The Ossendowski Dossier; An Examination of The Stepnoy Universitet

Dear Mr. Bergstroem,

Unfortunately, I cannot attend our weekly soujourn into the cthonic regions of Arkheologorodok due to professional matters I must attend to. My efforts to understand the powers limiting my excavation of the Homo Slavonis Colossius specimen seem to have run into institutional resistance, and must spend time on putting these matters in order. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, as I know the Club has seen some upsets in its membership recently.

I have enclosed in this letter a "photocopy" (I continue to be amazed at our ability to recreate the wonders of the Slavonics) of a dossier collated by Ossendowski, one of my graduate students. I know you have had recent involvements with the group known as the Materialists, which leads me to believe this document may contain information of interest to you. I hope the intelligence here will prove useful to your future efforts.

Sincerely,

Doctor Luka Semenov

Stepnoy Universitet
(The University of the Steppe)

The View of Stepnoy Universitet from the Professionals Quarter 

See the Sights of Scenic Arkheologorodok! A Primer for New Players

 

"We Have the Will and the Courage to Become Heroes of Our Time"

It has been a long road for Arkheologorodok, and the end is not even yet in sight, yet even now new beginnings bloom. As such, it is useful to take account of the state of Arkheologorodok as of writing, so that new comers may better acquaint themselves with their surroundings. 

Arkheologorodok is what one might call an unrecognized state, much like Transnistria, except unlike Transnistria, Arkheologorodok gained its independence through bureaucratic loop holes, institutional forgetfulness, and a seeming unwillingness of any of the former republics of the USSR to claim it. And so this former closed city of science sits on the Steppe, a magnet for seekers of all sorts. 

In the before time, it was a surprisingly bustling city of science and industry, a by-gone glory it endlessly attempts to reclaim. The city was kept alive through the efforts of its most prominent family, the Saburovs, a strange clan that seemed to materialize out of thin air in 1993 and re-opened the old Abattoir, a bizarre construction in the Southeastern portion of town that looks more like a mountain than a human construction. One would think this would draw comment, but people often find themselves never really thinking about it. With the foundation of their company, Steppak Meats, the establishment of several smaller abattoirs, and assistance to the ailing Stepment cement factory, the Saburovs in many ways came to rule this town. 

Session 10 Prep

 News & Rumors 

Good evening Arkheologorodok! This is Lara Kiseleva broadcasting live from Orbita News, bringing you this week’s news round-up.

It is with great pleasure that I can announce to you all that the Counter Terrorism and Anti-Extremism Operation has been brought to a successful close with the recue of Dr Boris Tarasov from the clutches of Chechen extremists. In a joyous press conference, Commissioner Nikitan and Governor Yevseyev celebrated this triumph over extremism in a press-conference in the Municipal Palace, were several of the captured terrorists were presented. The Governor thanked the performance of our brave Militsiya, saying that his administration represented a thin line holding the forces of chaos and darkness back from our fair city. 

For those wanting to celebrate the safety of our city, the newly re-opened Zhdanov Park is the perfect place to do so. Heavy winds are coming in from the east, make sure to weigh down your blankets and to grab your kites!

In even more good news, Arkheologorodok is welcoming the newest edition to the city's fine dining experience, La Buenasuerte Cantina y Cocina, an authentic Mexican dining experience with the largest selection of tequila on all the Steppe! Be sure to go onto OrbitaNews.com to read the review. La Buenasuerte Cantina y Cocina, where everyday is Ramon Mercader Day! 

So after a day at the park and a delicious dinner at La Buenasuerte, the municipal government and the NOVOST Group are graciously providing a suite of free shows at the People's Theater for an entire week! Governor Yevseyev in a joint statement with NOVOST chairmen Dariy Belov have announced the beginning of New Optimism, and sincerely wish all citizens to enjoy the coming week, as it is a preview of glittering new future on the horizon.  

And that was this week’s news round-up, brought to you by a kind donation by the Union of Antiquarians. If the store doesn't bare the union's seal, then that's no antique, it's just junk. For Orbita News, this is Lara Kiseleva, signing off.

Off the Record:

Seeing as Orbita News is now focused on New Optimism, a few things got left out of the news wire, namely that mage fight that happened at the bus stop nearest to the Institute for Experimental Aeronautics that ended up turning into some kind of car chase. Ain't clear what exactly happened and between who, but we can be pretty damn sure it was a fight between a pyromancer and a cryomancer, on account of the burnt out bus and the ramp of ice that launched an SUV into the second story of a warehouse. Shit has everyone on edge.

Speaking of, apparently the northern underground frontier has been a god damn warzone. Lot of Bratva dropping the hammer on the area.

