CHAPTER 9: Return to the Tunnels

[Ardak2000]

Bruce Lee Mk. VII

Seeing that Ron, Kurot and Denslow have their situation in hand, proceeds to follow Belial for for support.

[Norjax]

...

Carcass Creeper Attack, Tunnel Complex, 297D/81 (Morning)

Combat, Round 5

• ~The aberration (#2) gains the initiative and strikes Denslow SEVEN times with its whip-like tentacles. The plantient tries once again to resist the toxins, but is overwhelmed by the slashes and tumbles aside and tips over. (Fails FOR save)

Kurot chops, relentlessly, into the grub (#2) and scores three impressive hits! (15+CRIT dmg. – DEAD!) The mutant worm drops limp and is exhausted of life!

Ron bounds forth and chops the beast’s body into two, just to insure it is dead. (6pt. dmg)

MacMak pulls Frank away from the combat zone.

Belial and Bruce meet the others in the middle of the chamber, witnessing the creature’s final moment.

Combat Details, Round 5:

Creeper #2 Initiative:
CC Init = [1d20+3] = 15+3 = 18

Creeper #2:
CC Atk = [1d20+3] = 18+3 = 21 , [1d20+3] = 15+3 = 18 , [1d20+3] = 14+3 = 17 , [1d20+3] = 10+3 = 13
CC Atk = [1d20+3] = 20+3 = 23 , [1d20+3] = 17+3 = 20 , [1d20+3] = 17+3 = 20 , [1d20+3] = 12+3 = 15

Denslow Fortitude Save:
Denslow FOR: [1d20+3] = 1+3 = 4

Kurot Initiative:
Kurot Init = [1d20] = 17

Ron Initiative:
Ron Init = [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6

MAP:

OOC: Silvestri, Frank and Denslow remain paralyzed

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Points]:

Belial – 57/57 [3/9] 294
Bruce – 50/50 [12/12]
Denslow – 42/42 [16/16]
Frank – 63/63 [13/13]
Kurot –50/50 [11/15] 294
Ron – 69/69 [14/15]

Silvestri – 55/60 [14/14] (Wounded)

MacMak - 68/68 [17/17]

...

[rossik]

MacMak will hit Franks pressure points. That must be the right way to unparalyze someone!

[Urson]

Belial

The baboon barks once more, and is suddenly his typical stoner self again.

Whoa! That was awesome and gnarly! We... He stops, seeing the fallen. Dudes! How does a tree faint? He quick- knuckles over to Denslow and pokes at him- then begins washing off any of the grub's slime he sees. He'll be generous with his water.

[Zhym]

Kurot, being immune to the grub goo, helps clean off Silvestri, Frank, and Denslow—being careful to put his axe away before scrubbing the tree man.

[Norjax]

...

Tunnel Complex, 297D/81 (Morning)

Three of the grub-mutant aberrations lie dead in the cavern chamber, mixed among the debris of the collapsed tunnel section. Green puss and blood trickles into the low areas and begins to pool. It gives off a foul, repulsive odor.

MacMak, Belial and Kurot assist their comrades who are victims of the creature’s toxic slime, and they methodically (and carefully) clear any remaining residue from their bodies.

After 20 minutes (slightly longer for Denslow), the three recover from their paralytic conditions. Each works their limbs through a range of motions and stumbles about as a newborn/newgrown youngling. It would appear the toxin has left a lingering effect. (For the foreseeable future, each of the paralyzed character’s Fortitude Save is reduced by -2. Character sheets have been revised)

Bruce notes that he has two rounds remaining in his revolver, having fired four times.

MacMak proceeds to recover usable crossbow bolts, and finds two of the four he shot. (Current inventory = 18 bolts)

• Bolt Recovery = [1d2] = 2, [1d2] = 1, [1d2] = 1, [1d2] = 2

Belial reports that one of the creepers withdrew and retreated into the western passage, beyond the illumination provided by the pod lights. Several watch the western and eastern tunnels for signs and sounds of movement, while you plan the next move.

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Points]:

Belial – 57/57 [3/9] 294
Bruce – 50/50 [12/12]
Denslow – 42/42 [16/16]
Frank – 63/63 [13/13]
Kurot –50/50 [11/15] 294
Ron – 69/69 [14/15]

Silvestri – 55/60 [14/14] (Wounded)

MacMak - 68/68 [17/17]

...

