Play@YSDC

Posted: **Fri Aug 21, 2015 11:56 am**

You leave the burgeoning arms market behind, climbing the slopes of the steeply wooded valley until you arrive in the village of Tropoka the first of three villages which Alex says are the rough distance from Bajram Currie indicated on the sign in the picture. In the market square you quickly identify the small café and the road sign from the first photo. After some deliberation you head north, climbing further up the valley. (largely because this is in the direction the road goes, and you clearly haven't passed any landmarks in the other pictures).

OOC: Can I have Spot Hidden from everyone, please.

Posted: **Fri Aug 21, 2015 10:41 pm**

Clay sees something and points it out to everyone.

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2015 4:40 am**

"Where?" says Liz, looking around but not seeing anything of note.

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:51 am**

Wow, it's beautiful around here. Albert takes bis camera and starts composing and framing shots

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2015 10:04 am**

Spot Hidden: 1d100 31

Jacob raise his head from the bible. "Yes, over there, I can see it too"

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2015 1:33 pm**

A short distance north west of Tropoka you spot a small roadside shrine at what looks as though its the head of a mountain trail. Tucked into the trees and bushes by the side of the road is a battered looking Volkswagen polo.

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2015 2:24 pm**

Albert zooms in on the car and focuses onto the registration plate,

Hey guys, Maria's car is a VW right? Did we make a note of the registration? I think I can make out the number of it he starts to read out the number

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2015 6:15 pm**

looking at the photo on her laptop Liz can see its clearly the same car.

Posted: **Sun Aug 23, 2015 3:19 am**

"Yep, that's her car, all right," says Liz. "It's not like there would be two cars that look just like it here, anyway. Let's go give it the once over. Maybe we'll find out where she went or what she's trying to do here."

Posted: **Sun Aug 23, 2015 3:45 am**

"Careful where you walk, lets not disturb any footprints here." Clay looks around for other tire tracks or foot prints and which direction they would lead.

Posted: **Sun Aug 23, 2015 8:30 am**

Once they stop Jacob goes out of the car and takes a deep breath and looks around. The mountainous area is beautiful.
He then decides to examine the area in more detail. The kind of trees, flowers and the trail. He search for any road signs that might tell them what lies down the trail. A natural reserve or ruins ? maybe debris that were thrown from passing cars on the dirt road. He is leaving Maria's car to be monitored by the others

Posted: **Sun Aug 23, 2015 7:30 pm**

Nothing seems particularly noteworthy or out of the ordinary to Jacob, the only thing which does seem to stand out is the trees seem more mature and that there doesn't seem to be any obvious clearance, a nature reserve perhaps? Although there are no signs to indicate this is the case.

OOC: One other thing your spot hidden should also have revealed was as you drove up the valley it becomes clear a significant proportion of the locals are ethnic Verbtoi (at least if the knives/swords hanging off the men's belts is any indication).

Posted: **Sun Aug 23, 2015 8:22 pm**

Liz gets out of the car and approaches Maria's VW, careful to not trample on any tracks or other evidence of her or anyone else's passage. She has her shotgun with her, just in case.

Posted: **Mon Aug 24, 2015 9:39 am**

Placing her feet carefully so as not to disturb any sign, Liz can see the car is full of litter (food wrappers, empty bottles etc) as though Demachi had lived in it for several days, as she gets closer Liz realises nearly every flat surface with the exception of the windows has the been written or carved upon.

Posted: **Mon Aug 24, 2015 1:18 pm**

Andy Wade

Andy gets out of the 4x4, making sure his pistol is in his jacket pocket. Whist Liz approaches Maria's car he keeps an eye out, scanning the tree line.

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 4:08 am**

"Donnerwetter!" cries Liz, as it happens again.

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 9:10 am**

Liz collapses and starts fitting on the ground by the car.

Greg rushes over and starts to give her first aid. Its the same as when she saw the graffiti in the town he says as he tucks a rolled up jacket under he head.

After a few minutes Liz regains conciousness.

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 2:25 pm**

Andy Wade

Andy looks on concerned... but Greg seems to have things under control.... "Let's not let Liz[/]b rush into any 'situations; again...." he says.

"Any clues as to where Maria could have gone... Alex where's the nearest village... and what's up that way?" he asks.. pointing in the direction that the VW was traveling.

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 2:52 pm**

Jacob comes to see what Liz done this time. He takes a look into the car and opens the front door and the trunk.

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 3:07 pm**

Glancing at Liz to make sure she is OK,Alex turns back to Andrew and points back down the road. "Where we see the cafe is nearest village" pointing up the road and up the trail is mountains. He smiles. "Around here is always mountains. But if she was going further up the road why not just keep driving."

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 3:37 pm**

Andy Wade

"Good point, my bet would be a breakdown... maybe run out of fuel... unless she either reached where she wanted to go... otherwise... MAria was forced to stop by someone.. he shrugs... "We must look for any signs of activity... and see if the car is working or not..,"

Andy takes a few paces towards the car... "I'll look.... get ready to pull me oughta there...

OOC: Andy's intention is a search and to ascertain if the car broke down/ ran out of petrol, etc.

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 7:24 pm**

POW: 1d100 75

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 8:38 pm**

Jacob pushes past Andy and climbs into the car his fingers rapidly tracing the writing which seems to cover every surface of the cars interior. For a moment you watch as he pats himself down looking for a pen, unable to find one he chews at the end of a finger until it bleeds freely and starts writing on the windscreen.

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 5:27 am**

"Mein kopf is on zjarr..." mutters Liz as she comes around, her psyche further battered.

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:17 am**

Jacob continues to smear blood over the interior of the car

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 11:36 am**

Andy Wade

Momentarily stunned that the normally mild-mannered Rabbi had barged into him and all but 'bowled him over', Andy stumbles and shoots an arm out to steady himself against the VW. "What the fu..." his exclamation is cut short as he sees JAcob tracing over the hypnotic writing that Maria must have scrawled earlier. "For Christ sake...get out of there..." he yells somewhat angrily, concerned that the older man was somehow 'contaminating' any evidence of Maria' intentions of destination. With mounting dread Andy watches as the Rabbi bites at a finger.. then proceeds to scrawl on a window.

"Ohh shit... another one.. down!" he yells as Jacob starts to write in his own blood, from his chewed finger-tip.

Mindful of the strange glyphs power Andy tries to avert his gaze as he gropes through the car-door to try and pull Jacob out.. he grits his teeth as the familiar sharp pain and pressure behind his eyes spike...

OOC: POW *5 = 65
[dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 12:10 pm**

As he throws himself into the dirt Andy feels the familiar burning sensation behind his eyes but the urge to open his mind to the writing seems much reduced this time.

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 5:14 pm**

Jacob mumbles and continues to write with his bleeding finger on the windows from inside the car.

Posted: **Thu Aug 27, 2015 3:37 am**

Liz staggers to her feet and tries to hold Jacob back with all her puny might. "Nein!" she shouts. "Luftoj it!"

Posted: **Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:45 am**

Greg restrains Liz by gently putting his hand on her shoulder. "I'm not going to tell you what to do LIz, but in your case I think going anywhere near the car is a really bad idea"

OOC: Mr H, Liz actually wouldn't have come round from the fitting in time to prevent Jacob from climbing into the car.

Posted: **Fri Aug 28, 2015 2:34 am**

Liz nods and stops where she is, her shoulders slumping. She knows she probably couldn't have restrained Jacob anyway.