Spartak: Gera came through. Apparently the rest of the Thanotologists were as impressed with his recovery of St Faustina as he anticipated, and he's been put in charge of his own "working group." He was only able to deliver $500, but he says he'll be able to get the rest soon. He's a surprisingly chatty guy for a spy

Zhou has been talking to the other tweakers and he knows where most of the Gay Nazi drugpushers tend to operate in Little Azov. He’s pretty sure this means they should have at least one stash house in the area that their “sanitater” should be going to so they can re-up. Hankov is pretty sure he could find it. 

Cheech: You've done some digging into the old guy Spartak brained in the Archaeology Lab a while back, Professor Sergei Yegorovich Krivkov. He was a tenured professor of engineering over at Stepnoy Universitat, but apparently he was also the co-founder of something called the Cosmos Project, which seems to be a bunch of engineers and Christian mystics working on...something. They're normally pretty peaceful types, though they can get heavy when it comes to recovering tech from the Underground. But you're getting the impression that they going to get heavy with you and yours after killing their co-founder. 

But you also managed to find out about some people who aren't terribly fond of the Cosmos Project who call themselves the Materialists. They compete over recruits and over turf, the Materialists considering themselves the responsible caretakers of the buried technologies in the Underground. You were able to get the name of one of them, a municipal electric worker named Koldan Egorov. He likes to drink at the Grand Khan Irish Pub.

Dr. Galdikas: "uhhhh, boss, so I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that I've made some great strides in utilizing the funny water and our patented techniques to make more effective workers. The bad news is that it would seem that one of the interns botched a routine procedure on one of the subjects and it seemed to have, uhhh, unlocked something? The fire damage was pretty minimal, but he's out there and he...well...he knows. Anyway, call me back when you get this. Love you." -Pierre

You swear you keep seeing a guy in a dark hoodie looking at your apartment window at night.

Aleksandr: The grand opening went well, that's good, Slava has delivered not just his main product, but even high quality produce and meat, so that's even better. Mara is adjusting well to working as a hostess, but you're seeing a paranoia form in her, made worse by the fact you know you're being watched and they're getting better at it, they switch out tales more often now. Their angle is weird, they're really taking their time and you don't know why.

The Ornithologist wants to talk, says he has a couple bounties he wants you to undertake. You've got a bad feeling all around.  

Semenov: The shutting down of the dig has been an irksome set back, but you were able to retrieve some remnants of ancient Slavonic wisdom. From what you've gathered from the analysis of the cross section of the ribs, this is only structurally similar to a human, but that is where the similarities end. Spectral analysis of the bone is revealing exotic materials, and from what you know of the Slavonic Wisdom, it could be fashioned into a weapon that could harm noospheric constructs. 

Ossendowski wasn't able to turn up anything in terms of local folklore, mostly because they deemed it impossible early on, so they instead spent their time working on translation of the Enochian scrimshaw in the bones. You would be mad if she wasn't able to turn up something useful. The skeleton seems to be both a chronicle and perhaps a grimoire, much is incomplete because much is still buried, but there are mentions of Mars and fallen civilizations, and mention of "stolen power" by earth bound usurpers. Ossendowski has also provided the outlines of what appears to be a noospheric technique for localized time dilation. 

Your more mundane research into the records and dealings of the University has been altogether much less successful, in fact, you're quite confident that the entire faculty is aware of what you're trying to learn, and you're also certain you've made enemies. How many and who remains to be discovered. 

Gavril: Alright, so it looks like this is turning into less of a temporary hideout and more of a permanent kind of situation. No problem, lot of work here, lot of money to be made, the family seems to actually prefer to keep you down here for the time being. They sent you a little money and you've got your own house a little business in the suburbs. You're carving a nice little niche for yourself here, and you're building a little network for your trade. Man, you're really glad the Bratva seems convinced someone other than you killed the Numinist, because those fuckers are tearing the Underground apart from what you hear. Better keep that one to yourself.

Jobs:

Vernisa is offering $2,000 for a recovery job down in the Underground. She tells you to call her on a landline to set up a meet.

Chef Mosolov has announced a $300 reward to anyone who can bag him Vodyanoy. He's planning to make frog legs.

The smuggler Slava says he's cooking something up, maybe you lot would be interested.

Haven't checked in on the Excavators in a while, you know they'd pay top dollar for a passage to Polis Station.

Arkheologorodok in Focus: Miami in a Hangar

Mayami Import 

[Майами Импорт]

Beneath the derelict Institute for Experimental Aeronautics is an utterly cavernous facility, a massive hidden hangar, large enough to comfortably fit multiple tu-160s, strategic bombers with a wing span of a 182 ft. The hangar floor is lined with pull car towing systems and turntables for moving the aircraft onto rail lines for rapid deployment through tunnels to the eastern airfields. From the hangar, there are multiple rail, car, and pedestrian tunnels snaking out into the Underground at large, though many are still sealed behind massive blast doors that refuse to be lifted. 

