IC-SWORD-The Lockbox(Zoe/Raquel/Katarina/Lara)

[Mr. Handy]

On the road-
"Okay, let's keep going," said Lara. She, Zoe, and Raquel kept moving down the track. The walk was long and difficult, and it was a while before they saw any features of significance. Ahead of them they could make out a point where the track they were on branched off back and to the left, forming about a 30 degree angle. The track also continued straight ahead, back towards the ranger station. On the left side of the narrow road they were on, past the branch, was a small two-story house. This was not the ranger station Zoe had seen from behind the van, and no lights were visible.

[Tabs]

Nodding toward the two-story house: "Let's break-in to find food and clothing."

[Mr. Handy]

Outside the house-
"Da," said Lara, shivering. "So cold. Hungry too, and thirsty."

Raquel nodded and followed along. Zoe could feel her own stomach rumbling. None of them had had anything to eat or drink since lunchtime. The three women reached the front door of the house. Lara tried it, but it was locked.

OOC,[b]Zoe[/b], if you want to try to pick the lock, roll Locksmith. If you want to try to force the door open instead, you'll need to roll on the Resistance Table: your STR against the door's STR of 10. This gives you a 65% chance. Whatever you decide to do, also roll Listen.

[Tabs]

[OOC, Listen 40% & Locksmith 51% (in that order) (1d100=26, 1d100=44)]

"Our luck will turn. Let's be cautious a moment longer. Be aware!" Zoe listens.

[Mr. Handy]

Outside the house-
All three women could hear gunshots echoing through the night, coming from further ahead and to the right side of the track, in the direction that they believed the ranger station lay. Zoe could also hear what sounded like a vehicle starting up coming from that direction as well. In addition, she heard another vehicle coming from behind them along the track. It was still some distance off, but it was getting closer.

Zoe fiddled with the lock and soon had the front door open. Inside she could dimly see a living room, but it was too dark to make out many details, and it was getting darker still outside. At least the air in the house was warm. She could vaguely make out furniture in the living room, as well as a few other exits. A staircase against the left wall led upwards and to the rear of the house. There was a door in the left wall, beneath the staircase. Another was in the middle of the back wall, and a third was in the middle of the right wall. All of the interior doors were closed. The lights in the house were all off, but there were light switches near the door.

OOC,If you want to spend a turn searching the living room, roll Spot Hidden at 1/4 skill if you want to leave the lights off, or at full skill if you turn them on. You may try one of the doors or go upstairs, but not if you also search the room. Since it is getting darker, all Spot Hidden rolls looking into areas that are not illuminated are at 1/4 skill.

[Tabs]

"No-one flick the light switch.
"Lara and I will find us all clothing; Raquel, find the kitchen and prepare food."
Zoe will go upstairs.

[OOC, Is there a latch on the front door? If so, Zoe will lock it.]

[Mr. Handy]

In the living room-
The three women hustled inside, and Zoe closed and locked the door behind them just in time. The sound of the vehicle that had been behind them was now audible to all of them as it approached the house - and went by. Zoe could still hear gunfire in the distance ahead, but it wasn't getting any closer.

Lara breathed out another sigh of relief. "Okay, let's go," she said, leading the way upstairs with Zoe in tow.

Raquel examined the three doors leading out of the living room further into the house, all of which looked identical. She paused for a moment before finally settling on the door at the back of the room, which to her delight led to the kitchen.

In the kitchen-
Raquel entered the darkened kitchen and looked around. The room was fairly small, with interior doors leading both left and right and a back door on the opposite wall that went outside. There was no table in the kitchen, just a counter with a sink, a microwave, a stove, a refrigerator, and several cabinets and drawers. There must be food here, she thought eagerly, heading for the fridge.

In the upstairs hall-
Lara and Zoe climbed the stairs, which reached a landing at the rear left corner of the house that went around the corner to the right. The hallway leading away from the top of the stairs had three closed doors, two of which were on the right wall. The third door was at the very back.

[Tabs]

"I enjoy exploring strange houses - but not tonight: who knows what we'll stumble over in the dark? Here goes nothing."
Zoe will try the first door.

[If it is locked she'll try the next door.]

[Mr. Handy]

In the upstairs hall-
Zoe pushed the door open. A small bedroom was on the other side. It was hard to see within in the darkness, but a little moonlight and starlight came in through the window at the back of the room. It was clearly a child's bedroom, with a race car bed, a toy box, a dresser, and a small closet in one corner. The child was probably male, but she couldn't be sure - she also had a love of fast cars, after all. She and Lara couldn't see much else with the lights off.

OOC,[b]Zoe[/b], if you want to search the room, roll Spot Hidden. This roll is at 1/4 skill unless you turn the lights on. You may instead try going somewhere else.

In the kitchen-
Raquel opened up the fridge, and the little light inside it came on. She licked her lips at the sight of the food and drink inside. She snatched a can of beer, popped it open, and greedily downed the whole thing.

[Tabs]

"Huh! cars. Cars, children, sets me thinking on happier times. No use searching for clothing in here. Lets try the next door."

