D_Var_Stars |
Above
The door leads to outside. In the limited light, the temple could be seen over the shambling rooftops. There seemed to material drapped in the space between the buildings. The young people were moving to a covered space in a shambling structure next to the building Jessica and Jerry were in the doorway of.
Amelia Oliver |
"There is disease here," she warned Zeke as she pulled on her boots and a pair of gloves. "Touch nothing with your skin if you can avoid such," she added. "I do not know if this is something even your miraculous medicines will aid with." She wrapped a scarf around her mouth and nose, too, before approaching those in modern dress.
"I am a friend," she said as soothingly as a heavily armed woman with her face covered could manage, "Can you speak enough to tell me what happened here?"
Manipulate Someone: 2d6 - 1 ⇒ (6, 2) - 1 = 7
Zeke Bjarnessen |
Zeke stands by as Amelia talks to one of the apparent nurses, trying to give everything a wide berth. The whole situation stinks, and now there's the literal stench of illness added to that. He scowls and shakes his head.
Jerry Harris Jr. |
Above
The door leads to outside. In the limited light, the temple could be seen over the shambling rooftops. There seemed to material drapped in the space between the buildings. The young people were moving to a covered space in a shambling structure next to the building Jessica and Jerry were in the doorway of.
I'm unclear if Jerry is looking out the same door that the people moved through or if he's looking through a separate door but sees where the people are going anyway. Either way...
Jerry looks at Jessica and cocks his head at the weird people before moving to follow them.
D_Var_Stars |
Let's see if this one will not eatten by the board - the group of young people went up, but because these buildings are dilapidated with holes and missing sections and the group - while trying to remain under cover of the material drapped between some of the buildings - are making no effort to hide from Jerry and Jessica, so they can be tracked at this time.
Above
The group of young adults moved to the nearest building, not making any effort to hide the noise of their walking or rifling through materials they find there. A couple needed help crossing the gap and it is noticeable that they all eyed up the temple warily as they crossed. The ground area in front of the building they went in was blocked by fallen beams and stone, but there are enough gaps in the walls at the ground floor for Jerry and Jessica to squeeze through into the building one at a time. There are also paths to other nearby buildings and likely back to the front of the temple and truck.
Below
The young woman on the bed mat rolled over as Amelia spoke, eyes feverish and mix of wary and relief in what beyond pain can be seen in her expression. She opened her mouth, but immediately winced and grabbed her throat that has several red blisters. After a few moments not really succeeding to catch her breath, she reached toward a clay mug of water near her bed with a shivering hand. The caring staff made no efforts to stop or otherwise interfere with Amelia and Zeke, simply carrying on with what they're doing.
Amelia Oliver |
Amelia tsked at the woman's suffering, pulling out her water bottle, pouring a little down into the woman while muttering an incantation. "This may help some small measure."
Weird (Soothe): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 5) + 2 = 13
D_Var_Stars |
Below
The relief was palatable. A small smile came to the young woman's face, her eyes were much clearer, the blistered remained though maybe looked a little less angry. She opened her mouth, before wincing again and sighing as she looked over to the carers. She mouths a thank you before taking a moment to look around.
After a moment she attempted to mime at her blisters and the others before she snapped her fingers and reached to the other side where a waist bag was sitting and she pulled out her phone and brought up a photo - her, the other young woman on the bed mat across from her, and a few others. She motions that Amelia or Zeke could look if they wanted. The phone lists that it had been taken 2 days ago.
Zeke Bjarnessen |
Zeke walks over as he sees the woman motion toward him, and he leans in to look at the phone, making sure his gun doesn't point at anyone accidentally. His eyes search over the picture, looking for whatever details might help shed some light on things.
Investigate a Mystery: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 5) + 1 = 9
I'll hold onto this 1 for now.
Jerry Harris Jr. |
Not knowing what else to do (and I'm assuming that Amelia and Zeke fell too far down for J&J to hear them), Jerry suggests to Jessica that they continue to follow the weird people until they find someone or something that will give them some answers.