But the Hangar is not abandoned, far from it, it is constantly abuzz with activity, for it is here that the smuggling ring Mayami Import has made its home, and under the wings of aircraft designed to drown a decadent west in flames, a flourishing market place has formed. 

Relations with Factions and Individuals After Session 8

What Others Think of You (As Far As You Know)

Friendship for Peace and Progress, 1961

• The Gay Nazis consider you Der Feind, don’t expect mercy

• The buyers you ambushed in the Archaeology Lab are probably none too pleased that you crushed Professor Krikov’s skull and stole their shit, whoever they are

• Bozo is a little less than enthused with you

• Spartak is much loved in the New National Bolshevik Party, you can consider them allies

• Saving the founder and president of the Excavators goes a long way, consider them friends

• Slava speaks well of you in Mayami Import, consider them friendly 

• Vernisa was pretty pleased with your work, consider the Saburovs as amicable

• Dr Orlova and her staff at the Polyclinic look forward to future joint ventures, consider them allies

• The Psychometric Agronomy Study Group at VARANIL are pleased with the current arrangement

• Oksana’s ex-boyfriend Boris probably isn’t happy you burgled his nest

• The artists and activists of CounterDogma would be willing to work with you again

• The Toporika Bratva are happy to take their cut out of your hustles 

• The detente with the Gopniks holds firm

• You haven’t left much of an impression on the revolutionaries of the Krasnaya Zvezdna 

• Major Smirnov is easing the militsiya pressure on you lot

• Abram, the Israeli hippie, is a friend of Spartak

• You haven't encountered the Thanatologists directly, but you have know NeoNazbol spy named Gera has infiltrated them

• The Sisters of Tleechy Natcha don't leave the Parlor very often, so they have no quarrel with you

NPCs and Factions are in bold

Locations are underlined

Dispositions are in italics 

Some of these may be combined

Session 8 Prep

 

 News & Rumors 

Good evening Arkheologorodok! This is Lara Kiseleva broadcasting live from the Orbita News building on beautiful Elektricheskiy Prospekt, bringing you this week’s news round-up.

The top story of the week is the ongoing crackdown in Abattoir Town. The missing man has been identified as Boris Tarasov, a homeopathic doctor. Mr Tarasov is believed to be held in an apartment building on Sarnath Circle. The OMON has deployed in full force around the building and have been sieging it for a full day now. The general raids going on throughout Abattoir Town are continuing during the siege, and Commissioner Nikitan has declared that the militsiya are doing a clean sweep of the area, having arrested upwards to 100 terrorist suspects and seizing several weapons caches. There have been at least 5 different fire fights over the course of the crackdown. 

A massive funeral procession for the burial of Ludomir Malankhov, better known on the street as Numitist, so named for the role he played as the Derzhatel Obshack  for a group of local entrepreneurs. The procession made its way from the Cathedral of the Holy Transfiguration, where Metropolitan Grigori himself presided over the rites, to his notable cenotaph at the Southern Steppe Burial Ground. The cause of death has not been made known to the public, but it was known to have occured in the Koba Bath House in the river district of Old Downtown. The death was likely an accident, but if it wasn’t *sound of shuffling papers and voices in the background*  whoever did it ought to kill themselves while they still can before vengeance catches up to them.

Residents hoping to retreat from the sense of fear in the streets to the calm greenery of Zhdanov Park are sadly out of luck, as the Ministry of Outdoor Recreation have closed Zhdanov Park in Conjunction with the Ministry of Transit’s decision to close several large roads around the park.

And that was this week’s news round-up, brought to you by Tachanka brand Tushonka, a hearty meal of beef, pork, and now ostrich, all in a single can! You can’t beat the downhome taste of the steppe packed into each can of Tachanka brand Tushonka, by Steppak Meats. For Orbita News, this is Lara Kiseleva. Stay safe out there, Arkheologorodok. 

Off the Record:

The news ain't covering it, but the Gay Nazis have taken over the Little Azov neighborhood, just north of the marsh. They getting real handsy with people too, setting up inspection checkpoints, looking for any deformities or whatever. The cops have completely surrendered the neighborhood to them at this point, might as well be another country. 

Spartak: Comrade Party Leader Ervin Tsitrusovyye and the Commissar of Communications Petra Borodina have told you that they plan to introduce Comrade Gera, a party member who has infiltrated a group of obscurantist reactionaries calling themselves the Thanatologists. Comrade Tsitrusovyye has impressed upon you that Gera's mission is of great importance, and that you should assist him in whatever way you can.

