Underground Explorers North

[Circe]

Narration:

The Lost return to the large gallery cave, tall enough ceiling that the Lost could stand on each other's shoulders without hitting the ceiling. There is a large tarp under a pile construction supplies and tools they might find useful. A second tarp is on the ground beside it, having probably been thrown off the first. The area is lit by electric lamps to provide a lot of illumination, most on the floor but some are hanging from pitons on the walls. A third tarp is present covering some construction materials for those that seek to know.


The gallery has a trio of archways on the West, North, and East, the last of which is how the lost are returning to the gallery.


A folding table with a matching chair is set up in the room, along with a large battery system beneath it. The battery is attached to a laptop and a radio box, illuminated by yet another electric lamp. There is also a set of eight cheap walkie talkies on the table.


There are a octet of spare folding chairs around it. Which of the Lost is in the lead to return from the East though?

Gallery Tarp Supplies

sledgehammer, 2 shovels, 2 crowbars, 3 claw hammers, 3 sets of snake gaiters, 2 plastic helmets with lamps, catch pole, staff, hoe, trowel, float, 20lbs concrete, marine access hatch, a half dozen small wooden boards, 80 chemical break lights. Water bottles.

Table

Boosted ham radio encrypted, matched to a set of 4 cheap walkie talkies that are also encrypted.

Looted construction materials East

37 bricks, 7 useable 4x4 boards, 12 lbs broken glass, 8 lbs broken plastics

Lionell / Jasper
Yum Yum Crow / Anatole
Abyssalstar / Sonnie
Xander / Kane
Saber Sloth

---
Circe:
Having known what is ahead, Circe is focused upon what they are leaving behind, trying to play rear vanguard. Mostly, she just wants the opportunity to shoot something without leaving every other 'ling in the tunnels shouting "what!" for a good half hour.

"All good back there?" She shouts ahead to whomever is in the lead.

OOC, continuation from the prior scene welcoming back the previous players. The lined "---" separation between the narration section and the Circe section, each labeled at the start as "Narration:" or "Circe:" is still in play.

[Anatole]

Anatole marches back with the others, keeping slightly behind the Mannikin Kane Harlow. When the group reaches their starting point, the burned dwarf again attempts to brush off the remaining flakes of rust that have clung tenaciously to him. He doesn't look to happy about it.

"I am kitted out as well as I can be. Anyone need to resupply before we move on?"

His eyes, under heavy brows, linger hungrily on the unexplored passages.

Anatole is carrying an Ax and a Knife. He is waring reinforced clothing (0/1 Armor) with gloves and carrying a sling bag.

The sling bag contains: rations, bottled water, cheap lockpicks (+0 bonus) and tuper ware.

PLUS: some chem-lights and a crowbar. Waring a protective helmet with a light.

[Circe]

Circe:
"Well, I got all the shit I need too, props ta us bro, " she smiles at Anatole. And they were back with only 1 tunnel left to search. North it was. Circe inhales deeply through her nose. Mostly because she was worried it'd smell shitty again.


"We ready ta see what lies beyond lovely door numba 2?"

Of course she'd employ toilet humor as a pun.
---
Narration:
Circe doesn't smell feces. At least olfactory detection indicates the Losts' prior sealing work is still a success. If the Lost proceed to the North Tunnel, they will find a gradual updwards slope that will reach a point of interest. A newly constructed section of concrete wall, complete with water resistant plastic slats cemented into said concrete. This is where Circe and other changelings previously used filter masks, power washer, and construction equipment to seal off a cess pool.


The slope's gradual rise continues past this point before it eventually levels off. Everyone who has proceded into the North tunnel should make perception rolls.

Lionell / Jasper
Yum Yum Crow / Anatole
Abyssalstar / Sonnie
Xander / Kane
Saber Sloth

[Anatole]

Anatole arches an eyebrow at the gunbunny smurfette.

"Another time, perhaps."

He smiles briefly, mouth fading into his beard, his face becoming an expressionless mask as he presses onward. He pauses at the new construction, gives Crice another look before barking a laugh. Onward he goes, his lamp cutting deep into the gloom as his feet crunch on the ground.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-07-28 03:14:11	Anatole is perceptive rolls 4 to Wits + Composure (10 Again)	3, 4, 7, 1	failure

[Circe]

Circe:


"Keep yer eyes peeled but be ready ta plug yer nose," she isn't joking. If that wall was leaking it would be unpleasant.

