Play@YSDC

Tuesday, October 17, 1933
Melbourne, Australia


Pictured above, Victoria Docks in Melbourne, Australia

After six days in Melbourne, the expedition is ready to set sail. The new equipment is aboard, and the latest weather reports are promising. The police have given their consent to let the Gabrielle go on its way. Expedition team members are instructed to be back aboard ship by midnight on October 17th.


Loading of the SS Gabrielle at Victoria Docks

The final provisions and crated equipment are loaded in the early evening. The activity is reminiscent of New York City. Professor Moore is everywhere with his clipboard, watching and worrying. For once, the expedition members have the luxury of leaning on the rail, simply watching.

As they take their ease, three battered autos come speeding up to the berth, disgorging a dozen reporters and photographers. As if on queue, with lots of gestures and shouts, James Starkweather collars a couple of dockhands and urges them on to more rapidly load the ship. In between directing the loading, Starkweather strikes poses for the photographers and feeds the press whatever it seems to want to hear.

Once the loading of the ship seems well under way, Starkweather makes his way up the gangway. Stopping at the top to give the reporters a farewell salute, he shouts, "Thank you, lads! We'll be back in a few months!"

The S.S. Gabrielle looses her lines and slips free of the dock at 3:30 a.m. under command of a local pilot. The trip to the open ocean is uneventful. Passing through the Rip, a small launch pulls away from the Queenscliff and follows after the Gabrielle. Safely through the passage and in the open ocean, the pilot takes his leave, and returns to the lighthouse aboard the launch.


With a blast of the whistle Captain Vredenburgh turns the Gabrielle to the south--and the Ice.

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Job. (the tortured one)

Finally...
Father Rucker says to no one in particular as he gazes at the land getting away and away from them.

Katie looks back at the port as it dwindles in the distance, wondering if she'll ever see civilization again. While she has every confidence that she'll succeed, she knows how dangerous this can be even if she makes no mistakes. Then she looks forward, across the sea towards the unknown and unexplored. The thrill of impending discovery gives her a tingle.

It will a while Katie ...
The priest says as he too looks to the horizon

Martin takes a sombre photograph of the dwindling port; an inversion has blanketed the harbour smoke in a severe line across the view, seemingly underlining the seriousness of their undertaking. He then turns and captures a candid image of the priest and Miss Wright together, lost in their own thoughts of what lies ahead of them. He takes a third picture just of Katie, realising for the first time, that her strong character made her quite beautiful; a strong profile outlined against the horizon and her eyes alive with the thought of adventure.

He shuts the camera up. "Lets hope for a swift and safe voyage to the ice."

"Amen to that, right, Father?" says Katie with a smile. "Just imagine if Captain Cook could see us now. He discovered Australia, but we're going farther than he ever dreamed possible."

Øyvind sees the expedition members gathering looking at the horizon small talking by themselves. 'I miss the Ice and cold, we are going to to good over there im pretty sure' 'Ive been wondering if we find bears there, those animal are splendid i tell you' Øyvind stares first at Australia as it disappears then takes a deep breath and turns his head towards the Ice. 'My father once told me that it was his dream to visit the south pole. He died years ago... I think he would be proud of me' Øyvind smiles and walks towards the dog deck as he thinks he heard them fighting again.

Anatomist wrote:

Øyvind sees the expedition members gathering looking at the horizon small talking by themselves. 'I miss the Ice and cold, we are going to to good over there im pretty sure' 'Ive been wondering if we find bears there, those animal are splendid i tell you' Øyvind stares first at Australia as it disappears then takes a deep breath and turns his head towards the Ice. 'My father once told me that it was his dream to visit the south pole. He died years ago... I think he would be proud of me' Øyvind smiles and walks towards the dog deck as he thinks he heard them fighting again.

'No bears over there Øyvind' 'polar bears only exits in the northern hemisphere' George says to the tall Norwegian walking towards the dog sounds not sure if the man heard him.

'I hope we all make it back safe and sound, God knows that this mission is areal challenge' 'we are one hundred present relying in exceptional teamwork' 'Ill do my part i assure you all'

8:00 a.m. (ship time) – Wednesday, October 18, 1933
Pacific Ocean
Calm and clear. Sea calm with small swell. Perfect weather.

That morning, Professor Moore holds an expedition team meeting in the officer's lounge. A map of South Polar waters hangs from the wall behind him.


Referring to a sheaf of papers on his clipboard, he says, "I have here the weather news. The reports are both good and bad, but they are in fact what we were hoping for.

"It says there that spring in the far south has been extremely stormy, and that it is likely to continue that way for the next few weeks. That means two things. We are likely to meet very bad weather soon, possibly a lot of it; but it also means that the polar pack ice will be pushed out early from the Ross Sea. This last is very important indeed, for once the pack has been pushed out, we can push our own way in.

"It may have occurred to some of you that we--all of us--are going south far earlier than is customary for Antarctic expeditions. That is true, and it is a gamble. It is, however, a gamble that the Miskatonic University Expedition also made three years ago. What was successful for them will, I hope, succeed for us as well. By proceeding early into the teeth of the storm, so to speak, we gain valuable time in Antarctica. I hope to make good use of that time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

"We're also in a race," says Katie, "so that's another reason to get there sooner. A little competition might spur us on to even greater achievements."

"Hopefully we have left the competition standing." Martin grins, imagining a Punch-style cartoon of them still asleep in their Melbourne beds.

"Sir, will we be sailing into the interior as far as we can or landing on the ice as soon as possible and continuing on foot?"

Mr. Handy wrote:"We're also in a race," says Katie, "so that's another reason to get there sooner. A little competition might spur us on to even greater achievements."

Aine wrote:"Hopefully we have left the competition standing." Martin grins, imagining a Punch-style cartoon of them still asleep in their Melbourne beds.

Professor Moore clears his throat and responds, "Yes, well, the Commander received a report that the Lexington Expedition arrived in Tasmania ten days ago. We're not certain, but we expect that they left port a few days ago, after a week of resupply. Hopefully, we've not lost much time.

"Our planned course has us entering the ice pack due north of Cape Adare, here," he pauses to point to the map, "and proceeding southward through the Ross Sea to Ross Island, where we shall make landfall. Whether this is possible depends upon the ice, of course. We will enter the pack where it seems safest, and improvise from there."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

aine wrote:"Sir, will we be sailing into the interior as far as we can or landing on the ice as soon as possible and continuing on foot?"

"Yes Martin, depending on conditions, I expect that we'll disembark onto the Ross Ice Shelf near Mount Erebus, which is as far south as one can ever get. We'll then set up a base camp on the shelf and use teams of dog sleds to lay supply caches of food and fuel, leapfrogging one another, in advance of the aeroplane flights which will take the expedition team to the Lake Campsite."

Moore traces a line on the map with his finger from the Ross Ice Shelf across the interior of the continent to an area labeled the "Victoria Quadrant". "The Lake Site is approximately one thousand miles distant from the Ross Ice shelf."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one).

"If we had a catapult device like some Navy ships do," says Katie, "I could launch in a plane and do some aerial scouting before we make landfall. But then there's the problem of where to land - though that wouldn't be an issue with a seaplane."

Mr. Handy wrote:"If we had a catapult device like some Navy ships do," says Katie, "I could launch in a plane and do some aerial scouting before we make landfall. But then there's the problem of where to land - though that wouldn't be an issue with a seaplane."

The Professor chuckles at Katie's remark. "Yes, that would certainly help in establishing our base camp, Miss Wright. We wouldn't want to erect our sheds on a layer of ice covering a deep crevasse. From the air, you'd see the ice breaks and discolorations that signal a crevasse, but from the ground..." He shakes his head.

"Unfortunately," he says with a smile, "an aeroplane catapult was not on my packing list."

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Job. (The tortured one)

"We'll have to remember for next time, then," says Katie with a grin.

8:15 a.m. (ship time) – Wednesday, October 18, 1933
Pacific Ocean
Calm and clear. Sea calm with small swell. Perfect weather.

The Professor closes by saying, "If all goes well, we shall be set up on the Antarctic continent less than a month from today. If luck is with us, it could be much sooner than that."

...