You've mentioned meeting some members of Krasnaya Zvezdna, and your various party comrades have decried them as little more than cultists.

The Arachnophile Oksana has been perhaps the most supportive of all your party comrades, and she happily promoting your new means of capital accumulation on her instagram.

Aleksandr: You've almost finished setting up the first Mexican restaurant on the Steppe, you've worked out what percentage the Bratva take and they've helped you get the city approval. You've been able to get Mara to delay the expedition a week because you're in serious talks with Ornithologist over ending her "contract."

You're happy to be busy with this right now, the Bratva are on the warpath after one of the top Brigadiers got beheaded in the Banya last week. They're not letting on about who they think it is, but whoever it is, they must be in the Underground, because that's where most of the war parties are going.

You still feel eyes on you, but no one seems to be making a move.

Jobs:

Vernisa is offering $2,000 for a recovery job down in the Underground. She tells you to call her on a landline to set up a meet.

Commissar Petra Borodina says she has a way to hit the Gay Nazis that can be profitable to both the Party and to you and your friends

Chef Mosolov has announced a $300 reward to anyone who can bag him Vodyanoy. He's planning to make frog legs.

Session 5: Schnappi Cessation & Sluggish Schizophrenia

The Resolute Brothers by Alexander Aspit
1918

So all those dig applications Professor Semenov wrote while coked up paid off, as the University of the Steppe has approved funds and grad students for Semenov's excavation of the spinal catastrophism in the underground frontier near the near and under the Silent Homes. 

This brought along with it a complication. The dig site was in territory disputed between the Gay Nazis and the Gopniks, two gangs whose first impressions of the party were not good ones. In fact, they were quite lethal. Realizing that an agreement must be reached with one of them in opposition to other in order to provided security for the dig site. Knowing that Germanic conquest of the Rodina would have apocalyptic results in the Noosphere, Semenov elects to parlay with the Gopniks. 

Arkheologorodok in Focus: This Man is Your Friend, He Fights For...uhhhhh

The Neo-Nazbols 

Неонацболы

(Neonatsboly)

Session 7 Prep

   News & Rumors 

Good evening Arkheologorodok! This is Lara Kiseleva broadcasting live from the Orbita News building, bringing you this week’s news round-up.

Our top story is the violence on the evening of Ramon Mercader Day. Two Vos’moy convenience stores were destroyed, and an attempted robbery occurred at a third. Militsiya are currently investigating, and have reported the abandoned vehicle used in the ramming attack on one of the stores. Details are limited, the vehicle was apparently crashed into a tree near Gunig Marsh and contained evidence of violence.

Militsiya have released CCTV footage from the attempted robbery at the third store, and are currently on the look out for a bald man and a man with an eye patch. Commissioner Nikitan has announced a manhunt to find the terrorists, as they took a man hostage at the third location. 

In a bizarre policy decision, Governor Yevseyev has announced an act of mass clemency after a lengthy review of multiple cases of inmates at Dzerzhinsky Prison, saying that “it is critical that we reunite husbands with wives, fathers with children, sons with parents.” The office of the governor has released a series of photos of these “Re-union Ceremonies.” Commissioner Nikitan has assured that the public has nothing to fear from these pardons, and that claims of a sizeable number of them being associated with the so-called Gay Nazis are “baseless speculation.” 

A leaked report from the Ministry and Roads and Transit is making waves, with a 28% increase in traffic fatalities, apparently focused around the Old Downtown, particularly in the area around Zhdanov Park. The leaked report also cited Militsiya crime reports of a marked increase of illegal street races in the area. This comes on the heels of Commissioner Nikitan's "Make Arkheologorodok Beautiful Again" initiative last week, in which city militsiya were reported to have encountered unanticipated violent resistance to the beautification initiative.

In spookier news, sightings of the Silent Train have sky-rocketed, with even a handful of disappearances now being attributed to the phenomena. While Commissioner Nikitan has denounced such claims as "baseless hysteria," commuters have been reporting an notable increase in metro warden presence at night at both below and over-ground stations. We at Orbita News regret to inform you that we have been explicitly ordered by the city not to offer rewards for pictures. However, we are pleased to inform you that the ordinance said nothing about theories! Post your best theories as to the cause on Orbitanews.com and win cash prizes!

And that was this week's new round up, brought to you by the Auto Coachman's Combine, reminding you that it's just not safe to get in a car that doesn't bear the Combine's seal. For Orbita News, this is Lara Kiseleva, signing off.

And be careful out there, Arkheologorodok.

Personal Interactions and Interests

Spartak: After a great night catching up with Abram over what you can only describe as consumer grade hemp and some shrooms, you hit upon a brilliant idea for a means of capital accumulation for the party, and green grocers/juice bar/garden center/shroom distribution center/illegal beetle racing venue. You're gonna call it Gorilla Gardening, you just need to set up a supply chain with old Chernykov in the Underground.

