Play@YSDC

Posted: **Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:59 pm**

The night sky is bright with a bomber's moon that provides an unearthly glow about the dark, fog-shrouded streets. The stars, rarely glimpsed when London was lit up, now straggle across the heavens though they, too, are mostly shrouded by fog and smoke. The streets are dark but not yet quiet at 10pm due to the sounds of people being let out of a nearby pub with a brief flash of light. For those in the know, or who have local experience, this suburb is well-patrolled by the Norbury 5th Battalion of the Home Guard that is known for its efficiency and bravery ever since the Blitz began. Odds are that is why the drunks are so cautious as they slip out, despite their alcoholic touched minds. As you continue along your way, you hear the first Aid Raid Siren give warning about oncoming bombers.

Posted: **Tue Jul 24, 2012 11:28 pm**

William Cray lurches from The Hensley Arms, purposely ignoring the catcalls from behind him.

"I wouldn't do you even if you did have two legs, love!"
"Cray, I have you on tab for two quid now! I'll be seeing those coins tomorrow, you hear?"
"All mouth and no trousers, that 'un! Did you hear what he said to me?"

The voices blend together behind him and he tastes sour whiskey backing up on him. He stumbles to a nearby alley and, making sure there are no Fifthers about, retches the evening's excesses quietly against a wall. William recovers himself and smooths his lank hair against his scalp. Time for the sack, he thinks and, straightening his posture as best as he is able, begins to heel-toe it towards the general direction of his flat.

The air raid siren doesn't register at first, as it's competing with the general clangour in his head. After a few seconds and several huddled forms moving quickly about in the street, William's brain recognizes the danger. "Damn it, not now", he mutters through clenched teeth. His head swivels with a slight wobble as he tries to orient himself in space. "Now, where's that damnable shelter?"

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2012 5:26 am**

Irene Carpenter hurries to her ambulance at the First Aid Post the instant she hears the siren. While most Londoners head for shelter at the sound, she has other duties that are worth risking her neck. Once more into the breach... she thinks cheerily.

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2012 5:34 pm**

Florence Bryant looks up at the sky as she hurries towards her First Aid Post to reach her ambulance. She never grows tired of seeing the stars at night, and always finds her gaze irresistibly drawn upwards. Something she doesn't get used to is the sound of the air raid alarm. It always strikes fear into her, with a knot developing in her stomach every time. Still she has work to do, and hurries on her way.

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:48 pm**

Not again!
Doug mutters to himself and throws the bottle to a nearby alley. He catch a glimpse of another man (William Cray) and decides to follow him. That man probably knows where to go.

Navigate (1d100=25) - Fail

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2012 9:16 pm**

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:35 pm**

John Brooks was hoping to get across London and to bed; it is late and his eyes hurt from repairing some intricate wiring in low light. As he hears the siren he stops to think for a moment but can't think where the nearest shelter is. He hurries on, hoping to meet someone he can ask directions.

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2012 11:35 pm**

William Cray starts staggering down the street, knowing enough about the pub to know that the owners would take everyone into the shelter and then lock the main doors so no one broke in and stole their liquor like they did a few weeks ago. That ruled out the pub. There were bound to be others, though he couldn't be too sure where. If he hurried down the streets far enough than he should be able to find a shelter somewhere.

Doug sees him hurrying and follows after him, assuming that a local would know where to go and hoping that William was, indeed, a local.

John sees the other two heading off in the same direction. Perhaps they know where the nearest shelter is?

Florence and Irene arrive at the First Aid Post in a sprightly fashion. They're unlucky enough - or is it lucky? - to have an adapted bus rather than an adapted taxi or even an actual ambulance. The bus can fit a lot of people inside but it doesn't control too well on damaged streets. Its parked underneath an open shed - really just a corrugated iron roof on poles - beside an adapted taxi and a ute with their drivers and first aiders already positioned inside.

As they approach, Richie, an ARP warden gives them a look up and down and says to them, "We're in it now. Gerry's coming over to give us a showing, I expect." Richie's a damnable pessimist, enough to make a Women's Volunteer Service volunteer cry into her soup, and perhaps that's why he didn't make the cut despite being a sprightly twenty five. He never has explained fully why he isn't in the Army. "Best go into your ready positions. I'll go man the phones."

"Shouldn't you already be manning them?" snapped Nurse Wigham from the adapted taxi.

"Well now!" said Richie, waving at a 15-year-old boy called Martie who had just appeared with his bicycle ready to fulfill his role as Messenger should the telephones fail. He headed inside, despite the fact that he'd be bound to make a good ambulance driver - having his license and all that - rather than acting as the telephonist and administrator. There were enough people for that sort of role. No need to waste a strong enough, able-bodied man.

Martie looked over at the ambulance drivers sadly before heading inside the short sandbagged corridor that led to the front door of the First Aid Post (built inside an old rotunda once used to serve food on festival days). Doubtless he would cop an ear load about how everyone was doomed and his family were sure to die.

Posted: **Thu Jul 26, 2012 1:12 am**

William Cray, leaning heavily on his cane, limps in a zig-zag down the lane, swiveling his head to and fro. There must be a shelter near. Boarded windows and black out tape meet his every glance, so he stumbles onwards. He doesn't notice the small procession following his unsteady trail. "Damn, damn, damn! Where's a bloody sign when you need one?"

The faint baritone buzz of bombers begins to mingle with the sirens and he quickens his faltering steps. He turns down a lane, frantically whipping his head from one side of the street to another, looking vainly either for one of the familiar 'S' signs or for someone who is walking with some direction. Cray's headache intensifies, lending the night a hazy quality that occasionally strobes with pulses of red. Has the bombing already begun, he wonders. Surely not. I would have heard the explosions by now.

Posted: **Thu Jul 26, 2012 2:03 am**

"Maybe it won't be so bad tonight Richie," says Florence, calling over to him, before turning around and heading over towards their adapted bus. She spots Irene and says "You got here quickly! We'd best get ready I suppose."

Posted: **Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:28 am**

"Yes, chin up, Richie!" says Irene, chipper as always. She never lets Gerry get her down, so she's not about to let him do it either. She grins at Florence. "Hi, Florence. You got here fast yourself. Yes, let's get ready." She gives the ambulance a once over, checks its tires and engine, and making sure there's enough petrol in the tank. Someone else probably already did that, but she's the one who will be driving it and nobody else would be more motivated to do a good job. When she's satisfied with its condition, she gets behind the wheel. In a way, it's a good thing that she's the one issued this lumbering behemoth. She's confident that her driving skills can keep it under control, whereas the others might not be as able. "It does seem a shame that Richie's talents are being wasted. He'd be put to better use as a driver."

Posted: **Thu Jul 26, 2012 7:42 am**

Doug quickly catch up with the guy (William) that limps in front of him.
Hey, lad, where is the shelter ? Do you know where the shelter is ?
He turns back to another man that follow them (John) without waiting for an answer from William
Where's the shelter ? Anyone knows where the shelter is ? The f**king Nazis are coming and I really don't want to get blown up.
Doug scans the surrounding, hoping to catch a glimpse of the S sign but if he will not find one soon, he will have to break into a random place.

Posted: **Thu Jul 26, 2012 12:09 pm**

John sees the two men in front of him and slows his walk, he can smell alcohol on one of them so decides to follow from a distance; a tall looming figure in the dark.

Posted: **Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:16 pm**

"Yes we could do with all the good drivers we can get," says Florence, watching as Irene checks over the ambulance. When the checks are complete and Irene gets into her seat Florence climbs in beside her. "I wonder where we're going tonight. I hope things don't get too bad this time." She sighs. "Still, there's a war on, and we've got a job to do. Mustn't complain."

Posted: **Thu Jul 26, 2012 9:19 pm**

Over his shoulder, William hears a cracking voice inquire, "Hey, lad, where is the shelter? Do you know where the shelter is?" Without breaking his hitching stride, he calls over his shoulder, "I don't bloody well know, do I? Otherwise I wouldn't be on this blasted road in this blasted dark with blasted Germans about to do my head in with blasted falling explosives!" A piece of pavement catches his good foot and he stumbles swiftly forwards, only avoiding a face plant by catching himself on his good knee. His prosthetic skids akimbo to him and he hisses with pain.

