Play@YSDC

Tommy decides to check the trunk for a false bottom, then join the others. They seem to have found the woman they're looking for.

Fr. Mason smiles reassuringly to the woman and says: "Do you think you can walk? We better be out of this boat as soon as possible".

Tommy,Looking closely at the base of the trunk you discover that it does indeed have a false bottom with a very small tag at the back that allows entry into the compartment. Contained in the hidden section you find a handgun, (colt M1911 .45 semi-automatic), and 43 rounds of ammunition in two boxes.

On the Lower Viewing Deck,[color=#0000FF]"Yes I can walk I think without too many problems, thank you Father."[/color] She raises her head and looks around her with an aloof manner. [color=#0000FF]"Yes, I think a quick exit from this accursed vessel may well be called for."[/color]

Tommy grabs what he's found and makes his way to join the others.

Henry asks, "Does anyone know if this vessel has any lifeboats? I admit I'm not especially familiar with boats, but it seems like that would be much safer than trying to steer the ship towards land."

Melissa tries to remember but can only say;

"I don't recall seeing any when we were looking at the firework display, but then again, I was not looking for them particularly!"

"I don't remember seeing any either," says Cynthia. "I doubt there'd be any on a riverboat, but we can go up on deck and check. We probably have to go that way to get to the helm anyhow."

Albert remains at the top of the stairs keeping watch and listening.

You climb up to the upper sun deck and as you ascend the stairs you can see the pilot house, and through the ever thick fog the vague outlines of the two smokestacks loom in and out of view as the mist swirls cloyingly around you. By now your hair is starting to stick to your head and your clothes start to feel damp.
The fine drizzle that descended before has stopped and there is absolute and dead silence, no birds sing, no waves lap at the boat and the only sound you can hear is your own laboured breathing.

"There's the pilot house," whispers Cynthia, gripping the pistol. "If the villains have abandoned ship, there won't be anyone there, but we should be careful nonetheless. I'm very good at moving quietly. It comes from working in a library, moving about without disturbing the readers. I could take a closer look, and if any of them are in there, I can just point this at them while the rest of you approach." She hefts the gun.

"After you," Tommy whispers.

Cynthia nods, pushing aside her fears as she slips up to the pilot house close enough to peek inside, reassured that Tommy is not far behind her.

OOC,Stealth roll (60% skill) approaching the pilot house: [dice]0[/dice]

The Pilot House is a tenebrous shape forward of the stairs. If the investigators explore the area, they are met with a grisly sight:

Looking through one of the panes of smashed glass into the ruined remains of the Pilot House, a chill shivers your skin. The door lies smashed to mere kindling and several of the windows have been smashed as the strangely viscous fog seeps over the window ledges to pool like ichor on the polished wooden floor.All of the ship’s instruments have been smashed and the wheel ripped from its mounting. A single hand dangles like a crab from one of the wheel’s spokes.

At the base of the wheel, the body of a uniformed man lies face up in a pool of blood. His uniform is ripped in several places and his skin shows livid wounds like bites surrounded by what look like bruising from large hands.

OOC:   San roll for those viewing this grisly sight please (0/1D3)

Tommy is shocked by the gruesome sight. His nerves are badly shaken.

Cynthia somehow remains calm, in spite of the grisly scene and the destruction of the controls. "Maybe we can fix it?" she asks hopefully.

OOC,Sanity roll (current level 71) looking into the pilot house: [dice]0[/dice]

Fr. Mason stayed behind with the rest of the group, waiting for a signal that it's safe to move forward, and is for now spared from the horrible sight.

Henry will also remain with the rest of the group, but will try to look over the edge of the sun deck closest to the group.

OOC: Does Albert see any of the activity going on?

@ Albert (brz101) Depends where he is at this moment. I asked if anyone other than Cynthia and Tommy were heading towards the pilot house. From the top of the stairs you can just about make out Tommy and Cynthia's figures in the swirling fog