Party leader Tsitrusovyye has signed off on it, but both he and Commissar of Communications Borodina would also like to introduce you to a mole they have in another organization first. Apparently he has big news.

Dr Galdikas: OH GOD, DO THEY KNOW? You've heard they're looking for a bald man, but there are lots of bald men,  you're a much respected pillar of the community, and Administrator Volya Saburov has been nicer than ever to you. You got a call from Vernisa to negotiate a couple small time rentals from the Monoilov Center, which is both comforting and concerning. 

That's probably why you hired La Mite, a taciturn French hitman with a penchant for kimonos. That thug you sent down to the Silo to collect more of that water hasn't returned, which is worrisome. And Dr. Orlova had to reschedule your meeting to tonight. It's all very vexing.  

Professor Semenov: This is why you never watch film, that silly Anglo tape has been bothering you all week. It's made concentrating on the dig more difficult, but it is coming along. However, apparently there have been some vandals over night, stealing tools or draining out the gas of the generator. In addition, Dima says he and his boys are expecting a scrap with the Pederast Third Positionists, to use your lingo. But these damn dreams keep you up all night, lots of none-sense about diamonds in the sky forcing humanity to retreat underwater in vast, golden submarines.

Aleksandr: These Toporika Bratva blatnoy are some of the craziest fuckers you've dealt with in a while. It's like they can't decide if it's 1993 or the height of the Bitch Wars, so they just act like it's both. And the Vor...he sounds almost like a parody but you're sure it's not an act, and a man that large should be able to move so easily. But they're true to their word. 

Mara won't talk about what her "penance" was and you won't ask, though the Ornithologist offered to give you the dvd. She's resilient, scarily so, and you think she'll take a boat down the underground river by herself if you let her. 

Gavril: These fucking assholes knocked over three different corner stores while you were puking up your guts from that Ramon Mercader Day street taco, the fucking skeleton Virgin Mary staring down at your from on top of the toilet the whole fucking time. You need to kill something, doesn't matter what and only minimally matters who. 

Session 4 (Week 3 Continued) 4D Chess, or The Gang's First Act of Political Sabotage

 

Chess and Checkers to the Masses! 
Soviet Uzbek Poster, 1934 

We deviate from our normal programming of moving forward a week in the game world between sessions this time, with the action picking up two days after last session. I dropped a line in the session 3 prep about a job that could have very serious consequences for Arkheologorodok as a whole and I figured I should at least give the players a chance to see if they want to take it or not. 

In the early hours of the morning, Aleksandr is awoken by call from Artyom, the teenage metro worker and member of the Excavators. There is angry shouting in the background, and Aleksandr can only barely hear Artyom as he apologetically explains that he's trapped in the bathroom by his drunken father demanding his paycheck, and that he's going to be late for his shift. Aleksandr sets out the apartment blocs immediately. 

Even had he not known the number, Aleksandr would have had no trouble finding apartment in question just by following the screams and shouts. Stepping over a few hypodermic needles as he crosses the threshold, Aleksandr see as bald fat man lifting Artyom by the throat as the strung out mother ineffectually pleads from the couch. Invoking the strength of Holy Death, Aleksandr commands the man to release the boy, and then makes it clear that Artyom is under protection to the stunned drunkard. Artyom thanks Aleksandr and quickly makes his way to the metro for his shift. 

"Alcoholism is the enemy of health, family, society"
1983

Session 6 Prep

 

 

News & Rumors

Good evening and a happy Ramon Mercader Day, Arkheologorodok! This is Lara Kiseleva broadcasting live from the Orbita News building, bringing you this week’s news round-up.

This afternoon's parade was a smash hit as usual, with a massive turnout. Governor Yevseyev marked the start of the parade with the ceremonial breaking of the Trotsky piñata with an oversized ice axe. His first attempt at a swing resulted in him falling backwards, to great laughter, but after being picked up by his guards and in good cheer, the Governor landed a mighty blow and candies were distributed among the children. 

The start of the parade also marked one of the few public appearances of both Dariy Belov and Vladimir Saburov, with the two looking notably icy towards one another. Rumors have it that they both sought to outdo one another in terms of funding Ramon Mercader Day celebrations. We can't say which of them lost, but we can say with great certainty that the citizens of Arkheologorodok won! 

In a rare joint statement, Metropolitan Grigori and Commissioner Nikitan are urging residents and citizens to exert some self control tonight and warned against the moral hazards of excessive drinking. 

And that was this week's news-roundup, brought to you by a charitable donation from the Railwayman's Union, reminding you that they keep the trains running on time. For Orbita News, this is Lara Kiseleva, signing off. 

