Part One C - Desperately Seeking Inuit

[Cearlan]

After travelling for several hours, maintaining their heading of South by South East, you stumble across some tracks that lead across your path, though it is difficult to say if the tracks are probably heading due West instead of East. The tracks include sleds and people on foot, by the length of their strides, it does not seem as though they were fleeing.

[ghill]

Patrick turns the sled in the direction of the tracks.

[Cearlan]

After a hour or so following your tracks you can see in the distance the group ahead of you. About ten minutes later the suddenly veer off to the South.

OOC:   How do you proceed and in what order are you all travelling?

[ghill]

Patrick brings his dogs to a stop, then looks at Jesse. What do you suggest?

OOC:   Can we determine how many are in the group and can we still see them as they head South? What is the ground like here?

OOC:   I had assumed that we'd probably only have a single sled, with Patrick driving and Jesse either on the sled or towed along on Ski's - but it was entirely my assumption not discussed with Pappa G.

[dustakr]

OOC,I want to be with expedition team, though I am not sure how should I catch up with Patrick and Jesse.

[Cearlan]

OOC:   I had assumed that we'd probably only have a single sled, with Patrick driving and Jesse either on the sled or towed along on Ski's - but it was entirely my assumption not discussed with Pappa G.

OK then - that's what it will be - though you will be joined soon.

OOC,I want to be with expedition team, though I am not sure how should I catch up with Patrick and Jesse.

OOC:   For the sake of the game we can assume that as soon as the other party return to camp they quickly debrief everyone on what they found and anyone who wishes can set out in search of Patrick. I have asked for the others to let me know who wants to tag along for the ride so the entry below may be edited to include others.

OOC:   Can we determine how many are in the group and can we still see them as they head South? What is the ground like here?

The group looks to be large, say about 40+ Difficult to tell at this sort of range with any more accuracy. The ground you are covering is frozen drifts of snow and ice, the weather, although more or less permanent night is clear and frosty ... very cold. They are visible to you, although at times some of them may disappear as they disappear behind ice drifts, but the majority of the group remain visible at any given time.

You suddenly hear a shout from behind you as a two man sled and skier approach. The closer they get you can recognise that the sled bears Chris and Poo-Yet-Tah with Dougal being the outrider.

[Papa Gateau]

Patrick brings his dogs to a stop, then looks at Jesse. What do you suggest?

Well we're here to warn the locals, so I think we should catch them up and let them know that there is something large and dangerous out here.

As he finishes speaking, he sees the dogs prick their ears and turn their heads back towards the direction they have come from, he nods at the dogs Something is coming up behind us a minute or so later the other sled appears accompanied by the shout.

Seems we have company, maybe cutting up bodies isn't as much fun as they thought.

OOC:   Jesse will be riding the sled, he is happy to take turns driving the dogs

[dustakr]

OOC,considering my previous track roll, just need to confirm, if Conroe is lost or something, if yes can he roll track again or is it possible to head back to barracks.

[ghill]

Patrick will start to move the Sled forward the figures out on the ice, trying to pick his way through the worst of the drifts. He moves slowly because he doesn't want anyone following to lose him, nor does he want those he is following to be concerned about what Patrick and Jesse's intentions are. If Patrick can get near enough he will shout at the Inuit to alert them of their presence.

[Cearlan]

OOC:   Conroe is with the group catching up to Patrick and Jesse - That makes Chris, Poo-Yet-Tah, Conroe and (if I understand right) Dougal - If this is the case then there will be two two man sleds. Let me know if I have misunderstood.

[andyw666]

OOC:   Actually, Dougal had been resting back at the base but if you're happy for him to be with the Inuit hunting group, absolutely, count him in.

[Cearlan]

OOC:   Are the group following the trail left by the Inuit or 'cutting across' on an intercept course?

Once the three sleds are together, they move swiftly across the ice field. Suddenly a loud crack fills the air and the sled with Chris and Poo-Yet-Tah fall down into the opening crevasse. Fortunately they were a few feet behind the other two sleds so only they were caught. The loud screams of Chris and the huskies sound out above the moderate wind as they plummet downward and are suddenly stilled - too suddenly to be a good sign surely! Poo-Yet-Tah makes no sound other than a shout which was largely drowned out by the cracking of the ice as it opens. Was it a call of surprise or warning?

[ghill]

OOC:   Pretty imaterial now But Patrick having seen the Inuit disappear onto the ice would have cut a path directly towards them unless the ground looked unsafe.

Patrick brings the sled to a halt and asks Jesse to take the leads he then quickly unstraps two climbing ropes which he secures to the sled tieing one around his waist and looping the other through his belt before making his way, slowly and carefully towards the crevasse. Testing the ground with each step.

Spot Hidden 45: [dice]0[/dice] - checking the ice is stable and will hold his weight.

[andyw666]

Very conscious of the possibility of giant prehistoric sabre toothed polar bears showing up, Dougal jumps off his sled then immediately unslings and loads his shotgun. Dougal will watch all approaches but be ready to help Patrick.

[Cearlan]

OOC:   Pretty imaterial now But Patrick having seen the Inuit disappear onto the ice would have cut a path directly towards them unless the ground looked unsafe.

OOC:   That was more for how long it would take to reach the Inuit as opposed to the reasoning/positioning behind the ice splitting

Reaching the edge of the crevasse and making sure that you are lying down to distribute your weight better, Patrick peers over the edge and looks down into the depths. At the bottom of the split, you can see the wreckage of the sled and dogs. Chris' broken body lies close to the bottom, his legs at the wrong angle to his torso. There is no sign of Poo-Yet-Tah at first. Edging closer to the lip of the chasm, you can see him some distance down lying face up on something akin to a narrow ledge. You estimate the distance as being about fifty feet below your current position.

[andyw666]

Dougal races over to Patrick's sled. Carefully putting down his shotgun near at hand, Dougal takes up the rope, ready to assist.

"Paddy lad, give me the word and I'm ready to help lower you down or pull you up. Are they alive down there, can you see them?"

[dustakr]

Conroe halts the sled little ahead of Patrick's sled, and starts calling loudly towards inuit group ahead for help until the group figures fade away..

[ghill]

Patrick rolls over onto his back to look over at Dougal. Don't worry about pulling me up Dougal the ropes tied off on the sled, the dogs can do that for us. Best do the same to yourself with a rope tied off on your sled as well in case the ice at the edge gives way. Then I'll go down with this second rope and we can start hauling them up. I can see Chris and Poo-Yet-Tah, I'm not sure Chris made it, he looks pretty broken up. then rolling back to look down the crevasse. He shouts "Poo-Yet-Tah, can you hear me are you OK? Can you see if Chris is still alive?"

[andyw666]

Dougal is happy to bow to local expertise. He quickly slings the old shotgun and races back to his own sled to organise ropes as Patrick suggested.

"All set!"

[Cearlan]

Poo-Yet-Tah does not respond, and worryingly Partick can see the ice beside his head is starting to become stained crimson.