Duck and Cover

Talon raises his hand in greeting.

Hi, is there something we can help you with? I don't remember if I heard you name.

Yes I can read his posts! I honestly don't remember if he mentioned it. And yes I know that I could check to see if he did, but I'm roleplaying.

We are kind of in a hurry, we have to go to THE CROSS.

Andrew stops with a surprised expresion on his face.
-You are going at THE CROSS!!!!! I was going to ask you to go with me there!.... I'm sorry! Where are my manners... My name is Andrew....I'm a hunter and tracker. My brother made a trip at THE CROSS a few years ago but sommething strange has happened after that. He was banished from the tribe after his return. Maybe if I'll go there, I can find out more about what has happened with him. Can I join you?

Talon looks around at the others.

I have no problem with that. It would probably be a good idea to have someone who knows something about it with us.

Mordecai is somewhat startled by how everyone speaks so excitedly of THE CROSS, but his interest seems to be piqued as well. I would be glad to go to the cross - I am very interested in the spirits there, though I do fear them somewhat. It would be good to have you come with us, Andrew. I think it would be best if we left soon... he re-iterates.

Your Dougal brothers seem to hesitate for a moment. Then Curtis steps forward.

I' m sorry brothers, but we will not be joining you. We have decided to go back home after we' ve seen some of the competitions around here. A couple of us are having a bad feeling about this whole 'vision' and that crazy Sharlen.

We do you wish you good luck in your travels though. May the Guardian Spirit of Old Nevis watch over you.

Hans, the huge tribal, pulls out his stone axe.

Here, you never know what you might run into. I wish you a safe return when all is done. Untill then.

With that they take off into the crowd.

Ready to go?

Andrew nods at the "Dougals".

-I am comitted to go to THE CROSS even if I'll have to make this trip by miself! Anyone who want to came with me is wellcomme and will have my gratitude until the end of time but I wouldn't keep any hard feelings against those that want to return to their homes. This is about my brother so it's my problem...

He puts his slingbag on his shoulder and walks towards the gate of the village ...

Talon takes the stone axe and follows Andrew.

You can count upon my being there. There is something that my totem wishes done. I will do it or die trying.

The stone axe is now my secondary weapon, in stead of the knife.

The three of you leave the settlement down the path, heading out into the direction of the Cross. When you walk down the hill that guards the village from the cold winds you see Old Ben Nevis in all it' s might and splendor on your right. A group of people seem to have gathered at the base there and you swear you could have spotted some of them wearing apprentice robes. The cold winds seem to be getting stronger out here and you can see dark clouds pack togheter on the horizon. A good thing you have those Wulfhide vests.

At the end of the day you decide to make camp under the protection of a small hill. Talon succeeds in shooting a Rabber with his sling and the small animal is swiftly roasted on the fire. After the meal you all go to sleep and enjoy a good night' s rest.

In the late afternoon of the second day, after travelling quite a distance already, you come to a small creek. On the otherside of the creek is a small pack of wild dogs. Two of them seem to be very interested in some junk lying around the rocks that scatter the landscape. Luckily you' re downwind and they don' t seem to have noticed you.

Well, Mordecai certainly doesn't want to fight them. After all, we have ample food preserves and don't need anything from them. Killing them would be pointless. It would be much easier to simply walk off in the opposite direction, wade through the stream and then continue on in our journey.

Talon considers for a moment.

How big is the pack?

Can you make out what they are sniffin at? Can't see it to well. It might be important.

The pack consists of 5 wild dogs from which two are only cubs.

The two cubs seem to be in a playfull mood. After a little while one of them takes off with what appears to be a large piece of cloth in his mouth, dragging it along and quickly followed by the other cub. The rest of the pack doesn' t seem to interested and is more concerned with dozing off and scratching behind their ears.

A piece of cloth .... hmmm? .... could be interesting. I supose that there is a corpse or somme man made items there (most likely a skeleton I presume). But 5 wild dogs is no piece of cake for 3 level 1 characters even if this encounter could be manageable. I'll take the risk if I can apreciate better the importance of those remains.