Posted: **Fri Aug 28, 2015 11:53 am**

OOC: I'll give BenTheRat until tomorrow (29th) to post, after that Mr. Handy and Carnage_lee you need to decide how/if you are going to rescue Jacob....or you can crack on anyway, but I'd like to keep the pace of the game up at the moment.

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:18 am**

Liz takes a deep breath and collects her thoughts, focusing on speaking English. "What if I close my eyes?" she asks. "The writing can't affect me if I don't see it, right?"

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:55 pm**

Clay was looking around for tracks, And sees the directions she headed off in, to his great surprise. Then as the others all go crazy, he rolls his eyes, "Damn it people what is up with you and that damn writing?" He runs over to help drag the Rabi out of the car trying to concentrate only on the rabi and not any writing, knowing what it is doing to the smarter people in the group.

At this point he figures he is too dumb to figure out what is driving everyone into mad rants of writing.

OOC: Sorry about the delay, been swamped with real life stuff.

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2015 4:29 pm**

Andy Wade

OOC: Andy will help Clay to manhandle Jacob out of the car

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2015 11:22 am**

Taking care to cover their eyes or keep them firmly diverted from any writing. Clay and Andy and subsequently Liz manage to manhandle Jacob out of the car at which point he becomes hysterical curling up in a ball and sobbing to himself. Its fifteen minutes or so before he becomes consolable and able to talk.

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2015 4:40 pm**

"You okay now?" Liz asks Jacob, concerned. "You pulled a me back there."

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2015 5:13 pm**

"This is strange weird, gets in your brain like a worm. Anyway, looks like we are in for some hiking. You can see here on the bumper where she tied her shoe and then the tracks continue up this path there. I'm not sure how old these are though." Clay says happy he's able to contribute. He checks his pistols and makes sure he has some water. "Anyone know if this trail leads up those ruins?"

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2015 7:15 pm**

What happened?
Jacob says when he regain his senses ... what the ?!
Jacob looks panicked at his finger. What happened to my finger ??!!
He looks at Greg, hoping the doctor will find something to wrap his finger with.
I went to the car to check what made Liz mad and went into a trance of some kind.
He goes quiet and mumbles Tehillim verses

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2015 11:31 pm**

Posted: **Mon Aug 31, 2015 4:11 am**

"I think you found it," says Liz. "You must have been trying to write, just like I did when I first saw this stuff. Only you didn't have anything to write with, so you were using your own blood." She looks in the direction Clay indicated. "Well spotted! She's gone that way, so we've got to go that way too, once everyone's ready."

Posted: **Mon Aug 31, 2015 4:48 pm**

OOC: Before setting off, Andy will check with Alex to see what's in the same dirction as the tracks seem to indicate... look at a map if possible to try and ientify any likely destinations... and get the lie of the land.

Posted: **Mon Aug 31, 2015 5:47 pm**

The only map Alex has in a pretty decent road Atlas. As far as Andy can tell there is a monastery but it would be several kilometres up the road and the track would have to go right over the mountains to get to it. To Andy's eye there is no way over the mountains at the head without some serious climbing gear.

Posted: **Tue Sep 01, 2015 3:56 am**

Posted: **Tue Sep 01, 2015 7:17 am**

You want I bring this stuff says Alex hauling out a rope, harnesses and a load of other unfamiliar climbing gear from the back of the 4x4. Liz say you need climbing gear. So I ask friend he said this everything you need to climb

Posted: **Tue Sep 01, 2015 1:51 pm**

Jacob just nods to Liz and goes to sit on a rock , away from the cursed car, while he memorize Psalms verses.
After Greg treats to Jacob finger wound he will join them when they decide to go up the trail.

Posted: **Tue Sep 01, 2015 9:27 pm**

"Would she have gone climbing by herself? Even crazy?" Clay asks. "Can you get to this monestary by road? It's possible she didn't go that way."

Posted: **Tue Sep 01, 2015 10:13 pm**

Assuming she did bring climbing gears with her it is not in the trunk? boot? back of car. Says Alex pointing at the back of the car. But... He looks at the road atlas in his hands Yes, drive cars up road monastery is next valley. Is maybe 15 or 20 minute drive.

Posted: **Wed Sep 02, 2015 5:11 am**

"She did bring her own climbing gear," says Liz, "so she must have taken it with her. Maybe we should check out the monastery first by road. She has such a headstart on us, I guess a little longer won't hurt if it turns out she didn't go there."

Posted: **Wed Sep 02, 2015 12:09 pm**

A twenty minute drive sees the cars at the foot of another valley the gated road going up it is in very good condition, there is a sign by the side of the road in the dark blue of the EU and with the familiar ring of stars which reads:

Verrassa Monastery. The road and monastery have been restored at a cost of EUR 2.5 million provided by the European Commission. The 12th century monastery is considered one of the most important holy places in Albania. The total cost of the rehabilitation work is EUR 3.3 million. The project is 80% completed and will be finished at the end of this year. Once the project is finalized, facilities will be provided for tourists until then please respect the monks privacy.

The gate is locked.

Posted: **Wed Sep 02, 2015 4:52 pm**

Andy Wade

Andy looks at the gates after reading the sign... "Well, that's annoying... perhaps Maria knew the gates would be locked... does this place figure in any of the pictures we got off her laptop?" Andy tries the gates, without much hope.

Posted: **Wed Sep 02, 2015 7:43 pm**

Taking the time to look at the photos Andy recognises the distinct peak of the mountain at the head of the valley as taken looking up from the roadside where they left Maria's car.

Posted: **Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:33 pm**

"If Maria wanted to get inside," says Liz, "I'm sure she could have. But did she?" She looks around the gate area for any signs of recent passage.

Posted: **Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:38 pm**

OOC: Track roll please Mr Handy. Although it will have to be something special, there has clearly been a lot of traffic through the gates recently.

Posted: **Thu Sep 03, 2015 12:11 am**

"Well, a lot of people have gone through here recently," says Liz, "but I've no way of knowing if Maria was one of them. Alex, have you ever been here before?"

Posted: **Thu Sep 03, 2015 9:20 am**

This area certainly, the monastery also, I brought il professore here many years ago, but we go many places like this, like tourists. The monks they do not like visitors, they are how you say silent. I do not think he think it special. Says Alex with a familiar shrug.

Posted: **Thu Sep 03, 2015 3:21 pm**

"I don't think she came here, I think she was looking for something else nearby where she parked her car. Time to head back and see if we can figure out what is between this old church and her car." Clay says.

Posted: **Thu Sep 03, 2015 3:43 pm**

Andy Wade

Andy nods in agreement at what Clay has to say. "I think you're right, mate. If Maria was coming here then she'd have driven up and not abandoned her car and if she was lucid enough to think ahead and take climbing equipment then she wasn't coming here... not through these gates anyway." Andy kicks a stone in frustration.

"Alex, you've been here before... is there anything you can remember.. any caves or even old tales of anything hidden on the mountain?" he asks.

Posted: **Thu Sep 03, 2015 4:12 pm**

I've not been in this area for some time. Says Alex Although, il professore has been. With Maria. Several times over the years. I think they like the scenery. Il professore often he say how much he love the mountains. As for caves...these are mountains, so sure there are caves here, but none which are well known or attractions, nothing special. Alex pauses Old tales of anything hidden on the mountain. He stops briefly to chat in Albanian to Lek. Yes, there is tale of trolls no, you say Dwarves. They hide much gold under mountains, fairy's often tell you where gold is. I think this is because Verbtoi really like gold, in times of war people always bury the gold. Wars fought here since Roma was a little village so lots of gold hidden. He smiles.

