CHAPTER 9: Return to the Tunnels, Part II

[Norjax]

...

Tunnel Complex, 298D/81 (Evening)

It takes just over an hour to travel back to the station stops below the ring room. You ascend the tubes and enter the ring corridor.

Belial smells fresh scent of insects Thorax Scavengers, so the ring room probably isn’t the best place to spend the night. The four tubes continue above the ring room into the unknown. Several wells with ladder rungs leading to a closed door are also unexplored. The various rooms connected to the ring corridor, however, do have doors that should be able to be closed and secured.

Your only other familiar options are the north and south station stops, below the ring corridor, and the pod vehicles in the tunnel below. Of these three, the pod vehicles offer the most secure area to sleep for the night.

Do you:

• 1. Stay in one of the rooms attached to the ring corridor?
  2. Stay in the north station stop?
  3. Stay in the south station stop?
  4. Stay in the pod vehicles?
  5. Other?

IMAGES:

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Points]:

Belial – 16/57 [0/9]
Denslow – 10/42 [6/16]
Silvestri – 43/60 [0/14]
MacMak – 17/68 [4/17]
Bruce – 33/50 [1/12]
Kurot – [50]/50 [1/15]
Frank – 36/63 [2/13]
Ron – 45/69 [13/15]
Farmanus – 40/87 [13/13]

...

[greyarea]

Denslow suggests, Let's sleep in the pods below. We have good visibility and can escape by driving away if we need to.

[Yrkoon]

Farmanus the Unneeded

On the march to the station, Farmanus finds a moment to thank Belial for being the first to come save him. He forgoes hugging the ape, however, for fear of breaking his wings. A soft punch to the shoulder will suffice, he decides. "You're okay, Bullseye! Did you know I used to have a dog with your name?"

He nods enthusiastically at Denslow's idea.

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"Sorry, it seems nowhere is safe around around here. I agree the pods are our best bet"

[Urson]

Belial

The name's Belial, compadre. Mom named me that before anyone knew what mellow dude- itude I have. I'm glad we got you away from those Molokais, tho.

He smiles.

The pods are the awesome, my guy. We should definitely stay there- I like the taste of those bug-dudes, but I don't want 'em harshing our calm.

[Norjax]

...

Tunnel Complex, 299D/81 (Morning)

Wounded and wearing from your battles with the Carcass Creepers, Thorax Scavengers and Gam’A Morlocks, the enclosed safety of the travel pods was a welcome comfort. There was a brief enjoyment of rations and conversation before assigning the night watch shift. Several of the pod’s doors were left ajar with just enough space to hear an approach but narrow enough for a quick closure.

Throughout the night, faint intermittent sounds were heard echoing from somewhere north in the darkness, but none were loud enough to warrant leaving the pods and investigating. Belial would catch an occasional whiff of insect, but he couldn’t discern the distance or direction. The night’s sleep was less than restful. Most of the wounded organics suffered nightmares about giant grubs, insects and blind ogres eating their flesh!

The sunless, underground morning arrived uneventful, and your group took inventory from yesterday. Ranged weapon ammunition was tallied. You also reviewed the three weapons captured from the Thorax Scavenger; the Blaster Pistol, the Stun Baton and the remaining Grenade Ball. Additional healing from the psionist, Silvestri, was discussed and assigned. You also noted that there are 11 days of rations remaining and Farmanus currently has none.

OOC: An inventory of the ranged weapon ammunition:

• Belial – 3 crossbow bolts (Please roll for recovery of 6 bolts)
  Silvestri – 14 arrows, 10 razor head arrows, 10 rifle rounds (Please roll for recovery of 6 shell casings & 2 razor arrows)
  Kurot – 37 arrows (Please roll for recovery of 3 arrows), 5 rifle rounds (10 shells recovered, please roll for recovery of 3 shells)
  Frank – 30 arrows, 7 razor head arrows, 3 rifle rounds (2 shells recovered)
  Bruce – 35 sling bullets (roll for recovery of 1), 8 pistol rounds (4 shells recovered)
  Ron – 6 rifle rounds (2 shells recovered)
  MacMak – 16 crossbow bolts (Please roll for recovery of 2 bolts)

IMAGES:

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

OOC: Everyone heals naturally 1 hit point plus their STA modifier.
Natural healing and luck recover is reflected below.

Hit Points [Luck Points]:

Belial – 18/57 [0/9]
Denslow – 14/42 [8/16]
Silvestri – 45/60 [1/14]
MacMak – 20/68 [4/17]
Bruce – 35/50 [1/12]
Kurot – [50]/50 [1/15]
Frank – 44/63 [3/13]
Ron – 47/69 [13/15]
Farmanus – 45/87 [13/13]

...

[rossik]

"Hey brother, take food here", say the seagull man as he extend some to Farmanus. "So, whats your story? I now how is to be the new guy"

[shaidar]

Silvestri

As morning dawns Silvestri examines his wounded companions. He decides that Belial and Denslow should receive his first administrations:

Belial:

Psychic Healing: [2d4+3] = 7+3 = 10

Denslow:

Psychic Healing: [2d4+3] = 7+3 = 10

He seems very impressed with the effectiveness of his power, so turns his final healing to MacMak:

Psychic Healing: [2d4+3] = 5+3 = 8

He looks at the group, a smile on his face

"Well, it seems a nights sleep has done wonders and my healing powers are doing well today. Just don't need more healing because I don't have any. As I see it we have four options. The first is to stay here and rest for another day or two. The second is to return to Haggleton. The third is to return back to where we fought the dark-dwellers and see if we can continue. The last options is to take these pods and head off in a new direction, opposite to where the dark-dwellers are and off the map. The big question is do we have enough food to continue?"