Andrew stops and crouches at the ground. Silently he signals to the others to get down at the ground and keep quiet. He prepares his bow and make sure that his knife is at hand if he will need it. He puts down his sling bag to move easier and begin to sneak using every oportunity of cover trying to get close and take a better glance at that pile of junk.

Sneaking up closer through the tall grass, Andrew reaches a couple of rocks that lie at the edge of the creek. From here you manage to overlook the spot where the wild dogs reside at the moment, but which is still on the other side of the creek. Peering for something recognisable amongst the junk you swear you could distinguish some shiny metal objects and carcas leftovers amongst the grass and rocks. While sharpening your senses you also seem to notice a faint charcoal smell coming downwind, as if someone made a fire around here not to long ago.

All of a sudden you hear a terrible bestial howl echoing amidst the hills. The wild dogs are suddenly very awake and start to run amongst themselves, the troup is panicking. With no further delay they take off and follow their packleader, heading north. Guess that takes care of one problem but now you' re still left with the question as to what could have made that sound.

Talon quickly joins Andrew, he readies his sling.

Do you recognize what made that howl? If you want, I'll run over there and try for the stuff there, then run back, you can cover me while I do that.

You all wade through the creek which, is not that deep at all, towards the spot where the dogs rested. Between the rocks lies a carcas of a small Antlerbearer, most of it has been prayed on either by the wild dogs or by something else. Near one of the bigger rocks lies some charcoal remains, possibly from a campfire, and some other objects: a dented pewter tankard, a wooden spoon, some bloodsoaked bandages, a crowbar and somewhat further the ragged piece of cloth which the cubs were playing with, presumably a cloak. Further investigation could perhaps lead to other clues but will take more time.

A small stream flows into the creek, coming from further in the hills and might help you cover your tracks somewhat, but it would mean heading a little of course since it heads up north. Holding the same course as you are going now means you would have to traverse a mile or so of plains followed by a dense pine forest. Meanwhile the clouds are packing togheter and you reckon you might have less than half an hour before it starts pouring down on you.

Is there any chance of radioactive rain in this setting? I mean, it is possible to encounter sommething like this? If so, we'll need somme shelter in a hurry ! If there is no danger of an acid or radioactive rain, Andrew will spend one more minute to take a better look and maybe find somme tracks. Later the rain will erase any of those signs.

Andrew grabs the tankard (is this still usable?) the spoon and the crowbar.
-This crowbar is a good weapon, I'll keep it if nobody else want to take it ( If Talon has higher meele weapons skill I'll give it to him. )
The tankard and the spoon can be used by Mordecai to mix powders and potions as he is a shaman...

If there is a danger of an acid or radioactive rain, Andrew will sugest to take the ragged cloack and head to the forest to make somme shelter from twigs, leaves and the remains of the cloack.

Talon also looks quickley for tracks and sign. He will leave with the group, and follw along.

No need to worry about radioactive rain. You won' t melt away in Wizard of Oz style (well, not by the rain anyway) . Poisonous and acidic clouds do exist but only in places where there were pre-war storage facilities and such for example.

The tankard is still usable although heavily dented but any liquid poured into it won' t flow away. Talon' s Melee skill is only slightly better than yours.

You quickly gather the still usable junk and start looking for clues and tracks in the nearby surroundings. Almost hidden between the rocks you find a broken metal bolt smeared with blood. After a little while you find a series of footsteps comming from different directions. The oldest tracks seem to indicate that at least three men came from the South-Southwest, one of them limping. The most fresh tracks indicate that two men went up into the hills. Once again one of them was limping. The third set of footsteps belong to someone heading for the forest.

What are these men wearing on their feet, and about how big are they? Also, about how long have they been here (ie. are they worn)? Mordecai gets in close for a good look at those tracks.

I think it would be best to investigate those tracks, says Mordecai after thinking for a while. We should follow the ones leading to the forest, or wherever they lead, and get a better idea exactly what's around here. I feel kind of funny, being out here, and I have a gut feeling about this...