IC

[maelstrom]

" Maybe its these warriors that Elis has disappeared off with? But if not lets hope its not these guys that destroyed the patrol out looking for Elis, maybe they arn't too keen on anyone digging around in what they are trying to guard." Alex shrugs.
"Guess it's boots on the ground is the only way we are going to know for sure."

[Cotton]

After what Alex says is translated for him, Zahir will vehemently shake his head. "No. no. These warriors only fight the evil that is Kali Ghati they would not attack any Americans. Your war with the Taliban is not their concern. I doubt that any of you would be able to find them unless they wanted to be found. They have an advantage over you in that these lands are their home."

Bryant will pipe up as well. "I don't like any of this. Seems to me that ether these warriors he's talking about are Taliban just lying about what their up to, or there's a whole group of people that might have gone as nuts as Ellis."

[Mr. Handy]

"We don't really have any choice," says Craig. "Nuts or not, we'll have to try to win them over if they show themselves to us. They'll be good to have as allies, and bad to have as enemies."

[Cotton]

"Alright," replies Bryant. "I'll follow your lead."


(OOC: What's your next move? Ask more questions, head back to FOB Turner, or strike out for Kali Ghati?)

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"Time to fish or cut bait," Tyner says. "I vote to head out now. This rig offers about as much protection as we can expect. What do you guys say?"

[Mr. Handy]

"I concur," says Craig. "We're not going to be better equipped than we are right now, and there's no sense wasting time. The trail would only get colder, and Ellis might only have limited time, if it's not already too late."

[maelstrom]

"Make that three. I think the Elder has told us all he can for now. Until we have seen the place for ourselves, we are just guessing, and as we are all know, sometimes there is more to these things than is plain to see."

[Cotton]

As you move to leave Zahir's hut, he speaks up. "It seems I can not stop you from going out to find that place, I can only pray that you realize the danger that you are in before it is too late."

You head out through the village and your escorts start to mount up. You gathered and left at dawn, so its still fairly early in the morning. Booker pulls you all aside and says, "I agree that we need to move fast. If there's a chance that Ellis is still alive then maybe so are the men who went after him. But I've got to say that more than likely these warriors the elder was talking about don't exist. These are a very superstitious people you've got to understand."

[Mr. Handy]

"I don't think the Elder was lying," says Craig, "but the men who told him they were these warriors might not be what they told him they are. Then again, they might be, but we can't count on running into them even if they are. If they don't want to be seen, they won't be."

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"Whatever the truth of the matter may be, we've got to be ready for anything." Tyner addresses the soldiers. "I don't have to tell you to keep you eyes open. You've been here long enough to know that. I'll keep one of the first aid kits with me at all times. Shout out if anybody needs assistance."

[Cotton]

You all load up into the Cougars and drive for a couple hours toward Varjita Mountain. The Afghanistan mountain road blazes in the summer sun. The two armored vehicles are driving through a ravine that rises sharply on either side and opens into a wider hillside about one kilometer ahead. The road is isolated, stark, barren and blazing. The vehicle smells of dust, diesel fumes, and stale sweat. You are riding along behind your escort vehicle when suddenly there is a massive boom and you find yourself shaken violently as your Cougar rolls onto its side and top from the force of the explosion. You now sit in the dark, smelling gasoline and smoke. You are startled by the suddenness with which this happened, but the MRAP did its job and it becomes apparent that none of you are injured.

You can all make a SAN check. No loss on a success. If you fail lose one point, and be sure to check one of the boxes for violence.

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Spoiler:

[dice]0[/dice]

Tyner is badly shaken by the explosion. It brings back a flash of memory that he had thought forgotten. A sudden image of the woman he loved slaughtered before his eyes fills his mind.

What in God's name am I doing here?

He's too upset even to check the other for injuries. Suddenly he wants a drink very badly.

[Mr. Handy]

As soon as he feels the explosion, Craig knows it was caused by an IED. He remains completely calm and collected. After putting on his nightvision goggles to see in the dark and making sure everyone is okay, he finds the nearest hatch so he can help everyone get out of the vehicle. Upside-down, it's a sitting duck. Any followup attack with an RPG will spell the end of them, not to mention the possibility that the fuel leak could blow it sky high even without any further outside help.

OOC,Sanity roll (current level 80) for the explosion: [dice]0[/dice]

[maelstrom]

Spoiler:

sanity check 32 [dice]0[/dice]

The shock wave tears through the vehicle and with a sudden lurch the world spins.
What the Hell
His heart pounding like a drum in his ears, Alex looks around. The voices of the others seems to wash over him, coming from a great distance. The smell of smoke wafts around him and he wonders what is burning. The smell of gasoline in the air, have we stopped for fuel. Faces hover in front of him but he can't recall their names.
Then slap.
"Alex.....Alex" Craig shouts at him.
With a sudden rush he comes back to himself and the noise and panic is real.
He unfastenes his harness and gathers his gear ready to move.

[Cotton]

Booker shoves open the driver side door, gets out of the vehicle and turns back to help the rest of you. Bryant is speaking to all of you, "We need to get out and look for cover, if this is an ambush then we're sitting ducks in here." He seems oddly calm for the first time since you left the base. Rahimi is stumblingly attempting to unfasten his harness.

(You can easily crawl out of the vehicle with your weapons and anything on your person, such as armor and comms, but you will have to leave your rucksacks behind. You can all either exit the vehicle or if someone wants to stay inside and start handing out everyone's rucksacks then that person can make a DEX or STR roll.)

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Tyner tries to make up for his temporary loss of nerve by staying behind long enough to toss out the gear. They'll be in big trouble without it. He attempts to do this with brute strength, not caring if it's done with style or grace. This is life or death.

Spoiler:

STR = 13; x 5 = 65[dice]0[/dice]

He just barely manages to get the stuff out of the vehicle, his muscles sore with the effort. He's not as young as he used to be, but thank goodness for all those sessions at the gym.

"I'm worn out," he shouts. "Can somebody help Rahimi?"

[maelstrom]

Hearing Tyner's cry, Alex looks and see Rahimi struggling to undo his harness.
Turning back into the stricken vehicle, he moves quickly to Rahimi's side. " Rahimi.. easy.. easy. its ok, weve got you." he moves Rahimi's hands away from the buckle and releases it and helps rahimi to his feet. " keep your head down, follow the soldiers lead and you will be fine, now lets get out of here.

[Mr. Handy]

Seeing that the others have things well in hand, Craig exits the Cougar and takes a look around, removing his goggles if they don't detect anyone else nearby so he can see normally in the daylight.

[Cotton]

Tyner:
You are in the process of throwing out the rucksacks. Bryant and Reynolds have already moved past you and out of the Cougar.
(OOC: it'll take two turns to get all of the rucksacks out so while no more rolls are required you will be the last person out.)

Alex:
You calm Rahimi and get him out of his harness. He gathers the gear he can carry and readies himself. "I'm right behind you."

Craig:
You crawl out of the Cougar right behind Bryant, and blink as the sudden brightness of the sun blinds you momentarily. Once your eyes adjust you see two things. The first is Booker hurriedly coordinating with Tyner to get as much gear out of the vehicle as possible. The second is Bryant pointing to an outcropping of rock on either side of the mountain rode about 10 meters back. "There! We're gonna make a run for that cover. Keep your head down and follow me."
(If you want to follow Bryant you can make a DEX roll to run to the rocks.)

[Mr. Handy]

Craig nods and crouches low, sprinting to the cover of the rocks behind Bryant, but he trips and falls.

OOC,DEX x 5 roll (50% stat) running to the rocks: [dice]0[/dice]