dangerous inhabitants. Claims of a nest of Chupacabra and sightings of the ghost of Santa Obama are just two of the numerous claims relating to the Big Bend. Situated on the Rio Grande border with Mexico the Big Bend is dangerous as a home to a plethora of criminals and ne'er do wells with little hesitation to resort to violence to further their ends. There are few pre-Fall ruins in the area and as such it has not been properly examined but this very fact, along with the ancient nature of the region, has led Herc to commission an official excursion by the GAS.

Players' Introduction

The heroes attend a briefing in the impressive Ivan Frederick Auditorium at the Galveston Archaeological Society building. The marbled walls echo the sound in the barely occupied lecture hall as the details of the 473rd expedition is related to a small but scrupulously invited audience. The portraits of the great and the good, whom have gone before, stare disapprovingly down from their revered stations on the walls at the neonate explorers assembled below. As is the tradition, only a small band meet to dispatch an expedition given the potential for a future disappearance or, even worst, a humble limping home. The true glory awaits the returning successful heroes; to be crowned with the laurels of achievement and subsequently adored by the upper echelon of Texican society.

Seated in his private auditorium balcony is the resolute presence of Herculaneum Rockwell-Steel, the Director of the GAS that members affectionately refer to as Herc. A retired war veteran and explorer in his own right, Herc always aloofly watches the dispatch of an expedition; having been on more than one himself. With him is the ever present Tobias his long serving Mississippian man servant and companion. Indeed Tobias has accompanied Herc on all of his adventurers and is inseparable from his skipper. Both are confirmed bachelors with much in common despite their disparate backgrounds and obvious differing positions in Texican society.

Percival Tap-Moss is a young earnest man with an obvious infatuation for the GAS and hero worship for Herc. The son of an up and coming cotton merchant, Percival is keen for fame and status that can be gained from a successful expedition. His family are the primary funders of Expedition 473 and he is expected to lead it. He is a healthy looking well-built man in his late twenties; the embodiment of the Texican ideal. Having carried out his military duties as a lieutenant on the Red River border, before the Oklahoma Column fiasco, and having twice travelled to the ARC on business for his father; Percival is arguably fit to lead.