New chat room entered at 7/7/2005 8:39:31 PM.
You are now in chat room “sotsw070705.”
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CirclMastr has entered the chat room.

Thematrian1 has entered the chat room.

CirclMastr (8:40:56 PM): Y0 and etc.
Umbrafer (8:41:04 PM): j0
Umbrafer (8:42:13 PM): When we last left our heroes, they were (some of them) in a well.
Umbrafer (8:42:21 PM): Or rather, in a hole in the side of a well.
Umbrafer (8:42:25 PM): It's wet, very wet.
Thematrian1 (8:42:29 PM): with a bunch of explosives, right
CirclMastr (8:43:29 PM): MacLeod was wondering if he left the iron on at home, realized he had no home, and wondered why he had a nagging feeling. Maybe he should get a home?
Umbrafer (8:43:30 PM): Indeed.
Thematrian1 (8:44:02 PM): Gem contemplates finding a home for MacLeod
CirclMastr (8:44:55 PM): MacLeod wonders if that's an offer. ;D
Umbrafer (8:45:37 PM): Gem becoming a shadow-real-estate dealer?
Thematrian1 (8:45:51 PM): hell yes, I already convey weapons
Thematrian1 (8:46:12 PM): Gem forcefully corrects MacLeod's misapprehension
CirclMastr (8:46:39 PM): MacLeod goes back to wondering what's nagging him.
MilesMk1 has entered the chat room.

MilesMk1 (8:47:51 PM): Evening.
CirclMastr (8:48:16 PM): (ugh, brb, dinner)
Thematrian1 (8:48:39 PM): so: Glitch was leaving the land of the bombs, we were thinking up a new plan?
Umbrafer (8:50:22 PM): Glitch becomes increasingly waterlogged.
MilesMk1 (8:51:25 PM): Would you shut up about the waterlogged Glitch already? ;)
Thematrian1 (8:51:47 PM): ::chuckle::
Thematrian1 (8:52:02 PM): (Unlike those poor fluffy bunnies, you can swim. Or, more to the point, walk ;-))
Umbrafer (8:52:36 PM): (For an instant, Glitch imagines himself a rabbit sinking helplessly into a pool.)
MilesMk1 (8:53:03 PM): Yeah, Glitch was leaving...
Umbrafer (8:53:18 PM): *Slog slog slog*
MilesMk1 (8:53:39 PM): I don't think leaving them a note saying "No, really. Please proceed with your plan. Sorry about the plywood." would help...
MilesMk1 (8:53:51 PM): Still, it's their own damn fault for not telling us anything...
Thematrian1 (8:54:30 PM): Unless the whole scenario was a paranoid fantasy on our part, but yeah.
Umbrafer (8:56:22 PM): It's a plausible scenario, but not assured.
Umbrafer (8:57:05 PM): Glitch emerges from the hole.
Umbrafer (8:57:10 PM): He drips on things.
Thematrian1 (8:57:27 PM): "Brings back memories..."
Thematrian1 (8:57:46 PM): "Anything else, before we head back?"
MilesMk1 (8:58:48 PM): "I don't see anything else we can do here."
MilesMk1 (8:59:08 PM): "If there was a way in, whoever did all that digging probably would have found it by now."
Umbrafer (8:59:12 PM): Perception from everyone, by the by.
Thematrian1 (8:59:16 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 2 4 1 5 5
MilesMk1 (8:59:17 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 6 2 4 4 4
MilesMk1 (8:59:20 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
CirclMastr (8:59:31 PM): (Back)
CirclMastr (9:00:04 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 2 2 5 1
CirclMastr (9:00:12 PM): (Yay, my usual shit roll)
Thematrian1 (9:00:38 PM): (TN 4! TN 4! TN 4!)
Umbrafer (9:01:23 PM): Everyone hears a rustling off in the woods.
Umbrafer (9:01:32 PM): Gem has some idea of where it came from.
Thematrian1 (9:01:43 PM): "Ssst."
CirclMastr (9:01:44 PM): (Aaaaaand I get dragged off again)
Thematrian1 (9:01:46 PM): #Over there#
MilesMk1 (9:01:48 PM): I have a spatial recognizer, BTW...
Thematrian1 (9:01:50 PM): ::points::
MilesMk1 (9:02:00 PM): So if Gem has an idea...
Thematrian1 (9:02:00 PM): I have hearing amplification
MilesMk1 (9:02:06 PM): So do I. ;)
Thematrian1 (9:02:08 PM): Probably the TN was 5
Thematrian1 (9:02:13 PM): in that case
MilesMk1 (9:02:32 PM): Never mind. I too easy get into pissing contests... :P
MilesMk1 (9:02:35 PM): Rustling.
Umbrafer (9:02:44 PM): Hm. You're right, you do have an idea of where.
Thematrian1 (9:02:56 PM): Or, GM error. You know, whatever ;-)
Umbrafer (9:03:11 PM): (TN was 5, but spacial recognizer)
Umbrafer (9:03:59 PM): It sounds like it's about eighteen meters in.
Umbrafer (9:04:07 PM): Through some trees, though.
MilesMk1 (9:04:29 PM): *points* #Roughly 18 meters in that direction.#
MilesMk1 (9:04:56 PM): *engages cloaking mode*
Thematrian1 (9:05:00 PM): #I think we have to care. Mind finding out what it is?#
MilesMk1 (9:05:10 PM): #Sure. Take cover.#
Thematrian1 (9:05:24 PM): ::does so, invites MacLeod to do the same::
Umbrafer (9:05:38 PM): MacLeod joins in the cover-taking.
MilesMk1 (9:05:45 PM): *very quietly moves out to investigate, circling off to the side slightly and using cover as much as possible*
MilesMk1 (9:05:59 PM): (ruthenium on, BTW)
Umbrafer (9:06:13 PM): (Figured)
MilesMk1 (9:06:16 PM): (God, I wish there was something that'd dampen the noise I make...)
Umbrafer (9:06:21 PM): You sneak sneak sneak. Roll Stealth.
MilesMk1 (9:06:24 PM): (Just being paranoid.)
MilesMk1 (9:06:27 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 6 5 1 4 5
MilesMk1 (9:06:31 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
Thematrian1 (9:06:32 PM): (Concealment, the spirit power, likely does that)
Umbrafer (9:06:47 PM): (Not that we're recapping or anything ;) thanks )
Thematrian1 (9:07:06 PM): (Why would I do a think like that?)
Thematrian1 (9:07:16 PM): (...)
Umbrafer (9:07:25 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 3 3 4 1 4 3 5 4 2 1 2 6 5 5 2
Umbrafer (9:07:29 PM): Umbrafer rolled 1 6-sided die: 4
Umbrafer (9:08:02 PM): You sneak-sneak-sneak. No one in the team notices you leave.
Umbrafer (9:08:22 PM): You circle around, and see… perception.
MilesMk1 (9:08:31 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 2 1 6 6 6
MilesMk1 (9:08:35 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 3 6-sided dice: 1 4 6
Thematrian1 (9:08:37 PM): (Very meta)
MilesMk1 (9:08:39 PM): Everything!