Posted: **Thu Sep 03, 2015 4:39 pm**

OOC: Does anyone/did anyone bring binoculars?

Luck roll if not specifically mentioned...
Andy Luck = 65
[dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Thu Sep 03, 2015 5:06 pm**

Andy has a pair of travel binoculars, Alex has a larger pair in the front of the Landrover.

Posted: **Thu Sep 03, 2015 7:42 pm**

"You're right," says Liz, "she wouldn't have bothered bringing the climbing gear if she didn't need it. That means we'd better backtrack to where we found her car and climb after her."

Posted: **Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:50 am**

Jacob shudddrs when Liz meantions the car.

Posted: **Fri Sep 04, 2015 8:28 am**

Andy Wade

Andy smiles at Alex's joke... "Well... if we find any gold ... it's 50/50 then, right?" he says with a smile.. "But there are no... places of interest, nothing for archaeologists like the Professor?" he tries again...

"That's something else we're going to have to deal with." Andy says seeing Jacob's reaction "It's not safe, we're probably going to have to torch that VW."

"Well, if we're not going to bother the Monks, we'd better head off.." he says, checking that the others feel the same.

Posted: **Fri Sep 04, 2015 5:14 pm**

"If we find any gold it is all your gold. Gold here will be Verbetoi gold and I do not want any piece of that!" Alex shakes his head and in the background you can hear Lek grunted agreement. "Il professore is not archaeologist" Alex puffs his chest out and then continues in his best impression of an English gentleman "Social anthropology is the study of the relationships among persons and groups, not dead people, dusty old bones or pottery"He smiles sadly clearly taking a moment to remember his old friend. So we never come up here looking for things, talk to people, yes a great deal. Sometimes we go look at places, but no we do not dig or look at ruins"

Posted: **Sat Sep 05, 2015 2:12 am**

"I've taken Anthropology 101," says Liz, "so I know how to do the same sort of thing, only I'm not as good at it. I don't know the first thing about archaeology outside of what I picked up from watching Indiana Jones movies." She nods to Andy. "Ja, we'll have to burn the car, but we ought to wait to do it until we're on our way back. The only people nearby like to find it are the Verbetoi, and if we set the car on fire, we might as well put up a big neon sign saying 'come and get us.'"

Posted: **Sat Sep 05, 2015 1:56 pm**

What if this monastery is hideout for the Verbetoi and their camouflage is being silents monks. Maybe it is the right way and Maria bypassed the gate by foot as he didn't want to be spotted. After all, she was not in a mental good shape, she probably had a breakdown in the car with all the writing.
Jacob suggests as he looks around, trying to find tracks

EDIT - I rewrote the post following ghill area explanation

Posted: **Sat Sep 05, 2015 5:55 pm**

Gate is not locked says Lek. Verbetoi do not hide out he adds, Monks certainly all Verbetoi or nearly all, who knows with monks.

OOC: Just to be clear saying the Verbetoi, is akin to saying the German's, or the Italian's.

Posted: **Sun Sep 06, 2015 4:44 pm**

"No, if she wanted to get in here, she would have pulled up a lot closer and come in this way, instead of trying to through the valley. That is just crazy..." Clay trails off for a minute. "Still if she was out of her mind, being subtle isn't in the cards. I think she was heading to something in the valley. We need to follow her trail, and this aint it."

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 4:53 am**

"i agree," says Liz, "Let's get back to where she left her car without delay."

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 8:45 am**

OOC: I'm in agreement, let's go back to where we found Maria's car and then pick up her trail.

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:11 am**

Turning the 4x4's around you head back to the trail start, Clay points out Maria's footprint on the car's bumper and the similar footprint further up the trail.

<Snip> all necessary preparations for a hike into the mountains - consider yourselves to all have a day pack warm/waterproof jacket food/drink and survival blanket, as well as the climbing gear.</snip>

First appearances can be deceiving; while it looks easy, the trail is an unremitting uphill climb, ascending through alpine meadows carpeted in flowers, before entering the welcome shade of a thick beech wood. It doesn't take to keen an eye to notice there are carvings on many of the trees. The quality and readability of the carvings varies a great deal, but once they become aware of them you notice there are carvings on nearly every tree. You quickly determine this is not the same "WRITING" as you've seen in Maria's apartment and car or on the blackboard in Brichester U.

OOC: Can I have Art History rolls or Knowledge rolls please

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:31 am**

Jacob, not wanting to get closer to the writing on the trees tries to decipher them from a far, but that's too much, he undersands nothing.
Knowledge roll 80% (1d100=82)

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:37 am**

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 5:21 pm**

OOC: Andy Wade: Know 85

[dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 7:15 pm**

Andy is reminded of a Time magazine article he read about the tree carvings of the American West, where lonely immigrant sheep herders from Greece and Albania passed their time carving on Aspen trees. But if Andy had to make a guess he'd say these these carvings are not expressions of loneliness.

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 9:50 pm**

Andy Wade

At first Andy enjoys the hike but the weight of his pack and the cosnstant digging into his side of the 'AK47 clone' soon take his mind off of the scenery. The steady incline soon has him breathing deeply and his forehead glistening with sweat. The shade offered by the wood they enter makes him a little happer, ot at least cooler.

The odd carvings that adorn most trees seem to unsettle Jacob but from what he can make out they're just markings... "... these remind me of an article I read a year or so ago... come to think of it that mentioned Albanian's .... he smiles at Alex "The article was about the 'Wild West' and said that shepherds would often carve pictograms and scenes into trees, a custom picked up from their home countries, here and Greece, some carvings were very intricate...." Andy says, as he steps off the path to take a closer look.. "This type of thing would definitely be of interst to the Professor..."

Andy approaches a particlarly large tree that seems to have more distinct marks carved into it...

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 10:19 pm**

As Andy weaves his way through the trees he realises that not all the carvings are old, some at least have been newly carved into the tree bark. Whereas the large tree he finds itself at the foot of seems entirely covered with the carvings.

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 10:34 pm**

"I never knew that," says Liz, studying the carvings once she's told they're safe. "Maybe she used them to mark her trail."

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 11:00 pm**

"There are hundreds if not thousands of carvings" says Greg "I don't think this is anything to do with Maria, I mean nearly every tree seems to have one or more of these carvings on them."

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 11:10 pm**

"It could have been the Verbetoi who made them, then," says Liz. She examines the large tree that Andy has found, hoping that her language-scrambled brain might be able to decipher the carvings' meaning.

Posted: **Tue Sep 08, 2015 1:03 pm**

Can we proceed further?
Jacob tries to usher the others as he looks around.
This place gives the creep

Posted: **Tue Sep 08, 2015 1:36 pm**

Andy Wade

Andy nods in agreement with Greg "I don't think these are for marking a trail.. Maria didn't make these..." he moves a it closer... trying to make out what the carvings are mean to depict "I think you're right there Liz, these marks are Verbetoi... but are they from the same group as the ones that killed the Professor?" he says to Liz.

Andy traces one carving with his finger... "Some of these carving are old.. this must be significant... like a sacred forest or something..."