12:00 p.m. (ship time) – Sunday, October 22, 1933
Pacific Ocean
Sear rougher, rising steadily. Sky deep gray, sun dim and pale. Wind W 20-25 mph.
Noon position 157 degrees 15' E, 53 degrees 21' S

Over the next four days, the ship pushes southward nearly a thousand miles into the cold gray sea. Winds shift hourly, are bitterly cold and at times quite fierce. The ship pitches and rolls, thrumming in the heavy swells. Those who suffer from seasickness are miserable throughout this period--the relentless heaving of the deck makes life a quiet hell.



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Job. (the tortured one)

Having long since acquired her sea legs, Katie manages to withstand the terrible weather. She occupies herself for most of the time in her cabin, studying and exercising.

George Barrow having informed himself about the hard sea affront the next time had stored all his equipment back to the boxes, making sure all the glass equipment where safely stored away. His sea legs where god enough to not make him vomit at every turn, nut the Professor would occasionally bee seen at the toilets emptying his stomach.

As usual, Øyvind stayed with his dogs, caring and making them feel comfortable. He spent many days cleaning dog puke of the cages.

Father Paul Rucker offers anyone a divine support and a talk about biology.
In the rest of his time he lies in his cabin, reading books

5:00 a.m. (ship time) – Monday, October 23, 1933
Pacific Ocean
Wind rises to nearly 50 mph with higher gusts from WSW, very heavy seas and water over the rail.

In the early morning hours of the 23rd of October, the barometer plummets. A fierce gale sweeps in from the west and by five o'clock the wind is blowing in gusts of up to fifty miles an hour. Captain Vredenburgh turns the ship to run with the storm, but for several hours the Gabrielle is at the mercy of wind and wave, tossed from peak to trough by the fury of the elements.

The passengers are taken on the wildest roller coaster ride of their lives, but it is not one that they enjoy. More than half of the expedition is helpless with nausea. Those who remain upright have difficulty even walking on the deck, so fierce is the ship's pitching motion. Small, unsecured objects clatter and roll about the passenger areas. Investigators who are lucky enough to be up and about are sent at once to make certain the cargo and the equipment in the labs does not get loose and smash itself against the walls.


Oil painting by Ivan Aivazovsky

Noon position 161 degrees 20' E, 55 degrees 6' S

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Job. (the tortured one)

OOC,Is this a cool painting or what?

Katie makes her way carefully to Tweendeck Hold Two to check on the planes, her natural agility making it possible for her to get across the rolling deck - though even then, it isn't easy. Her life is going to depend on those aircraft, and she wants to make extra certain that they aren't damaged.

Father Rucker prays for god to ease their voyage.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie makes her way carefully to Tweendeck Hold Two to check on the planes, her natural agility making it possible for her to get across the rolling deck - though even then, it isn't easy. Her life is going to depend on those aircraft, and she wants to make extra certain that they aren't damaged.

Katie reaches the hatch to tweendeck two, but only after suffering bruises from a nasty fall and slide across the main deck as the Gabrielle listed forty-five degrees to starboard. At the bottom of her slide, she plunged into seawater that swamped the lower portion of the main deck and, if not for grasping a rope along the side rail, she would've surely been washed overboard and lost at sea.

Soaking wet and shivering, she unlocked the hatch and climbed down out of the storm and into the hold. The hanging lightbulbs swung like pendulums, throwing crazy shadows across the stored aircraft and crates. The rolling ship often sent Katie dancing about the tweendeck, but she confirmed the secure condition of the aircraft and returned over an hour later, exhausted, to the safety of the ship's main superstructure.

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Job. (the tortured one)

6:50 p.m. (ship time) – Monday, October 23, 1933
Pacific Ocean

Shortly before 7pm, the fierce wind dies and the black wall of clouds to the west dissolves suddenly. Everyone on board is treated to a magnificent sunset, banners of orange and green and gold fusing and chasing one another across the lowering sky. It is a wonderful surprise ending to a memorable day. The Gabrielle turns south once more.

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Job. (the tortured one)

Katie smiles as she stands on the deck with her hands on the rail, admiring the sight. "That alone makes everything we went through today worth it," she says.

George

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie smiles as she stands on the deck with her hands on the rail, admiring the sight. "That alone makes everything we went through today worth it," she says.

'My stomach respectfully disagrees Katie' George says 'but indeed this is a magnificent frame.'

6:32 a.m. (ship time) – Tuesday, October 24, 1933
Pacific Ocean
Cold and clear. Wind SW 20-25 mph. Good progress made.
Noon position 163 degrees 57' E, 57 degrees 47' S

Dawn on the 24th of October breaks clear and cold, with bitter wind sweeping in from the south carrying the chill of the polar ice. Ice rime builds up on lines and railings. After the rough ride of the previous day, the ocean seems smooth as glass. The ship makes excellent progress in moderate seas.


Captain Vredenburgh orders the crew to rig for foul weather, knowing that yesterday's storm will not be the last. Heavy lines are rigged fore and aft along the deck, to be used as handholds and guides when needed, and much loose equipment is stowed. The ship continues south.

...

6:35 a.m. (ship time) – Wednesday, October 25, 1933
Fog hit hard shortly after midnight.
Noon position 165 degrees 4' E, 60 degrees 17' S

Daybreak on October 25th brings with it a weird shadowy world. The ship pushes forward at reduced speed through thick freezing fog. Rime thickens on all exposed surfaces, frost points grow across ports and windows, and the deck becomes slick and dangerous. The captain reduces speed once, then a second time, as visibility drops.


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Job. (the tortured one)

"It's like we're entering another world," says Katie. "Commander Starkweather won't be pleased that we have to slow down, but there's no avoiding it. At least our competition will be similarly affected."

Covering him self wit an heavy coat Father Rucker enjoys a walk in the cold air.
We are near, I'm so excited.

Mr. Handy wrote:"It's like we're entering another world," says Katie. "Commander Starkweather won't be pleased that we have to slow down, but there's no avoiding it. At least our competition will be similarly affected."

Royya wrote:Covering him self wit an heavy coat Father Rucker enjoys a walk in the cold air.
We are near, I'm so excited.

Pierce Albemarle, the ship's meteorologist, leans against the railing near you and comments, "Yes, it came to me with strong force how we appreciate things by contrast. Comparing last night's inspiringly beautiful sunset and today's, haunting tranquil fog after the violent storm that we suffered; it does indeed seem as though we've emerged into something quite new and alien."

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Job. (the tortured one)

"We've explored so much of the world," comments Katie, "but Antartica is one of the last untouched frontiers. People have been there on previous expeditions, but it's such a vast place, and nobody has ever set foot in the part where we're heading, past the mountains. I'm just imagining what it will be like to see it from above, for the first time."

Mr. Handy wrote:"We've explored so much of the world," comments Katie, "but Antarctica is one of the last untouched frontiers. People have been there on previous expeditions, but it's such a vast place, and nobody has ever set foot in the part where we're heading, past the mountains. I'm just imagining what it will be like to see it from above, for the first time."

"Yes!" exclaims Pierce. "This is what I've been waiting for since my days in college. We are explorers of the unknown and will be remembered in scientific journals."

*An hour later, the team sights the first sentinel of the Antarctic--a lone tabular iceberg. It is presently succeeded by others, in increasing quantities, until at last they form an endless procession, stretching as far as the eye could see. They make a striking scene in the half-mist, and the mind suggests fantastic shapes bearing relationship to sculptured forms and faces, some subtly disturbing. There is little time to spare for day-dreaming just then, though, for the meteorologist bears news that the barometer has started to drop with bewildering speed, and the sea develops a long, sustained roll.

The captain turns east, to avoid an isolated section of the flat pack ice dead ahead and makes some distance in this direction before turning back west. The Gabrielle thus slips in behind the smaller pack while the larger pack lies somewhere due south, over the horizon. The race against time--and the weather--was begun.

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Job. (the tortured one)

* Excerpted with minor edits from "Little America" by Admiral Richard Byrd

Katie sets to work with whatever tasks she is assigned, her strength and endurance standing her in good stead as the weather worsens.

Martin stands at the rail, weak and shivering. He's been in his cabin too ill to move for days and has ventured on deck to find himself in a transformed world. "I just don't believe it; they're so huge!" He watches the monstrous icebergs slide by on the oily swell and realises the weather is to take a turn for the worse again. "Sacrebleu, I don't know how much of this I can take." He steps back inside and returns with his camera to take some photographs while he still can.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie sets to work with whatever tasks she is assigned, her strength and endurance standing her in good stead as the weather worsens.

