CHAPTER 14: Retrace the Tunnels

[Norjax]

The Long Route 11D-18D/82

Once again you depart the comforts of Hagalton for the wastes of the Wretched Regions. During the first leg of your journey, via the Long Route, you gave a wide berth to those traveling into the Zone for Sott’Urwa. Best that they fight each other than roam deeper into the Zone and discover your tunnel entrance!

You crossed the noticeably diffused Zone Barrier without incident, entering the Gam’A Zone proper on day seven. It was on this day that you first spotted a group of dancing dark orbs out in the distance and on a parallel track. All attempts to investigate or view via magnification proved fruitless; either the orbs remained distant, or they winked out on approach. They didn’t appear threatening, so you continued to observe and march on.

The Gam'A Zone 19D/82 (Afternoon)

Halfway between the Barrier and the Canyon of Tunnels was when you first took notice of being tailed. What you originally thought to be cluster of dust clouds near the horizon behind you, drew your suspicion when they recurred with consistency. Unable to discern the source of the disturbance, you judged it was travelers who are masters in the art of camouflage and blend perfectly with the environment. Whenever you focused on the billowing powder, it subsided and disappeared just as if sleuthing travelers stopped in their tracks. The unnatural commotion maintained the distance of a thousand yards from your position.

You are now convinced the orbs are connected to the phenomenon as a means of distraction. Perhaps you should confront this mystery before getting closer to your claim? Are you to wait them out, hoping to catch them shifting into a defensive posture. Will you take the offensive and move towards them?

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Point Recovery - 24D]:

Denslow – 42/42 [16/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [6/14]
Kurot – 50/50 [11/15]
Max – 28/28 [7/15]
Anton – 43/43 [11/11]

[Anton_E_Gregor]

Perhaps we should lay an ambush? In any case we should find a defendable position in case they are hostile!
I could pretend to be a dead human, assuming they aren't already familiar with us from Hagalton.

[greyarea]

Denslow says, … and I could pretend to be just a tree. We’d need to find hiding spots for the others though.

Perhaps we should set up our defensive shield and prepare for confrontation instead.

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"I'm not sure there is anywhere nearby with good cover, and if we continue to the tunnels we'll just be showing them the way."

[Norjax]

Some narrative clarifications: This group have been surveilling you for at least a full day. Trees are sparse in this area as is immediate cover for an ambush. You would need to seek out a location suitable for such a move.

[shaidar]

Is Silvestri aware of any possible ambush point between here and the tunnels?

[Anton_E_Gregor]

At the very least the tunnel is a choke point we could use so they can't surround us but it may force us towards other unknown dangers.

[Norjax]

The Gam'A Zone 19D/82 (Afternoon)

MAP:

You are about a mile away from two mounds; the undisturbed one and the one that was being excavated by Thorax Scavengers. You are also a mile away from the edge of the sinkhole region, most likely the home of the local Thorax Scavengers.

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Point Recovery - 24D]:

Denslow – 42/42 [16/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [6/14]
Kurot – 50/50 [11/15]
Max – 28/28 [7/15]
Anton – 43/43 [11/11]

[Zhym]

"I dislike the idea of giving whoever is following us an escort to our destination," says Kurot. "Perhaps we should force a confrontation and head toward our furtive followers?"

[greyarea]

I agree, Max agrees. I think we should confront them now. Maybe they’re just our mothers bringing us the lunches we forgot. Or maybe they’re baddies trying to follow us to our find, where ever in tarnation that is. Best get it figured now so we can deal with it.

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"We could set up an ambush at the mound up ahead."

[greyarea]

Max might be right. Someone in town might have overheard me asking about the goings on and such…

I agree with Silvestri, a mound would at least give us a height advantage and if there’s a tower then it might be more defensible, says Denslow. Otherwise I say we get that fence up now before it’s too late.

[Norjax]

Setting up an ambush gets the nod. I'll proceed with a post.

Feel free to add narrative details for my use.

[Anton_E_Gregor]

HIgh ground is ideal, let's move it fellas!

[greyarea]

Denslow lumbers along with the others.

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"If I remember correctly, the mound has been excavated, so hopefully there will be holes we can hide in and use for cover."

[Norjax]

The Gam'A Zone 19D/82 (Afternoon)

Having reached a consensus, you advance forward to the mound once excavated by Thorax Scavengers. Tales of tunnel encounters and discoveries are shared with those unfamiliar with that underground environment.

Forging ahead, the disturbance continues to tail, and you monitor their progress; careful to prevent them gaining knowledge of your plan. The orbs reappear and dance in the distance, but you now ignore them after assuming they are merely controlled distractions.

Your destination looms in the waning light of dusk and, after a quick survey, is found free of mutant insects! Discretely scaling the mound, you discover many abandoned excavation holes suitable for concealment. Choice positions, offering ease of ingress and egress, are selected to facilitate your planned ambush. The disturbance disappears as night falls, and you scan the darkness for movement. The faint scent of a fire teases your senses but do not see any evidence of an open flame. The night passes without incident.

The Gam'A Zone 20D/82 (Morning)

Dawn arrives and you maintain ambush positions on the hidden slope of the hillside. You spy the disturbance anew as it pans laterally to gain a line of sight behind the hill, relative to its position. It stops and then moves in the opposite direction to obtain an obverse line of sight. It halts movement and, after a few brief puffs, subsides and disappears. A smaller dust cloud forms as if a single individual is padding forward.

Observing with disciplined patience, you see the back of a shimmering image passing 300 yards from the base of the mound. Once past, a vague outline of a humanoid is visible sporting vertical canine ears.

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Point Recovery - 24D]:

Denslow – 42/42 [16/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [6/14]
Kurot – 50/50 [11/15]
Max – 28/28 [7/15]
Anton – 43/43 [11/11]

[Anton_E_Gregor]

Anton reaches out to the group with his telepathic voice. "They seem to have lost the trail for the moment. Let's hope they move on but keep your weapons ready..."

[greyarea]

Max extracts his spyglass and peers at the figure. He scans the distance looking for his friends as well

[Norjax]

Max extracts his spyglass and peers at the figure. He scans the distance looking for his friends as well

Roll an Agility Check. 12 or below on 1d24.