[Mr. Handy]

In the upstairs hall-
Lara nodded and shrugged. "Nichevo," she said, then added a translation into English. "Nothing." She went with Zoe to the next door, the second one on the right. Opening it, she saw a small, dark bathroom. What little light there was came through a skylight in the ceiling. In the dimness, the women could make out a toilet, a sink, and a shower stall. "Ahh! I need to go so bad. And a shower!" She wrapped her arms around herself. "So dirty..."

OOC,As always, if you want to search the room, you'll need a Spot Hidden roll (at 1/4 skill if you don't turn on the lights), and you are free to do other things instead.

In the kitchen-
Raquel opened the freezer next and squealed with delight when she found a mostly full half-gallon container of chocolate fudge ice cream. She took it out and placed it on the counter, washed her hands quickly in the sink, and then started poking through the drawers to look for a spoon. Many of the drawers had been left open and were empty, and she couldn't find anything of use, especially in the darkness.

[Tabs]

"Go ahead, Lara, I'll search the next room. Just be aware of lights - they will be a beacon to anyone outside. If you do get any hot water out of the shower let me know - its my turn after, give me a shout when you're done."

Zoe is looking for an adult's bedroom and wardrobes/cupboards and inside jumpers, pants, shirts, socks, anything.

[Mr. Handy]

In the upstairs hall-
"Spasebo," said Lara, ducking into the bathroom and closing the door. Zoe continued to the end of the hall and tried the only remaining door up there. On the other side was a larger bedroom which probably had what she sought.

In the bathroom-
Lara pulled down her panties, sat down on the toilet, and relieved herself. "Ahhhh..." she sighed, being glad that she no longer had to hold it in.

In the master bedroom-
The bedroom in which Zoe found herself had three windows, one at the back and one on each of the left and right walls. A queen-sized bed took up much of the room at the back, and she could make out nightstands, a dresser, a small TV, and a closet in the dim moonlight that filtered through the windows. There were more than likely clothes to be found here, so she set about searching the room.

OOC,[b]Zoe[/b], roll Spot Hidden (at 1/4 skill if you don't turn the lights on). Even if you fail this roll, you'll still probably find something.

In the kitchen-
Raquel opened up the container of ice cream. Without a spoon to hand, she began simply eating it out of the carton with her mouth. She was so hungry that she didn't hesitate or take any more time to continue searching. It tasted so good after the months she had spent eating crummy old military rations while a prisoner, but she had to slow down when she got an ice cream headache from eating it too fast.

[Tabs]

[OOC, Spot Hidden 41% x1/4: 82]

"Can't see a thing." Zoe blunders around, opening cupboards and pulling out the contents, chucking everything on the bed in order to sort through the stuff.

[Mr. Handy]

In the bathroom-
Lara finished with the toilet, flushed, and washed her hands. Then she stripped off her underwear, got in the shower, closed the glass door behind her and turned it on. She leaned back and closed her eyes as steaming hot water poured over her.

In the master bedroom-
There were no cupboards, but Zoe looked through the dresser drawers and the closet. To her surprise, they had already been mostly picked clean. She did find a red strapless gown hanging in the closet, as well as a matching pair of uncomfortable-looking high heeled shoes. They looked like they would fit her well. They'd be a little tight on Raquel and a little loose on Lara, but they could get away with wearing them. There were also a few articles of men's clothing, but they were much too oversized for any of them to wear.

OOC,[b]Zoe[/b], roll Idea to think of why most of the clothes might be missing. If you want to search the room again, you'll have to turn on the lights to have any chance of finding anything you missed. If you do that, roll Spot Hidden.

In the kitchen-
Raquel continued to gorge herself on ice cream.

[Tabs]

[Idea 70%: 16]

Zoe considers the dress and shoes: "Now, instead of looking like I've come off a porn film set, I'll look like a prostitute." She shrugs resignedly and puts on the items. She continues talking to herself: "I guess the occupants of the house have already taken any useful items."

[Mr. Handy]

In the bedroom-
Zoe realized that her hunch was most likely correct. The family that lived in this house had packed its things and left, taking most of the clothes with it. The clothes they had left that she found were probably the least useful for surviving in a hostile world, hence why they hadn't been taken. The gown was actually quite elegant, and it turned out to be a good thing that it was strapless. It would have been impossible to put on a top with sleeves or straps with her hands cuffed together. She was easily able to slip it on and to put on the shoes. The high heels were awkward, but it occurred to her that she could easily break off the heels and turn them into flat shoes.

[Tabs]

[Are there blankets/sheets on the bed?] Zoe will grab anything which can be wrapped around someone and go back to the bathroom: "Okay Lara, my turn."

[Mr. Handy]

In the bedroom-
Zoe grabbed a blanket from the bed and returned to the bathroom, opening the door to let herself in.

In the bathroom-
When Zoe entered, she could see Lara's silhouette through the steamed-up glass door as she washed herself. "Ohh..." moaned Lara, "it feels like I just got in. Give me a minute to rinse off." It would take Zoe a little time to undress again anyway.

The distant sounds of gunfire finally stopped.

OOC,[b]Zoe[/b], roll Listen, at half skill due to the nearby running water.

[Tabs]

[OOC, Listen 40% x 1/2: 98]

"No don't stop Lara, go ahead and take your time, I'm going downstairs to the kitchen - I'll save you some food."
Slinging the blanket over her shoulder Zoe will head for the stairs.