MilesMk1 (9:08:44 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
Umbrafer (9:09:13 PM): Looks like a dog or coyote.
MilesMk1 (9:09:21 PM): (Given those roles, it's inevitable now that I ambushed a groundho...)
Umbrafer (9:09:23 PM): It appears to be gnawing on something.
MilesMk1 (9:09:24 PM): Ah.
MilesMk1 (9:09:30 PM): (rolls))
MilesMk1 (9:09:41 PM): #It's a dog. Or a coyote.#
Thematrian1 (9:09:43 PM): For what value of 'something', though?
MilesMk1 (9:10:01 PM): Can I tell which? Still have Wilderness Survival chipped in.
Thematrian1 (9:10:04 PM): #Without a handler, it's probably just a stray. Is it doing anything interesting?#
MilesMk1 (9:10:27 PM): #Eating. Or trying to.#
Umbrafer (9:10:30 PM): Well, you do see some things on the ground. It looks like there's a… seran-wrapped sandwich on the ground?
MilesMk1 (9:10:58 PM): And it's gnawing on that?
Umbrafer (9:11:02 PM): And there looks to be a bit of a strap or buckle.
Umbrafer (9:11:05 PM): Nope, that's next to it.
Thematrian1 (9:11:06 PM): #Uh. Natural or human?#
Umbrafer (9:11:21 PM): You can't really tell what it's gnawing on from this angle.
MilesMk1 (9:11:58 PM): #Well, there's a wrapped sandwich that it's *not& gnawing on close to whatever it is... Moving in for a better look.#
MilesMk1 (9:12:25 PM): I'll move a little closer, trying to stay downwind of it.
MilesMk1 (9:12:45 PM): (or whatever the correct one is. So that the wind blows from it to me)
Umbrafer (9:12:47 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 4 4 1 1 1 4 1 4 1 6 2 2 6 3 2
Umbrafer (9:12:51 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 4 2
Thematrian1 (9:13:01 PM): (upwind)
MilesMk1 (9:13:10 PM): And I'll have my hand on my gun, ready to draw.
Umbrafer (9:13:42 PM): *Gnaw gnaw gnaw* You move towards and around it. (Wind blows from upwind to downwind, unless I'm vastly more tired than I think I am…)
Umbrafer (9:14:06 PM): It's gnawing on the 2050s equivalent of a tupperware container.
Umbrafer (9:14:58 PM): It appears to be trying to pry it open, but isn't having a whole lot of success.
Umbrafer (9:16:13 PM): *Gnaw gnaw gnaw*
Thematrian1 (9:16:30 PM): #Still alive?#
CirclMastr (9:16:39 PM): (Back, until they drag me off again)
MilesMk1 (9:16:43 PM): #It's a plastic food container.#
MilesMk1 (9:17:12 PM): #It's someone's lunch. Which begs the question...#
Thematrian1 (9:17:13 PM): #So people were definitely hanging around here, in a protacted way. Good for them.#
MilesMk1 (9:17:48 PM): #And recently. That sandwich is still in wrap. There's a lot of critters around here...#
MilesMk1 (9:18:16 PM): #Well, if I want to get a better look at that junk and the area, I'll have to chase it off somehow. Wish I brough pepper spray...#
MilesMk1 (9:18:47 PM): BTW, can I verify that this is indeed a dog or a coyote, and not, say... A hellhound, or something?
Umbrafer (9:18:54 PM): Hehehe
Umbrafer (9:19:03 PM): If you have the appropriate skill, sure
Umbrafer (9:19:13 PM): Feel free to default to security procedures, IIRC
MilesMk1 (9:19:20 PM): And that it does not appear to have... I dunno - dikoted teeth to use a wild example picked at random...
MilesMk1 (9:19:34 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 2 4 1 2 3
Thematrian1 (9:19:37 PM): hahaha
CirclMastr (9:19:37 PM): (It's the rare Ruthenium Hound, who survives on synthetic compounds but prefers ruthenium-capable outfits)
MilesMk1 (9:19:45 PM): That was my Sec. Procedures. Yay.
Umbrafer (9:20:14 PM): You've got no real idea, but you don't smell sulpher.
MilesMk1 (9:21:18 PM): #Should I chase it off?#
MilesMk1 (9:21:35 PM): #Or try to take it down? God, this place is making me pranoid...#
Thematrian1 (9:21:44 PM): #I think we'd better. Killing it is optional#
Thematrian1 (9:22:02 PM): #I don't know what sort of totemic influence this place has, but I'd rather not stir up anything...#
MilesMk1 (9:22:29 PM): #Mhmm...#
MilesMk1 (9:23:16 PM): Ok, I'm going to do the following - aim my gun at it, ready to fire (it's silenced and loaded with gel rounds), then get a stone or a stick off the ground and toss it at it.
Umbrafer (9:23:31 PM): Got it. You toss.
Umbrafer (9:23:40 PM): *Zwip* *Thud*
Umbrafer (9:23:42 PM): Reaction.
CirclMastr (9:23:48 PM): (Now it KILLS YOU)
Umbrafer (9:23:51 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 3 6 6 3 3 1 4 3 1 3 6 4 6 3 1
MilesMk1 (9:23:55 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 5 5 3 1 1
Umbrafer (9:23:57 PM): Umbrafer rolled 4 6-sided dice: 5 4 4 3
MilesMk1 (9:24:02 PM): Hmm.
CirclMastr (9:24:14 PM): (You broke Law #16)
Umbrafer (9:24:30 PM): It leaps and flops forward over the container, coming up on all fours. You have a surprise action if you want it ;)
Umbrafer (9:24:52 PM): It's facing you.
MilesMk1 (9:25:07 PM): I shoot it.
Umbrafer (9:25:08 PM): Does not appear to be bracing for a leap, though.
Umbrafer (9:25:13 PM): Mmk, roll.
Thematrian1 (9:25:16 PM): ("We come in peace! Shoot to kill, shoot kill")
MilesMk1 (9:25:32 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 10 6-sided dice: 2 1 1 2 6 4 5 1 1 1
Thematrian1 (9:25:41 PM): eesh
MilesMk1 (9:25:43 PM): TN 2, right? :D
Umbrafer (9:25:51 PM): Er, yeah.
Umbrafer (9:26:05 PM): It goes right down in the middle of turning around.
Umbrafer (9:26:23 PM): (With a "yip"
Umbrafer (9:26:28 PM): Well, ok, I'll give it a roll
Umbrafer (9:26:30 PM): Umbrafer rolled 15 6-sided dice: 1 3 6 4 3 3 5 5 1 3 1 1 4 6 5
MilesMk1 (9:26:33 PM): (gel, so hopefully I haven't killed it)
Umbrafer (9:26:35 PM): Umbrafer rolled 2 6-sided dice: 1 2
Umbrafer (9:26:38 PM): Didn't think so
Umbrafer (9:28:21 PM): You now have an unconscious canid between a sandwich and a chewed tupperware container.