Character Interactions & Interests:

Dr. Galidikas: The Sanitorium Administrator made a strange comment to you today, he said that Samarkand Meat Market the best kebabs in town, said you should stop by there soon.

Pierre has prepared a full report on his findings with the lambent water sample from the Silo, he seems quite excited about it. The dossier on Subject #86 has also made for interesting reading. 

Spartak: Party members have been very supportive over the week, Oksana has been babying you and this weeks edition of Nastuplenie! has Party Order 1099 at the top: Do not ask Comrade Spartak about the thing. 

Semenov: The dig is going slowly, but at the very least the area around the exposed spinal column is now looking like a proper dig site. You're main focus has been trying to find a means to break the curse on Spartak. You have a couple leads there, there are rumors of an old women living near the Gunig Marsh called Nochnaya Babushka, and there is supposedly network of shamans amongst the workers of the Abattoir. 

You have still yet to decode the teen hedge wizards grimoire you recovered from the abandoned school. 

Session 5 Prep

 News & Rumors 

Good evening Arkheologorodok! This is Lara Kiseleva broadcasting live from the Orbita News building, bringing you this week’s news round-up.

The top story of this week is the surprise defeat of Governor Yevseyev and the Refurbishment Party's New Media Law in the Assembly of Deputies. The law, described by Yevseyev as a vital means of protecting public order from "disruptive and extremist elements' was publicly denounced by the chess grandmaster Georgi Shuripov as "a crushing of one of the few things we managed to gain since dissolution that serves only to shackle vision and inquiry to  the whims of sightless fat men in overstuffed leather chairs." This marks the beloved grandmaster's first public appearance since going into hiding 14 years ago. The office of the Governor has declined to comment.  

In preparation for the Ramon Mercader Day celebrations next week, Commissioner Nikitan has announced a rigorous restoration campaign for public order and cleanliness. The Militsiya ask all citizens to help make the streets neat and tidy, and to refrain from any acts of public disorder. Citizens can expect to see plenty of work crews around the city for the next week, painting over any public defacements. 

We've gotten some great pictures and theories about the mysterious clown, and we're pleased to announce that Yakov Dmietriev of the Gunig Prigorod as our winner. Be sure to check out his theories and pictures on our website. We've also heard that Silent Train has started to appear again, so be sure to have your phones ready for a picture when you're on the metro! 

And that was this weeks news round up, brought to you by Steppak Meats, feeding families for twenty years. For Orbita News, this is Lara Kiseleva, singing off. 

 Character Interests: 

The pigs aren't just chasing bums off the street and painting over graffiti, they're smashing up and clearing away any unauthorized structures, shrines included, Aleksandr. 

In all the hustle of setting up a homeless shelter, readying the parts for Spartak's experimental augmentation, and your day to day surgeries at the Sanitorium, you've only just now remembered the pale blue lambency of the water you recovered from the Silo, Dr. Galidikas

Lev and Oksana have been asking you about those shrooms got a while back, Spartak. They think they could make a good chunk of dough selling another batch if you can get it. 

You don't think you ever been so busy in your life, Professor Semenov, and you love it. You haven't even had time to sit down and watch that video tape you found. 

You've been practicing with that porcelain katana all week, Gavril, and you can't wait to try it out on something...or someone.

Jobs and Leads:

Slava has $200 on the table for installing a surveillance device in the southern part of the "Complex," he says be sure not to go too far South, or you'll end up in the basement of the Banya. 

Abram says the expedition to the new passages to the southwest of the complex hasn't returned, that includes Gennadiy and Artyom. The club treasurer, Tatiana Zhutova, is pulling out emergency funds for a rescue mission. 

Mara is trying to get an expedition to the old Church Crypt together. She's promising $100 to anyone who can get her there, plus looting rights. She's also mentioned she's willing to negotiate "services for services."

Those of you who gave your real names and contact info to those strange men answering to "uncle" get a message saying to go to Samarkand Meat Market in the southeast of the city just before closing and to ask for "Vernisa."

Session 3: Schnappi and the Gay Nazis

 

The Return of Hans Speidel 
(the medals read "For the War Against France" "For the War Against England")

Another week, another expedition into the world of Arkheologorodok. Spartak spent most of the week at the Party Headquarters/Nightclub of the New National Bolshevik Party of Eurasia, getting to know everyone, "learning" their esoteric principles, getting fed LSD, and dancing the night away. Dr Galidikas has spent his week writing up plans for some experimental surgery, and Aleksandr has been conducting his own investigations. 