Katie is assigned to scrape ice from the decks alongside a number of her expedition colleagues. She hears more grumbles from her team members than from the icebergs rubbing against one other.

aine wrote:Martin stands at the rail, weak and shivering. He's been in his cabin too ill to move for days and has ventured on deck to find himself in a transformed world. "I just don't believe it; they're so huge!" He watches the monstrous icebergs slide by on the oily swell and realises the weather is to take a turn for the worse again. "Sacrebleu, I don't know how much of this I can take." He steps back inside and returns with his camera to take some photographs while he still can.

By sunset the ship has passed close by a dozen bergs and Martin captures images aplenty. He spies a huge old glacial table, weathered and crumbling, its sides undercut in a hundred caves from the working of wind and water, balanced precariously atop its submerged base.


One of the floes is a deep greenish black, its back riding high above the waterline and half again as long as the ship.


6:32 a.m. (ship time) – Thursday, October 26, 1933
Pacific Ocean
Heavy snow in early morning followed by still clear dawn.
Noon position 167 degrees 44' E, 63 degrees 50' S

By morning on the 26th, the promised storm has not arrived. The ship veers southward once more, in flurries of heavy snow, past widely scattered ice floes. Shortly after noon the barometer plummets further. Within an hour it has fallen lower than any of the scientists have ever seen before. A solid wall of black clouds pours from the southwest with breathtaking speed, falling on the ship in a wave of howling wind and spray.

The vessel is caught in the grip of a terrible storm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Iceberg Photo Note,I desaturated the color in the photo of the green iceberg, but couldn't resist leaving some color in even though there was no color photography in the 1930's. I also tried changing the photo to pure black-and-white, but the end result wasn't nearly as interesting.

Katie does what she can to assist the sailors and help prepare the ship to weather the storm.

Martin takes two rolls of the monsters, wishing he could capture the eery green colour. When the storm arrives, he scurries back to his cabin and ties himself into his bed.

Vicious gusts clutch at the booms and wires, hammer open doors, and threaten to tear away wood and canvas covers before they can be battened down. Immense waves rise high overhead, crashing down across the decks with hollow thundering booms. The wind has an ominous sound and is noticeably rising with every hour.

The Gabrielle shudders with every attack, heeling and plunging deep into the gray Antarctic waters. Men suffer and struggle in the engine room and on the bridge, trying desperately to bring her bow around before the ship is torn apart by the force of the storm. It is all but impossible to stand; walking without handholds is out of the question.

All around, the air is full of the screams and groans of the tortured ship as its metal plates are stressed in every direction at once. Above decks the rain sweeps in horizontally from the south, carrying with it hail and sleet that scours flesh and shatters glass. The dogs, helpless in their cages aft, scream and howl in terrified confusion, adding to the cacophony above.



The storm does not cease. Time seems distorted, composed of seconds individually endured until they merge into minutes and minutes finally grow into hours. And through it all there is the voice of the wind, shrieking as you have never heard it shriek before in all your lives. Again and again, the bow disappears beneath the wall of waves. Time after time watery hammer-blows slam against the superstructure and cover the bridge windows in rime.

Below decks, expedition members huddle miserably in the lounges or in their cabins, clutching bowls and basins and moaning in distress. The ship's galley is awash with water from pots swept off the stove, but the cook and his messboys struggle to prepare a hot meal for those most hardy of souls who are able to fight the weather.

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Job. (the tortured one)

.Katie endures being at the mercy of the elements. She is used to the freedom of flight, not being confined in cramped quarters, but she makes the most of it. Trusting in her stomach's fortitude, she intends to eat that hot meal once it's ready.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie endures being at the mercy of the elements. She is used to the freedom of flight, not being confined in cramped quarters, but she makes the most of it. Trusting in her stomach's fortitude, she intends to eat that hot meal once it's ready.

Despite the difficulties, the cook's team serves an excellent meal of soup, boiled beef, potatoes, stewed tomatoes, and pudding.

OOC Constitution Check Needed,Due to the ferocious weather, [u]all[/u] investigators must make a constitution check to help with the ship's troubles--see text that follows below the spoiler section in this post. Anyone who does not have their "Sea Legs" (see your character sheet) must roll d100 vs. CON X1. Any character who has their "Sea Legs" roll d100 vs. CON X 3.

Matters are decidedly serious. All hands are called out to make fast all crates and gear on the main deck with double lashings. From time to time, the ship rolls her sides under, but not enough green water has come aboard so far to cause serious damage. It is hazardous work, however, moving about the deck in the confusion of the cargo, for there is always the thought that a crate or box that offers lee might in a moment be torn loose from its fastenings and become a Juggernaut.

Just after 6 p.m., a terrible tearing crash is heard from somewhere forward as the bow of the ship slams downward into a trough. The crash is repeated moments later, and then again a third time as the Gabrielle heels and slews.

6:12 p.m. (ship time) – Thursday, October 26, 1933
Pacific Ocean
Barometer crashes. Winds 60+ mph SSW.

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Job. (the tortured one)

.Amazing
Father Rucker says as he stares at the floating icebergs.
It was worth the trip.

Smiles turns to agony and depress as the strom is approaching and the priest ties himself to the bed as the others. When he is called to help, he is more then happy to give a hand.

CON roll (1d100=49)

.Katie manages to tough it out, her health and stamina as solid as ever. She cheerfully sets to work helping to secure the cargo. When she hears the crashes, she makes her way over using the handholds.

royya wrote:Smiles turns to agony and depress as the storm is approaching and the priest ties himself to the bed as the others. When he is called to help, he is more then happy to give a hand.

Ruckers Seasickness roll,[url=http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4243160/]CON roll (1d100=49)[/url] Hi Roy. Please see my note in the "Player Action" thread asking a couple of questions about your most recent skill rolls. Also note that you should roll 1d100 vs. Spot Hidden skill to see if Father Rucker has attained his "Sea Legs". However, Father Rucker's constitution is 14 and, even if he had his "Sea Legs, he would've needed a roll of 42 or less to avoid seasickness.

Unfortunately, Father Rucker has succumbed to seasickness from the violent storm and is incapacitated.

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Job. (the torturing one)

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie manages to tough it out, her health and stamina as solid as ever. She cheerfully sets to work helping to secure the cargo. When she hears the crashes, she makes her way over using the handholds.

Katie opens the superstructure's hatch door that leads to the main deck and it is ripped from her hands by the fierce wind, slamming against the outside metal wall of the superstructure with a resounding "Boom!" Outside is black as night and the wind whips spray and hail across the open doorway, tearing at her clothing and sucking her towards the opening. The roaring of the storm is deafening. The hallway's light throws feeble illumination that barely extends 3 feet beyond the hatchway, but Katie can see that a thick sheen of ice coats every surface, including a large coil of rope piled on the deck near the door.

Katie's arm is then grabbed by someone behind her who is yelling above the noise, "Whoa there, missy! Where are you going? And certainly you're not planning to go out there on your own!" She turns and sees that shes being held by Peter Sykes, one of the expedition's polar guides.


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Job. (the tortured one)

Katie smiles. "Thank you, Mr. Sykes!" she shouts to be heard above the wind. "I appreciate the help. I heard some loud crashing noises towards the bow, so I was going to go see what the problem is and fix it. Judging by the sound this one just made, it could be an unsecured hatch."

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie smiles. "Thank you, Mr. Sykes!" she shouts to be heard above the wind. "I appreciate the help. I heard some loud crashing noises towards the bow, so I was going to go see what the problem is and fix it. Judging by the sound this one just made, it could be an unsecured hatch."

A violent lurch of the ship sends both Sykes and Miss Wright stumbling backwards into the wall opposite the open hatchway. Sykes catches his balance and lunges to the opening, grabbing the metal frame with one hand while reaching out and pulling on the hatch door with his other, but the gale force wind prevents him from closing it more than halfway. His one foot slips on the iced decking and he falls to his knee, grunting and struggling with the hatch door that threatens to pull him from the corridor into the storm.