Posted: **Tue Sep 08, 2015 2:09 pm**

From where he stands Jacob can see through the trees and into the sunlit meadow beyond, but going forward will mean passing more of the carvings.

Behind him Albert and Greg are slowly walking along, Albert taking photos as he goes.

Andy traces the carvings on the tree with his fingers as Liz walks up behind him. He starts to get an idea of the scale of work which has been undertaken as his fingers cross and recross intricate layers of work such that every inch of the tree seems covered in carving of some kind or another.

Posted: **Tue Sep 08, 2015 3:54 pm**

OOC: Andy Wade

SAN: 65

[dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Tue Sep 08, 2015 5:51 pm**

"Could be a warning of some sort," Clay adds, "You know stay out." He continues on, ignoring the writing on the trees.

Posted: **Tue Sep 08, 2015 11:18 pm**

"Do you think this might have been what Maria was looking for?" asks Greg

Posted: **Wed Sep 09, 2015 3:53 am**

"If this is what she was looking for, why isn't she still here?" asks Liz. "I think we're on the right track, though. Let's keep going. Maybe it is a warning. 'I'd turn back if I were you,' sort of thing. But she didn't turn back, and neither can we."

Posted: **Wed Sep 09, 2015 8:37 am**

Andy Wade

Andy traces some of the carvings, this somehow enables him to glimpse some meaning as to what they mean... he realises that the carvings span years, centuries. Next his recently healed skin itches and sweat prickles his brow as he suddenly comprehends that these carvings depict some kind of sacrifices... by means of fire... it seems to him that some of the fires look ... with a gasp he steps back.

"Jacob is right.. we should keep moving..." he says, steering Liz back from the tree.

"They're not a warning.... those carvings... not completely; they're more a celebration... fire and death... let's keep moving... keep alert." he motions Liz to keep going and follows, the wicked depictions in the carvings haunting him.. he had glimpsed... something... something his mind did not want to process.. a deep chill ran through him as he carried on walking. With slightly trembling hands he checked his weapons were accessible...

Posted: **Wed Sep 09, 2015 6:36 pm**

Jacob hustles to the clearing before everyone. His look focused on the ground as he avoids looking to the trees. For assurance, he place his hands to screen his sight. Once out of the trees, he takes a breath and looks around.

Posted: **Wed Sep 09, 2015 7:07 pm**

Out of the shadows of the trees the trail crosses another alpine meadow. But in the absence of trees someone has carved upon the rocks. Several megaliths can quite clearly be seen scattered across these meadows, others which have already fallen and are partly concealed by the meadow flowers. Those close to the trail are all extensively carved with complicated patterns, some have clearly been painted on with reds, yellows and orange being the predominate colours.

Posted: **Thu Sep 10, 2015 4:19 am**

Liz stares in wonder. "They're the colour of zjarr," she says, then shakes her head to clear it. "I mean fire. Zjarr is fire."

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:39 pm**

Andy Wade
"Yeah.. fire... it's their thing.." he says with a deep shudder.

Andy makes a quick sweep of the stones to see if the 'theme' of the carvings and the newer paintings are the same....

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:31 pm**

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:19 pm**

OOC: Andy Wade, Spot Hidden:35

[dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:36 pm**

Posted: **Sat Sep 12, 2015 4:18 am**

Liz keeps her distance from the stones, not wanting to risk getting even more addled. In fact, she avoids looking at them entirely. She doesn't know the first thing about archaeology anyway. Instead she surveys their surroundings.

Posted: **Sat Sep 12, 2015 7:42 am**

Jacob avoids looking at the stones.
He looks around instead.

Spot Valley: 1d100 41

Posted: **Sat Sep 12, 2015 1:33 pm**

Posted: **Sun Sep 13, 2015 2:27 am**

"Some bits of the landscape are burnt," says Liz. "I think I see someone lying down in one of burnt spots." She points it out to the others.

Posted: **Sun Sep 13, 2015 12:18 pm**

Andy Wade

"I see that too... It looks like a body to me.... there's bones about too." he says glumly . "Greg.. as our resident medic... are you up for a closer look? I'll go with you, everyone else keep an eye out...

Posted: **Sun Sep 13, 2015 12:40 pm**

Jacob obeys without saying a word.
He looks around, trying to spot if someone from the natives is lurking around/

Posted: **Sun Sep 13, 2015 3:38 pm**

Greg holds up a two bones, from where he's been crouching. This he says is an Ulna probably that of a young woman or child. Um this is a shoulder blade which considering the size is probably a horse's He then stands and follows Andy to where the body can clearly be seen on the path.

Closer you can see the body is completely charred if it wasn't contorted so much by the heat the body would be almost unrecognisable, further along the path a rucksack still smoulders and has clearly been subject to intense heat.

From the hips I'd say a young man, says Greg. Although, without the proper equipment and facilities I can't really tell you much more. He rolls the body over slightly and rests his hand against it. Not warm so at least 24 hours I'd say.

OOC: Searching the rucksack reveals mens clothing and underwear a novel in German, and from its contents would seem to indicate the man was a backpacker/hiker, although there is nothing else to identify him.

Jacob scans the valley there is nothing to indicate there is anyone in the meadows other than yourselves, although the woods infront and behind you could easily hide several hundred people.

Posted: **Sun Sep 13, 2015 6:29 pm**

Liz gulps. "At least it wasn't Maria," she says. "It looks like they must have burned him simply because he wandered into their territory. If he was lucky, they killed him first."

Posted: **Sun Sep 13, 2015 9:50 pm**

OOC: The burn patterns around the body are strange, there was no fire here (by which I mean there is no evidence a fire was built here), if you had to guess you'd say the man was came down the path on fire fell here and set light to the foliage around him.

Posted: **Mon Sep 14, 2015 2:21 pm**

Andy Wade

"I don't think he was killed and then set on fire here, there's no evidence of a fire... no ashes... not enough to account for the state of the body. Greg assuming this guy was on fire how far would he have been able to run.. I mean how far away .." he indicates the path. ".. could he have been?"

"I think we ought to proceed with a lot of caution, keep quiet and don't bunch up too much."

Posted: **Mon Sep 14, 2015 2:41 pm**

Greg points at the rucksack. "Not really an area of study I covered in medical school, but if I had to guess I'd say from where he dropped or threw the pack" he says.

OOC: This is a distance of 20-30 feet.

Posted: **Mon Sep 14, 2015 6:43 pm**

Albert looks up from his camera, having documented the marks on the trees and rocks.

He walks over and upon seeing the body, dry heaves, just managing to keep the contents of his stomach in place.

Looking around at the other scorch marks he says Shit, yeah we need to be ninja careful

Posted: **Tue Sep 15, 2015 4:37 am**

Liz trembles and hugs herself. "Too right!" she says. "I wish we'd managed to get some fireproof clothing."

Posted: **Tue Sep 15, 2015 8:14 am**

Maybe we can trail the burned tips of the grass and understand where he came from?
Jacob suggest
If someone ignited him elsewhere maybe he ran and fell here, unless he was ambushed and assaulted in this meadow.

Posted: **Tue Sep 15, 2015 8:44 am**

Its hard to tell but looking at the ground and the way the meadow plants have reacted to the heat, its as though he simply burst into flames.

While you are looking at the body Greg and Clay observe a fire burst into existence on the far side of the valley. The fire, a column of flame over two meters high curls over to form an arch and then like some crazy snake starts to slides up the hillside (away from where you are standing).

