CHAPTER 9: Return to the Tunnels

[Norjax]

...

The Gam’A Zone, 297D/81 (Dawn)

Silvestri studies the map and recalls your travel route into the Gam’A Zone. This map does not use scaled distances, it is a geometric representation of locations relative to each other. However, two of the “City Terminal” rhomboids do match the positions of the sinkhole region and of Sott’ Urwa, south of the Long Route Marker Stones.

...

[quozl]

Ron: I am willing to learn how to drive a pod.

[shaidar]

Silvestri gestures to the rhomboids on Blixx's map as he speaks

"Blixx marked the cave entrance on the map, it's not far to where we left the pods. I think that Sott' Urwa is this big rhombus here...and the sinkholes is one of these other rhomboids, but I'm not sure which one. The more of us who can drive the pods the better, we should do some teaching before we head off."

[rossik]

MacMak will follow the others. He doesn't like new and possibly dangerous things, so he just stay quiet

[Scythius Equinus]

Frank Rock


Frank shrugs non-commitedly... Ride or walk, either way suits me

[Norjax]

...

The Gam’A Zone, 297D/81 (Morning)

Your group begins to move into the tunnel system, beyond the cave entrance. The hyper pod vehicles are positioned just as you left them, parked next to a side tunnel and having emergency stairs deployed.

While others begin loading supplies into the pods, Ron is instructed on the operation of the rail vehicle. He grasps the main concepts and is ready to put his training into practice. (Passes DC check)

OOC: What are you doing with the carts, quicksten, drot swine and horse while in the tunnel system?

Who is driving the pods and who takes the lead?

I need to know which pod, lead or trail, each character plans to ride in.

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 [13/15]
Silvestri – 60/60 [14/14]

...

[rossik]

MacMak will ride the front pod. He must prove his valor to the group!

[Ardak2000]

Bruce Lee Mk VII

Bruce offers to drive the lead pod

[shaidar]

Silvestri will ride in the front pod too.

is there an area where we can corall the mounts, or give them some cover, such as the cave entrance?

[Norjax]

...

The Gam’A Zone, 297D/81 (Morning)

The cave entrance is 30ft high by 20ft wide and is 40ft deep before the first tunnel segment with rails begins. You can shelter the mounts in here and tie them to the bottom rail post.

...

[Urson]

Belial

Belial is content to let the others learn to operate these things. But wouldn't it be so gnarly to be able to take one out into the desert? Drivin'; over the dunes, maybe flyin' ? So totally cooool!

As for the mounts and cart, I don't remember, dudes- what did we do with them last time?


as I've said before, Belial is a baboon of very little brain.

[Zhym]

Kurot will drive the rear car.

[greyarea]

Denslow will be a passenger in the rear car.

[Urson]

Belial

Belial folds his wings tightly and takes a spot in the rear pod, squatting near the operator's post so he can see through the windshield.

[Norjax]

...

What's the movement plan?

...

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"Let's go right at the turntable and see what ancient artifacts we can find at the first city terminal"

he grins as he mentions ancient artifacts.

[greyarea]

Denslow suggests running over the bugs we encountered earlier.

[Norjax]

...

The Gam’A Zone, 297D/81 (Morning)

Bruce academically takes to his new task of operating this ancient vehicle. He grabs what was described as a ‘reset lever’ and slides it along a curved track until he hears a CLICK. The pod begins to vibrate, and several wall, celling and floor panels illuminate. The black panels around the driver’s station displays intermittent lines, which Bruce recognizes as electric pictures used by the Old Ones. They are not displaying properly, and the synthetic assumes their function is degraded. Using the remote control box, Bruce turns dials and slides buttons to move the vehicle forward. A quick look behind (and through the rear windows) confirms his fellow android, Kurot, is following along the tunnel track with the second pod.

Able to read the Old Ongish script, Bruce reviewed the ‘Operations Manual’ and has gained an expert’s understanding of this ancient device (Due to his natural 20 Artifact roll). He determines that a rate of 400ft per minute (Approx. 5 mph) is the maximum safe travel speed for these old vehicles and the dilapidated, tracked guide tunnels.

After 5 minutes of travel, the lead pod with Bruce, Frank, Silvestri and MacMak slides onto the turntable, just beyond the side tunnel where the scarabs attacked members of your group. Bruce manipulates the indicator box so the pivoting rail segment points to the northeast into the angled tunnel towards the “Station Stop”. The pod’s fore and aft exterior lights illuminate rail tunnels over a hundred feet in each direction.

As the turntable stops in its new position, you can see that the tunnel has partially collapsed, starting around 80ft ahead in the new direction. Intermittent sparks shoot from a cavity in the east side of the tunnel. You notice movement in the bottom of the tunnel and in the sparking void. Could these be the beetles encountered in the arc passage during the previous exploration? You can’t be 100% sure, but the rubble from the collapse doesn’t appear to completely block the passage of a pod. Yet, Bruce ponders, the power for these vehicles emanates from an unseen energy inside the artificial stone of the tunnels. Could this void compromise that power source?

The second pod with Kurot, Belial, Denslow and Ron will have to remain in the east/west tunnel, until the first pod moves off the turntable.

OOC: The small hexes on the map are 20ft wide.

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 [15/15]
Silvestri – 60/60 [14/14]

...

[shaidar]

Silvestri looks concerned at the damage to the tunnel.

"Perhaps we should continue straight on and turn right at the next turntable and take the long way around?"

[Ardak2000]

Bruce Lee Mk. VII

OOC: Are the pods fully enclosed?