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Job. (the tortured one)

Katie helps Sykes with the hatch, straining to maintain her balance while lending her considerable strength to the effort .

It was a terrific struggle for the two expedition team members to pull the door closed against the wind, and it left both breathing hard and bent with exhaustion. Peter looks up at Katie and says, "We'll need to be very careful in that storm. We'll need helpers and we should tie every member to another. And we'll need crampons for the ice."

He smiles weakly at Katie and thanks her for her help.

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Job. (the tortured one)

"You're welcome." says Katie, grinning back, "and yes, you're right. I need to stop and think before I act sometimes. Let's go get them."

.Martin is woken by the horrendous crash and he wonders if these will be his last few moments alive. "Merde, and to feel so sick too." He groans and then retches into the bucket he has tied to the bunk. He is too weak to leave his bed and waits for the end.

Withing a few minutes, Katie and Peter gather four additional crew members:

Paco Guerini


Enke Fiskarson


Vittorio Luizzi


and Gunnar Sorensen.

While the Gabrielle rolls and bounces, the six of you equip your gear in the Ship's Mess.

"Are you sure of this, Senor?," Paco asks. Just then, a wrenching, tearing sound is not only heard, it is felt through the ship's hull. He exclaims, "Madre de Dios!"

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Job (the tortured one)

"I think that answers your question," says Katie. "We'd better get moving and check it out before the damage gets worse. I'm ready when you are, gentlemen."

Opening that hatch and stepping out onto the main deck of the S.S. Gabrielle is like stepping into a violent nightmare. The roaring wind tears at you and threatens to pluck you from the deck. Hailstones and rain are whipped about with such stinging force that it's difficult to keep your eyes open to even look across the deck. Peter Sykes lashes each crewmember to another as you exit the hatch into the maelstrom. The fearless Gunnar Sorensen grimly takes the lead.

The ship is tossed about like a toy; one moment, you are sliding across the main deck as it tilts at an incredibly steep angle and the next moment, the deck drops out beneath you as you find yourself plummeting down to land in a crunching, groaning heap at the bottom of the wave's trough. The only things that keep you from being swept into the sea are the guide lines on the deck and the one-inch thick rope that binds you to your teammates.

There is no time to string lights. Your electric torch casts a feeble light while you work your way to the hold. Flying ice and spray make the flashlight beams solid columns of white against the darkness. All about you, the monster roars and thrashes.

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Job. (the tortured one)

After what seems like an eternity of struggle, you finally see your goal, as freezing water washes knee-deep against the superstructure and cargo hatch with every breaking wave.

Gunnar drops to the deck and fumbles momentarily with the keys as the ship tilts crazily, and you hear loud metal banging and screeching from below. Something large is rampaging within the tweendeck hold. Gunnar waves at you to help him lift the hatch.

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Job. (the tortured one)

Katie carefully makes her way over to the hatch, struggling through the biting wind, where she lends her considerable strength to help Gunnar lift it.

The moment that you descend the ladder into the hold, you hear thumping and tearing rumbles within the dark tweenhold. You seem to have escaped the howling monster above only to confront an enraged, stomping behemoth of some sort below. Worse, the thin oily scent of kerosene fills the air.

Shadows dance hugely in your torch's low glow. The damage, seen in the dim light, is horrifying. Two of the four great engines belonging to the Boeing aircraft have broken free of their straps and are loose within the chamber. With each pitch and shift of the ship they roll and bound about the compartment like giant bowling balls. The remnants of their crates are wooden shards scattered about the floor.

Everything in the hold shows the scars left by the careening motors. The remaining two engines are still secure, but their crates are are battered and crushed. The boxes containing the wings of the plane are dimpled and crushed by the engine's passage in several places, and the plane itself shows huge dents and gaping rents in its belly and along the fuselage. The pallet of kerosene tins that was secured against one bulkhead is smashed and askew; liquid from the crumpled containers is sloshing across the deck with each tilt of the ship.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job.

.Oh, my poor baby! thinks Katie, her heart wrenching at the sight of the damage to the aircraft. "We need to secure those engines and contain the kerosene spill," she says.

.Martin leans over and retches into the bucket but there is nothing left to heave. Weakly, he lies back in the darkness, listening to the cacophony around him.

.George spends his time i his Laboratory trying to keep the crates from hitting each other too hard.

.Øyvind at tweendeck 5 stays with his dogs even he think he might hear some strange "thumps" trough the ship hull.

Mr. Handy wrote:Oh, my poor baby! thinks Katie, her heart wrenching at the sight of the damage to the aircraft. "We need to secure those engines and contain the kerosene spill," she says.

Gunnar carefully made his way down the ladder, stepped off onto the deck, and continued for some time to maintain a strong grip on the ladder rungs to stay upright as the ship swayed. His gaze never fell from the rolling engines. When finally the ship tilted away from the ladder area and the juggernauts bounced off to smash into the far hull, he grabbed straps and crates to pull himself along the wall, away from the ladder. "Come!" He yelled to Vittorio, the expedition member lowest on the ladder. "We must capture them!"


Vittorio slowly lowered himself down and as he touched his foot to the tweendeck floor, the ship tilted forward to send the aircraft engines tumbling down along the opposite wall into a corner, breaking apart a number of crates in their path. Vittorio was visibly shaking and crouching against the ladder. Gunnar yelled once more, "VITTORIO! You must help!"

Gunnar looked at Katie who was just above Vittorio, and Peter Sykes above Katie. With grim determination, Gunnar turned and continued pulling himself along the wall towards a rope net that hung on cleats.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

."If you won't help, at least get out of the way!" says Katie. She tries to lower herself around him to the deck if she can do so safely.

.Father Rucker stays in his room, praying for the crew member's lives

aine wrote:Martin leans over and retches into the bucket but there is nothing left to heave. Weakly, he lies back in the darkness, listening to the cacophony around him.

The torturous heaving and rolling of the ship seem to go on, and on, and on, and Martin is but one member of a chorus of nearby team members who are singing the blues.

Anatomist wrote:Laboratory trying to keep the crates from hitting each other too hard.

Anatomist wrote:Øyvind at tweendeck 5 stays with his dogs even he think he might hear some strange "thumps" trough the ship hull.

Each of these men find themselves very busy within the tossed vessel as shifting boxes and equipment work loose from their restraints to tumble about. Being hit by a thrown item is a constant danger. Preventing damage to the equipment or injury to the dogs is a sleepless, nigh impossible, task.

OOC to Anatomist,Anatomist, if you'd like you are free to write any harrowing tales about how George or Øyvind avoid getting crushed by boxes or how they save a dog or important piece of scientific equipment. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Mr. Handy wrote:"If you won't help, at least get out of the way!" says Katie. She tries to lower herself around him to the deck if she can do so safely.

With a flustered look up at Katie, Vittorio slowly, very carefully shuffles to one side.

Meanwhile, Gunnar has succeeded in pulling a rope net from its wall moorings and is now scrambling amongst the debris towards the engines in the corner, similar to how you might expect a lion tamer to approach one of his large, angry misbehaving cats.

OOC,Once Katie sets foot on the tweendeck floor, please make a DEX roll (to avoid slipping on the kerosene-slick floor) and a LUCK roll (to avoid getting into the path of a careening motor). These will only be needed this first round and every 5 rounds thereafter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

.Katie descends the rest of the way to the deck and makes her way over towards the nearest net. While an ordinary person would have slipped on the spilled kerosene, Katie's natural grace helps her stay on her feet. Luckily, she is not in the path of either engine.

.In tweendeck 5 the noise levels are trough the roof. The dogs shifting between angry bark and sounds only a scared animal can make its not helped by the fact that there are a few waterbarrels and a lose cage hitting the walls of the tweendeck.

Øyvind falls and slides across the tweendeck floor for the 10th time trying to go from cage to cage to replace the vomited and shited hay in the dogs cages.'Forbannet du være Gud, la hundene mine slippe dette helvete!' he yells to the roof cursing God for letting his dogs go through this hellish experience.
At the end of the cage row he can see the last cage in the dim light, and the dog inside is awkwardly silent and calm. 'God no, dont punish me and my loud mouth, Rasken has no fault in this'

'thump', 'thump' a noise travels trough the ship hull

As Øyvind closes in he can see that the cage is dripping with blood. Rasken's skull is split in two where his head had hit the cage bar... Øyvind takes Rasken out of his cage, sits down hugging the dog and prays intensely for the storm to calm down.