"Just perfect. I don't think this night can get any worse." William begins to lever himself up using his cane, briefly noting that his trouser leg has been flayed open and blood is trickling into his shoe.

Posted: **Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:42 am**

The buzz of the bombers draws nearer and mixes with the familiar ack-ack sounds of the Antiaircraft gunners, followed by the rumbling whump of the first bombs dropping in the distance. Airplanes shoot past overhead toward the bombers coming from the north west and likely from one of Britain's own air fields. They walk up the tree-lined street of Biggin Hill with its pretty red-roofed townhouses to the left and its red brick half walls around the front yard. There's a slight tilt upward to the street that strains William's leg as they pass a large two-storey red brick scout hall that has been converted into a First Aid Post complete with a bus, a taxi, and a ute standing under a covered shelter as ambulances. There's a sign nearby that reads SHELTER THAT WAY! in big, black lettering with an arrow pointing down the street. They could attempt to take cover in the First Aid Post but it can get quite cramped and gory in there if they bring in any victims of the raid. Odds are the shelter is quite close, otherwise they wouldn't be re-directing people.

Thank goodness for the bomber's moon on the one hand, otherwise they'd have to either use a flashlight and risk drawing attention to themselves, or simply stagger around in the pitch black.

Posted: **Fri Jul 27, 2012 2:31 am**

"God be praised," William exclaims. "Finally a bit of luck." He shambles in the direction of the helpful arrow as quickly as he is able, turning to shout briefly over his shoulder, "This way, lads! We're not done in, yet!"

Posted: **Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:04 am**

Irene nods. "It's starting," she says. "I hope those chaps make it to the shelter in time."

Posted: **Fri Jul 27, 2012 10:19 am**

Need some help?
Doug says to William as he sprints past him.
Thought, the teenager is a bully, this is still his first war and he is a little bit nervous, clearly not showing it to the world.

Posted: **Fri Jul 27, 2012 11:32 am**

John quickens his pace at the sound of the bombers. He draws near to the two men and reads the sign. He can hear the bombers drawing closer, "Come on, let me give you a hand." he says gruffly and puts out a hand to help steady the young man with the cane as they head towards the shelter. "We'd better hurry."

Posted: **Fri Jul 27, 2012 3:22 pm**

"Yes agreed," says Florence to Irene. "We don't want anyone out on the streets tonight who shouldn't be there. It's too dangerous."

Posted: **Fri Jul 27, 2012 5:27 pm**

William feels a wiry hand grasp his elbow and considers shaking it off, but he's too knackered to fight. "Thanks, mate. Sometimes the good leg doesn't want to work like it should." With the assistance of the stranger, he makes better speed toward the shelter.

Posted: **Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:34 am**

There's the rapid sound of gunfire and the drone of engines comes closer, leaving a trail of explosions building in crescendo behind them. Curse the people manning the air raid sirens. It looks like it was a case of too little too late. At least the entrance to the air raid shelter can be seen. Its a concrete box, really, with a metal door flanked by sandbags. There's a large building beside it. One of those council estates that they like to cram full of paupers. Its a few dozen feet ahead or more, just over the road, and there's a good chance the planes will fly overhead before they reach it. They're not the only one heading that way. A woman struggles forward with her dog on a leash, coming from her estate and heading straight for the shelter.

Posted: **Sat Jul 28, 2012 9:36 am**

John hasn't much to lose; he's been this close before and he's already lost everything in his life. So he sticks with the young man with the cane and goes whichever way William decides to try for: the building or the shelter.

Posted: **Sat Jul 28, 2012 2:58 pm**

William grips John's arm tightly and tries to shift his weight to his good leg. "Let's give it a last run, mate," he says. "We'll either die in the street or not." With that he picks up the pace as much as his heavy prosthetic will let him and steers the two of them toward the shelter. He lifts his cane and they begin an awkward, three-legged race against death. As they near the entrance, he yells to the woman with the dog, "Coming through! Get yourself below, now!"

Posted: **Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:29 pm**

Irene starts up the motor quickly and operates the clutch to shift the modified bus into gear, knowing that she's going to have to move fast once the bombs fall and every second could count.

Posted: **Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:15 pm**

Seeing Irene start up the motor Florence quickly checks the medical kit she carries and readies herself for what is coming next.

Posted: **Sun Jul 29, 2012 7:03 pm**

Comeon ... move along, faster.
Doug yells to John and William as he sprints forward to reach the shelter

Posted: **Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:46 am**

The planes shoot past overhead and as they do so there's a trail of whump whump WHUMP then silence as the air is ripped apart around them by bombs, sending shrapnel whipping around from bricks and windows and chunks of trees and there's a pattern of light and shadow that shreds past their vision and pulses past them. Their feet were on the ground but then they're on their face and sliding and bits of something bite into their skin. Their heads shake and their bones rattle as the explosions crack and shatter past and around them. As the silence settles, a silence punctuated by a shrill sound through their ears, they can start to lift their heads and see that part of the apartment building ahead of them has been knocked down into rubble across the air raid shelter.

Seeing the bombs drop so close, No. 1 Ambulance (the bus) is expected to take a look down the bombed out streets for victims and survivors. The other two ambulances are to await further instructions from known sites.

Posted: **Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:10 pm**

Shuddering from the blasts Florence recovers herself and readies herself in position. "We'd better go and look for victims nearby," she says to Irene. "We're lucky the bombs didn't hit us - that was close."

Posted: **Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:01 pm**

Johnny lies there, his arms covering his head. He is temporarily deaf with his ears ringing from the pressure of the bomb but he can feel the violence of the explosions as the ground shudders and the air is ripped apart. Once it stops, he lifts his head and, from the light of flames, can see the shelter is covered in rubble. The remains of the apartment looks non too stable and he can't see the woman or the dog. "Come on." He coughs and wipes dirty phlegm from his mouth, he tries to stand but his balance is all shot so he crouches there, shaking his head trying to get his ears clear. He reaches over and shakes the body next to him, then he climbs to his feet and stumbles over to the rubble to see if there is any way into the shelter.

Posted: **Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:56 pm**

William lays on the ground, face pressed against the gritty pavement, until he's sure that he's not dead. A hurried jostling assures him he isn't, as the stranger that assisted him stands and advances toward the building. He slowly and painfully props himself on one elbow, shaking the brick and plaster dust from his hair with his other hand. His cane lies before him, half-buried in rubble. Cray grabs it and begins the process of righting himself, at the same time looking about to make sure that there isn't someone who needs help nearby.

"Hey," he shouts at John's retreating back, "Thanks for the assist, there, mate."

Posted: **Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:09 am**

"Too right," says Irene. She pulls out and starts driving down the street towards where the bombs had hit, keeping her eyes peeled for survivors and hazards.

Posted: **Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:55 am**

Doug rolls over pull himself up to a sitting position, beside some bruises and abrasion under his cloth he is OK.
He taps on his clothing to clear the dust and gets up to help john clear the rubble from the shelter entrance.

Posted: **Wed Aug 01, 2012 2:56 am**

There's a few men covered in plaster dust and dirt who are heading toward the rubble strewn bomb shelter. There doesn't appear to be anyone, alive or dead, amongst the rubble so perhaps the inhabitants of that place had all evacuated into the shelter as they are meant to. Luckily its an underground shelter so it has a small chance of surviving a nearly direct hit. A woman staggers out from behind a couch that is lying tipped on its side amongst the bricks and broken glass, and she looks around with obvious confusion as blood trickles down the side of her face.

Posted: **Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:54 am**

Irene stops the ambulance near the injured woman and gets out, motioning for Florence to follow her. "It's all right," she says to the woman in a reassuring tone of voice. "We're here to help." She allows Florence to take the lead in treating her wound. While she has decent training, she knows the nurse is better at it.

Posted: **Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:05 am**

Florence gets out of the ambulance and accompanies Irene to tend the woman. "Relax, it's ok, we can help you."
She struggles to tend the woman's wounds. "Irene can you come and help?"

Posted: **Wed Aug 01, 2012 5:11 am**

Irene nods and tries her best to stop the bleeding, but she can't see what she's doing in the blackout. "I'm sorry," she says. "We'll have to get you to hospital. The doctors there can help you better." She guides the woman to the ambulance to help her inside.

Posted: **Wed Aug 01, 2012 5:44 am**

"Should we look for any other wounded before taking her to hospital do you think?" asks Florence, looking around, trying to make sense of the scene around her.