Umbrafer (9:28:25 PM): Actions?
CirclMastr (9:28:54 PM): (Eat the sandwich!)
MilesMk1 (9:29:12 PM): #Knocked the poor doggie out. Let's hope it doesn't have friends who'll try to finish what the kites started...#
Thematrian1 (9:29:15 PM): Did we even hear anything?
Umbrafer (9:29:27 PM): You heard a "yip!"
Umbrafer (9:29:38 PM): Perception if you want to hear the gunshot
Umbrafer (9:29:42 PM): You probably did, it's pretty easy
Thematrian1 (9:29:48 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 4 1 3 4 1
CirclMastr (9:29:54 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 3 1 1 1
CirclMastr (9:29:57 PM): (.....HA)
Umbrafer (9:30:26 PM): Wow. You may actually not have.
Umbrafer (9:30:35 PM): Actions from Glitch?
MilesMk1 (9:30:41 PM): I walk over quietly, move the canine out of the way (checking for a collar), then look the area over.
MilesMk1 (9:30:48 PM): (The gun was silenced...)
MilesMk1 (9:31:07 PM): #You can probably come over if you want.#
Umbrafer (9:31:18 PM): (It was, that's a TN mod. Actually, it may make the TN 4 as opposed to 2 in this case)
Umbrafer (9:32:14 PM): Yeah, never mind, Gem heard it just finee.
Umbrafer (9:32:16 PM): *-e
Umbrafer (9:32:24 PM): MacLeod was looking at his shoelaces.
MilesMk1 (9:32:27 PM): (Damn, SR silencers suck. ;) )
Umbrafer (9:32:55 PM): (One of the few parts of the firearm system that probably approaches realism :) )
Umbrafer (9:33:58 PM): There are definitely what look to be shredded pieces of a pack here.
Umbrafer (9:34:02 PM): Backpack, that is.
Thematrian1 (9:34:19 PM): (as opposed to pack of dogs, right)
Umbrafer (9:34:23 PM): The only whole objects are the sandwich, the container, and the dog.
Umbrafer (9:34:31 PM): Now that you're closer you're pretty sure it's a coyote.
MilesMk1 (9:34:42 PM): #It was a backpack, it looks like.#
Umbrafer (9:35:03 PM): There's definitely not enough material for this to be all of it.
MilesMk1 (9:35:40 PM): Ok... Open the container, look at the sandwich - see how fresh the food is - sort through the rest of the debris for clues, then try to find the rest of it.
MilesMk1 (9:35:49 PM): #You guys coming?#
Thematrian1 (9:35:57 PM): #As you like.#
Thematrian1 (9:36:01 PM): ::roust MacLeod::
Thematrian1 (9:36:13 PM): ::wander over, keeping my eyes on the trees::
Umbrafer (9:36:58 PM): The sandwich appears to be a soyturkey sandwich. The container, however, contains some leftover pieces of what appears to be real steak.
Umbrafer (9:37:16 PM): It looks like it hasn't been left here more than a day, two at the outside.
Umbrafer (9:38:12 PM): There are also shreds of a larger plastic bag nearby.
MilesMk1 (9:38:54 PM): Examine that, then whatever is left of the backpack and non-food... And try to see if there's more to be found.
Thematrian1 (9:39:29 PM): While he's doing that, walk a wider circle around the area, looking at the ground
Umbrafer (9:39:57 PM): The plastic bag is empty. The formerly-open end is tied in a knot, and it looks like it was shredded by teeth.
CirclMastr (9:40:02 PM): ::la de da::
Umbrafer (9:40:11 PM): There are only small scraps of the backpack present here.
Umbrafer (9:41:10 PM): Gem paces her wider circle. Looking for anything in particular?
Thematrian1 (9:41:25 PM): nope, just man-made things on the ground
Umbrafer (9:41:35 PM): Perception from Glitch to find anything else. How wide a circle?
Thematrian1 (9:41:51 PM): 10 meters
MilesMk1 (9:41:53 PM): Can I use wilderness survival to... I dunno, track? Look for blood trails?
MilesMk1 (9:41:57 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 3 3 3 4 5
Umbrafer (9:42:46 PM): (Sure, you can) You don't find a whole lot else on the ground in the area.
Umbrafer (9:43:13 PM): Gem paces and paces, but isn't finding anything.
MilesMk1 (9:43:24 PM): I'll try to use Survival that way, then.
CirclMastr (9:43:28 PM): ::is following Gem, not doing anything in particular::
MilesMk1 (9:43:30 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 6 3 3 4 2 6 2 3
MilesMk1 (9:43:37 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 3
Umbrafer (9:43:56 PM): You've got a pretty good idea of where the dog came from.
CirclMastr (9:44:11 PM): (When a mommy dog and a daddy dog love each other very much...)
Umbrafer (9:45:19 PM): Going to track it?
MilesMk1 (9:45:40 PM): Oh. If it's the only trail I find, yeah.
Umbrafer (9:45:51 PM): *Track track track*
Thematrian1 (9:45:59 PM): I follow Glitch
Umbrafer (9:46:21 PM): You walk a ways. You start to become uncertain about whether or not you're on the right path, when you find a patch of bloodstains. Perception.
Thematrian1 (9:46:30 PM): all?
MilesMk1 (9:46:38 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 5 4 5 4 5
Umbrafer (9:46:40 PM): Everyone trekking along.
Thematrian1 (9:47:10 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 1 5 6 4 6
Thematrian1 (9:47:15 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 6 6
Thematrian1 (9:47:19 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 2
Thematrian1 (9:47:32 PM): "Hey guys, look at that"
MilesMk1 (9:47:57 PM): (Smartass. ;) )
Thematrian1 (9:48:05 PM): (:-D)
Umbrafer (9:48:09 PM): Glitch spots a blood trail leading off through the woods. Gem spots a wrapper near the bloodstains (which are right by a tree) and something shiny.
MilesMk1 (9:48:34 PM): "What, the blood trail?"
Thematrian1 (9:48:41 PM): "Some kind of wrapper there, by the bloodstains. Also, what's that?" ::points to the shiny thing::
MilesMk1 (9:49:23 PM): #...should have brought forceps.# *goes over to examine the wrapper and the shiny-thing*
Thematrian1 (9:49:31 PM): ::heads for the shiny thing::
Umbrafer (9:49:36 PM): Picking the wrapper up?
MilesMk1 (9:50:12 PM): If it's not obviously blood-covered and/or disgusting... If it is, using a twig to get it off the ground.
Umbrafer (9:50:23 PM): It isn't bloodstained at all.
Umbrafer (9:50:44 PM): The shiny thing is, however, in a bloody patch and mostly stuck into the ground.
Umbrafer (9:50:54 PM): The wrapper is a bandage wrapper.
Thematrian1 (9:51:07 PM): Yummy. Item for 'things to purchase': rubber gloves...
CirclMastr (9:51:09 PM): (Who would eat a bandage?)