'thump', 'thump' a noise travels trough the ship hull....

royya wrote:Father Rucker stays in his room, praying for the crew member's lives

The priest's prayers are swallowed by loud, intermittent groanings and crashes and thumps from the ship. Water is everywhere, sloshing down the hallways and dripping from every crack and opening.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job.

Job wrote:Gunnar has succeeded in pulling a rope net from its wall moorings and is now scrambling amongst the debris towards the engines in the corner, similar to how you might expect a lion tamer to approach one of his large, angry misbehaving cats.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie descends the rest of the way to the deck and makes her way over towards the nearest net. While an ordinary person would have slipped on the spilled kerosene, Katie's natural grace helps her stay on her feet. Luckily, she is not in the path of either engine.

The Gabrielle suddenly slides sideways and plunges down. Gunnar slips on kerosene and falls to the tilted deck, but manages to hang onto his net which is caught on a corner of a crate. Katie is near enough to reach for the polar guide, but this would require another incredible feat of dexterity to successfully pull him to his feet...


Peter Sykes climbs down to the deck and takes a moment to reach out to Vittorio, asking if he's OK. His teammate nods his head and Sykes turns to begin working his way towards Katie and Gunnar.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job.

Anatomist wrote:Øyvind takes Rasken out of his cage, sits down hugging the dog and prays intensely for the storm to calm down.

Fader vår, du som er i himmelen!
Helliget vorde ditt navn;
komme ditt rike;
skje din vilje, som i himmelen, så og på jorden;
gi oss i dag vårt daglige brød;
og forlat oss vår skyld, som vi òg forlater våre skyldnere.
Led oss ikke inn i fristelse,
men fri oss fra det onde.
For riket er ditt
og makten og æren i all evighet. Amen.

'thump', 'thump' a noise travels trough the ship hull....

Even though the tweendeck's hatch is tightly secured, a loud BOOM! and crackle of thunder is heard, and felt, and the dogs all jump and yelp in unison. The mighty fury of the storm seems to be increasing as the time passes.

Confident, perhaps overconfident, in her agility, Katie reaches out to help Gunnar with one arm while gripping a support with the other. However, she is unable to stretch far enough.

Luckily, Gunnar maintains his grip on the net, and the net holds fast to the crate, during this particular drop of the S.S. Gabrielle during the storm. Everyone is slammed against the crates and walls as the ship crashes at the bottom of the wave's trough, then rights itself and begins rolling back. Gunnar takes advantage of the moment to stand and toss one end of the net to Katie and another to Peter Sykes. Behind them, Paco finishes his slide down the ladder and lands on the deck.

Pictured above, Paco Guerini, polar guide

Gunnar shouts to be heard over the howling storm, "WE NEED TO CAPTURE THE ENGINES IN THIS NET! FIRST ONE, THEN THE OTHER!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

.Katie nods, knowing she'll never be heard over the noise. She advances on the nearer of the two engines in tandem with Peter, gripping her end of the net in the hopes of trapping it.

.The shattering of the roof light bulb surprised him as it hissed and the fragment of glass fell on the lab floor. The only light now was the flickering of lightning coming in the wall scuttle. BOOM! it was almost as he could feel the sound wave hit his body. It made him sick all this stimulus together. The flickering of the light, the pressure of the air, the sound wave hitting his internal organs and the constant rolling of the ship.

In the back of the lab George Barrow doubled over has he violently vomited bile and stomach mucus, it was really not much left in his stomach, but his body tried as good it could to expel whatever it thought was in him.
Luckily for him the lab was tightly secured and every piece of equipment double padded in the boxes with hay and cotton.

He just had to clam to the chair in the backof his lab and keep that bucket between his legs.

.Father Rucker opens the door to his cabin, trying to secure it from banging and slamming.
Anyone needs my help?
He will try to shout to the first crew member he sees

.Martin listens to the noises of the storm; surely that loud booming is not from the weather. He fervently hopes the ship is not falling apart and leans over to spit bile into the bucket.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie nods, knowing she'll never be heard over the noise. She advances on the nearer of the two engines in tandem with Peter, gripping her end of the net in the hopes of trapping it.

The forenose of the Gabrielle rises upwards and tilts to portside, sending the engines slowly tumbling along the left wall towards the team, one in front of the other. This is most fortuitous, allowing Gunnar to carefully move forward and wrap his side of the net around some protrusions of the closest rolling motor, then he skips to the right of it as it rolls past towards Katie and Peter. Paco and Vittorio remain near the ladder, scanning for opportunities.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

.Katie moves to stretch out the net and secure her end of it in order to trap the engine.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie moves to stretch out the net and secure her end of it in order to trap the engine.

Peter and Katie and Gunnar capture one of the two engines within their netting, then Peter and Gunnar pull taught their sides of the net to hold it stationary. Peter shouts to Katie, "GET A ROPE AND TIE IT DOWN!" He then motions with his head toward a corner of the tweendeck floor where a coiled rope protrudes from under a pile of broken crates.

For Katie,With the constant rocking of the ship, Katie must make a DEX roll to move across the tweendeck to retrieve the rope and to secure the rope to the engine and wall cleats

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job.

Anatomist wrote:In the back of the lab George Barrow doubled over has he violently vomited bile and stomach mucus, it was really not much left in his stomach, but his body tried as good it could to expel whatever it thought was in him. Luckily for him the lab was tightly secured and every piece of equipment double padded in the boxes with hay and cotton.

He just had to clam to the chair in the back of his lab and keep that bucket between his legs.

While George keeps watch over his equipment during the storm, he often hears sounds of shifting cargo within the hold, and he's occasionally startled by something falling to the deck. Protecting his equipment is a demanding job. He's dizzy, he's nauseous, and he must investigate every sound of every movement to ensure that nothing will collapse onto his precious crates of chemicals and glassware.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

royya wrote:Father Rucker opens the door to his cabin, trying to secure it from banging and slamming.
Anyone needs my help?
He will try to shout to the first crew member he sees

All crew members who are not incapacitated by seasickness are busy moving carefully about the ship, cleaning up spills, securing any loose equipment or supplies, and making routine checks of all areas for signs of damage. They don't mention any need of help from Father Rucker and, at this time, don't know of any crewmembers who have been injured or lost. But the priest notices looks of concern about the threat from the storm--and possibly even fear--on every face he sees.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

aine wrote:Martin listens to the noises of the storm; surely that loud booming is not from the weather. He fervently hopes the ship is not falling apart and leans over to spit bile into the bucket.

Time seems to stretch on and on for Martin, and he feels absolutely awful. Each lurch and roll of the ship causes another roll and lurch of his stomach. Occasionally, a shadowy figure enters his cabin, looks to see if he's OK, then moves on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job.

.Katie nods again, certain that she's the right one for this job given her natural balance and agility. She nimbly makes her way to the rope and loops the coil about herself. Then she just as skillfully brings it back and uses it to secure the engine to the wall cleats. She beams from ear to ear, glowing from a job well done. Then she remembers that the second engine remains and looks around for another net.

.Pierce checks his meters and dials of the barometer, which becomes more and more troublesome at the increasingly unruly waters. The banging and thumping from loose cargo is not letting down. A decreased air pressure and a cold front seems to be engulfing the SS Gabrielle.

Hopefully, they all will see Friday dawn in the morning. Pierce pours yet another mug of Australian white and holds the cup in both hands. Better not spill a drop. Being drunk beats being sea sick. Yet, the sickness is purely postponed. To Alby, that's a good thing.

He's not sure if it's the wine or his stout frame of a body that keeps him up and running, from the sounds coming from the other cabins others are having trouble. He gets on his feet and grabs an extra mug and a fresh bottle of white. Exits the cabin and heads for Father Rucker's cabin. "Time to see what his god has to say about this ungodly weather.." He mutters as he balances as best as he can manage. "Better head to have a looksie at the Orgelfinger lad as well. Might have grown a pair in the process." He thinks as he reaches the priest's abode. Finding him not there, Pierce passes numerous crew members and then spots Rucker. "Oi! Feel to have a theological discussion, Father?" He lifts the bottle and waves at the expedition member.