Posted: **Wed Aug 01, 2012 6:58 am**

Over here ... we need a ride.
Doug calls to the women that came to help with the ambulance as he motions at himself and the two others.

Posted: **Wed Aug 01, 2012 1:59 pm**

William watches Irene and Florence tend to the injured woman. His right trouser cuff feels heavy with blood and he considers catching a ride in the ambulance. The younger nurse is quite comely. He glances over at the men clearing the bomb shelter entrance and feels quite useless. If only I had two legs, he thought, I could do more to help. He sighs and resigns himself to his deficiency. Limping over to the makeshift triage, he smiles weakly at Irene. "Evening, ladies. I don't suppose one of you has a herringbone and some catgut," he tries to keep the slur from his voice. "My leg seems to have suffered a bit from the blast."

Posted: **Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:06 pm**

Florence sees William approach. "Oh let me have a look at that." Despite the gloom she manages to inspect the wound and using some bandages stems the blood flow and makes the wound safer. "There you are, that's better now. You are welcome to come with us in the ambulance to get more medical aid if you want from the hospital, but you may feel sufficiently well now."

Posted: **Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:11 pm**

John looks over the rubble in dismay, it may be a long job trying to find the shelter entrance. He turns back to the man with a limp and then he sees the ambulance pull up. He watches as the crew climb out and head over to administer to the woman. He gives one last look towards the shelter and then moves over to the ambulance with the other men. He moves through the drifting smoke and catches a glimpse of the driver as she turns from helping the woman aboard, "Meg!" He croaks and stumbles towards her (Irene) with his hand out.

Posted: **Thu Aug 02, 2012 1:26 am**

"N-no, I can't go," said the woman after taking a few hesitant steps in the bus' direction. "My father ... he ... he's down there!" The woman turns and stumbles toward the rubble. "Have to get him out. There's no air down there ... trapped ... father was a miner, you see ... told me ... only so much air." She seems to be muttering half to herself with fright.

Posted: **Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:56 am**

"Of course we'll get your father out," Irene says to the woman. She smiles at John as he approaches, clasping his hand. "I think you've mistaken me for someone else, sir. My name's Irene. Irene Carpenter. You look right strong. Mind giving us a hand? There's a man trapped under the rubble." As she speaks, she goes over to the rubble and begins to dig, wasting no time.

Posted: **Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:00 am**

Florence remembers Doug's call and responds to him: "We have to help someone trapped in the rubble." She goes quickly with Irene and starts to dig through the debris, trying to get through to the trapped man.

Posted: **Thu Aug 02, 2012 7:34 am**

Ah, as a former porter in the docks, lifting things is not alien to the former gang member.
Sure, but that's buying me a ticket to the hospital
Doug replies shortly to Florence and goes to help remove the rubble with John. He place his jacket on the floor beside him, raise up his sleeves and inspects the area, then he takes a long breath, look up to the sky, hoping the Germans will not bomb them again and begin to pull heavy chunks of blocks out of the way.

Posted: **Thu Aug 02, 2012 9:15 am**

Florence grins at Doug. "Ok you're on. Thanks for helping."

Posted: **Thu Aug 02, 2012 4:41 pm**

John stares hard at Irene as she takes his hand. Then he pulls away, stricken, mumbling, "Sorry, thought you were... someone." He sees William is in safe hands so he goes, as directed, to the rubble heap. He sighs and rubs his face hard as if to try and wake himself up. "Wasn't there a dog here too?" He starts to pull at a large piece of timber.

Posted: **Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:59 pm**

William sits down hard on the bumper of the ambulance and watches the others work. I'd only get in the way, he thinks to himself. He ogles Irene as she works.That young lass looks like a right goer. Bet she wouldn't give me the time of day. He notices the sobbing woman and hobbles over to comfort her, "There, there, Miss. I'm sure they'll have your father out of there in one piece. He was probably well-sheltered from the Gerries."

Posted: **Fri Aug 03, 2012 1:45 am**

She nods, but doesn't look much reassured. "It was an underground shelter. It ought to have survived. I - I'm trying to remember where the trap door is to make things quicker but I - I just can't."

Posted: **Fri Aug 03, 2012 2:04 am**

As the others lug debris from the entry, William leaves the lady's side and limps a bit closer to the pile of rubble. He cocks an ear for any sound of survival within.

Posted: **Fri Aug 03, 2012 3:12 am**

Irene notices William standing nearby. "Could you help us out?" she asks. She struggles to shift the debris, which is taking a bit longer than she'd like. However, she is able to hear everything, tuning out all distractions.

Posted: **Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:28 am**

STR and Listen (1d100,1d100=[7], [71]) - STR [success], Listen [Fail]

Being regular to lift, pull, push and carry Doug works like an oiled machine, lifting and tossing the debris aside while he whistles to himself loudly. He does not pay attention to anyone and to any sounds. Work, work, work...

Posted: **Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:02 am**

Florence pauses to try to reassure the woman: "If it is an underground shelter he should be safe while we dig, but we will get to him as quickly as we can." She returns to shifting rubble, and is successful. At the same time she strains to listen for any signs of the trapped man.

Posted: **Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:21 am**

John blinks tears from his eyes and puts his head down, he starts moving aside bricks at an alarming rate. As always he is very tidy and stacks them neatly and quietly so he is well able to hear any sounds from beneath the rubble.

Posted: **Fri Aug 03, 2012 5:27 pm**

Upon hearing Irene request his help, William moves to oblige, as quickly as he is able. He braces his prosthetic to the side against a small pile of rubble and begins to heave a stone out of the entry. Unfortunately, he is overbalanced and his prosthetic skids away from him, causing him to land on his his right side with an, "Oof!" He rises slowly, recovers his cane and looks apologetically at Irene, "Sorry, Miss. The straps on my prosthetic don't seem to want to cooperate."

Posted: **Sat Aug 04, 2012 2:34 am**

Those who have keen ears can clearly hear muffled cries for help that twists into a series of rising screams that gradually fall off one by one as they start to clear away the rubble over the trapdoor.

Posted: **Sat Aug 04, 2012 3:05 am**

William staggers to his feet. "I can hear screams coming from down there. Her father must still be alive...," he trails off as the shrieks abruptly stop.

Posted: **Sat Aug 04, 2012 3:29 am**

"Never fear, help is here!" Irene calls below as she wrenches open the trapdoor. She takes her hooded torch from her belt and shines it below. "They sure sounded terrified down there."

Posted: **Sat Aug 04, 2012 6:03 am**

Florence readies her torch as well, although she doesn't turn it on yet, because Irene's should provide good visibility through the open trap door. She peers down through the opening to see what she can see. "You can hear multiple people?" she asks Irene. "At least that means they are still alive. Can we get down here do you think?"

Posted: **Sat Aug 04, 2012 5:33 pm**

John goes to get his bag from where it fell earlier. He dusts it off and looks down into the dark hole, "Here Miss, better let me go first." He gets out his powerful torch and switches it on, it's one with a base so he can use two hands for work. "I'll put it on a table or something to light the area." He mutters that the bomb must have cut the electrics down there.

Posted: **Sat Aug 04, 2012 6:12 pm**

William moves up amongst the group to get a better look into the trapdoor.

Looking over John's shoulder, he gets a bit queasy. It's quiet down there. Too quiet.

Posted: **Sat Aug 04, 2012 6:46 pm**

Irene stands aside so that John can take the lead. "Getting down there shouldn't be an issue, Florence," she says, also squinting into the shelter. "Getting out again might be if there's damage to the stairs, though. I did hear more than one person, screaming in terror, but they stopped when we dug through to the trapdoor. I guess they know they're safe now."

Posted: **Sat Aug 04, 2012 7:08 pm**

Florence nods in response to Irene, having also moved aside to let John through. "Well the more people trapped the more important it is for us to get down there. Thank goodness we've cleared the rubble already."

Posted: **Sat Aug 04, 2012 10:23 pm**

William pipes up, "My leg may be gone, but I do know some battlefield medicine." He looks inquiringly at John. "I think can manage the stairs if you want me with you. Name's William Cray, by the way."

Posted: **Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:43 am**

Doug stands in the back, watching the adults speak on what to do next. He takes his jacket from the floor and decides that going down is probably safer then staying in the street.
The name is Doug.
He says to the air as he follows after John.