Amelia Oliver |
"So, you and your fellows investigated this place and met the people here, yes? And somehow became infected by the pox within. And the disease renders you mute..." She looked at Zeke from the corner of her eye. "Do you have any idea as to where the rest of your party may be, and the way back to the surface? A map, perhaps, or if you have more images of your travels?"
D_Var_Stars |
AboveThose above are on the surface, able to see the temple and the other buildings, and are too far from those below for either to hear each other.
The weird group are looking for something and in their searching - and that the building is full of holes - a few items drop through near Jerry and Jessica -- a few bits of old medical equipment and two bottles.
Below
Zeke noticed the temple and another smaller building in the background of the picture, likely taken on the far side from where Zeke had entered the temple. He also noticed an odd silhouette in a few images, but can't find any of them that shows what it or who it clearly is.
The young woman nodded sadly and considered Amelia questions for a few moments. She takes her phone and flicks through a few images and then shows the image of a member of her group in front of one particular building which seemed to have several boxes and a worn-torn drapery on the wall with parts of an image visible - some sort of animal emblem was Amelia's best guess. The young woman motioned towards the door, giving a vague motion that there was a way up shortly outside of it before sadly sighing, pointing to her pox and shaking her head as she looked over to the carers.
Amelia Oliver |
"Agreed," Amelia said. "It would be for the best for now if you rest here." And it would not be wise to allow the disease to spread to the town. That meant she and the others were staying as well, until some kind of cure could be found. "Rest, and we shall return when we can."
Amelia rose and headed over to Zeke. "This disease is unpleasant. I think we should find the others. There are other buildings, somewhere on the surface, that seem in slightly better condition than those on the surface. Mayhap one holds answers to what has happened and what can be done to help."
Zeke Bjarnessen |
Sorry for my slow posting lately--I've had a very busy couple of weeks.
"Sounds as good as any plan to me," Zeke says with a nod. "Something strange about those pictures, too. I'm pretty sure I saw something in a bunch of 'em, or somebody. Not sure what." He frowns and jerks his head toward the door. "After you."
D_Var_Stars |
Above
It's a very old fashioned, chipped thin glass bottle with a worn label. Most of the text is now unreadable, but what was left was in a fancy type making promises of what it could cure and ingredients that haven't been legal in over the counter medicines in over more than a few decades, but is certainly no collector piece in the condition it is in.
A loud racking cough comes from above you and... please roll Sharp
Below No worries, Zeke
The young woman nods and tucks her phone away in her bag before she lays back down, better than before, but still looking weary and shivery. As Amelia and Zeke start to leave, all the carers seem to eye them up and down for a minute, but seem to move onto other more important tasks after being satisfied.
As Amelia and Zeke cross into the hall, the pair feel an earthquake. It goes on for several minutes - unusual for the area, but doesn't seem to concern any of the carers that can be seen from the doorway at least, it's harder to tell with the ill, but a few start cough hard.
In the hall outside of the room, there is a narrow corridor to the right with a few open doorways and an equally thin staircase going up to the left which appears to have light above.
Jessica Andrews-Androleteira |
Sharp: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10
Jessica's wings flare out and steady herself as the earthquake strikes. She lets the bottle fall to the ground.
Following the eye lines of the person, she watches the silhouette until it fades. "Creepy, horror movie jump scares, always hated those," she mutters.
She points over to the temple. "Did you see that?" she asks Jerry.
Is that the temple we first entered?
Zeke Bjarnessen |
Zeke quickly gets his legs in a wide stance and braces against the wall when the ground starts shaking, keeping an eye on their surroundings. Earthquakes aren't common here, and the folks he can see still in the room don't seem to shaken up by things--which makes him think it's something else. Something localized, and probably dangerous.
Once the tremors cease, he glances at the options and shines his flashlight up the staircase. "Gotta keep going up, right?" He looks to Amelia and, as long as she doesn't object, starts climbing.
Amelia Oliver |
Staring at the coughing people for a moment, Amelia looked at the dust in the air and began to wonder exactly what this disease might be...and whether it could be a place that made people ill. But she nodded to Zeke and followed.