Con-check,On the second day of the storm in September, Pierce managed to stomach the sea sickness [url]http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4601803/[/url] He managed to acquire his Sea Legs at the same time. [url]http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4601805/[/url] [color=#008000]October 25 6:12PM[/color] Con check: [url]http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4601810/[/url] Which is a pass!

Everything is a test from above.
Rucker replies
We are being tested for will and morale. keep calm and trust the lord o' mighty.
Father Rucker replies to Pierce and every crew member that pass before him.

.Paco watches raptly as the mayhem is brought under at least partial control through the heroic efforts of Gunnar and Katie. Still, one tremendous mechanical wrecking ball slid shrilly along the hold's deck threatening to flatten anyone that stumbles into it's path.

"Vittorio!" he bellows to his compatriot, "We've got to get hold of that second engine! We must find more rope!"

He scans the chaotic scene for anything of use in securing the engine.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie nods again, certain that she's the right one for this job given her natural balance and agility. She nimbly makes her way to the rope and loops the coil about herself. Then she just as skillfully brings it back and uses it to secure the engine to the wall cleats. She beams from ear to ear, glowing from a job well done. Then she remembers that the second engine remains and looks around for another net.

As if the gods were angry at Katie's defiance, the prow of the Gabrielle was suddenly shoved upwards to such a steep angle that the free engine began sliding, then rapidly tumbling towards the team. Everyone leapt aside, but Gunnar was not quick enough as the heavy engine smashed his lower leg against the ship's hull with a thunderous boom. He fell twisting to the deck, crying out, his leg remaining pinned at an odd angle.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

.Katie winces in sympathy, hurrying over to the remaining stray engine to pry it off of Gunnar's leg - and secure it while she's at it.

."Gunnar!" Paco barks, half sprinting, half sliding to where his fallen comrade lies. He lends his shoulder to trying to pry the engine off his shattered leg.

Syrinx wrote:Pierce checks his meters and dials of the barometer, which becomes more and more troublesome at the increasingly unruly waters. The banging and thumping from loose cargo is not letting down. A decreased air pressure and a cold front seems to be engulfing the SS Gabrielle.

With a sinking feeling in his stomach, Pierce realizes that he has never seen a barometer reading this low, nor has he ever heard of a barometer reading this low.

Syrinx wrote:"Better head to have a looksie at the Orgelfinger lad as well. Might have grown a pair in the process."

Pierce finds himself bouncing from one corridor wall to the other as he carefully manuevers his way down the hall. Douglas is lying on his cot, his face as pale as a sheet, mouth agape, one hand holding onto the metal bunk frame to prevent himself from falling to the floor.

Con-check,[color=#0000FF]Congratulations! Pierce has indeed gained his sea legs! [/color] :mrgreen: --Job. On the second day of the storm in September, Pierce managed to stomach the sea sickness [url]http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4601803/[/url] He managed to acquire his Sea Legs at the same time. [url]http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4601805/[/url] [color=#008000]October 25 6:12PM[/color] Con check: [url]http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4601810/[/url] Which is a pass!

jbibblesworth wrote:Paco watches raptly as the mayhem is brought under at least partial control through the heroic efforts of Gunnar and Katie.

"Vittorio!" he bellows to his compatriot, "We've got to get hold of that second engine! We must find more rope!"

The electric lamps sway crazily overhead, bouncing harsh shadows about the tweendeck. Looking into Vittorio's face, Paco and sees that the man is noticeably shaking with rainwater drops flying from his nose and chin. Vittorio hesitates, then nods his head at Paco and reluctantly releases his grip on the ladder.

jbibblesworth wrote:"Gunnar!" Paco barks, half sprinting, half sliding to where his fallen comrade lies. He lends his shoulder to trying to pry the engine off his shattered leg.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie winces in sympathy, hurrying over to the remaining stray engine to pry it off of Gunnar's leg - and secure it while she's at it.

Paco, Katie, and Vittorio all throw their weight against the motor, with Vittorio pushing his feet against the hull, and the engine moves ever so slightly--but not enough to free Gunnar's limb. Sykes is furiously wrapping one end of Katie's rope about the metal object.

One more try,Paco and Katie must make a combined strength roll to free Gunnar's leg before the ship crests its wave and sends the engine tumbling in some unwanted direction.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Katie grits her teeth as she and Paco struggle to free Gunnar's leg and keep the engine from rolling away.

OOC,I have STR 15, but I don't know what [b]Paco[/b]'s STR is or what the opposing number is.

.Paco groans loudly at the exertion and the veins on his neck stand out as tawt, pulsating cords as he strains to lift the massive hunk of machinary that traps his fallen shipmate.

OOC,OOC: Unfortunately, I'm unable to access the site that had Paco's old sheet on it from work. But I believe the old sheet was built using another system in any case. So I'm not sure what to recommend regarding Paco's STR. [color=#0000FF]Hi Jbibblesworth. Check the character sheet reference area and you'll find Paco's old sheet. His strength is listed as a 16 which is actually very good, but you'll need to first decide if you want to keep the Paco's old stats or reroll them. See my response in the OOC thread. As a general note, in the "In Character" threads, please enclose any OOC comments or dice rolls within these little spoiler buttons. This makes it easy for someone to read the text of our creative writing without the distractions of seeing the out-of-game comments. Thanks, and it's great to have you aboard! --J.[/color]

.

ooc,[url=http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4610930/]CONx2 34% (1d100=43,1d100=98, 1d100=100, 1d100=66, 1d100=49)[/url] --100 wow!

James Poole descends the ladder to the hold, urgently and with skill, like the expert climber he is. However he is gripped by ever present seasickness, and despite his desire to help retches on to the deck instead.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie winces in sympathy, hurrying over to the remaining stray engine to pry it off of Gunnar's leg - and secure it while she's at it.

jbibblesworth wrote:Paco groans loudly at the exertion and the veins on his neck stand out as tawt, pulsating cords as he strains to lift the massive hunk of machinary that traps his fallen shipmate.

Vittorio crouches down, one leg on the floor and the other against the hull, using his legs to push against the engine. He half-grunts, half-exclaims something in Italian.

For an eternal moment, the three of you heave without any seeming success, but then the ship starts to level out and you are able to push the engine, screeching in protest, along the metal decking. Gunnar collapses to the deck, clutching at his misshapen leg, rolling back and forth in obvious agony. His already-soaking-wet pant leg rapidly darkens.

And then the ship begins another groaning tilt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Katie struggles to hold the engine steady. "BRING THE ROPE, QUICK!" she shouts over the noise.

.Paco crouches towards the crippled Gunnar and then hears Katie's cry. Recognizing that the engine remains a threat so long as it remains untethered, the stalwart mountaineer bolts across the ever-shifting hold towards the cord of rope.

."NO, DON'T LET GO!" calls Katie when she sees Paco about to go for the rope. Without his strength, they won't be able to keep the engine still. "SOMEONE WHO ISN"T HOLDING THE ENGINE NEEDS TO GET IT!"

.James Poole shakes his head trying to rid himself of nausea, and then scrambles across the deck to seize the rope.

."Ah, Douglas... Have a glass, will ya? It will be better. Eh, it can't get worse, right?" Pierce pours a mug for the apprentice.

Tabs wrote:James Poole shakes his head trying to rid himself of nausea, and then scrambles across the deck to seize the rope.

For Tabs,The[i] S.S. Gabrielle[/i] is caught in the clutches of a massive hurricane, thus rendering James nearly incapacitated with seasickness. Based on the Seasickness rules, please make a DEX X 5 (12 X 5 = 60%) check at half strength = 30% to successfully scramble and seize the rope. I took the liberty of editing out this part of your previous post until you make your DEX check: "I got it, Miss Wright!" If you fail your roll, feel free to elaborate how James' terrible bout of seasickness causes him to fail his attempt. :twisted: Also, James' seasickness will affect him for d6+3 hours. You can roll the d6 if you'd like...

ooc,4622130--54% (30 needed to seize rope) and 4622311--2+3 (Seasickness)

".I got it, Miss Wright!" he thinks but James Poole, scrambling over the tilting deck, misses hold and slides upon his backside. He crumples against a bulkhead, forced into an involuntary foetal position. The sudden pressure on his tender stomach . . . he vomits over his knees, "Jesus Christ!"

jbibblesworth wrote:Paco crouches towards the crippled Gunnar and then hears Katie's cry. Recognizing that the engine remains a threat so long as it remains untethered, the stalwart mountaineer bolts across the ever-shifting hold towards the cord of rope.