Posted: **Sun Aug 05, 2012 9:34 am**

The silence seems almost deafening after the explosions and screaming. Surely any survivors would have heard their voices by now? Surely someone would have called out to them? The stairs themselves look reasonably undamaged, though this is the emergency entrance and the ordinary entrance may have taken the greater part of the hit.

The woman looks around nervously and grips onto John's arm as he positions himself at the top of the trapdoor. "My father must be down there...."

Her movement disturbs one of the broken bricks which drops onto the stairs and thuds its way all the way down to the floor with that eerie silence, leaving a trail of blood as it went. All eyes turn to where the brick had lain and they see that in the darkness they had moved aside the rubble and had luckily kept their hands clean from the chunks of matted fur and bloody dog meat that had been pulverised by the bricks. Her dog must have been knocked out of her hands by the blast and into the bricks as they fell, leaving it in portions of furry meat strewn across the bricks.

"No," she whimpers, the back of her hand pressed to her mouth.

Posted: **Sun Aug 05, 2012 10:42 am**

Oh...gross...
Doug calls and quickly takes another brick from the pile of rubble to cover the dog's body again so they will have not have to look at it again.
It's better that way.
He says to her in a firm voice.

Posted: **Sun Aug 05, 2012 12:11 pm**

"Poor mite, at least it was quick for the blighter. Come on Miss, I think we'd all be safer down below; the raid hasn't finished yet. John Brooks, electrics and munitions." He holds the torch in one hand, puts his bag over his shoulder and twists around to climb down the steep stairs. He is very tall and it takes a while before his head drops below street level. Gravel and small stones skitter down into the gloom and the torch casts striated dusty beams that bounce off the angled walls. Eventually, "Okay I'm down. I'll light up the steps so you can see your way." The stairway is lit up and drops into a dim pool of light. Beyond that, behind John, it is pitch black.

Posted: **Sun Aug 05, 2012 3:34 pm**

William follows John down the dust strewn steps gingerly, leading with his cane. He listens hard for any sound of movement ahead in the darkness and looks hard for any signs of past injury (blood) on the floor.

Posted: **Sun Aug 05, 2012 4:28 pm**

Irene carefully descends the stairs into the shelter, following the others.

Posted: **Sun Aug 05, 2012 5:00 pm**

Florence follows Irene, taking care as she descends, unsure how steady the stairs are.

Posted: **Mon Aug 06, 2012 2:32 am**

There is a smell of brickdust and fear to the air as well as something else like stagnant water. The steps themselves creak beneath their feet but while they were likely never in good condition they're dependable enough. There's a metal ladder behind them. Odds are there are a number of elderly people in that nearby building and so an enterprising fellow built in emergency stairs over the emergency ladder. There's no sign of any blood as John Brooks comes off the bottom step, his light flashing around the shelter briefly. The shelter is broken into three segments with an open doorway in each part. As Irene comes down, her own light flashes off the rubble at the far end of the third segment, revealing that the floor itself has been shattered, breaking a hole into some tunnel below. In this segment there are three bunk beds sunk into the concrete on either side with two benches back to back in the middle. The rest of the shelter is likely the same.

Posted: **Mon Aug 06, 2012 3:44 am**

"Careful, looks like a sinkhole must've opened up," says Irene. "Either that or a bomb penetrated the shelter, but if it had there'd be a hole in the ceiling." She cautiously approaches the hole and shines her light into it.

Posted: **Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:15 am**

"I'll have a look in this middle part of the shelter here," says Florence pointing to the middle segment. She turns on her torch and shines it in through the doorway, looking for any survivors.

Posted: **Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:46 am**

John sets his torch up on a bunk so it lights up the central area and no one can fall down the hole by mistake. He peers into the hole and wonders if it could be medieval or even roman ruins, he's come across them before as London is built over many earlier versions of the city. But Norbury is a long way out from the old part of town. Then he looks around for the power supply to the shelter, hoping to fix it.

Posted: **Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:16 pm**

Doug is the last to go down, he place a brick near the opening so no one will be able to shut the trap door. Hopefully the Germans will not bomb the same place twice, trapping them under a pile of new rubble.
Doug checks the ladder to see where it leads to before joining the others near the hole.

Posted: **Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:29 pm**

William moves over to the hole, as well. Following the beam that Irene shines within it. "Hello," he calls. "Is anyone down there? Are you hurt?"

Posted: **Tue Aug 07, 2012 1:28 am**

The one ladder in the shelter would have led back up to the trapdoor but there's currently a poorly made wooden set of stairs right there that makes it a tight fit to get into that segment's bunk beds. The rubble from the other side is probably from where the pepperpot entrance building collapsed under the blow of the bomb blast, but that doesn't explain the hole. To the left and right of the middle segment, obscured in the gloom, stand separate male and female day rooms, fitted with more bench seats and chemical toilets at the very end. The sleeping areas with their triple-tiered bunks hold handbags and emergency bags (likely containing ration cards, I.D. cards and spare clothing), and each bunk bed has its individual lamp holder, hooks and hand -painted numerals. For some reason, none of these lamps are on although they should have been turned on by the occupants. Perhaps there's a way to check if they were recently used? There's a flask of whiskey, freshly spilled, lying sidelong on one of the benches, having spilled its alcohol onto the floor next to a couple drops of fresh blood - still bright red.

The light pierces the darkness of the hole and reveals that its only a six foot drop into some sort of maintenance tunnels. Pipes run along both sides of the concrete tunnel and there's some spatters of blood on the floor, though not a great deal. Perhaps those who have keen could learn more.

Posted: **Tue Aug 07, 2012 3:34 am**

While Irene normally has good eyesight, the sudden transition between darkness and light has effectively blinded her. Her hearing, on the other hand, is as good as ever.

Posted: **Tue Aug 07, 2012 4:29 am**

Florence tries to look for clues but her eyesight still seems to be struggling to adjust to the gloom. Likewise her ears still seem to be ringing from the noise of the bombs.

Posted: **Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:38 am**

We could use these!
Doug calls to the others that stand peering into the hole as he checks the emergency and hands bags.
He tries to switch on the lamps and takes the flask of whiskey to see if there is still some left. In addition, he tries to understand what the numerals are.

Posted: **Tue Aug 07, 2012 2:16 pm**

William casts about for clues, looking within the sections, especially near the blood.

Posted: **Tue Aug 07, 2012 2:19 pm**

John goes into 'electrician mode' and doesn't see or hear anything as he is concentrating. He feels the lamps to see if they are hot from recent use and then he tries switching them on. If they work, he positions them to light up all the areas and then switches his own torch off to conserve the battery.

Posted: **Wed Aug 08, 2012 7:56 am**

The lamps are warm to the touch from recent use although they weren't used for a terribly long time as they don't burn one's fingers against the glass. They all seem to be working and have plenty of fuel. They're paraffin powered -- which seems a little dangerous. Luckily none of them were knocked loose. Someone must have switched them all off recently. They hang from a bolted loop against the cement though they could be easily removed with the right tool. Its a wonder the blackout gangs haven't made off with them yet.

The numerals are simply a numbering system for the beds and don't seem particularly important although the edge of one seems to have a tiny piece of loose skin and hair attached to it. The flask still contains a little whiskey.

The handbags contain the usual sort of personal oddments. Receipts, ration books, I.D. cards, the odd driver's license, notepads, shopping lists, lipstick, coin purses, tissues, handkerchiefs, keys, sanitary towels, and even a whistle.

William notices the edge of a hand from within the shattered brick building that must have fallen in on someone standing there. He's well covered but there's not a huge degree of rubble so he might be alive if correctly dug out. Might be.

Those who were successful listeners can hear a shuffling sound coming from deep within the tunnel. It sounds like feet. For a moment it sounds like someone quietly calling out: "Help, we're trapped by debris" but the voice is muffled and distant.

Posted: **Wed Aug 08, 2012 11:04 am**

Doug cleans one of the handbags on the bunk, leaving it empty so he will be able to use it. He place his stuff in there with the flask of whiskey and the whistle he found.
Probably someone was laying on this bunk and banged his head over here when he rose up.
Doug thinks to himself as he spots the tiny piece of loose skin and hair.

Posted: **Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:13 pm**

William shouts, "There's someone buried over here." He points at the hand poking out from beneath the rubble. "Let's uncover him, quickly!" He begins to move the bricks.