"M'qifsh Karin!" mutters Alex "What happens?.....Is not right" adds Lek

Posted: **Tue Sep 15, 2015 4:42 pm**

Andy Wade

"Oh shit.... " Andy says he takes in the flame moving up the hillside .. "Do you the flames were summoned or ...." he shrugs.

He watches for a few moments, "It's not after us, I'd like a look at where it appeared..." he starts to move towards where the flames appeared, treading carefully and scanning the area around him.

Posted: **Tue Sep 15, 2015 5:18 pm**

OOC: The flame appeared on 'the far side of the valley' which are this point is still several hundred meters away. To Andy's eye and everyone else's for that matter the point where the flames made their appearance looks very similar to the some of the numerous spots where wild fire has burnt the meadow.

Posted: **Wed Sep 16, 2015 5:19 am**

"Um..." says Liz. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Posted: **Wed Sep 16, 2015 3:21 pm**

Yes.
Jacob seconds Liz
We want to avoid the flame at all cost, look at this poor fellow.

Posted: **Wed Sep 16, 2015 5:45 pm**

Clay is puzzled by all this, "Could this be some sort of natural phenom thing going on here? Does someone have the fire extenguisher?"

Posted: **Wed Sep 16, 2015 5:59 pm**

Andy Wade

"I know it's probably not a good idea... but that thing is probably heading for where we want to be, it's probably not a coincedence.." Andy says in reply to Liz as he lifts the binoculars to his eyes and scans the area ahead of the fire trying to see what it may be heading towards.

"Besides... this place looks like a popular spot for those things.." he indicates the charred spots in the grass that dot the clearing and then the moving flames. "Who's to say that another one won't appear.".

Andy looks again at the clearing... trying to see if there's any correlation between the scorch marks and stones... some explanation as to why or where these 'flames' might appear.

"OK.. I think we should follow... at a distance, we ought to be able to track it by the scorched trail it leaves.. but I don't think we should be standing around here... in the open..."

"Ahh, shit, I haven't got the extinguisher.." he rolls his eyes at 'natural phenomenon'.

Posted: **Wed Sep 16, 2015 8:11 pm**

"Its gone" says Greg and indeed on the far side of the valley, the flame has indeed disappeared. "It just winked out" he adds.

Posted: **Thu Sep 17, 2015 5:25 am**

"Well, now that the flame's gone," says Liz, "it's prolly slightly less dangerous to go where it was. And you're right, we don't want to stay here. I don't think we actually managed to find an extinguisher. We've got blankets and stuff."

Posted: **Thu Sep 17, 2015 8:54 am**

There is nothing markedly different about the far side of the valley than the one you just left. However, while you stand there you observe a man appear several hundred meters further up the trail just where the trail enters another wood. He spends a few moments looking in your direction then calmly turns around and walks back out of sight in the shadows beneath the trees. Faintly visible above the trees is a small trickle of smoke.

OOC: The man looks reasonably well built, was wearing dark trousers and perhaps a combat jacket, he didn't appear to have a weapon.

Posted: **Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:26 am**

"We'd best be careful," says Liz. "I think that guy is the source of the fires, and he's seen us. Let's move quickly."

Posted: **Fri Sep 18, 2015 8:33 am**

Andy Wade

"Agreed... let's get under cover fast... that way..." Andy points to the nearest area of trees.

Posted: **Fri Sep 18, 2015 9:00 am**

You enter the tree line, there are carvings on these trees as well, but they are nowhere near as numerous. Perhaps because higher up where the ground is clearly poorer the trees are smaller. In the distance you can just make out someone singing.

Posted: **Fri Sep 18, 2015 9:08 am**

OOC: G, any chance of a map for this part? Having a little difficulty visualising things....

Posted: **Fri Sep 18, 2015 9:35 am**

OOC: I don't have a map for this. This however is a pretty much how I visualise the valley.

https://italianrentalblog.files.wordpre ... 593637.jpg

The only difference being anything green and flat in the first third of the picture, is covered with trees. Basically the valley is getting narrower and narrower. and the ground essentially forces you towards the smoke of the fire and the singing. This is not to say you can't sneak past (there is clearly cover), but simply that there is no simple opportunity or clear route to walk around and bypass the location. Its almost as though whoever set up camp here sighted themselves intentionally.

Posted: **Fri Sep 18, 2015 5:19 pm**

OOC: If we're going to move forward then Andy will suggest following the tree line, moving cautiously and try and get a glimpse of whoever is up ahead... If we're feeling adventurous then we could split a couple of people off and they can try and take up a flanking position via going deeper into the trees and looping around - we'd have to give them a head start and they'd have to be quiet....

Posted: **Fri Sep 18, 2015 7:23 pm**

"I suggest we go introduce ourselves. Not all of us, but I'm willing to go." Clay chimes in. "Hell he's already seen us, and the way he is setup, I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't a few snares and traps out in the woods for anyone trying to skirt around him. There are a bunch of us and only 1 of him. He showed himself on purpose when he could have stayed hidden. I say lets go see what he wants or if he's seen the good doctor."

Posted: **Sat Sep 19, 2015 4:57 am**

Liz can't make out the singing from here. "Or he could be trying to call fire down on us," she says. "Either way, we need to get closer to him. I'll approach him too. I'm not so good with people, but I do know a bit of Albanian, and he won't see me as a threat because I'm harmless. Well, mostly harmless. I still have my shotgun if he gets ornery, but I'll need to be close to him if I have to use it. We should all spread out. That way he can't incinerate us all at once."

Posted: **Mon Sep 21, 2015 2:28 pm**

I don't think it's a coincidence the flame led upto where he is and for him to show himself. Come on let's go talk to this fella - see what it is he wants or whether he's seen Maria

Posted: **Mon Sep 21, 2015 2:49 pm**

OOC: Just to be clear the valley rises S -> N. You examined the body on E side of valley (same side as the path you had been moving along). The flame appeared on the Western side and travelled in a South Westerly direction, The man appeared at the edge of the woods on the East side of the valley (same path you had previously been walking on and in a northerly direction) from you. You have now moved in a Northerly direction to enter the woods and the smoke from the camp fire (still visible through the tree canopy is about 100m to your NE)

While you crouch beneath the trees, quietly discussing what to do you observe another flame appear about 100m's behind you. The flame seems to randomly travel in circles for a few minutes, at which point it becomes apparent it is chasing a rabbit. It chases the rabbit for a couple of minutes before catching and burning it and then winking again out.

Posted: **Mon Sep 21, 2015 2:54 pm**

Jesus holy Christ mutters Albert That flame definitely chased that rabbit didn't it? Come on let's go talk to that bloke - he seems happy enough to be camping around sentient pillars of fire that can go where they want and I'd rather not be here, to be honest.

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 5:47 am**

"At least it's chasing the rabbit and not us," says Liz, hurrying forward.

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 7:40 am**

I know it's crazy but maybe the fire is a conjured guardian of some sort, protecting the stones.
Unless someone is summoning the fire to attack others but then the question is why it didn't attacked us so far.

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 8:33 am**

Andy Wade

"Let's go carefully... if the fire is being summoned... then he's the most likely suspect..