Recovery, I hope I'm doing this right:
recovery of spent cases:
Recover shell casings: [1d100] = 88,[1d100] = 5,[1d100] = 85
Recover shell casings: [1d100] = 27,[1d100] = 45,[1d100] = 24
Recover razor arrows:
Recover arrows: [1d100] = 82,[1d100] = 99

[Urson]

Belial

The baboon stands, spreading his wings as best he can. Much grass, mi compadre! I feel a load better now. I think we better stay here and heal up some more before we do anything else. After that, I'm good with whatever you dudes- tree dude, machine dudes, and people dudes- decide.

[greyarea]

Thank you Silvestri, that was quite refreshing, says Denslow. I swear that I can feel my new twig-fingers budding already.

Now I suggest we head back to the last turning place and get our new companion--Fartimus? Farmingus? Whatever...--get him his gear and clear out that nest of under-dwellers.

[Zhym]

Ammo recovery - Arrows: [3d2s2] = 2 Shells: [3d2s2] = 1

[shaidar]

Silvestri takes stock of the rations

"Hmmm. We've got enough rations for two days of exploring, more realistically a day of exploring and a day to get back outside. I suggest we try and find Farmanus's stuff and then head back to Hagleton"

[rossik]

"Thanks, Silvestri! Much better now. I agree with your plan"


(OOC: guys, how do i roll to see how many arrows can i get back?)

[Yrkoon]

Farmanus the Unneeded

"I am stronger with my stuff," declares Farmanus. "Plus I need my radio."

He stands ramrod straight, puffs out his chest, and turns to MacMak. "I have been specially chosen to embark on an important mission for Rodenbury," regurgitates the large man. "I am to scout the Far Reaches which surround our community and submit regular coded reports via this issued radio." Despite his soldierly demeanour, his eyes are deep wells of sadness. "I may return after 5 years."

"It is not safe out here..." His voice trails off in thought. "I must tell them."

[Ardak2000]

Bruce Lee Mk. VII

While the crew enjoys their brief respite, Bruce performs a couple cycles of repair:

Self Repair [1d4] = 3
Self Repair [1d4] = 2

[Zhym]

Kurot studies how to use the blaster and ball grenade—assuming someone will teach him.

Artifact Roll (Blaster): [1d20+6] = 20+6 = 26
Artifact Roll (Grenade): [1d20+6] = 7+6 = 13

The android proves to be a quick study, and offers to teach anyone else who wants to learn. If there are no takers, he activates an internal subroutine labeled "SO-DOE-KOO" to keep himself occupied while the group sits around recovering.

[shaidar]

Silvestri once again uses his healing on the most wounded:

Belial:

Psychic Healing: [2d4+3] = 5+3 = 8

Denslow:

Psychic Healing: [2d4+3] = 3+3 = 6

MacMak:

Psychic Healing: [2d4+3] = 4+3 = 7

[greyarea]

Denslow thanks Silvestri for the healing. He looks mournfully at the weapons of the ancients and muses, I will never be able to understand those things. I should stick with things I can understand.

[Norjax]

...

OOC: You may retcon any additional actions related to healing, repair and training. Silvestri’s second post for healing will not take affect until the morning of day 300.

Tunnel Complex, 299D/81 (Night)

Hunger cycles and chronographic subroutines marked the passing hours of the day. Various methods and activities were used to occupy the time; Silvestri healing the wounded, Bruce performing self-repair and Kurot learning how to use the blaster and ball grenade. Farmanus continued his dialog and was welcomed into his new tribe of motley sentients. Opinions were traded concerning the next course of action. The discussions concluded with deciding to remain in the pods and rest for an additional day before returning to the morlock location. A rotating sentry schedule was organized, with two individuals awake & alert while the others rested. The pods remained in idle power mode with the exterior lights activated. The rail vehicles were backed to the south and away from the station stop corridor to prevent a path for a lateral attack.

***

Five hours into the night schedule of rest, Denslow and Kurot notice a flashing light reflecting off the walls of the turntable chamber. The illumination provided by the pod’s exterior lamps does not indicate any movement in the north tunnel 150ft ahead, opposite your current location. The origin of the light must be from the east or west tunnel off the turntable. You listen at the open edges of the pod doors for sounds of an approach, but nothing definitive can be determined. Everyone is wakened, and Belial detects the odor of insect from somewhere, distant, outside the pod.

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Points]:

Belial – 28/57 [0/9]
Denslow – 24/42 [8/16]
Silvestri – 45/60 [1/14]
MacMak – 28/68 [4/17]
Bruce – 40/50 [1/12]
Kurot – [50]/50 [1/15]
Frank – 44/63 [3/13]
Ron – 47/69 [13/15]
Farmanus – 45/87 [13/13]

...

[Urson]

Belial
Belial yawns and stretches his wings a best he can, grunting slightly.
We got more of the bug dudes coming this way. Time to go kill some dinner, I guess.
He collects his weapon and knuckles towards the door.