Pacos Attempt,Jbibblesworth, please make a DEX X 5 roll to successfully run across the crazily-tilting deck, avoiding kerosene puddles and water puddles and fragments of crates along the way, and to grasp the flopping rope.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie struggles to hold the engine steady. "BRING THE ROPE, QUICK!" she shouts over the noise.

jbbibblesworth wrote:Paco crouches towards the crippled Gunnar and then hears Katie's cry. Recognizing that the engine remains a threat so long as it remains untethered, the stalwart mountaineer bolts across the ever-shifting hold towards the cord of rope.

Mr. Handy wrote:"NO, DON'T LET GO!" calls Katie when she sees Paco about to go for the rope. Without his strength, they won't be able to keep the engine still. "SOMEONE WHO ISN"T HOLDING THE ENGINE NEEDS TO GET IT!"

Sykes maintains his hold on the engine and shifts his body to keep the machine from moving as the Gabrielle begins a slow roll to port.



Vittorio yells something over to Katie and Peter while gripping a metal protrusion, but the howling of the storm is too loud for him to be heard; he is grimacing and bent over, his face reddening.


Meanwhile, Gunnar struggles to worm his way across the deck, away from his metal antagonist, clenching his teeth and trailing dark red stains along the flooring.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

.Cords stand out on Katie's neck and her muscles bulge as she strains to pick up the slack and keep the engine from rolling away. There is a disproportionate amount of strength packed into her normal-sized frame, but will it be enough?

Syrinx wrote:"Ah, Douglas... Have a glass, will ya? It will be better. Eh, it can't get worse, right?" Pierce pours a mug for the apprentice.

Douglas is evidently having a bit of trouble with the effects of the storm. He's lying on his bunk, pale as a ghost, moaning softly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

jbibblesworth wrote:Paco crouches towards the crippled Gunnar and then hears Katie's cry. Recognizing that the engine remains a threat so long as it remains untethered, the stalwart mountaineer bolts across the ever-shifting hold towards the cord of rope.

Paco slipped on the wet decking and landed with a thud, rolling just out of reach of the rope.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

.Paco lays prone the deck desperately gasping for the wind that was knocked out of him. He momentarily entertains the vision of himself as a fish on land, mouth alternating open and shut in a vain search for oxygen. The ludicrous scenario strikes him as funny and rouses him from his momentary stupor.

Staggering to his feet, he glances towards his original goal, the coiled rope which lays off in the distance. Steadying himself, he lunges towards the rope.

jbibblesworth wrote:Staggering to his feet, [Paco] glances towards his original goal, the coiled rope which lays off in the distance. Steadying himself, he lunges towards the rope.

He lands face-first on the deck, sliding through the kerosene and blood, and manages to grasp the end of the rope, then flips it to Katie and Peter.

Mr. Handy wrote:Cords stand out on Katie's neck and her muscles bulge as she strains to pick up the slack and keep the engine from rolling away. There is a disproportionate amount of strength packed into her normal-sized frame, but will it be enough?

Katie,You must make a DEX X 5 roll to grab the rope while trying to keep the engine stationary. If you miss, then Peter will make an attempt and there's a chance that the engine rolls free.

Nimble as usual, Katie only barely catches the end of the rope. She pulls it in and quickly uses it to try to secure the engine before it can roll free.

Mr. Handy wrote:Nimble as usual, Katie only barely catches the end of the rope. She pulls it in and quickly uses it to try to secure the engine before it can roll free.

Peter Sykes gazed in open-mouthed astonishment as Katie rocked the engine towards the bulkhead, then immediately leapt up to snatch the rope from the air and dropped back to her previous position to prevent the engine from rolling free. The effort was perfect, perhaps worthy of an olympic medal, but she failed to see the kerosene slick just underneath her that caused a slip, a slide, a spread eagle splitting of legs, and a tearing of pantaloons. The motor was secured at the cost of a woman's modesty.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Katie's cheeks turn as red as her hair. She leans against the bulkhead, turning so that the tear doesn't show, and exhales with relief. A laugh escapes her lips. "Who says having a woman aboard ship is bad luck?" she says.

Sykes shakes his head and grins, responding, "Now THAT was remarkable! It's been some time since a woman has torn her clothes apart for me!"

Katie and Peter Sykes were both reminded of the urgency of their task when Gunnar and Vittorio each groaned in pain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Job. (the tortured one)

Katie rushes over to Gunnar and tries to help with his injured leg, but it is too badly mangled and she only causes him more pain.

Pierce exits the stateroom to see where all the ruckus is. He moves towards the cargo hold, as stable as his drinks allow him to.
"Friggin´weather.."

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie rushes over to Gunnar and tries to help with his injured leg, but it is too badly mangled and she only causes him more pain.

Gunnar's face is deathly pale and bathed in sweat. He's breathing rapidly, hissing through his gritted teeth with every movement. His blood is pooling underneath him.

Both engines are now lashed down, but the destruction is considerable. Everything in the hold shows the scars left by the careening motors. The other two (of the four total) engines which were not rolling free remain secured; their crates are battered and crushed on one end, but the motors themselves are not greatly damaged. The boxes containing the wings of the plane are dimpled and crushed in several places by the engines' passage, and the plane itself shows huge dents and gaping rents in its belly and along the fuselage. The pallet of kerosene tins that was secured against one bulkhead is smashed and askew; flammable liquid spreads and sloshes across the deck with every pitch and yaw.

Sykes kneels over Gunnar and exclaims, "We need to stop the bleeding and get him to the doctor!" He whips off his belt and tightens it around Gunnar's thigh, just before everyone tumbles to starboard as the ship is viciously thrown sideways.

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Job. (the tortured one)

Syrinx wrote:Pierce exits the stateroom to see where all the ruckus is. He moves towards the cargo hold, as stable as his drinks allow him to.
"Friggin´weather.."

In his short scramble down the corridor, Pierce realizes that he may not be agile enough to exit to superstructure in this storm. He finds that he's often refilling his glass from the bottle of white wine--and it's not because he is chugging the drink, but rather because he sloshes his alcohol on the corridor walls and deck with every violent rocking of the ship. He is faced with a hard decision: either stop drinking or drink directly from the bottle...

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Job.

"I'll carry him," says Katie, struggling to maintain her balance while picking up Gunnar. The damage to the plane and other contents of the hold could wait, but he couldn't.

Mr. Handy wrote:"I'll carry him," says Katie, struggling to maintain her balance while picking up Gunnar. The damage to the plane and other contents of the hold could wait, but he couldn't.

For the second time within a span of minutes, Peter Sykes' jaw drops as he watches Katie lift her fallen comrade and port the man over to the ladder, however the severely-rolling ship and the looming 30-foot dripping-wet steel ladder present formidable challenges. Katie gazes up at the hatch, far above, and realizes that she'll need help. She then looks down and sees Vittorio sitting on the deck, at the foot of the ladder, clutching his abdomen.

Behind her, Sykes yells, "HERE!", and tosses a rope. "TIE THAT AROUND HIS CHEST," he hollers into the din of the storm.

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Job. (the tortured one)

"THANKS!" calls Katie, using the rope to secure Gunnar before she attempts the climb. "VITTORIO'S HURT TOO! SEE IF YOU CAN HELP HIM!"

The ship begins lifting and tilting upwards, the old gal expressing her displeasure with a heart-wrenching groan. The angle of the ship increases to the point that loose equipment and pieces of crates begin rolling down the incline. Sykes' eyes widen and he shouts, "HOLD ON!", then he moves quickly to grab a handful of Vittorio's jacket with one hand while securing his other arm through the ladder for support.

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Job. (The tortured one)

Katie clings to Vittorio with one hand and the ladder with her other arm, using every ounce of her strength and agility to remain in place.

As the Gabrielle tilts crazily, Paco scrambles across the deck and leaps at the netting that secures one engine. He grabs one of the knotted ropes and slips, twisting down, landing awkwardly at the base of the machinery.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie clings to Vittorio with one hand and the ladder with her other arm, using every ounce of her strength and agility to remain in place.