Posted: **Wed Aug 08, 2012 4:00 pm**

Florence rushes over and helps William to move the rubble.

Posted: **Wed Aug 08, 2012 5:32 pm**

Doug sprints to where William is and helps him to remove the broken bricks.

Posted: **Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:53 pm**

John frowns as the young man empties the bag. "Steady lad, that's not your property." When William shouts he leaves the lanterns and goes to help. He tries to steady the rubble so it doesn't collapse further onto the body. "Why do you think everyone left their handbags here and dashed off?" He says between breaths as he heaves on the bricks.

Posted: **Wed Aug 08, 2012 10:03 pm**

William, laboring hard, glances at John, "The bigger question is," he curses as a brick falls on his foot, "Where did they run off to?"

Posted: **Wed Aug 08, 2012 11:11 pm**

The rubble comes off easily, being largely broken bricks and dust, to reveal a young man in his early twenties who probably should be at War and who wasn't in uniform. He might well be a returned soldier but there's no sign of it. Instead he wore a trench coat (quite new, in fact), a brown vest over a white shirt and brown trousers. His face and hair are covered in brick dust and white plaster, most of it sticking to a patch of congealed blood at the back of his head. Without the dust he'd probably be quite a handsome man.

Posted: **Thu Aug 09, 2012 12:16 am**

Florence guesses the young man may be dead, but makes a thorough check for a pulse and any signs of life to be sure. If he is alive she will also inspect his injuries carefully to see what can be done here.

Posted: **Thu Aug 09, 2012 12:53 am**

William bends over the young man, taking care to leave Florence plenty of room to work. He begins to search the man's vest, trousers and coat pockets. Seeing inquiring looks, he mutters, "Only looking for some identification papers."

Posted: **Thu Aug 09, 2012 1:36 am**

The young man is breathing, though its labored, and there's a light pulse. He doesn't seem to have any other injuries. Perhaps some smelling salts from the first aid kit might wake him up? His pockets contain a packet of Lucky Strikes and a lighter engraved with the initials A.H. He has an expensive silver wristwatch on his wrist and no wedding band - there's a bit of a pale spot where one used to have been. He has an American passport and I.D. identifying him as Aaron Hewitt, from somewhere in Tenessee. The most unusual matter is the loaded pistol in his trenchcoat pocket and a metal tube in another pocket. There's no holster for the gun, which is unusual in and of itself. He also has a ballpoint pen, a notepad, and a pack of chewing gum in one of his other pockets.

The 'All Clear' sirens haven't gone off yet. Outside there's the Ack-Ack of the guns and the 'whumps' of distant falling bombs. It won't be safe out there.

Posted: **Thu Aug 09, 2012 1:48 am**

"Hang on!" Irene calls into the hole. "We'll have you out as soon as we can!" She turns to the others. "Maybe the rest of them are down the tunnel," says Irene. "I could have sworn I heard someone in the distance down there calling out for help and saying they were trapped by debris. I bet we can detach that ladder with the proper tools and place it down the hole so we can get in and out. The stairs will suffice when it's time to leave the shelter." She stands ready to assist Florence with the young man if she needs help.

Posted: **Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:21 am**

William holds the pistol up in the lamplight, examining it closely. "His name's Aaron Hewitt and he's from the States. Seems our American friend here came into this shelter expecting some kind of trouble."

Posted: **Thu Aug 09, 2012 5:21 am**

"Let's see if some smelling salts work on him," says Florence, opening up her medical kit and digging them out, and seeing if they revive the young man.

Posted: **Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:33 am**

She uncorks it and waves it beneath the young man's nose, causing him to frown briefly and then come to with a rapid start, almost knocking the bottle clean from her hands. He's a reasonably fit young man, after all. He half sits, one elbow propping himself up, the other hand going straight for a hat that is pinned under a bunch more bricks.

"Hey lady, looks like I get an angel Nightingale all my own," he said with characteristic American flirtatiousness. He has that kind of American accent heard in all of the Hollywood movies. Were movie stars generally from Tenessee? His gaze flicks around and his smile starts to turn into a frown. "Looks like I've drawn a crowd...." His gaze finally lands on the pistol. "Well, ain't that something, mugged in an air raid shelter while tended to by nurses."

Posted: **Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:46 am**

As Irene said a moment ago, Doug leaves her to attend the American and the others to question him and goes to see if he can detach the ladder so they will be able to go down to the tunnel below. As he goes there he hears the sirens and the distant bombing
We won't leave soon that's for sure. The Germans are still out there.

Posted: **Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:36 am**

"Mind your manners Sir. These ladies have just saved your life! As for the this," John picks up the gun and examines it. "I think you may have more explaining to do than we do." He hears Doug wrestling with the ladder, "Son, there's tools in my bag if you need them. Just don't pinch any."

Posted: **Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:00 am**

Florence smiles in response to the young man's comment. "No one's trying to mug you. We're just trying to help you. I'm glad the smelling salts worked. How do you feel? What happened to you?"

Posted: **Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:06 am**

Doug nods to John and takes the tools, hoping they will help him to detach the ladder more quickly.

Posted: **Thu Aug 09, 2012 5:20 pm**

Posted: **Fri Aug 10, 2012 3:28 am**

"Forgive me but its a touch awkward to wake up facing your own gun," said Aaron Hewitt. Its a Colt M1911 and the metal tube is a silencer designed to muffle the sound of the gun shots. Its the sort of thing one might expect to see in the hands of a hitman - like from the movie This Gun For Hire. "As for how I'm feeling ... I feel like the roof just gave in and fell on me. Bit of trouble, that. Ears are still ringing. Head's a bit dazed. Don't know how you Brits can stand it!"

Posted: **Fri Aug 10, 2012 3:29 am**

Irene glances at the pistol and the tube and does a double take. I've seen something like that before, she thinks. Could that be a suppressor? "If you can't manage the ladder, I'll be over to help in a bit," she says to the fellows before turning back to Aaron Hewitt and smiling at him as well. "He was just looking for identification, Mr. Hewitt," she says, "when he happened to find your weapon. It's unusual to find an American here - being from one of the Southern States, I'm sure you don't want to be called a Yank - especially one who's armed. We could use a few million like you, but I suppose one is a start. So, what brings you to London?" She looks deep into his eyes as she speaks and listens to his response, reading him like an open book.

Posted: **Fri Aug 10, 2012 4:27 am**

Florence listens as the conversation continues, and meanwhile puts her smelling salts bottle back in her medical bag and closes the bag up.

Posted: **Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:11 am**

William limps over to assist with the removal of the ladder.

Posted: **Fri Aug 10, 2012 9:32 am**

John leaves the two women to chat with the handsome American. The ladder seems to be coming off so he goes back to the lamps and starts taking them off the brackets. It looks like the search will continue for the people trapped down below so he aims to get a lamp each if there are enough. He also looks to see if there is extra paraffin stored anywhere.

Posted: **Fri Aug 10, 2012 11:07 am**

Mech repair (1d100=75) – Fail.

Young Doug is a little embarrassed that he did not managed to pull of the ladder. Surely he could do it by force with a risk of breaking it but playing with delicate tools wasn’t his field. His grins to William as the later detach the ladder. Once the ladder is off Doug takes it to the hole and place it so they will be able to go down.
Ladder is ready.
He announce to the others, waiting for them to finish the conversation with the American

Posted: **Fri Aug 10, 2012 12:57 pm**

"Wanted to do what I can against the Gerries," said the American, scratching at the back of his head in an obvious tell that he's a little ashamed of the real answer - or perhaps his inability to actually answer. His gaze also darts a couple times to the hole in the floor in a somewhat knowing manner. "Whaddaya think happened to that? Looks a bit structurally unsound. You ain't thinking of taking the ladder down there to get further out of the air raid, are ya?"

Posted: **Fri Aug 10, 2012 1:43 pm**

"We think there are people trapped down there," says Florence, in response to the American. "We have to try to reach them. Do you have any idea what happened there? Did you see any clues?"