 

Early in the day, Aleksandr gets a call from Artyom, the teenage subway employee they met at the Excavators of the Underground Earth. He's in a bit of a bind, because he needs to get to work, but his father has trapped him in the bathroom, demanding money for booze. Aleksandr wastes no time getting to the boy's apartment, and after invoking the power of the Holy Lady of Death to command the fat drunk to cease strangling the boy, he instructs both the drunk father and the junkie mother that Artyom is now under his protection. Fairly confident that the proper amount of fear has been instilled in these two, Aleksandr leaves with Artyom, who thanks him before running off to work.

The party sans Gavril re-assembles in Professor Semenov's VAZ-2109, now an essential part of the party's logistics, and head towards the Silent Homes to complete Slava's job of deploying surveillance devices. Before going in, Aleksandr asks Semenov is he can ask around the medical school about a nurse named Anya Dmitrieva while Dr Galidikas gets Spartak to sign some consent forms.

Session 3 Prep

 News & Rumors 

Good evening Arkheologorodok! This is Lara Kiseleva broadcasting live from the Orbita News building, bringing you this week’s news round-up.

More violence this week in the city's meat packing district. Residents have reported gunshots and a subsequent fire on the top floor of an apartment bloc on Kirov Street. The Militsiya has no released the names of the victims, but witnesses on the scene report at least five bodies being removed from the scene. In a press release, Commissioner Nikitan has stated that investigations have shown no link to the grenade attack on the Steppak Meats Abattoir a week prior, and that statements to the contrary are "baseless speculations and hysteria." 

Several individuals were arrested under charges of "rioting" after a flash protest against Mayor Yevseyev's proposed Media Law in front of the Assembly Building. The illusive leader of CounterDogma, known only as filaret, was said to have been arrested, but CounterDogma has since released a photo of him standing in front of Commissioner Nikitan's home holding a newspaper and an obscene portrait of the Commissioner and the Mayor in a homosexual act. Neither the Commissioner nor the Mayor could be reached for comment. 

On a brighter note, Russian billionaire Dariy Belov has recently announced that the planed refurbishment and re-opening of the old Leisure Park. Belov has stated that he and the other stakeholders of the NOVOST Group, the conglomeration that owns Stepneft, are grateful for all that Arkheologorodok has already given them, and wish to give back to the community in what he described as "the first phase of a long and fruitful relationship." 

There have been more sightings of a clown in the metro tunnels. Be sure to post your pictures and craziest theories on our website to win a prize of $100!

And that was this week's news-roundup, brought to you by Vos'moy. Vos'moy, bringing you every convenience in one store. For Orbita News, this is Lara Kiseleva, signing off. 

 Character Interactions: 

Abram to Spartak: Oh shit, you actually joined them? I only ever go to the parties they throw. They're a bunch of fucking weirdos, bro, be careful.

Dr. Galidikas: You got called into the Sanatorium by the Administrator himself. You had to perform emergency surgery on a couple of gut-shot men, one very tall and lanky with fair hair, the other of Mongoloid physiognomy and wearing the protective gear of a slaughterhouse worker. Once the deed was done, the Administrator thanked you for a job well, saying he was glad to have welcomed you into the City Sanatorium "family." 

Aleksandr: She fought to the death, and died with a fanatic's smile of her face. Neither you nor Mara know why she killed Stefan in his hospital bed, but the grim look you shared let you know you both think it must have something to do with his discovery of that crypt. 

Jobs and Leads:

  Slava has "gently" reminded you that those surveillance devices still need deploying in the South-West. 1000 bucks and Mayami Import's good will are on the table. Says he'll throw in another 200 if you put one in a southern chamber of the "Complex"

Chef Mosolov is always willing to pay for exciting new ingredients

You still have that sample of the water from the occult baking experiment gone a-rye

One of your new New Bolshevik friends has asked a favor of you, Spartak. She's a real nice lady with blue hair who really like spiders named Oksana Sinodzuka.  Apparently her old boyfriend really didn't like her joining a revolutionary party and kicked her out before she could even gather up all her stuff. She'd really appreciate it if you got it for her, and she says you can keep whatever else you find. Apparently you can get there through the basement of a power sub-station near the river...

Speaking of those new friends, the party's head of propaganda Eugeni and his very good friend Lavro are also part of some kind of art collective. He says he wants to introduce you to them, apparently they've got some kind of plan to disrupt some new bourgeois media law.  

Artyom was really excited to text you all about an expedition everyone is gearing up for an expedition to some new chambers they found leading south from the Complex. Says you're all welcome to join. 

Session 2 The Conquest of Bread!

 Завоевание хлеба!

"Wealth of the Motherland" decorative carpet, 1939

A week has passed since the party's first foray in the Underground, and they now gather again in the basement of the Central State Library once again to prepare for a second expedition. Earlier in the day, Dr. Galidikas observed Spartak trip on the shrooms recovered last week, and was disappointed by the failure of ancestral memories to surface. When the pair arrived to meet with the others, Spartak was still feeling the residual effects.