[Urson]

Belial

When you're ready to motorvate, give me a yell, Belial says. Until then I'll stay over there to make sure Big an' Grody doesn't come back.

He knuckle- walks about 5 meters from the group in the direction the grub went. He opens and closes his wings as he does, grunting occasionally.

[Ardak2000]

Bruce Lee Mk VII

"Does anyone happen to have a small container we can try to keep some of this slime in? We may be able to use it on some of our weapons, and it may come in handy in other ways down the road".

[shaidar]

Silvestri stands, unsteady on his feet.

"Thanks, that's an experience I don't want to repeat again. Let's finish off clearing the area and getting away from here"

[rossik]

MacMak can provide a waterskin, unless he thinks the need for water is more urgent right now (for the slime thing experiment)

[greyarea]

Denslow moves gingerly, for a tree. I was nearly firewood there. Thanks for watching over me while I was petrified wood.

What's the plan now? What do we do after you get your slime?

[Norjax]

...

Tunnel Complex, 297D/81 (Late Morning)

Frank offers his extra waterskin to Bruce, so MacMak doesn’t have to give up his only source of water.

Bruce collects the remnants of slime and contains it into the waterskin. He considers marking the container so one of the organics doesn’t accidentally consume the toxin!

Silvestri and Frank resume clearing debris from the path of the hyperpods. After 10-15 minutes, enough rubble is removed to provide an unobstructed passage for the vehicles.

Belial keeps watch on the western tunnel and practices an aggressive display of his wings.

Denslow, Ron and Kurot discuss the party’s next move.

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Points]:

Belial – 57/57 [3/9] 294
Bruce – 50/50 [12/12]
Denslow – 42/42 [16/16]
Frank – 63/63 [13/13]
Kurot –50/50 [11/15] 294
Ron – 69/69 [14/15]

Silvestri – 55/60 [14/14] (Wounded)

MacMak - 68/68 [17/17]

...

[shaidar]

Silvestri looks at his and Frank's hard work with satisfaction

"Let's get out of here before that worm brings more friends"

[rossik]

"Sure, lets move on!"

[Zhym]

"Right!" Kurot helps clear any more rubble that needs to be cleared, then climbs back into his pod and gets ready to drive.

[Ardak2000]

Bruce returns to his pod hand motions for his crew to follow.

[greyarea]

Denslow lumbers to the pod.

[Norjax]

...

Tunnel Complex, 297D/81 (Late Morning)

Everyone returns to their respective ancient conveyance vehicles and the drivers, Bruce and Kurot, engage the forward levers to resume travel. The first pod moves ahead but stops at the edge of the open gap in the tunnel. Pod #1’s power system fluctuates and most of the lights dim and turn off in what Bruce recognizes as low-power mode. Pod #2 remains at full power, so you surmise the broken tunnel must be void of whatever energy source is supplied to the vehicle’s motivators. Somehow, the carriers need to move across the void and, hopefully, receive more power.

After 10 minutes of discussion, it is decided to back up and get a running start. Reversing both vehicles, you speed forward and generate enough momentum to slide across the gap. As you pass through the divide, each transport’s power flickers, but resumes once beyond the broken tunnel segment.

You travel an additional 50 minutes past three station stops, then, a warning light indicates an obstruction ahead. The pods automatically decelerate as you approach a four-way crossing with station stops and a turntable. Ahead of the lead hyperpod, the drive lights reveal the remains of a turntable, stripped of most metal parts – including the lower guide rail!

Both vehicles still have power, but without the turntable and guide rail you lack the means to cross into the northern tunnel.

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Points]:

Belial – 57/57 [3/9] 294
Bruce – 50/50 [12/12]
Denslow – 42/42 [16/16]
Frank – 63/63 [13/13]
Kurot –50/50 [11/15] 294
Ron – 69/69 [14/15]
Silvestri – 55/60 [14/14]
MacMak - 68/68 [17/17]

...

[greyarea]

Denslow gets out of the pod. I doubt we will find the missing pieces, but it seems there were four pod loading areas near here. I think we should explore those, perhaps we can find more junk to sell back in town. And then maybe we head back and down another branch?

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"Good idea, it doesn't hurt to look. Seems we'll be exploring beyond the edges of the map to find a way around'