Posted: **Sat Aug 11, 2012 3:07 am**

Irene raises an eyebrow. "That's quite admirable of you, Mr. Hewitt," she says. "We have had some volunteers already, and they've been a great help. But you're the first I know of who carries a suppressor. That's an extraordinary piece of kit. What's it in aid of?" Suppressors, or silencers as they were often called by people who didn't know their right name, were quite rare. She would never have recognized one or known what to call it had her brother Oliver not joined the No. 2 Commando last year and been issued one. He might very well have need of one wherever he had been sent, which he hadn't told her and she had known better than to ask. But what did this American plan to do with one in London?

Posted: **Sat Aug 11, 2012 5:15 am**

William speaks over his shoulder, while lowering the ladder into the pit. "He's either ONI or he's come over to murder someone all nice and quiet-like, Miss. Or both." He chuckles, "We - my men and I, I mean, saw a few of his like slinking towards forward lines during Dunkirk. They liked to think that they were inconspicuous, but just look at that nice haircut this one's got. And who in Britain with their mind intact has the time for a tan like that?"

He turns away from the ladder and back towards Aaron, "Not that I'm complaining, mate. If you're ONI you're welcome in these times of trouble. If you're not, who are you here to kill?"

Posted: **Sat Aug 11, 2012 5:48 am**

Posted: **Sat Aug 11, 2012 6:18 am**

Florence is alarmed at the way the discussion is going, even though she is unsure what a suppressor is exactly. However she has heard enough to be concerned, and watches the American closely to see what he says next, and to try to assess whether he is telling the truth, or at least how much of it is he is revealing.

Posted: **Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:00 am**

John also counts the satchels and handbags left lying about; it may give an indication on how many people they are looking for. He still can't work out why they would leave the relative safety of the shelter for the service tunnel, especially as a number were obviously women. He's not particularly impressed with the American.

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:01 am**

There seems to have been at least seven people here, presuming each item belonged to a different person except for those bags containing kit and spare clothes which could be matched to the handbags or what-not.

The American rubs his head. "Its something worse than that, I can assure you." He slowly struggles to his feet, clearly bruised and battered, with stiff joints, and groans slightly. "Wouldn't go down there if I were you. Haven't you heard of the blackout gangs burrowing up beneath the air raid shelters and murdering folk? Suppose you haven't. Doubt your MInistry of Information would like to advertise the fact."

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:12 am**

William gives Aaron a skeptical look, "Blackout gangs? No, can't say that I've heard a thing about those." He peers back into the hole, then back to the American, "So what does a Yank have to do with a gang of thugs in Britain, eh?"

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:21 am**

Irene nods. "Pull the other one, it's got bells on," she says to Aaron. "There may be gangs that roam the blackout, but burrowing under shelters and killing people? How would they even do that? It would take heavy machinery to break through the floor, and how would they get up through that hole without a ladder or something? Look, I heard people down there calling for help, saying they were trapped in the rubble. I've got to try to help them, and I hope you'd do the same. We'll do what we can for your injuries first, of course. If you know what's really going on down there, I suggest you level with us. Just what do you know, and how do you know it?"

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 3:42 am**

"I agree," says Florence. "Share with us what you know. We have to help the people we heard down there, and we have to do so soon. Meanwhile I'll see if I can do anything for your injuries." She expertly tends the American's wounds and he recovers 1 hit point. "I'm sorry that's all I can do for you here," she says, "but you should feel more comfortable now. Now please help us!"

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:06 am**

"You really don't want to go down there," says Hewitt. "But thanks for the ladder. Gun please." He holds out his hand.

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:46 am**

Laraqua wrote:"You really don't want to go down there," says Hewitt.

I think I DO!
Doug replies to the American, punching his tight right fist into his open left palm.
I can deal with gang members, not with falling bomb.
Doug place his hand in his pocket, feeling his switchblade, if the American is right, he will need it.
Light up my way down John.
He says and begin to climb down.

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:21 am**

"You're ... serious, aren't you?" asks Hewitt, stepping out in front of the ladder with a hand out to prevent the bigger man from heading down. "Think about it a minute. I mean, I woulda noticed if there were any nurses here before so I'm supposing you just got here. This hole appears and the twenty six individuals who shared this shelter with me are ... gone. And you're just going to go down there?" He grins. "Say, you lot are as crazy as Australians. I like it. You might want to arm up. No idea what we'll find down there." He turns back with his hand out. "Can I have my gun back now?"

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:36 am**

What do you mean gone?
Doug replies
This place is not that safe, just look back to where you lied a moment ago, a pile of rubble.
Surely this tunnel can lead us maybe to a safer shelter. This one crumbles under the pressure and the floor gives way.
Doug points to the trap door they entered through.
We cannot go out either, the Nazis drop bombs out there.
Doug takes out his pocket knife, showing it to the American
I have my piece
With that he circles the American and climbs down the ladder.

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:48 pm**

John passes Doug a lamp as he starts down the ladder, "Careful as you go son." He clips another lamp to the top of the ladder to light it up for the return journey. He gets his tool bag while waiting surreptitiously for the nurses and William to finish with the American.

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:17 pm**

William removes his pistol from the inside of his coat. He then turns to the American and offers him the Colt. "Just be aware that you're not the only one here with some lead in this situation." He watches Aaron closely. If the man shows any hint of violence, William intends to put him down as quickly as he can.

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:29 pm**

"Twenty-six people?" says Irene. "Yes, we'd better go help them quickly and get them out of there. You've got a very perceptive eye, Mr. Hewitt, to have counted all of the people in the shelter before anything even happened. Arming ourselves is a good notion. I don't have any weapons, but some of those tools look like they'd do. I'm rather strong, and I can also fight unarmed if I must. I took a defense course last year when it looked like the Gerries were going to invade." She waits her turn to descend the ladder, holding it steady for the others.

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:42 pm**

As if to put the truth to their words, a bomb sounds closely and makes the whole world shake under their feet. More rubble slides down the hole and the ladder skids a bit under the weight but its steady enough under their firm guidance.

The American sighs, but seems more content with their enthusiasm than anything, before taking his gun back and holding it loosely in one hand. "Your first aid kit may be the most important object," he said. "Not that I'd turn my back on any female assistance. The more weapons the merrier." His smile turns nostalgic as though he's thinking of a very particular lady before he heads down the ladder as well.

The tunnel stretches out in both directions into darkness. Pipes line the wall on one side. It looks like its some sort of water maintenance tunnel although judging by the rubber protected wiring wrapped together and bundled across the walls as well, it may also hold electricity as well. Hopefully not. That could become a lethal mix if it springs a leak.

Posted: **Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:50 pm**

Irene shines her torch up and down the tunnel, but her eyes still haven't fully adjusted. Her hearing, on the other hand, is as sharp as ever.

Posted: **Mon Aug 13, 2012 1:01 am**

William clambers down the ladder with difficulty, using mostly his upper body strength to get him down. Once in the tunnel, he peers about, listening for any tell-tale sounds of injured people.

Posted: **Mon Aug 13, 2012 3:00 am**

Florence climbs carefully down the ladder, keeping a tight hold on her medicine bag which she carries over her shoulder by a strap. When she gets down to the bottom she looks carefully around her.

Posted: **Mon Aug 13, 2012 7:43 am**

Doug brush his cloth as he lands from the ladder to the tunnel's floor. He takes the lamp John gave him in his left hand while the right hand holds his knife.
He tries to see what lies ahead in both directions but the light on the lamp blinds him for a moment and his ears still ring from the last bomb.

Listen, Spot Hidden (1d100,1d100=[71], [48]) - both fail

Posted: **Mon Aug 13, 2012 1:04 pm**

John gives everyone a spare lamp as they climb down and passes William his cane. He climbs down last, carrying his bag, glad to be out of reach of the bombs. He is not too distressed at being in a service tunnel as he has worked in similar ones before. He takes a closer look at the pipes to check what utilities are running through and their general state of repair.

Posted: **Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:58 pm**

The distressed woman seeking her father has sat on one of the bunks whimpering into her handkerchief for much of this but now that the shelter is deserted, she hurries towards the ladder and rushes down. "My father, he must've come down this way," she says as she reaches the bottom. "But how did he get down here?"

Those with keen eyes can see a few trails of blood here and there and a spatter about knee height against one of the walls that seems to have been smeared sidelong. Its still wet and glistening.

Everyone can hear a pair of young women crying in the distance but those with keen ears can hear a low male snickering as well.

Posted: **Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:30 pm**

"There are some trails of blood here, and more here on one of the walls," says Florence, pointing out the marks to the others. "I wonder what happened here?"