Thematrian1 (9:51:19 PM): ::examine in detail, with microscopic vision if it will help::
Umbrafer (9:51:38 PM): You're pretty sure it's an OMC of some variety.
Thematrian1 (9:51:45 PM): mise!
MilesMk1 (9:52:06 PM): #Looks like someone stopped to put on a bandage...#
Umbrafer (9:52:13 PM): (Mise?)
Thematrian1 (9:52:14 PM): I pick it up, as carefully as I can manage. Sure as hell not slotting it though.
Umbrafer (9:52:27 PM): You do so, wiping the blood and dirt off of it.
Thematrian1 (9:52:30 PM): #I think I found an OMC. Too dirty to slot just now, but...#
MilesMk1 (9:52:44 PM): #But it looks like they left a blood trail I can follow...#
CirclMastr (9:52:51 PM): #Is it conveniently labeled something like "Evil Plan to Doublecross Runner Team" or anything?#
Thematrian1 (9:52:55 PM): #Excellent#
Thematrian1 (9:53:02 PM): does it have a label at all?
Umbrafer (9:53:21 PM): No label.
Thematrian1 (9:53:29 PM): #Sadly, no#
Umbrafer (9:53:54 PM): Home-cooked, too.
Thematrian1 (9:54:05 PM): how can I tell?
Umbrafer (9:54:33 PM): I'm assuming a difference similar to that between pressed and burned CDs.
Thematrian1 (9:54:48 PM): ah, indeed
Thematrian1 (9:55:40 PM): ::tucks in theOMC into one of her many pockets::
MilesMk1 (9:56:31 PM): #Want to follow the blood?#
CirclMastr (9:56:49 PM): #Do we have anything better to do? Oh yeah, not get attacked.#
Thematrian1 (9:56:52 PM): #Sure, I'm not busy.#
MilesMk1 (9:57:14 PM): *follows the blood trail*
Umbrafer (9:58:29 PM): You follow it. It goes a fair way into the woods, staying at about a constant level.
Umbrafer (9:59:05 PM): It looks like the bleeding was moderately heavy but not life-threatening, and that it just accumulated at the end due to the bleeder standing still.
Umbrafer (9:59:16 PM): You're walking along when you hear the screech of a bird.
MilesMk1 (9:59:30 PM): Aw, fuck.
MilesMk1 (9:59:40 PM): Blood Kite - like?
Umbrafer (9:59:59 PM): Very. It's a ways through the trees yet.
MilesMk1 (10:00:21 PM): So it sounds like it's not directed at us?
MilesMk1 (10:00:27 PM): Probably?
Umbrafer (10:00:46 PM): I would not say that that would be the impression you would get.
MilesMk1 (10:01:08 PM): *looks around for blood kites*
Umbrafer (10:01:48 PM): You see nothing immediately around. It sounded like it was ahead slightly out of sight
MilesMk1 (10:02:02 PM): And the blood trail goes in the direction?
Umbrafer (10:02:09 PM): Give or take.
MilesMk1 (10:02:23 PM): #Ok, do we risk the birds to find out where this leads to?#
CirclMastr (10:02:37 PM): #Sigh. Up to you two.#
MilesMk1 (10:02:42 PM): #If we do, Macleod and I should probably go in first.#
Thematrian1 (10:02:57 PM): #Agreed#
Umbrafer (10:04:39 PM): That what you're doing?
Thematrian1 (10:05:07 PM): looks that way
MilesMk1 (10:05:12 PM): Yep.
Thematrian1 (10:05:16 PM): ::creep along ready for an ambush::
MilesMk1 (10:05:18 PM): Gun ready.
Umbrafer (10:05:24 PM): You creep forwards around some trees, ready for action.
CirclMastr (10:05:28 PM): ::creeps along, sword ready::
Umbrafer (10:05:33 PM): A few things happen.
Umbrafer (10:06:02 PM): One, the blood trail continues for some distance.
Umbrafer (10:06:39 PM): Two, a few meters ahead of you the blood trail (which, from all appearances, is fairly light beyond this point) gets much much heavier. There's also something lying on the ground right about there.
Umbrafer (10:07:13 PM): Three, there's another shriek of exactly the same sort as before, followed by a second separated from it by about sixty degrees.
Umbrafer (10:07:51 PM): They're still a moderate distance ahead. Glitch would estimate a few meters past the end of visible range in each direction.
CirclMastr (10:08:08 PM): ::investigates the item on the ground::
Umbrafer (10:08:19 PM): Walking up to it?
CirclMastr (10:08:28 PM): (It's not like I can fly)
CirclMastr (10:08:42 PM): ('ll do it with some degree of stealth, of course)
Umbrafer (10:08:56 PM): You do so. It's a partly torn-apart backpack.
CirclMastr (10:09:14 PM): #Found the rest of the backpack, it looks like.# ::checks the contents, if any::
Thematrian1 (10:09:15 PM): #Someone had a terrible, terrible day here.#
Umbrafer (10:09:22 PM): With what appears to be an Ares Predator lying next to it.
CirclMastr (10:09:58 PM): ::pockets the gun::
Umbrafer (10:10:04 PM): Inside the backpack are some waterproof coveralls and a whatever-the-name-of-that-pistol-shotgun-is, as well as a two-litre of Aztecola.
MilesMk1 (10:10:06 PM): #Well, take a look around, for anything else, and I'll try to cover you and watch for the birds - then we can switch off.#
CirclMastr (10:10:30 PM): #Anyone need coveralls?#
CirclMastr (10:10:41 PM): ::checks for an ID, a nametag on the coveralls, anything::
Thematrian1 (10:10:42 PM): (The something Hatamoto?)
MilesMk1 (10:10:46 PM): #Already have a very nice pari.#
Thematrian1 (10:10:54 PM): #Fine, thanks#
Umbrafer (10:10:59 PM): (Yeah, that one) No ID or nametag.
CirclMastr (10:11:53 PM): ::leaves the coveralls, pockets the gun and opens the soda, sniffing it for freshness::
Umbrafer (10:12:32 PM): It fizzes all over you.
CirclMastr (10:12:41 PM): #Someone shook this, ugh...#
CirclMastr (10:13:07 PM): ::lets the fizz settle and takes a swig::
MilesMk1 (10:13:26 PM): #How recently could that have happened?#
MilesMk1 (10:13:50 PM): Hey, that's a good question... How fresh was the blood? Still resembling liquid in any way?
CirclMastr (10:13:56 PM): #Uh... I dunno, not more than an hour at the outside, probably less than that.#
Umbrafer (10:14:22 PM): Not still liquid. Not too old, though, either.
Umbrafer (10:14:30 PM): Less than a day old.
MilesMk1 (10:15:07 PM): #Anything else?#
MilesMk1 (10:15:26 PM): BTW, does the trail end here (or start here, as it might be?) or does it keep going?
Thematrian1 (10:15:27 PM): #Probably not company men, why would they have a friggin shotpistol?#
Umbrafer (10:15:39 PM): Trail keeps going, but as noted is much lighter beyond.