Gavril and Professor Semenov attempted to recover the promised payment for last week's expedition from Gennadiy Chupov, citing that they were not warned of the dangers they faced. Gennadiy agreed, but before he could pay them, the Excavator's treasurer, Tatiana Zhutova, intervened, pointing out the job was to find and map the rumored North-Western passage from the Silo, and seeing as the party had been magically bound to deny its existence, they could not protest the claim they had not found it. 

Arkheologorodok Session 2- Prep

 News & Rumors

Good evening Arkheologorodok! This is Lara Kiseleva with Orbita News, bringing you this week’s news round-up.

The top story this week is the grenade attack at the abattoir. Witnesses describe a black sedan pulling up to the southern loading dock and tossing two grenades before speeding off. According to officials at the D.I. Dankovskii Hospital, two workers were killed in the blast, with seven others injured. Two workers are currently in critical condition. The Militsiya request that anyone with any information to come forward. Steppak Meats was unable to be reached for comment.

Sightings of a clown in the metro tunnels are making waves online, prompting mass speculation among citizens. Commissioner Nikitan has dismissed such sightings as “baseless hysteria.”

Dry weather is expected to continue after the unexpected rainstorms of last month, with a dry easterly wind bringing elevated pollen levels from across the Steppe.

A new media law is being debated in the city council, with Mayor Yevseyev noting the necessity to curtail what he described as “a flood of extremist propaganda.” Though he has not named them as such, it is believed he is referring to the controversial Nastuplenie! newspaper published by the New National Bolshevik Party of Eurasia and the increase of pamphlets circulated by the outlawed LGBTQ rights organization CounterDogma. Both groups have been vocal in their criticism of the renewal of anti-sodomy laws.

This week’s news round-up was brought to you by VostockCom, bringing crystal clear internet and cellphone connection to the Steppe. For Orbita News, this is Lara Kiseleva, signing off.

Work & Leads

Slava says to come see him in the Hangar, says there could be a $1000 in it for ya.

Speaking of the Hangar, apparently Arkheologorodok’s great Chef Mosolov has a side project there. Says he’s got a bounty on a specific “ingredient.”

Mara texted you, Aleksandr. Apparently, that friend of hers that managed to get into the old church crypt died in hospital. She says there’s something you need to see at the mortuary. 

Did you meet Ollie? He's this graffiti artist from London that hangs around the Excavators. Apparently he's getting harassed by a couple of gopniks real bad. Says he'll pay $250 to anyone who'll get them to stop. 

Delta Green NPC: Matthew Rockyhara

Here's a useful ally NPC for Delta Green. I wrote him up for this summer's NPC contest over at Night at the Opera. I started working on some expanded acquisition rules to make him more useful, but the deadline came before I could do that, but I still plan on doing that, so sit tight because I'll post it here when I do.
 You can get the Google Docs version here.

Matthew Rockyhara

The Agents find themselves outside a shamble down prefab building in the dreary badlands on the outskirts of the city. Behind the chain link fence topped with razor wire are cars of every make and model, the lights on the prefab illuminate red letters spelling “A#1 Towing Service” with “Your Satisfaction is Our #1 Priority” underneath, with “NO CHECKS ACCEPTED” written beneath that. This is where the case officer said to meet your contact for support.  A little old lady stands nearby the entrance, looking on the verge of tears. A wall of a man emerges from the prefab, looking like some kind of parody of a modern outlaw in his cowboy boots and raybans. The old woman starts babbling about how she needs that car to get her prescriptions. He tells her if she can’t cough up the $560 she can get bent. He walks past her towards the agents, beaming with a big smile when he spots them. He hands the agents the keys “Hey there! Our friend told me you guys would be here soon, said you needed a car. I got the perfect one, you don’t even need to worry about getting it back to me.” “What about the $560” one of the agents asks sheepishly “Oh, that? That’s all bullshit fees the city lets me charge. Only cost me $15 in gas to tow it over here for ya’ll, don’t worry about it!” He extends his hand in earnest friendship  “Matthew Rockyhara, by the way. At your service.”

Matthew Rockyhara is many things. A veteran. A small business owner. A scoundrel. A patriot. A minor crime lord. A friend. It was around the time our invasion of Panama was wrapping up in 1990 that Matthew Rockyhara had his brush with the unnatural. He flew Sikorsky Seahawks as an ensign for the navy, and it was in one of those helicopters that he proved himself a reliable and heroic man. Those agents would have died deaths indescribable in that jungle had he not braved that shimmering sky and juked the things filtering down from the sky.