Posted: **Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:07 am**

Hearing the sound of women in trouble makes William's blood rise. Leaning heavily against his cane, he gestures with his head for John to lead the way. "Can't hold a lamp and a pistol, I'm afraid, mate. You light up whatever scum is threatening the ladies and I'll put him down."

Posted: **Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:37 am**

"I hear them too," whispers Irene, "and I'm coming with you. I'll hold the light, and you two concentrate on aiming. If I have to fight, I can still deliver a good swift kick. Let's try not to make noise as we approach, and keep the light low. Maybe we can catch them by surprise."

Posted: **Tue Aug 14, 2012 3:29 am**

"I'm coming too," says Florence quietly. "If there are people in distress I may be able to give them some medical aid. And I could always bash someone over the head with the medical bag if needs must."

Posted: **Tue Aug 14, 2012 8:30 am**

I will take the rear.
Doug replies as he hold a lamp with one hand and a sharp knife in the other.
He leaves the front to the those who hold firearms.

Posted: **Tue Aug 14, 2012 8:53 am**

John shines the lamp up the tunnel. He doesn't have anything for a weapon but keeps his fist handy, his bag on his shoulder. He keeps to the side so those behind him have a clear aim. Then he starts walking slowly towards the women's cries.

Posted: **Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:56 am**

"C-can you hear my father?" asked the woman, following slowly behind her.

Hewitt flashes her a smile. "We'll see about your father, Miss...?"

She returns his smile somewhat sheepishly. "Halloway. Julia Halloway."

"Well, I've got to go up towards the front but you stay back here and I'm sure you'll be fine," said Hewitt cheerfully. "If you hear anything terrible, run."

"Wh-why would you say that?" she muttered, but he was already moving toward the center of the group with his gun out.

They reach a T-Intersection. Those with keen ears can hear that the whimpering seems to be coming from the right although there is a slight echo of it to the left. The flashlights bounce off the walls, weakened due to the lid placed over it in the event of an air raid, but bright enough in the darkness to give a dim illumination to the sloping walls.

Posted: **Wed Aug 15, 2012 2:05 am**

William stops short, his breathing slightly labored, "Sounds like the blighters have them cornered down that hall." He motions with his pistol toward the right. "Echos play hell on pinpointing a source, though. I remember a troop of Gerries coming through a bombed-out feasthall, yet it sounded as if they were around the other side. Lucky we had a scout that-," he cuts short his reminiscence, realizing that now is not the time.

He turns to John. "What do you think, John, left or right?"

Posted: **Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:08 am**

Irene looks at the ground for traces of recent passage down either tunnel, but finds none. "I can't find any tracks," she whispers, "but maybe the rest of you will have better luck. My guess is to the right too. Maybe both tunnels get there eventually, but that one's quicker. This place might be easy to get lost in. We should mark our trail so we can find our way back, maybe a notch on the wall pointing the way we came." She smiles at Julia. "Hello, I'm Irene Carpenter. Stick close to me, I'll look after you."

Posted: **Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:51 am**

William peers closely at the floor and tunnel sides in the dim lamplight, trying to discern any signs of recent passage.

Posted: **Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:54 am**

Florence has good tracking skills from her time spent outdoors as a youngster, but totally fails to spot anything here.

Posted: **Wed Aug 15, 2012 6:20 am**

William can see some scratch marks on the concrete floor thats unleashed some of the concrete that has settled down here over the months of bombing. Its only a fine bit of dust here and there, but its easier to see the scratched concrete is a little bit cleaner than the surrounding. The thing is, someone would have to be really terrified to manage to scratch concrete. Either that or the scratches are due to some sort of metal tool being dragged here and there.

There's also no blood -- which is the strange thing. How does a person kidnap over a dozen people without any real injury? Obviously they weren't all knocked out and dragged.

Posted: **Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:45 am**

Julia, do you have a lipstick so we can mark where we came from ?
Doug suggests.
He did took a handbag for his stuff but he spilled the content on the bunk.

Posted: **Wed Aug 15, 2012 12:05 pm**

John looks back they came to see if the light from the ladder is visible. He thinks if he has anything in his tool bag, "I can probably chip some marks in the concrete but lipstick would be quicker if you have some Miss. Else tie a bit of cloth around one of the pipes in the outbound tunnel. Maybe a bandage." As soon as the ladies have marked the tunnel John leads them down to the right.

Posted: **Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:40 am**

"Good thinking," whispers Irene, fishing in her own handbag. "Hang about, I think I've got a lipstick in here somewhere." She produces it and draws a red arrow on the wall, pointing down the tunnel from which they had come. Then she follows the others down the tunnel to the right, making sure to keep an eye behind them as well in case anyone sneaks up from the other branch.

Posted: **Thu Aug 16, 2012 3:52 am**

"Sorry, I've no lipstick," mutters Julia, giving Irene a pitying look. Lipstick is getting increasingly hard to find these days.

The torches reveal nothing untoward in the gloom, though William, at least, seems to have his attention caught by the T-Intersection.

Posted: **Fri Aug 17, 2012 11:34 pm**

William motions the others closer, having finished his examination of the floor. "Come, look at these," he lightly traces his fingers over the faint gouges in the floor. "Can't be from fingernails, or there'd be blood. Does anyone have any experience with excavation? Could these be tool marks?"

Posted: **Fri Aug 17, 2012 11:44 pm**

Florence bends down to look at the marks more closely. "I've never seen anything like this before," she says quietly. "But you're right, at least there seem to be no traces of blood. That has to be somewhat encouraging."

Posted: **Sat Aug 18, 2012 4:03 am**

Irene shrugs. "I've no idea," she whispers. "Let's go on, quickly. Those girls are in danger."

Posted: **Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:47 am**

John waits, silently holding his lamp high over everyone's heads, trying to dispel the gloom which is making him morose. He too is worried about the women down the corridor.

Posted: **Sat Aug 18, 2012 3:49 pm**

With a groan, William rises to his feet and begins to head to down the right tunnel, making sure to keep John's light to his rear and left. He doesn't want his own shadow to obscure anything dangerous that might appear in front of him. His gun shakes slightly in his hand and he wonders if it's due to fear or the old battlefield excitement.

Posted: **Sun Aug 19, 2012 7:24 pm**

Doug follows from the rear with lamp in his left hand and holds his knife with his right. From time to time he glance back so no one will surprise them from behind.

Posted: **Mon Aug 20, 2012 12:44 am**

The gloom seems to gain strength from the presence of the torch and in the near distance there seems to be a blot, an inky substance thicker and darker than the surrounding shadows. Perhaps its just the shadow flung from some object in their way but when John sways his lamp, just to make sure, their own shadows sway and change their shape but that inky blot remains the same.

Posted: **Mon Aug 20, 2012 3:58 pm**

William squints his eyes against the chaotic play of shadows, trying to make out the form at the center of the blackness before him. He slowly moves closer, pistol held ready.

Posted: **Tue Aug 21, 2012 4:51 am**

Irene trains her torch on the shadowy form, hoping to reveal it.

Posted: **Tue Aug 21, 2012 8:30 am**

Doug looks from the rear, trying to understand why the pace is slowed.
What's wrong?

Posted: **Tue Aug 21, 2012 8:34 am**

"There's something strange up ahead we're trying to identify," whispers Florence, turning round to Doug.

Posted: **Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:54 pm**

"Stay behind me." He hands Irene his oil lamp and takes out his electric torch, "It could be gas, keep the lamps away until I'm sure." He starts to walk towards the black shadow until it is fully lit with his torch.

Posted: **Thu Aug 23, 2012 1:49 am**

At his approach, the silhouette turns its head and Irene's flashlight captures the edge of a bald head and eyes that reflect the light before it scampers away in a flurry of mishappen limbs down the left side of a cross tunnels, its feet making more of a rubbing sound than the normal slaps of foot falls. The whole thing happens so fast it is hard to imagine that's what they saw.

Posted: **Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:45 am**

"Who was that, the bloody Elephant Man?" whispers Irene.

Posted: **Thu Aug 23, 2012 8:01 am**

"Very strange," whispers Florence. "I'm struggling to make sense of what that was. A person, I guess, but it didn't look much like any normal person, or sound like one either. Still, shall we continue onwards to the sounds of the women crying?"