Thematrian1 (10:15:55 PM): #Here, he stopped to bind his wounds?#
CirclMastr (10:16:02 PM): #Never seen anyone actually use it, maybe it's someone's "trademark", we could check on the Matrix about it, right?#
Thematrian1 (10:16:17 PM): #We surely could#
MilesMk1 (10:16:18 PM): #Useful against wild animals? They don't wear much armor...#
Umbrafer (10:16:20 PM): Incidentally, there are ten spare shells in the pack.
Thematrian1 (10:16:32 PM): ::grabs shotpistol and shells::
Umbrafer (10:16:35 PM): Five shot, five slug.
CirclMastr (10:16:42 PM): #You want 'em?#
Thematrian1 (10:16:47 PM): ::loads with slugs::
CirclMastr (10:16:53 PM): (MacLeod had already grabbed it)
Thematrian1 (10:16:57 PM): #Hey, I've never owned one of these#
MilesMk1 (10:16:59 PM): #Too loud for me, but let's hold on to them.#
Umbrafer (10:17:00 PM): Perception from those at the pack.
Thematrian1 (10:17:01 PM): (D'oh, sorry)
Thematrian1 (10:17:05 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 3 6 4 3 2
Thematrian1 (10:17:13 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 1
CirclMastr (10:17:14 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 3 4 5 3
CirclMastr (10:17:19 PM): (Come on TN 3!)
Thematrian1 (10:17:36 PM): "May I have the shotpistol, please? I've never owned one."
Umbrafer (10:17:39 PM): Glitch also notices a nearby feather.
CirclMastr (10:18:32 PM): "Er, maybe you should wait until you can use it first, then? heh. Just saying, picking shot out of one's spleen is less than fun." ::gives Gem the shotpistol::
Thematrian1 (10:18:52 PM): "I have a pistols chip. It should cross over..."
Thematrian1 (10:19:01 PM): ::takes the shotpistol, loads with slugs, pockets for now::
MilesMk1 (10:19:09 PM): #Hey, there's a feather by your foot, Gem.#
Thematrian1 (10:19:23 PM): "So there is."
Thematrian1 (10:19:25 PM): ::examine::
Thematrian1 (10:19:39 PM): "I hope it's Blood Kite"
MilesMk1 (10:19:46 PM): #Could the blood-kites have done this much damage?#
Umbrafer (10:19:54 PM): Actually, I meant to type Gem
MilesMk1 (10:20:01 PM): Ah.
Umbrafer (10:20:02 PM): What with her having gottne the test, but that works anyway
Umbrafer (10:20:16 PM): Glitch can roll First Aid or equivalent skill to try to guess that
MilesMk1 (10:21:35 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 6 6 3 1 6 1 5 2
MilesMk1 (10:21:40 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 3 6-sided dice: 5 2 1
MilesMk1 (10:21:45 PM): That was First Aid.
Umbrafer (10:22:27 PM): From your experience Blood Kites go heavily for head wounds, which bleed disproportionately already. If they managed to get a good hit in, it's entirely possible for them to do this much damage.
MilesMk1 (10:23:20 PM): #I guess if they got at someone's unprotected head and neck...#
CirclMastr (10:23:29 PM): #A disconcerting image.#
MilesMk1 (10:23:59 PM): #There's a way of getting hurt that actually bothers you? I think that's a first.#
Thematrian1 (10:24:05 PM): #Yeah. Whoever it was was hurt badly enough that he left his pack behind.#
MilesMk1 (10:24:23 PM): #What the hell is going on here?#
CirclMastr (10:24:41 PM): #Something bad.#
MilesMk1 (10:24:43 PM): #Did we get called in because their operation was compromised by a pair of brids?#
Umbrafer (10:24:46 PM): Let's get an INT roll from Glitch here.
MilesMk1 has left the chat room.

MilesMk1 has entered the chat room.

MilesMk1 (10:25:05 PM): Sorry.
MilesMk1 (10:25:10 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 8 6-sided dice: 1 1 3 1 6 4 1 5
Umbrafer (10:25:14 PM): Wb, no worries.
MilesMk1 (10:25:16 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
Umbrafer (10:25:53 PM): Just to be clear, Glitch's guess is that he's following the trail backwards, towards its beginning.
Thematrian1 (10:26:01 PM): oh
MilesMk1 (10:26:25 PM): I assumed as much.
Thematrian1 (10:26:40 PM): I didn't. Why leave your backpack when you're heading towards the well?
MilesMk1 (10:27:12 PM): Because you want to ditch the dead weight and just run?
Thematrian1 (10:27:28 PM): Fair enough, but what was he doing at the well that he didn't need his pack for?
MilesMk1 (10:27:45 PM): Well, it looks to me like there were two, first of all... Right?
MilesMk1 (10:28:09 PM): I mean, it looks like we found pieces of two backpacks.
Umbrafer (10:28:38 PM): Looks like you found pieces of one backpack. Perception if you're examining the ground, though
MilesMk1 (10:28:50 PM): Ah.
MilesMk1 (10:28:53 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 5 1 3 4 3
Thematrian1 (10:29:32 PM): ::follows suit::
Thematrian1 (10:29:35 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 2 3 5 4 3
CirclMastr (10:29:53 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 5 1 4 3
Umbrafer (10:30:24 PM): In the area softened by the blood, you're pretty sure you see more than one pair of human tracks.
Thematrian1 (10:31:52 PM): "Follow more, or go back?"
MilesMk1 (10:32:17 PM): So, there was more than one... The one got badly messed up, the others took off his backpack to carry him more easily, and got out of here? Or went to the well?
MilesMk1 (10:33:00 PM): "If we follow more, we might find out something about why they were here. Or maybe just get into another fight with those damn brids, for nothing... I vote we check it out, but you stay well back."
Thematrian1 (10:33:23 PM): "Hey, they haven't done more than scratch me."
MilesMk1 (10:34:04 PM): "I'm not saying you can't defend yourself, just that we have most to lose if you do happen to get hurt."
Thematrian1 (10:34:48 PM): (genuinely impressed, big smile) "Nice recovery. And yes, I'll hang back."
MilesMk1 (10:35:23 PM): "Macleod?"
MilesMk1 (10:35:44 PM): *walks on, if Macleod doesn't object to moving out*
CirclMastr (10:35:53 PM): *follows along*
MilesMk1 (10:36:10 PM): keeping an eye on the directions I hear the screeches from, and pointing them out to the others.
Umbrafer (10:36:12 PM): You walk on. You turn a corner and…
Umbrafer (10:36:14 PM): Perception.
MilesMk1 (10:36:18 PM): Corner?
MilesMk1 (10:36:21 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 5 3 3 2 6 6
CirclMastr (10:36:24 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 3 6 2 5
MilesMk1 (10:36:25 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 3 1
CirclMastr (10:36:26 PM): CirclMastr rolled 1 6-sided die: 5
Thematrian1 (10:36:27 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 4 5 4 6 3
Thematrian1 (10:36:31 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
CirclMastr (10:36:33 PM): (11, 5)
Thematrian1 (10:36:44 PM): (Man, every single session I regret not taking Perceptive)
MilesMk1 (10:36:45 PM): (9,7,5)
Umbrafer (10:37:24 PM): First thing as happens is you see the end of the blood trail a bit further (or rather the start). It's nothing terribly special, just a few splashes of blood followed by the trail you've been following.