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 11:15 am**

Moving carefully between the stunted beech trees you come to a small clearing. On either side of the trail is a pillars each approximately 8 feet tall both intricately carved with figures of men and horses. The pillars themselves look extremely old but the carvings on them are clean and obviously recently re-cut, the patterns and figures look as though they have been recently painted. The trees surrounding the clearing all show signs of heat damage; the ground underfoot is dry and hard and shows sign of a recent wild fire. Stretched between two trees on the far side of the clearing is a canvas sheet crouched beneath the shelter is a man in his early middle age, dressed in a pair of worn trousers and a faded combat jacket worn open over a bare torso covered in tattoos. The man seems oblivious to your presence in the trees, calmly drinking coffee from a battered tin mug, probably from the kettle sat at the edge of the small camp fire.

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 4:34 pm**

Andy Wade

Andy stops and looks about carefully, trying to spot any signs of a trap and scanning the trees and bushes that surround the small clearing...

OOC: Looking far any movement that may mean people hiding in the trees/bushes; looking at the small camp - are there signs of any other occupants... another mug... bedrolls etc..

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 4:42 pm**

Albert zooms in on the pillars and takes a few photos before changing focus to the man and his camp.

He reviews the photos - checking the carvings of the horse and how much they resemble to the horse tattoos that they have seen and then checking the man's chest tattoos, looking for similar.

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 5:06 pm**

OOC: Andy, doesn't see anything which leads him to believe anyone else is around, the camp is well lived in though.

Albert can see burn marks throughout the clearing. The tattoos and carvings are stylistically similar. Greg leans over his shoulder looking at the photos. I've seen those tattoos before, on a man in his 80's who could run like Ben Johnson. I bet this guy is fast on his feet.

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 5:45 pm**

'God be with us' Jacob says quietly and whispers some biblical phrases to himself.
Circle the pillars and don't walk between them.
He says, hoping the path between the pillars is not a trap

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 5:55 pm**

Albert says quietly So we're pretty sure he knows we're here - who's for walking through the pillars and who's for walking around?

Posted: **Wed Sep 23, 2015 5:38 am**

"Around," says Liz. "No sense taking chances."

Posted: **Wed Sep 23, 2015 2:26 pm**

Andy Wade

"Yeah... let's go around... "

OOC: Andy will be scanning the tree line as the others move, suspecting an ambush.

Posted: **Wed Sep 23, 2015 2:35 pm**

Albert says quickly I don't know man, maybe through the gate is the safe way through, if we don't go through the gate then fiery columns of death will attack from nowhere but if we pass through the gate they won't.

He mutters under his breath to himself Fuck it, if I'd known I'd end up running around a strange country dodging fire elementals I would've read more fantasy and played some D&D in college - I bet those larping nerds would know what to do now. he shakes his head, a sardonic grin playing across his face.

Posted: **Wed Sep 23, 2015 2:58 pm**

The man stands and looks in your general direction. He then says something in Albanian.

"He says he cannot see us, but we gossip like old women. He say he is lonely up here on mountain and can talk...and has hot coffee" whispers Alex
"venir s'asseoir....kommen und sich hinsetzen....umm......érthei kai na kathísei....I have coffee" says the man waving his coffee cup above his head. He then squatts down by the fire adding, more wood and shaking the coffee pot. He shrugs off his coat showing both the extent of his tattoos (he has lots) and the large blade hanging sidewise from his belt. He seems entirely relaxed.

Posted: **Wed Sep 23, 2015 3:54 pm**

Clay looks around at all the burn marks and the man with tatoos. "Ah Frack it," he says as he walks through the pillars totally expecting to be engulfed with flames.

If not he will walk over to the strange man.

Posted: **Wed Sep 23, 2015 9:31 pm**

Liz can't understand what the man is saying - she can barely tell that it is in fact Albanian - but at least Alex is there to translate. She clears her throat. "I happen to be a LARPing nerd," she tells Albert. "Talking sounds good to me, but one of the first rules of LARPing is 'never eat or drink anything.' Maybe if he drinks the coffee first. It sounds like he's speaking a bunch of languages, bits of which I know. He said to come and sit in both French and German, and that Albanian bit may have also been him saying he has coffee. He may have been affected like I was. If Clay doesn't burst into flames, I say we follow him."

Posted: **Wed Sep 23, 2015 10:14 pm**

The man looks up as Clay approaches, a welcoming smile on his face. He pours some coffee into a battered metal cup and offers it to Clay.

"You mad and talk to self, or friends just shy" he says with a chuckle. "Veniet de puellae, come on out girls" he says back towards where Clay exited the trees. Looking back at Clay "Francais?, Deutsche? British?" he asks. He doesn't wait for Clay to reply but flops down onto his bedroll and takes a sip of his coffee.

Posted: **Thu Sep 24, 2015 5:13 am**

Liz follows Clay to the campsite, smiling and waving at the man. "I'm the only girl here," she says. "Unless you've seen another one around, that is."

Posted: **Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:50 am**

Albert follows the others through the gate, a sheepish grin on his face.

Coffee smells good he says I'm a bit of a stranger in a strange land, not really sure of the local customs and don't want to accidentally offend anyone, err, or you he continues anyway, my name's Albert, nice to meet you, err, I hope... he offers his hand for a handshake.

Posted: **Thu Sep 24, 2015 9:07 am**

Ah British yes, come sit coffee is hot though we have to share cups. I am sek mei kafsh.

He shakes Albert's hands then takes his shoulder in a firm grip and looks him in the eyes "We are all friends, here in this moment, yes" he says then looks around clearly eyeing the guns.

Posted: **Thu Sep 24, 2015 3:55 pm**

Andy Wade

Andy turns to Alex "You'd better reassure him that we don't mean him any harm... we're just cautious and are looking for a friend who has gone missing.." Andy says, figuring that it's be faster for their guide to let the other man know that they have no hostile intentions.

Posted: **Thu Sep 24, 2015 4:09 pm**

Albert holds the man gaze and then nods Yes, we are all friends, in this moment. he glances down to the coffee pot and smiles Shall we share a coffee, my new friend?

Posted: **Thu Sep 24, 2015 4:25 pm**

Clay takes a seat, "Thanks for the coffee, as we said, we are looking for a friend. A woman, came up here in the last few days. Her car is still down by the road. You seen her?"

Posted: **Thu Sep 24, 2015 5:49 pm**

The man shrugs, Not many people walk on this ground, only the pure are allowed on the mountain, those who are not pure the Angels take, and those who get past the angels, it is my punishment to deal with, but your friend is the first 'i madh' I have seen on the mountain in a long time.

In the trees Alex turns to Andy, He does not need reassurance. This man is Verbti, also he is armed, so he is not afraid, also I think he may be a little bit mad. Lek nods in agreement.

Posted: **Fri Sep 25, 2015 5:48 am**

Liz walks over and sits down. "Cheers!" she says, accepting the coffee gratefully and taking a sip. "My name's Liz. Why is it your punishment, and who is punishing you?"

Posted: **Fri Sep 25, 2015 8:21 am**

The Rabbi follows to where the man sits and nods "no" to the coffee.
"Only kosher". he says plainly, finding an excuse not to drink the "suspected" poisoned coffee

Posted: **Fri Sep 25, 2015 8:26 am**

Andy Wade

Andy makes no move to share the coffee... not right away, instead he listens and watches his mind working... From what he has just heard it sounds like this place is considered 'sacred' by the Verbetoi... if that's who he represents and the way is guarded... well they've seen the guards and picturing the stomach churning remains of the charred back-packer he knows what 'the Angles take' means. Bur they got through.. so does that mean they'll be allowed to progress or ... or is this man going to 'deal with them' .. that's what he has just suggested.. but he's also seen Maria did he let her pass? 'I madh' is that a reference to the state Maria is in... mind possessed by the 'proto-language' thingy..