D_Var_Stars |
Yes, it is the same temple, pretty much all the other buildings are crumbling and small.
Below
While not the steadiest staircase either Zeke or Amelia had climbed, they make it up without too much trouble. At the top, they are in a small falling apart building - they can see straight through the ceiling and see the outside of temple, towering above them. There seems to be an electric lantern left here, sitting on a box casting light. There are also two modern backpacks and various other things left around.
Amelia Oliver |
"Daylight." She moved over to the backpack. "Mayhap your wireless telephone will work now we have reached the surface, and you can place a call to Jerry?" She examined the backpacks, just in case they had something was useful.
Zeke Bjarnessen |
"Worth a shot." Zeke doesn't add that he hadn't even thought to try using the phone down below, but he guessed it wouldn't have had a signal anyway. He quickly calls the contact in his phone listed as "J-Bear," one of a handful of contacts, most of whom are listed with nicknames that would make very little sense to anyone but Zeke.
D_Var_Stars |
At Amelia's first glace, the backpacks had gear that even with her limited experience of modern tech looked like exploring and student gear.
Jerry's phone goes off for a moment - long enough for Zeke to hear two rings and sound of it to cut through the mostly quiet environment - before it stops. The call display information is working.
I need to know what noise Jerry's phone makes - whether on vibrate or a particular ring tone
Jerry Harris Jr. |
Sharp: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 1) + 1 = 7
She points over to the temple. "Did you see that?" she asks Jerry.
Jerry shakes his head in the negative. He had scooped up the bottle Jessica had dropped, and so didn't notice anything outside.
I need to know what noise Jerry's phone makes - whether on vibrate or a particular ring tone
Jerry has gone skulking long enough to know to put his phone on vibrate.
Jerry's phone softly buzzes twice before stopping. Normally he'd ignore it completely so as to not get distracted, but he checks it this time in case it's Zeke. When he sees that it was Zeke, he tries to call back. If that doesn't work, he'll send a text message: "Are you all right?"
D_Var_Stars |
Above
The soft vibrations in the quiet space sound unnervingly loud though there is no other sign that anyone else heard it. He manages to hear one ring before his phone cuts off.
Below Now I'm going to need to know what Zeke's sounds like...
Zeke's phone goes off once before stopping. A cold sharp wind passes through the building Zeke and Amelia are standing in for a few moments.
Zeke Bjarnessen |
Zeke's phone likewise vibrates--I'll never understand people who have an actual ringtone--and he pats his pocket with one hand when he feels it go off. But it fades quickly, and he's smart enough to put two and two together. "Phones aren't working," he whispers, casting his eyes around. The wind only makes him more tense. "Something doesn't want us chatting."
Amelia Oliver |
Amelia frowned. "If it was this one, I might be able to clear away any magical interference or block the science that might prevent such signals. The Googles mentioned such is possible, I believe. But if it is both devices then such would serve no purpose."
She looked over. "If they too are on the surface, a more simple method would likely get there attention, but if there is anything hostile at this point it will likely draw it as well."
Jessica Andrews-Androleteira |
She gives a kind of half-shrug, half-nod. "Yeah. I don't really like doing it. It's, um, hard to explain. Anyway, if you're okay here for the moment, I'll see if I can find them."
Her sword flares up again and she moves back to the spot where they were first separated. Unless there's something demanding her attention (like a horde of diseased zombies), she jumps down the slide where Zeke and Amelia fell.
D_Var_Stars |
Jessica heads back into the building and back down below and finds that after a ways, there are several paths and holes with no indication of which one(s) Zeke or Amelia went down. Jessica would have seen the pair slide down the path they came, but would not have seen them fall down into any particular hole or into the same place.
Through the many holes in this building, Zeke and Amelia cannot see anything hostile, but they can see the temple and a few other buildings where hostiles could potentially be.