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-07-29 21:08:38	Circe rolls 5 to perception - clarity (10 Again)	8, 8, 8, 5, 10, 1	4 successes

---
Narration:


The incline from the North Exit leads up to, well, that newly made wall the Lost have previously put in to stop the cess pool overflows. It then becomes a decline slowly over several dozen yards. The Lost continue on for a good 20 minutes, before they come across an alcove on the East side. Their lights show that continuing North doesn't go much further, a wall is at the edge of their lights. Naught more.


The only one to notice something in the alcove is Circe. The shadows do a good job of hiding it, but her eyes catch it. A set of well camouflaged stairs.


---
Circe:

"Well that is the end, ooooh, hello!" She turns to look into the alcove. "Found some stairs here."

Lionell / Jasper
Yum Yum Crow / Anatole
Abyssalstar / Sonnie
Xander / Kane
Saber Sloth

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie had what she had before, her usual gear along with a lamp helmet, a walkie-talkie and some chem lights. She still preferred to travel light. "I'm good, thanks!" Though she did add a bottle of water.

She walked up and looked at the stairs Circe had found. "Oh? Which way do they go? Up or down?" She shined her head lamp at them.

So sorry I'm late! I somehow completely forgot about this!

Hedgespun staff, boots and pendant. 3 throwing knives (concealed), goblin fruit (2 dream-a-drupes, 1 coupnettle tea), smartphone, plastic wind key charm, walkie-talkie, 5 chemlights, lamp helmet, bottled water.

[Kane Harlow]

Kane returns, not feeling the need to bring anything new.

"Uh, my bad, but I just remembered a thing I gotta get to. Good luck with the next tunnel though!"

With a smile and a very apologetic look in his eyes, he turns and exits the tunnels.

Kane exits the scene. Sorry for the sudden slow posting and departure, but thanks for running the scene for us Origins !

[Anatole]

Anatole was still moving forward. Grunting loudly, he turns at Circe's exclamation. Sonnie had already moved to the stairwell, now revealed in basilisk gaze of a couple of lanterns whose bright beams had even his shadowy mantle recoiling slightly.

Curiosity overcomes the burned dwarf and he pokes his head into the stairwell, looking up.

"Up maybe? If something chases us we can get out, right? And maybe find out where this starts before descending into who knows where."

[Circe]

Narration:


The alcove stairs go up. The rest of the tunnel has ended in a dead end, there is no where to proceed save up the stairs.


If the Lost take the stairs, they will end up going East.
---
Circe:


"They go up," Circe smirks as she tries to take the lead. "And I know ta kneecap big things Anatole," she pats the shotgun, "But most stuff down here is splattered by a 12 gauge."


Did he want to inspect the end of the tunnel? "Do ya think there's a secret passage at the tunnel's end or something?"


Well, if the thought that, Circe would check, just in case.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-08-01 07:39:30	Someone rolls 5 to perception - clarity (10 Again)	7, 1, 2, 3, 1	failure

---
Narration:
Circe discovers rocks. They look dangerous just sitting there in the tunnel, as if waiting to strike.

[Sonnie Wu]

"If something chases us, we only need to be faster than the slowest member of the group!" she said cheerfully, paraphrasing the meme. However, something tugged at her memory, some hazy recollection from her time in Arcadia. Something about evading her predatory Keeper in the jungle, and her unlucky fellow victims who fell behind.

Sonnie... decided not to dwell on that unpleasant memory fragment.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, happy for the distraction, "Secret doors? That's so cool! Lemme check, too!"

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-08-01 09:52:47	Sonnie Wu rolls 6 to Perception: Wits 4 + Comp 2 (10 Again)	5, 2, 9, 4, 6, 3	1 success

Hedgespun staff, boots and pendant. 3 throwing knives (concealed), goblin fruit (2 dream-a-drupes, 1 coupnettle tea), smartphone, plastic wind key charm, walkie-talkie, 5 chemlights, lamp helmet, bottled water.