"What does 'i madh' mean?" he asks Alex trying to get the pronunciation of the words..

Posted: **Fri Sep 25, 2015 8:57 am**

In the clearing:
The man gives a weak smile to Liz. As a young man before the war I fell in love with a one of your kind, but she was a belonging in the home of my Pater. She became with child so I chose to leave and take her from my Pater's home. We were found out and in the fight I killed my Pater. For my crimes Arjan, was become I am sek mei kafsh and sentenced to death, the Rit Gërshet now keeps me here for so long as I live.

In the trees
Alex turns to Andy It means like girl horse, what is word....mare. Lek says something to Alex and makes an fairly obvious sexual body movement, which makes Alex smile. He leans over to whisper to Andy, he must have had unhappy childhood in Albanian his name sounds like I have sex with animals

OOC: When the guy said "your friend is the first 'i madh'" he was talking about Liz, not Maria.

Posted: **Fri Sep 25, 2015 3:14 pm**

'Interesting, so if Liz here is the first woman you've seen in a long time, is it possible she snuck by you?" Clay asked.

Posted: **Fri Sep 25, 2015 3:18 pm**

He shrugs who knows. I do not see her maybe the Angels take her, maybe she is not on the mountain.

Posted: **Sat Sep 26, 2015 6:00 am**

"That's so sad," says Liz in a sorrowful tone. "I'm sorry all that happened. I'm sure you didn't mean to kill your father. What's the Rit Gërshet?"

Posted: **Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:35 am**

The man has a nice laugh, rich and almost melodious, when he stops. He looks liz squarly in the eyes. No you are wrong little i madh. I very much meant to kill my father, I beat his head with a rock until even I his first born son could not recognise him. He pauses for a moment. He was pure in the eyes of the law and the eyes of Verbti, whereas I had slept with Animals and killed my father. My punishment was just. The Rit binds an Angel to me, to make sure I do not stray from this place.

Posted: **Sun Sep 27, 2015 5:45 am**

"Who did this job before you, and what happened to them?" asks Liz.

Posted: **Sun Sep 27, 2015 8:32 am**

I do not know little i madh, it is not something I ever cared about. he says with a shrug. Some other criminal or a holy man if one heard the calling.

Posted: **Mon Sep 28, 2015 2:26 am**

Liz feels pity for the man and his situation, but she doubts there is anything she can do to change it unless they succeed at thwarting whatever the bad guys have planned. From what she's seen already, she has no doubt that his father had been a cruel man, and his abuse had probably made his son the way he is. "How can you tell if someone is pure or not?" she asks. "Am I pure?"

Posted: **Mon Sep 28, 2015 2:24 pm**

Albert thinking: If we get out of this alive, I'd like to think I've got a chance of corrupting you, you pretty little [i]filly[/i] - nothing more attractive than a pretty girl with a good brain on her shoulders.

Albert smiles, keeping his thoughts to himself So if we are here with you, we have passed by the angels and are deemed pure by them?

Good coffee by the way he gestures with the mug and takes another sip.

Posted: **Mon Sep 28, 2015 3:05 pm**

The man guffaws " Pure, no, no. No matter how much you polish a turd it does not become gold." Gesturing at everyone in the clearing with a wave of his hand, he continues. You cannot become pure because you are not Verbetoi then gesturing at Liz You are as they say doubly cursed little i madh. You are neither Verbetoi, nor are you a man. All women are unclean.

He shrugs. Even a good man, would need much time and effort to walk this ground, many rit, much gold. He turns to look at Albert. No the angels are .... he pauses long enough to take a sip of the coffee, clearly thinking of the right words. No the angels are a bit like children, they are easily distracted. This is well known, it is why I am here. Between us no one travels the valley who is not supposed to. He smiles. Better to meet me than the angels

Posted: **Mon Sep 28, 2015 10:05 pm**

Clay laughs out loud, "Never tried polishing a turd into gold before. Guess I won't try it now." he laughs a bit more.
"So if we can keep them distracted we can get through here, what is the best way to distract the ... children?"

Posted: **Tue Sep 29, 2015 4:12 am**

"I suppose so," Liz says to the Verbetoi, starting to get creeped out now that she understands some of the Albanian words he's been using. However, she makes an effort not to let it show. "The Angels are those columns of fire, right? I did see one of them get distracted. It was chasing after a rabbit. So how far exactly are the impure allowed to go? We wouldn't want to accidentally wander where we're not allowed.' Deliberately, on the other hand... she thinks.

Posted: **Tue Sep 29, 2015 8:48 am**

Andy Wade

Listening to the others and the tattooed man talk sounds surreal to Andy, it's obvious by what he's said that he's here as some kind of guard, a backup to the 'angels', the pillars of fire that appear in the larger clearing behind them. What is worrying is that this guy is very confident; he's as good as told them that he will stop.. or attempt to stop them from moving further up the mountain. Andy looks to see if anyone else has picked up on the 'menace' in the subtext of what the strange Albanian has said.

"So.. it's your duty to stop people from moving further up the mountain, yes?" Andy asks.

Posted: **Tue Sep 29, 2015 9:17 am**

Albert looks at Andy Only the impure, which means non-verbti, I think and even then only the most verbti of verbti can continue? he glances towards their host Am I right?

Posted: **Tue Sep 29, 2015 3:56 pm**

The man turns to Liz draining the last of the coffee from his cup. "Yes the fire is Angels, the angels are fire, but Angels not always appear like big fire, big fires not always angels" then turning to Clay Best way to not be burnt by Angels, is stand very still and do not look as though you will catch fire...is very, very difficult he says the last very slowly and with a big grin on his face. The man stands up, adjusting the large knife come sword on from where it hang on the back of his belt, tossing the dregs of coffee into the fire he stretches, so the tattoos on his chest seem to move. Turning to face Albert "Is very funny the 'most verbti of verbti', it is right though, I will remember this.

OOC: Up to this point I had assumed Andy, Alex and Lek were still in the trees

At the sound of Andy's voice he turns. "Ho another one...are there more of you out there. Dalë pula pak , dil" at which point Alex, Lek and Greg all join you in the clearing. "Is a busy, busy day, perhaps this will be my last day on the mountain hey" he says with a smile. Then stepping close to Liz "But if not...would you stay some days with me on the mountain, your end would be swift and painless and the days in between not so bad. You do not have to answer me now later after the bloodshed will be OK."

He draws the great blade from its sheath and with practised ease tosses it in the air catching it hilt first. Then finally turns back to Andy. "My english is not the best, but I think you all know what I mean." he says gesturing with the blade.

OOC: Can I have spot hidden's from everyone please. For Liz this is an Easy roll, Albert, Clay and Jacob this is a Normal roll, for Andy its Difficult.

Posted: **Tue Sep 29, 2015 4:40 pm**

Posted: **Tue Sep 29, 2015 4:43 pm**

Albert

OOC: Spot Hidden[60] [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Tue Sep 29, 2015 5:35 pm**

Clay can't see anything beyond the tatooed man drawing his blade and talking of bloodshed. He draws his pistol, "Now we didn't come up here to hurt anyone, there is no need for this."