Posted: **Thu Aug 23, 2012 8:08 am**

William gasps briefly at the sight of the grotesque, before reminding himself that some of his mates that survived Dunkirk look just as bad. "Bolster yourselves, everyone. That could have been one of the wounded. Although how he moved so fast with such injuries is beyond me."

He continues forward, pistol held ready.

Posted: **Fri Aug 24, 2012 2:32 am**

Irene nods and follows along, using her torch to pierce the darkness.

Posted: **Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:40 am**

'Probably a bare-footed tramp.' John thinks to himself. He's glad that there's no gas at least; that would have been nasty. 'Funny looking sod though. No wonder he hides away down here.' He takes back his lamp, switches off the electric torch and continues walking down the tunnel with the others.

Posted: **Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:40 pm**

Failing to see from the back who or what fled before them, Doug sighs and goes on.

Posted: **Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:04 am**

"I'm sure that was perfectly normal," mutters the American, gun held loosely at his side.

"Poor thing, think it was really walking wounded?" asks Julia quietly. "It - it seemed ... almost as though it were flailing to move. Reminded me almost like a windmill."

"A windmill of broken bones," mutters Hewitt.

Posted: **Sat Aug 25, 2012 11:20 am**

John strains his ears but hears nothing but echoes. He holds the lamp high but sees nothing unusual. He keeps walking slowly down the tunnel.

Posted: **Sat Aug 25, 2012 11:21 am**

Posted: **Sat Aug 25, 2012 5:53 pm**

Irene can't hear anything any more, nor can she see much. She can't find any signs of recent passage either.

Posted: **Sun Aug 26, 2012 9:16 am**

Listen, Spot, Track (1d100=24, 1d100=85, 1d100=23) - Listen [pass] , Spot and Track [Fail]

Shhh, I think I can hear something.
Doug says. He tries to penetrate the darkness with his eyes to see what lies before them but being the one that holds a lamp and being in the rear makes it hard to spot anything up ahead.

Posted: **Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:04 pm**

Posted: **Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:03 am**

Those with keen ears notice the sound of a woman snickering quietly in the background and can tell its coming from the left where everyone can hear a few clear moans followed by a whimper. Those whose eyes are sharp notice plenty more of those scratched grooves here and there alongside a badly dented pick axe but as no one has a tracker's eyes no one can be sure if the pick axe made the markings on the floor. It stands to reason that it did, however.

Posted: **Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:29 am**

I can hear something, a female voice ... something is weird over here, like someone who's playing tricks on us. It's coming from the left.
Doug says from the back.

Posted: **Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:46 am**

"Yes I can hear that too," says Florence. "I can also see more of the strange grooves in the ground, and there's a dented pick-axe beside them, which I presume was used to make them. This is getting stranger and stranger."

Posted: **Tue Aug 28, 2012 3:43 pm**

John turns back to the group. "Do you want to see if the lady needs aid before we continue down the tunnel?" John asks the nurses. He is interested in the pick axe and bends down to pick it up. "How did this get so dented? They are usually indestructible, although it could be inferior steel: war reserves." He flicks the point with his thumb nail.

Posted: **Tue Aug 28, 2012 4:00 pm**

"I want to see the lady," says Florence. "She sounds as if she needs help."

Posted: **Tue Aug 28, 2012 8:54 pm**

William nods at Florence, "I'm with her. Let's attend to any apparent injured first. The man that ran away can still move. And quickly, at that."

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:04 am**

"You ever think that maybe she's full of crap and is involved in whatever's going on down here?" asked Hewitt. "Or possibly is being used like a tethered goat to lure us in? As for that creepy guy, doubt he'd let himself get spotted so easily if he were truly involved. But then I guess you never can tell...."

"Why would anyone want to lure us in?" asked Julia.

"That's an interesting question," said Hewitt. "But I don't hear anyone trying to move towards us and we're not exactly being quiet. Whoever's out there, they're either not trying to reach us or aren't interested in doing so."

Julia shivered. "You're starting to scare me."

Hewitt flashed her an unfriendly smile. "Good."

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:54 am**

"Maybe it is a trap," says Irene, marking the wall with her lipstick by drawing an arrow back the way they came, "but maybe that girl is in genuine danger. We have to check it out. Besides, if it were a trap, why didn't they have her scream loud enough for all of us to hear?"

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2012 6:58 am**

I think the American got a point.
Doug, the former young gang member, remarks
Anyone can hear us, surely we are a beacon of light in this dark tunnel and no one screams for help or trying to reach us. If the man was injured he would have been coming to us and not escaping the light. Something is strange.
Doug raise his voice loud enough for the denizens lurking in the shadows of the tunnel to hear
Hey, if you are injured come to the light. but if you are a gang member trying to lure us and steal our money you have my fist ready for you!

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2012 7:15 am**

"Well, that'd do it," says the American wryly. "That'd have me quivering in my boots." After that, he cocks his head to listen.

Those with keen ears can hear a hoarse voice croak: "Can't ... mah ... can't...." Then her voice cracks into whimpers. Something sounds ... wrong ... about her voice.

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:02 am**

"I'm a nurse, I have to try to help her," says Florence. "Trap or not, and I'm struggling to understand why it should be a trap, it's what I have to do. Who's coming with me?"

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:49 am**

"Might not be a trap," said Hewitt. "Might be that over a dozen people decided to disappear down a hole in the floor for no good reason and then hide down a few passageways to shout 'surprise' at the rescue party and shower them with candy."

Julia glares at him. "Do you have to be sarcastic? My father is down there somewhere...."

Hewitt winces. "Sorry, doll. I've just got a ghoulish sense of humor. Comes with the job."

"What job is that exactly?" she asked.

He simply shrugged.

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2012 1:06 pm**

Doug keeps checking his back, they did passed some others tunnel junctions and if this is a trap, the hunter might circle them and surprise them from the rear.

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:00 pm**

John is generally quiet and very meek and gentle, afraid of alarming people because he is rather large. But he glares at Hewitt for trying to scare them and his fists start to itch. "Look mate, pipe down won't you? You're scaring the ladies and it's bad enough down here as it is. If you can't be helpful, go back to the shelter."

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:54 am**

Hewitt holds up his hands apologetically. "All right. Point made."

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2012 3:20 am**

William shoots a glance at Hewitt, "If you're quite finished, we have a woman to tend to." He shakes his head and limps forward faster. Hopefully, they can get there in time to help.

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2012 3:45 am**

"I'm with you, Florence," says Irene, staying beside her as they traverse the tunnel.

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2012 5:31 pm**

John nodes to Hewitt curtly, accepting the apology for now. He turns and follows the nurses, holding his lamp up to light the main group.

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2012 5:45 pm**

Florence leads the way towards where the sound of the woman was coming from, keeping a careful eye on things as she goes, alert to anything untoward.

Posted: **Fri Aug 31, 2012 1:26 am**

The tunnel is bare for around thirty feet but there's a hole in the wall that seems to have been broken through behind the pipes that leads into an older brick tunnel system. There's the faint smell of dry manure that wafts in down that tunnel. The voices are definitely coming from somewhere beyond that hole in the wall.

Posted: **Fri Aug 31, 2012 2:50 am**

Upon reaching the hole in the wall, William hands Florence cane with an apologetic look, then awkwardly hefts himself through into the older tunnel. He recovers his cane from her through the aperture. "Thanks Miss. Sorry to be a bother." He waits for the rest of the group, gun held forward and squinting against the darkness.

Posted: **Fri Aug 31, 2012 3:19 am**

The lamp and torchlight shows that this is a larger tunnel that sits a good three feet below the one you are currently in and yet is almost as high so it's a bit of a drop that requires either cautious lowering of the body or a bit of athletics (Jump). William finds himself standing on a ledge beside a deeper recess that is still cast in pitch black shadow while none of the lights play across it. The gun certainly feels welcome in his hands in these uncertain surroundings.

Hewitt drops down beside him with what appears to be grace, before his left foot slides out from under him and he slips forward off the ledge and into the ditch, head cracking against the brickwork as he goes. "Oh shit!" he snaps.

Posted: **Fri Aug 31, 2012 4:45 am**

"We'd better take this carefully," says Irene as she finishes marking the wall here, wincing at the profanity. "I'll help lower you down so you can help him, Florence. Then I'll follow right behind you."

Play@YSDC

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