Umbrafer (10:37:36 PM): The second thing is you hear wingbeats over your head, flying past.
MilesMk1 (10:38:14 PM): #Birds incoming! Watch out, Gem, at least one flew over me in your direction!#
Thematrian1 (10:38:33 PM): ::ducks, watches out::
MilesMk1 (10:38:38 PM): I look around for birds to shoot.
Umbrafer (10:38:44 PM): You see nothing.
CirclMastr (10:39:55 PM): #So now what?#
Thematrian1 (10:40:31 PM): #Unless Glitch can track them back to where they really started, I think we go back to looking for pipes to break into#
MilesMk1 (10:41:56 PM): #I can check, but I doubt it... Blood trails are one thing, but I'm no tribal tracker in an action trid that's going to sniff at the ground and taste animal droppings...#
MilesMk1 (10:42:15 PM): *checks*
Umbrafer (10:42:24 PM): Going to the end of the blood trail to check?
Umbrafer (10:42:52 PM): (Meanwhile, let's get a Perception from everyone)
MilesMk1 (10:42:55 PM): ... yes.
MilesMk1 (10:42:59 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 2 4 6 2 1 5
CirclMastr (10:43:03 PM): CirclMastr rolled 4 6-sided dice: 3 1 3 3
MilesMk1 (10:43:04 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 3
CirclMastr (10:43:08 PM): (Gogo TN 3!)
MilesMk1 (10:43:09 PM): 9,5,4
Thematrian1 (10:43:54 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 1 6 6 2 6 5
Thematrian1 (10:43:59 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 3 6-sided dice: 2 3 4
Umbrafer (10:44:04 PM): You go to the end. Their path immediately thereafter is obvious, as it involves a lot of shuffling around and stomping. Incidentally, fact that I forgot to mention, that Predator you picked up was suppressed.
Umbrafer (10:44:20 PM): Gem, meanwhile, hears rustling of branches around her.
Thematrian1 (10:44:29 PM): #Rustling#
Thematrian1 (10:44:40 PM): I look, but mostly I listen
MilesMk1 (10:45:31 PM): You mean the path that they used to arrive at this place? (the one they left it by should be just as obvious and coincide with the blood trail)
MilesMk1 (10:45:44 PM): #I hate nature.# *turns to look*
Umbrafer (10:46:05 PM): The path they used to arrive is not obvious. There is a shuffling path slightly beyond the blood trail suggesting that they may have been under attack before the first injury.
MilesMk1 (10:46:52 PM): Ah. Well, I'll wait for the rustling issue to resolve before trying anything else.
Thematrian1 (10:47:10 PM): ::steals some cattle::
Umbrafer (10:48:04 PM): The rustling is not audible to you, being back where Gem is.
Umbrafer (10:48:09 PM): Nothing's happening right now.
Thematrian1 (10:48:25 PM): ::moves closer to the other two::
MilesMk1 (10:48:52 PM): *Listens intently for unusual rustling*
Umbrafer (10:49:54 PM): You move closer. There's no rustling by Glitch.
Thematrian1 (10:50:15 PM): #I hate forests. Let's get back into our nice sterile van.#
MilesMk1 (10:51:23 PM): #Sounds good to me.#
MilesMk1 (10:51:45 PM): #Maybe we can wash off that chip, and figure out what to do next.#
CirclMastr (10:52:33 PM): #Sounds good to me.#
Umbrafer (10:52:59 PM): Incidentally, MacLeod's nagging feeling went away some time ago.
CirclMastr (10:53:44 PM): Ah well.
MilesMk1 (10:53:54 PM): *goes along with Gem and Macleod* (because I need to go AFK for a few minutes)
Thematrian1 (10:54:32 PM): ::goes back to the van. I have an orientation system, so this shouldn't be too tricky::
Umbrafer (10:54:54 PM): Going straight back? That involves going into probable blood-kite territory.
Thematrian1 (10:55:10 PM): yeah, let's walk around that
Umbrafer (10:55:49 PM): You do so. You emerge from the forest none the more injured.
CirclMastr (10:56:02 PM): So, we have at least two runners, one seriously wounded by a kite, who go to the well, dig or enter the tunnel, plant some explosives, and leave?
CirclMastr (10:56:12 PM): All within the past day?
Thematrian1 (10:56:33 PM): Maybe they didn't plant the explosives? No, that makes even less sense.
CirclMastr (10:56:46 PM): I would offer...
Umbrafer (10:56:48 PM): Unless these runners were all Trolls with massive Quickness enhancements, they didn't dig the tunnel all within the past day.
CirclMastr (10:56:53 PM): The runners are here, waiting for us to do OUR thing
Thematrian1 (10:57:13 PM): and leaking profusely
Umbrafer (10:57:22 PM): I will also point out that the pump is still pumping water out of the marked blasting area.
CirclMastr (10:57:25 PM): It's all too recent to have been left to come back to, they've got to be staking it out.
CirclMastr (10:59:41 PM): I bet there's some guy going "I can't believe that kid took my soda!"
Thematrian1 (11:00:19 PM): No, if they were staking it out they'd not have left their stuff lying about
MilesMk1 (11:00:25 PM): Well... If they were here, why not clean up after themselves? Why leave the OMC there?
MilesMk1 (11:00:30 PM): Right.
CirclMastr (11:00:43 PM): Maybe they heard us coming.
CirclMastr (11:00:48 PM): They didn't have time to clean up.
Thematrian1 (11:01:09 PM): that's an entertaining theory. But if there are two groups in the area, why were we hired?
MilesMk1 (11:01:17 PM): So they're stealthy enough to go completely unnoticed?
Thematrian1 (11:01:27 PM): there's also that
MilesMk1 (11:01:50 PM): But one of them was taken down by a blood kite?
MilesMk1 (11:02:02 PM): Strange mix of incompetence and supreme skill...
MilesMk1 (11:02:25 PM): Still, I guess it is possible...
MilesMk1 (11:02:37 PM): Just doesn't seem likely.
Thematrian1 (11:03:19 PM): yeah, but then why the tunnel, and the bombs?
CirclMastr (11:03:29 PM): And where did the other team go?
MilesMk1 (11:04:12 PM): Well, the explosives weren't planted yet.
Thematrian1 (11:04:22 PM): no?
MilesMk1 (11:04:27 PM): Nope.
CirclMastr (11:04:28 PM): More evidence to suggest they were interrupted.
Thematrian1 (11:04:45 PM): wait, were there just a bunch of detonators, without bombs?
Umbrafer (11:05:03 PM): There were detonators and explosives, unplaced.
MilesMk1 (11:05:11 PM): There were spots marked where they ought to have been placed for a precise and (relatively) discreet blasting into the tunnel, detonators, and lots of cases of explosives.