Posted: **Tue Sep 29, 2015 6:17 pm**

Spot (1d100=5)

This is blasphemy, the practice of magic in the name of Idolatry.
Jacob says and continues with a "Shema Yisrael"
"Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one"
He calls and readies himself to draw the pistol in case of trouble

Posted: **Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:36 am**

Liz is already backing away and reaching for her shotgun. Even distracted, she notices something.

Posted: **Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:34 am**

As liz back pedals and tries to bring the shotgun to bear the man reaches out with an open hand clearly intent on grabbing a handful of clothing.

OOC: If we imagine the clearing like a clock face with the man at his centre. liz is closest (within arms reach at this point) to the centre at the 6 o'clock position, with Albert and Clay only a few feet away at at the 5 and 8 o'clock positions respectively. Jacob is standing behind Albert at the 5 o'clock and Andy, Alex and Lek are further back still at the 4:30,4,3:30 o'clock respectively please bear this in mind when/if you start shooting.

OOC: Can I have statements of intent please. People will go in the following order Clay, Jacob and Albert (simultaneously) finally Liz and Andy (simultaneously)

Posted: **Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:16 am**

OOC:

Greg?

Posted: **Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:25 am**

OOC: Andy will be moving around to get to the 3 o'clock position, where he'll get a better angle... if it looks like it'll be too risky for a shot then looking to get a club of some sort from the ground.. or as there's a camp fire, from the wood pile.

Posted: **Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:35 am**

OOC: Nice pic. Thank you. For info the distance between Andy and Jacob is about 10'

Posted: **Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:38 am**

OOC: Statement of intent

Albert will step forwards and to the left, as Liz steps back, trying to wrap his left arm around her waist and to pull her back onto him - inadvertently shielding his body with hers - but his intention is to draw her out of reach of the verbtoi's grip and sword.

As he does so he will raise is right arm to in a halt motion and say placatingly "Easy fella, I thought we were all friends here?"

Posted: **Wed Sep 30, 2015 11:51 am**

OOC: BTW Greg as an NPC is hiding in the trees (probably setting up a triage station

), he'll only really step to the fore if there is a first aid need. You probably shouldn't expect much from Alex or Lek either.

Posted: **Wed Sep 30, 2015 1:11 pm**

SAN (1d100=97)
Jacob repeats the "Shema Israel" verse as he stares on the moving tattoos, he takes out the pistol wanting to bring the act to an end. He points it to the man chest and squeeze the trigger.
First shot: Handgun (1d100=8) , Damage (1d8+1=5) - Hit.
Second shot (if needed): Second shot (1d100,1d8+1=[43], [7, 1]) - Goes wide or HIT

EDIT: If Jacob get the point blank bonus that both are a hit.

Posted: **Wed Sep 30, 2015 2:25 pm**

OOC: Right so to be clear Jacob's statement of intent will be to take out his pistol and shoot at the man twice. Jacob's isn't first to act. So whether he actually shoots or not, may depend on events occurring before he acts.

Posted: **Thu Oct 01, 2015 3:57 am**

Liz is seized with terror, but she keeps her head.

Posted: **Thu Oct 01, 2015 2:06 pm**

OOC: I'll wait a bit longer for Clays Statement of intent.

Posted: **Thu Oct 01, 2015 2:45 pm**

OOC: sorry somewhere I missed something and thought you were waiting on someone else.

Clay steps to his left to get a clear shot at the tattooed man, and takes very careful aim. "Don't be trying anything now." Clay is a bit shaken up by all the moving tattoos but not enough to sway him from his duty.

If the man is able to grab Liz's clothes I take the shot.

Posted: **Fri Oct 02, 2015 4:28 am**

Posted: **Fri Oct 02, 2015 7:19 am**

OOC: OK, so can I have:
A Parry roll if this fails then a Dodge roll from Liz.
A rifle skill roll from Clay.
Jacob I've already got his pistol rolls for those shots.
Albert a Grapple roll please.
Andy is moving to try and get a better shot.

OOC: Just to be clear, you can always dodge an attack if you chose to (within obvious limitations). But dodging an attack interrupts your turn. In Liz's case she simply wants to avoid being hit this turn. if she successfully parries, she won't need to dodge then she can continue to move away from her attacker. But if she is forced to dodge the attack her turn effectively ends there. Naturally, she could choose not to dodge, gambling on the fact she's still able to complete her actions afterwards. So to be clear, If a dodge interrupts you statement of intent then it effectively ends you actions got the turn.

OOC: Remember, all bullets have to go somewhere. At the point a bullet misses the targeting it no longer has a man's name on it, it's simply addressed "to whom it may concern".

Posted: **Fri Oct 02, 2015 10:18 am**

Posted: **Fri Oct 02, 2015 3:29 pm**

OOC: Clay would definitely have a pistol over a rifle?

Either way if the Tattooed man tries to grab her he takes the shot. I'm assuming point blank range.
That hits with a pistol and definitely misses if he was an idiot and brought a rifle.

Posted: **Fri Oct 02, 2015 3:33 pm**

OOC: Yes my bad Clay has a Norico Type-59, you did say you were after a pistol.

OOC: OK just waiting for Mr Handy's die rolls for Liz, then I'll describe the events for round 1. As soon as that is done there may be some additional rolls for you to make then we'll go straight to statements of intent for round 2.

Posted: **Sat Oct 03, 2015 4:12 am**

Liz shrieks as the Verbetoi reaches out to grab her, unable to bring up her shotgun in time to block him or to move away quickly enough.

Posted: **Sat Oct 03, 2015 1:42 pm**

Clay steps to the side as Albert reaches out with his arm to grab Liz but the man is moving insanely fast and before he can grab her there is a muffled shriek and Liz finds herself flying through the air. The man then spins to face Clay just as Clay brings up the Norico up and puts a round into the man's centre mass, with no noticeable effect. At the same time Jacob put a shot into the man's back also with no noticeable effect his second round goes wild as the man moves towards Clay.

At the outer edge Andy runs around to his right as he tries to get a clear shot to the dismay of Alex and Lek.

Liz is bruised and prone (she has to get up) before she can act but is largely uninjured.

OOC: Can I have a luck roll from Jacob please.

Posted: **Sat Oct 03, 2015 2:40 pm**

Seeing the first shot didn't slow him down, maybe a 2nd one will. He fires again, hoping for better luck.

OOC: another hit, but something is telling me these aren't doing anything to him.

Posted: **Sat Oct 03, 2015 11:06 pm**

Liz had been afraid that the Verbetoi had intended to take her hostage and use her as a shield, and she is somewhat relieved that he had merely flung her aside. "Liz fall down go boom," she mumbles, dizzy and disoriented, as she struggles to regain her feet. "Run!" she calls when she sees that bullets have no effect. "He can't leave the area!"

Posted: **Sun Oct 04, 2015 8:33 am**

OOC: Liz would have no idea the bullets don't seem to be slowing the man down, she was flying though the air at the time

2x LUCK rolls from Jacob please.

Then statements of intent from everyone. If you do, do die rolls just leave it at that, you wont know whether you've actually succeeded until everything has played out.

The clock picture/analogy hasn't changed much Liz has now moved further out, Andy has moved to the 3 o'clock position.

Posted: **Sun Oct 04, 2015 2:50 pm**

Luck (1d100=19)
Second Luck (1d100=28)

God save us!
Jacob calls out

Posted: **Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:42 pm**

Play@YSDC

CH3-03 Photo Recognition

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