Play@YSDC

Leonek's knock echoed through the hollow interior of the armored vehicle. There was no response.

Elliot could find no trace of the guards, but the ground near the secret entrance to the caves was coated with a slimy, white goo. "I wouldn't worry about the guards," said Victoria. "Rover's been through here on its way to the inn. It must have taken care of them. If they were smart, they ran away and won't be back. If they tried to attack, it would have eaten them." She covered up the underground passage, concealing it effectively. If Elliot hadn't known it was there, he probably wouldn't have noticed it.

Leonek cringed at the creature's name.

"Vh..vhat is Rower anyvay? I hawe newer seen anything like him."


He tried to open the hatch of the APC and if that worked, he'd clamber in and try to get the engine started.

Elliot looked inside to make sure there were no bodies and what else might be in the vehicle, "I think they said it was a Shag..oth or something like that. I didn't recognize the name."

Elliot could find no bodies or human remains. If the guards had been eaten, Rover had consumed them completely.

"It's called a shoggoth," Victoria said, following Elliot to the vehicle. "Mother taught me that."

Leonek easily opened the hatch and found the APC empty. He climbed in and started the engine with no problem.

Leonek's smile broadened.


"See? I told you it vas going to vork."

He looked back at the other two and grinned.

"Buckle in, ve are going for a ride."


Leonek kicked the APC into gear and headed towards the Inn.

Elliot got in and buckled up just before the APC took off. "Don't kill us before we get there."

Victoria climbed into the troop compartment, closed the hatch behind her, and strapped herself in next to Elliot. Leonek turned the APC around and headed up Monastery Hill towards the inn.

OOC,I need to wait for another thread to catch up with you before you get there, but feel free to keep conversing.

Leonek grumbled almost inaudibly.
"If only..."


Then he spoke more clearly.

"I could try the radio in this wehicle to contact the Brigadier, then ve can leawe our guns behind."

"Try the radio," said Victoria, "but leaving our weapons behind is a bad idea."

Leonek nodded and grabbed the speaker.

"This is Priwate Novak. I am in the company of a representatiwe of the ...", he looked back at Victoria apologetically and continued, "of the Sea Devils. They vant to parlay for peace. Requesting orders."

"If they wish to surrender," replied the Brigadier, "that's all well and good. But they'd better not think they can dictate terms to us. What's your position and status, Private?"

"Ve are currently en route to the Ship Inn, sir. The rest of my team is either captiwe or dead. I am in the company of Vebb and a wery fine representatiwe of the Sea Dewils."

Even from behind, Leonek looked rather uncomfortable to call Victoria's race by their name.

"So you've been captured by them too?" the Brigadier said. "And what do you mean by 'very fine representative'? You're starting to sound like Webb. The last I heard, the Ship Inn was under attack. Get the Sea Devils to call that attack off if you can."

Leonek almost snarled.

"I am not a traitor!...sir..."

He takes a deep breath, sounding less combative this time.

"And yes, I am their prisoner. Shall I tell that if they call off the attack on the Ship Inn ve vill negotiate a truce?"

Elliot listened in but bit his tongue.

"It's too late for that," said Salem Shields's despondent voice on the radio. "This is Trap One. The enemy has taken us. They breached us from both sides, Greyhound One, and they have hostages. We had no choice but to surrender. I think their leader wants to talk to you."

"I am High Priestess Y'Hali," said her voice next. "Your command post has fallen. Your assault on our temple has failed. Your people have all been killed, captured, or driven away. Your naval vessels have been sunk. You have lost. Now we shall discuss your surrender and end this bloodshed. No more lives need be lost tonight. If you kill any more of my people, I promise that you will not get out alive."

The APC was approaching the Ship Inn. The car park on the right side of the inn was smeared with a tremendous amount of white goo. A single Sea Devil lay dead near the rear entrance. There was no sign of anyone, human or otherwise, outside, but there were lights on in the inn's rear-facing windows on the ground floor.

Leonek stared at the pulpy goo outside the inn and stopped the APC.

"Vhat the hell happened here..."


"Ve should go inside, look for surwiwors maybe..." He looked at Victoria with kind eyes. "Maybe it's safer if you waited here."

"Let me get back to you," replied the Brigadier on the radio.

"That must be what's left of Rover," said Victoria, her eyes downcast. "I didn't think anything could kill it...We do have to go inside, but I need to come with you. That was Mother speaking on the radio. The inn is hers now. The battle is over, and I'll be safe there. If you go in there without me, there's no telling how they might react."

Leonek tried to take in the white snot covering everything, it was hard to fathom that had been Rover. Somehow he felt quite relieved. Victoria's suggestion drew him back to the present and he nodded.

"Yes, I can understand that. Let's go inside then and see vhat ve'll find there. Don't vorry, I'm not leawing you alone."

He managed a smile, despite the carnage and got out of the APC with the others.

Victoria led Leonek and Elliot out of the APC and across the car park to the rear entrance. As they walked, they noticed the bodies of two UNIT soldiers lying in the puddles of goo, drenched in the stuff. Both of them had spears through their chests.

OOC,[b]Elliot[/b], please roll Sanity for seeing the bodies. Sanity loss is 0/1d3. I believe [b]Leonek[/b] already lost 3 Sanity for seeing a dead body, but I can't be certain since Invisible Castle is down and I don't have time to go back through all of his threads. [b]Leonek[/b], if you haven't lost 3 Sanity for seeing a dead body, please roll Sanity as well.