Thematrian1 (11:05:18 PM): Ah, just stacked around? I see
MilesMk1 (11:05:26 PM): In sealed cases.
Thematrian1 (11:05:46 PM): So they were surprised, possibly by us, certainly recently.
CirclMastr (11:06:22 PM): They're down one team member, seriously wounded even if patched.
CirclMastr (11:06:39 PM): Did we ever follow the trail the other way and see where they went?
MilesMk1 (11:06:49 PM): I don't know how surprised they could have been, and still taken the time to hammer a piece of plywood to concrete...
Thematrian1 (11:06:52 PM): Maybe we should leave a note with a cell number and an offer of aid
CirclMastr (11:07:13 PM): Or just, like, say it if they're stalking us.
Thematrian1 (11:07:21 PM): or that, sure
Thematrian1 (11:08:27 PM): Did we think of any means of entry that didn't involve the pipes?
CirclMastr (11:08:45 PM): The whole lost puppy thing.
Thematrian1 (11:09:49 PM): well, nuts
Thematrian1 (11:10:52 PM): in theory, we could send the whole team to the air. That leaves getting out...
Umbrafer (11:11:19 PM): It's probably pushing 3:30 by now.
Thematrian1 (11:11:28 PM): son of a...
Umbrafer (11:11:37 PM): Wait, no…
Umbrafer (11:11:42 PM): Make that 3:00
Thematrian1 (11:13:46 PM): Ok, I've got nothing. A full mage could wander around in the ground until she found the pipes, but I'm not that god.
Thematrian1 (11:13:47 PM): good
Umbrafer (11:14:27 PM): You do have a pretty good idea of where the pipes run between well-area and depression
Umbrafer (11:15:01 PM): As well as a half-decent idea on either side
Thematrian1 (11:15:18 PM): Have we? Ok then. Let's go back there, get a local land spirit to do some digging for us, bust in, creep for a while, come up, and do this
CirclMastr (11:15:43 PM): So, no attempt to contact the other runner team?
Thematrian1 (11:15:57 PM): I'm sorely tempted, but I don't think it's wise
MilesMk1 (11:16:05 PM): I would vote no, since I don't think... Yeah.
Thematrian1 (11:16:08 PM): We'd pretty much have to betray them, and that'd upset our employer.
CirclMastr (11:16:36 PM): Pssh, you just want to keep the shotpistol ;D
MilesMk1 (11:16:51 PM): BTW, if we can just use a spirit to bust into the pipes... Why were they, with all the time in the world, planting explosives? My head hurts.
CirclMastr (11:17:01 PM): They have no mage?
Thematrian1 (11:17:06 PM): I expect they haven't got a mage.
CirclMastr (11:17:08 PM): They need the water pump blown up?
Thematrian1 (11:17:19 PM): Or simply haven't got one who's a sufficiently experienced conjurer
Thematrian1 (11:18:15 PM): And in fairness, we'd be using a spirit to dig a hole to find the pipes
MilesMk1 (11:19:13 PM): Fair enough.
Thematrian1 (11:20:12 PM): and then another spirit, or the same one again, to cover it over when we're done
Thematrian1 (11:20:55 PM): I check in at the van. Everything still ok?
Thematrian1 (11:21:21 PM): scavengers isn't dead in a pool of her own blood or anything?
CirclMastr (11:21:37 PM): That'd be unpleasant.
Thematrian1 (11:21:53 PM): if gently ironic
Umbrafer (11:21:59 PM): Nope. She appears to be asleep. There's a "wake me up if you need something" sign scrawled on a piece of paper and taped to the back of the front seat.
MilesMk1 (11:25:23 PM): Ok... You dig up the pipes, and I'll do overwatch?
Thematrian1 (11:26:03 PM): works for me
Umbrafer (11:26:25 PM): Heading for the depression>
Umbrafer (11:26:27 PM): *?
Thematrian1 (11:26:36 PM): in more ways than one
Umbrafer (11:26:41 PM): Hehehe
Umbrafer (11:26:54 PM): A critter that looks like a Century Ferret scatters at your approach.
CirclMastr (11:27:29 PM): (It's an ally spirit familiar!)
Thematrian1 (11:27:40 PM): is it? What's it like astrally?
CirclMastr (11:28:13 PM): (I was just joking, it'd be hilarious if I was right)
Thematrian1 (11:28:22 PM): (Wouldn't it though?)
Umbrafer (11:28:55 PM): It's astrally active, but that's the case for a good old-fashioned Century Ferret too.
Thematrian1 (11:28:59 PM): (Perception/assensing, if needed:)
Thematrian1 (11:29:01 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 4 1 5 6 6 5
Thematrian1 (11:29:05 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 2 6-sided dice: 1 3
Thematrian1 (11:29:20 PM): Wow. Lots of Awakened critters around here.
Thematrian1 (11:29:28 PM): (Imagine that with ##'s)
Umbrafer (11:29:35 PM): Essence lower than yours (whatever standard for a CF is), mood frightened and hungry, condition healthy.
MilesMk1 (11:31:15 PM): #Is it dangerous?#
Thematrian1 (11:31:30 PM): #It ran away, so I suppose not.#
Umbrafer (11:31:37 PM): (It's basically a dual-natured ferret.)
Umbrafer (11:31:51 PM): (Pretty famous since it was the first Awakened critter to show up, but not particularly special.
Umbrafer (11:31:53 PM): *)
Thematrian1 (11:32:03 PM): Ok then. ::spits on the ground:: "Come forth." Conjuring F4 Forest spirit:
Thematrian1 (11:32:06 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 3 5 5 5 1
Thematrian1 (11:32:20 PM): Drain, all the power focus dice come out here:
Thematrian1 (11:32:26 PM): Thematrian1 rolled 10 6-sided dice: 5 6 2 5 3 6 5 4 5 2
Thematrian1 (11:32:38 PM): yeah, no worries there
Umbrafer (11:32:53 PM): It comes forth.
Thematrian1 (11:33:03 PM): (I have 3 services)
Umbrafer (11:33:31 PM): It looks remarkably like a small hedge.
Umbrafer (11:33:37 PM): *Rustle rustle*
Thematrian1 (11:33:58 PM): We're in the depression, over the basic area where we think the pipe is?
Umbrafer (11:34:19 PM): Yep
MilesMk1 (11:34:58 PM): (Can we train it to kill Blood Kites?)
Thematrian1 (11:35:34 PM): (It wouldn't do any better than I can, at this force. It could cause Accidents for them, though. That could be amusing)
Umbrafer (11:35:50 PM): (The ferret? You can get it to do things involving blood kites and killing, sure, but maybe not what you want)
Umbrafer (11:35:51 PM): (Oh)
Thematrian1 (11:36:02 PM): "A pipe cuts through the ground below us. We do not know precisely where. Find it, and dig us a tunnel to it, so that we may tear it open."
Umbrafer (11:36:38 PM): *Rustle rustle rustle*
Umbrafer (11:36:49 PM): It settles to the ground, puts out roots, and then sinks into those roots.