Jerry Harris Jr. |
The wording for the power on Jessica's character sheet says "You can go instantly to anywhere you’ve visited before, or to a person you know well." Can't she just teleport directly to them? (And, if we're lucky, cause a comical scene of Zeke almost shooting her out of surprise?)
Jessica Andrews-Androleteira |
I just met them today. I don't think Jessica knows them well enough to go straight to them. (Though that would be funny!)
Jessica looks around for clues, hoping to find something that will let her know where Zeke and Amelia went.
Sharp: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6
D_Var_Stars |
Her knowing them well enough is possible, debateable for people she's just met as Jessica said. I feel I should mention that having some of the phone signal get through when caverns are really notorious for blocking signal, it was meant as a clue that Zeke and Jerry are both on the surface. Slightly less with the vibrating going on, but...
There is too much noise and darkness for Jessica to feel certain.
D_Var_Stars |
Amelia, and Zeke can just about hear the sounds of coughing, footsteps, and wood scraping wood. Jerry can hear this a bit better as they were in the building next to him. After a few more moments, it sounds to everyone like a something big crashing through the weakened floorboards.
Zeke Bjarnessen |
Zeke turns toward the loudest sound, shotgun raised. Nothing about what's going on has made sense, but he knows a threatening sound when he hears one. The question is: What is it?
If possible, I'd like to spend my Hold from this post to ask What's being concealed here. If it's more appropriate to roll a new check...
Investigate a Mystery: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 6) + 1 = 12
Jessica Andrews-Androleteira |
The alone-ness of being underground and surrounded by darkness and who-knows-what-else catches up to Jessica. The flaming sword in her hand and the wings on her back don't do a whole lot to comfort her. With a shudder, she returns to the surface next to Jerry.
"Didn't see them. Wherever they are, they didn't stick around."
D_Var_Stars |
At first look, Amelia and Zeke aren't able to see the source though the buildings do look similar to what they say on the young woman's phone. Zeke's experience is ringing louder than the various noises around that there are likely multiple groups of people, possibly the people the young woman was with or threats or Jerry and Jessica.
After the crash, Jerry hears people climbing down...and other movement in nearby buildings as Jessica returns.
Zeke Bjarnessen |
Zeke holds up one hand in a closed fist, cocking his head to the side as he listens to the sound. The hairs on the back of his neck stand up, hidden by those falling from the rest of his head, but he can feel them. "There's something moving. A bunch of somethings." He looks to Amelia, and nods at the shotgun he'd handed her. "Keep it ready. We need to check it out, and it might be trouble."
Readying his own weapon, the big man moves toward the source of the noise as best he can figure it, unsure if he'd rather see Jerry and Jessica, or something he can shoot and feel like he's making a difference in this hunt.
D_Var_Stars |
Upon leaving the building, Zeke and Amelia can see the temple in one direction, and in the other direction is 5 other building: one directly in front with another slightly taller one behind it, 2 to the left, and one to the right. Best guess is that loud noise came from the building behind, but some movement can be seen in the one to the right. It is also noticed that, other than the building Zeke & Amelia were just in and the one to the right, the rest have an odd material between them.
Jerry Harris Jr. |
Jerry puts his finger to his lips when Jessica returns and indicates the wall that he is hearing the noise through. If the people on the other side of the wall seem to be heading in a certain direction, Jerry will see if he and Jessica can also head in he same direction.
Jessica Andrews-Androleteira |
Hearing the noise, Jessica renews her grip on her sword and looks around. She starts moving after Jerry, trying to anticipate whatever's happening.
Read a Bad Situation: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9
I'll save the hold for when things start happening.
D_Var_Stars |
The young people inside the building have moved down to the other end where the large crash through happened and as Jerry and Jessica move to follow them, they can see through the large holes in the walls of the building - some newer than others - that some are rifling through the contents of the now broken box.
Amelia's path to the left takes her first between two buildings where she can hear very quiet noises to the building further to the left and far more behind the building to her where she can now see Jerry and Jessica.
Amelia Oliver |
Finally. Amelia ran over to the others before they could get out of view. "Salutations. We have much to discuss...but first, were either of you the source of that noise?"