Gunnar's weight shifts away from Katie. The rope that Katie had tied around his chest pulls taught and begins to drag at Katie.

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Job. (the tortured one)

Katie tightens her grip, relying on her raw strength and agility to hold onto Gunnar.

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie tightens her grip, relying on her raw strength and agility to hold onto Gunnar.

Peter Sykes sees the concentration and effort on Katie's face and knows the danger that the team is in--if Katie loses her hold or if her muscles strain beyond their capacity, then a number of crewmen will tumble free to slam against the far bulwark. Katie has anchored herself to the tweendeck's ladder as she strains to hold onto Gunnar Sorensen, who is severely injured, half-conscious, and roped to her. She also clutches the jacket of Vittorio Luizzi who is slumped to the deck, groaning.

Gunnar, bloodied, pictured above

With a loud grunt of effort, Sykes pulls on Vittorio's gear to draw him closer to the ladder, hoping to relieve some of the strain on Katie. Vittorio's body moves enough to allow Sykes to encircle his arm around Vittorio's chest and under his armpit. He looks up at Katie, rainwater dripping off his face, and yells something to her, but she cannot hear him over the howling of the storm.

The sea continues to lift and angle the ship upwards. "We are rising up a monstrous wave", thinks Sykes, just as he feels an increased vibration in the hull and a surge forward and up.

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Job. (the tortured one)

Katie smiles at Peter in thanks, securing her grip and bracing for the impact she's sure is coming.

You sense the Gabrielle powering forward as the tweendeck continues tilting upwards, then the entire ship slips sideways as the storm shrieks and electric lights sway.

Was that Vittorio or Paco shrieking? Or was it me?

Water sloshes about, slapping the walls, and the Gabrielle slips again, sliding downwards, but somehow continues forward. Then the room suddenly jerks to a stop as if you've rammed a wall and you slam painfully into the ladder. The tethered aeroplane and crates strain at their moorings. Time seems to slow; ropes snap and whip around while planks and bolts and loose detritus fly past you. The lights flicker.

Everyone,OK, everyone and anyone reading this need--even if you aren't playing the game!--must make sanity and dexterity rolls. You are enveloped in chaos and fearing for your life.

Katie finds an inner reserve of mental fortitude to match her physical toughness. Whoever is screaming, it isn't her. Unfortunately, her usual agility deserts her at the worst possible time.

OOC,I thought I might get a bonus for bracing in advance, perhaps DEX x 6 instead of DEX x 5 (and thus failing automatically only on a 100), but that was a really bad roll.

Father Rucker cowers in his cabin, He prays for god to save them and finds comfort with his belief.

SAN: 1d100 33

Mr. Handy wrote:Katie finds an inner reserve of mental fortitude to match her physical toughness. Whoever is screaming, it isn't her. Unfortunately, her usual agility deserts her at the worst possible time.

OOC,I thought I might get a bonus for bracing in advance, perhaps DEX x 6 instead of DEX x 5 (and thus failing automatically only on a 100), but that was a really bad roll.

Katie's shoulder slams into the steel ladder with a jolt of pain and she loses her grip on Vittorio, who swings out in a downwards arc around Peter Sykes, still maintaining a firm hold on him. Amazingly, Katie was successful in holding onto Gunnar, despite his bouncing about.

But the pull of Vittorio's weight wrenches Sykes' arm free of the ladder and both men tumble down the tilted tweendeck, bouncing off the aeroplane into the shadows.

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Job. (the tortured one)

royya wrote:Father Rucker cowers in his cabin, He prays for god to save them and finds comfort with his belief.

Enke Fiskarson lies in the bunk below Father Rucker's, bracing himself against the bed's steel stanchions, and finds solace in the priest's rhythmic chanting. Enke cannot make out Father's words above the howling of the storm, but he understands the purpose.

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Job.

"Are you okay down there?!" Katie calls through clenched teeth, her natural toughness keeping her going. "I'm fine, and I've got Gunnar! I need to get him up on deck once the ship levels out, but I'll come right back for you two!"

Mr. Handy wrote:"Are you okay down there?!" Katie calls through clenched teeth, her natural toughness keeping her going. "I'm fine, and I've got Gunnar! I need to get him up on deck once the ship levels out, but I'll come right back for you two!"

Katie fails to hear her own voice amidst the din of the storm.

Shortly after slamming to an abrupt halt against some extraordinarily-great obstruction, everyone feels the vessel continuing to bull forward, and forward, shaking and yawing against the force of the storm, until finally the Gabrielle breaks through and begins sliding down the opposite side. The lights bounce crazily and, at the far end of the tweendeck, Katie briefly spies Peter Sykes in shin-deep water, helping Vittorio to his feet, then the light swings away.

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Job (the tortured one)

Once she sees that Peter and Vittorio are relatively okay, she relaxes a little. When the ship's motion allows, she resumes her upward climb, carrying Gunnar.

Mr. Handy wrote:Once she sees that Peter and Vittorio are relatively okay, she relaxes a little. When the ship's motion allows, she resumes her upward climb, carrying Gunnar.

The aft section of the Gabrielle is pushed alarmingly high--to an angle of almost 45 degrees--and this strains Katie's ability to maintain a hold on Gunnar while at the same time hang onto the ladder.

For Katie,Please roll on either your dex or strength (your choice) and declare which is your focus, either holding onto Gunnar or holding onto the ladder. This is a terrible storm...

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Job.

Katie concentrates on holding onto Gunnar first, worried that he might not survive the fall with his existing injuries. She is confident that she can not only keep him secure, but that she can also maintain her grip on the ladder.

Katie reaches the top of the ladder with Gunnar and shoulders the hatch open--releasing a deluge of freezing water from the main deck onto the two of you and down into the tweendeck. Gunnar sputters and groans and grabs onto the edge of the hatch, helping to haul himself over the lip onto the main deck, which is layered with ice. The roaring wind sweeps your shouts away into the darkness and threatens to do the same to your person. You'll need a light, along with the grace of God, to proceed any further.

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Job. (the tortured one)

"We need light!" shouts Katie, but the cacophony of the storm eats her words. She looks through Gunnar's pockets, hoping to find a cigarette lighter or something to help her see. If not, she has to hope that Peter Sykes brings something when he comes up with Vittorio.

When the rolling of the ship permits, Peter Sykes helps Vittorio back to the ladder and waves to Katie at the top. Vittorio is doubled over, breathing hard. Paco meets them there, but still appears unsteady from seasickness.

The storm continues unabated. Concern, perhaps even fear, can be clearly seen in the expressions of Sykes, a hardened veteran of many expeditions. And even though the team is struggling to remain stationary, something has noticeably changed for the better; the Gabrielle now appears to be moving with the waves rather than fighting against them. For the moment, at least.

Sykes eases Vittorio to the floor, threading his arms and legs through the ladder, and motions to Paco, instructing him to fetch a coil of rope on the wall. He then scans the hold and moves off into the shadows, out of Katie's line of sight.


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Job. (the tortured one)

"We need light!" Katie yells again, hoping he can hear her as she keeps herself and Gunnar steady.

Sykes emerges from the shadows with a coil of rope over his shoulder and an electric torch in his hand. He hands the torch to Paco and waves him up the ladder, then helps Vittorio to his feet. Vittorio stands, grimacing and clutching the ladder for support, but seems unable to straighten fully. Sykes ducks and places Vittorio's arm over his shoulder, behind his neck, for support, then the two begin a slow climb up the ladder.

Eventually you see Vittorio climb from the hatch to join you in the violence of the storm.

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Job. (the tortured one)

Katie helps Vittorio through the hatch and tries to keep him and Gunnar both steady while the others finish climbing up to the deck.

Sykes' electric torch provides little help in the storm, barely allowing the team to see each other through the sleet at the top of the hatch. He looks around and signals to everyone to stay where they are, then kneels and ties his rope off. He rises into a crouch and steps carefully through the ice and water and darkness. The light becomes dimmer as he moves away, and then stops, pausing. After some number of seconds, you see him return and he points at the taut rope and then into the darkness.

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Job. (the tortured one)

[

Katie nods, carrying Gunnar over her shoulder as she pulls herself hand over hand along the rope in the direction Peter pointed.