Thematrian1 (11:36:55 PM): #I find formality helps with the more taciturn spirits. I don't know why.#
Umbrafer (11:37:39 PM): There's a rumbling underneath MacLeod's feet.
CirclMastr (11:38:23 PM): ::moves::
Umbrafer (11:38:55 PM): Something that looks like a hedge appears and starts tunneling straight down, throwing dirt to either side.
Thematrian1 (11:39:08 PM): ::enjoys being Gem::
Umbrafer (11:39:59 PM): *Tunnel tunnel tunnel*
Umbrafer (11:40:20 PM): Some minutes later, the sound of rustling can be heard from the bottom of the hole.
Thematrian1 (11:40:20 PM): ::peers into the tunnel::
Thematrian1 (11:41:09 PM): "I should have remembered to ask for a slant. Oh well, next time."
CirclMastr (11:41:27 PM): "C'est la vie."
Umbrafer (11:41:44 PM): It's only down about two meters, much shallower than near the well. It's clearly made of the same material.
Thematrian1 (11:42:12 PM): #Opinions: can we/should we cut this open?#
CirclMastr (11:42:33 PM): #Uh, don't we have to?#
Thematrian1 (11:42:58 PM): #Yep. The only reason not to involves hearing something inside. Glitch?#
MilesMk1 (11:44:25 PM): #The only way is to try to go in through the roof of the post... I think this seems like a better idea.#
MilesMk1 (11:44:32 PM): #Let me check it out.#
Thematrian1 (11:44:52 PM): ::stands aside::
MilesMk1 (11:44:52 PM): *climbs into the hole and listens at the pipe / examines the pipe*
Umbrafer (11:45:11 PM): Let's get Perception for that.
MilesMk1 (11:45:53 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 6 6-sided dice: 3 6 3 3 4 3
MilesMk1 (11:45:57 PM): MilesMk1 rolled 1 6-sided die: 2
MilesMk1 (11:46:16 PM): Hearing amp and all that... If it helps with the pathetic rolls...
Umbrafer (11:46:37 PM): You don't hear anything in particular. You do, however, spot a slight raised area at the edge of the hole.
MilesMk1 (11:47:08 PM): *brushes off the dirt / checks out the raised area*
Thematrian1 (11:47:41 PM): Access hatch maybe?
Umbrafer (11:48:05 PM): It goes up about a foot, but then ends jaggedly. It looks decently wide.
Umbrafer (11:48:18 PM): It's also situated off to one side of the pipe.
Thematrian1 (11:48:44 PM): #I have one or two favors left from my little forest spirit. Any thoughts on ways it could make itself useful? The pipe itself will probably be City domain; it won't be able to follow us.#
CirclMastr (11:49:08 PM): ::takes a swig of soda and shrugs::
MilesMk1 (11:49:42 PM): #Found something here... Something irregular and raised...#
MilesMk1 (11:49:54 PM): *does some more digging to get a better idea*
Thematrian1 (11:51:36 PM): ::awaits::
Umbrafer (11:52:20 PM): Looks like it once went up further, but got broken off. It was either done jaggedly or has worn down further.
Thematrian1 (11:52:53 PM): a ha
MilesMk1 (11:53:09 PM): I'm sorry, could I get a clearer description? Can't quite picture it...
Thematrian1 (11:53:48 PM): It sounds like there used to be a pipe emerging from this pipe toward ground level, but which was broken off. Jon?
MilesMk1 (11:53:53 PM): Does it look like a jagged stump of a pipe connected to the one we're trying to dig into?
Umbrafer (11:53:59 PM): Yep, that's pretty much it.
Umbrafer (11:54:16 PM): Both of you correct. Sized about such that most metahumans could pass through it.
MilesMk1 (11:54:30 PM): But right now I only see the very edge of it.
MilesMk1 (11:55:16 PM): #Looks like a pipe used to come out of the tunnel towards the surface, but it was broken off... If your spirit can clear it, it might be a good place to start.#
Thematrian1 (11:56:53 PM): #Got it. Is there space for me down there?#
Umbrafer (11:57:07 PM): It'd be a tight squeeze with the both of you, but you could fit.
MilesMk1 (11:57:38 PM): *comes out to make room*
Thematrian1 (11:57:51 PM): ::lowers herself in:: "O spirit?"
Umbrafer (11:58:11 PM): *Rustle*
Umbrafer (11:59:28 PM): *Rustle rustle?*
Thematrian1 (11:59:42 PM): hehe
Thematrian1 (11:59:59 PM): expressive little thing
Thematrian1 (12:00:28 AM): "Clear the dirt from around and within this fixture." ::touches the jagged thing::
Umbrafer (12:00:42 AM): *Rustle* *Dig dig dig*
Umbrafer (12:00:51 AM): Gem ducks to avoid the spray of dirt.
Umbrafer (12:01:33 AM): After a bit the fixture is clear.
Thematrian1 (12:01:53 AM): what is it? And do I still have a spirit?
Umbrafer (12:02:34 AM): It's got a fragment of rung still on it, you still have a spirit, and it's got a metal plate fixed across the top a few inches down.
Umbrafer (12:02:45 AM): Looks like it was originally a hatch to the surface that was decomissioned.
MilesMk1 (12:02:59 AM): Aha!
Thematrian1 (12:03:02 AM): #We have an access hatch.#
Thematrian1 (12:03:11 AM): ::climbs out::
MilesMk1 (12:03:15 AM): *comes down to take a look*
Thematrian1 (12:03:23 AM): "Metal plate across the top."
MilesMk1 (12:04:11 AM): 1. How is the metal plate held in place - welded all around, just in spots, etc. 2. Does it look like a tool laser can cut through it?
Umbrafer (12:05:15 AM): Welded most of the way around, looks like there are a few bolts. Tool laser ought to do the job unless there's heavier stuff below, but may take some time.
MilesMk1 (12:05:54 AM): How much? Many minutes? More than an hour? In my estimate.
Umbrafer (12:06:36 AM): Mm. On the range of half an hour, at a mildly conservative estimate (you're pretty sure it won't take more, but it could well take that much)
MilesMk1 (12:06:45 AM): (And I apologize, but I have to run again before we get to blow this thing open... Need... Sleep...)
MilesMk1 (12:06:55 AM): Ah. *passes on that info*
Thematrian1 (12:06:59 AM): (Oh well. Next week)
CirclMastr (12:07:16 AM): (Another week of MacLeod doing nothing, aside stealing soda)
Thematrian1 (12:07:42 AM): (We should have sent you into the hole, you're small enough)
Umbrafer (12:07:43 AM): (Perhaps not)
MilesMk1 (12:08:01 AM): (Hey... Macleod can wield the tool laser, if he wants to...)
CirclMastr (12:08:26 AM): (Not so much, no)
MilesMk1 (12:08:39 AM): (All right. Goodnight.)
Umbrafer (12:08:53 AM): (Sleep well.)
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Chat room exited at 7/8/2005 1:06:36 AM.