Play@YSDC

While Stanley and Jeff struggle to untangle an IV tube found in the equipment tent, Harry kneels down and tries to restart the Chief Surveyor's heart. He places his palms on Kennedy's chest, and pushes down, with all his strength...

There is a crack, at first.

Then a tearing sound.

The bandages come loose, and the terrible wound on Kennedy's abdomen is revealed for all to see. A gaping abyss in the once living tissue. The Investigators are not experts in human anatomy, but even they realize the true reason for the Chief Surveyor's dire condition: his whole liver was removed...

Everyone roll SAN (1/1d3)!

"Christ on a bike. I can't believe that Ravello guy could be such a sick son of a bitch. Did Kennedy say something earlier about a high priest? This is like some kind of satanic cult ritual."

"Yeah, I think so," says Stanley. disturbed. "There was nothing we could have done. He wouldn't have survived until we got him to a hospital anyway, even if he could have had a liver transplant on short notice, and those hardly ever work."

OOC,Sanity roll (current level 42) for [b]Kennedy[/b]'s death and missing liver: [dice]0[/dice] Sanity loss: [dice]1[/dice]

Harry is horrified by what he is seeing, briefly wondering if the liver fell out while he doing CPR. He slaps himself trying to get a grip.

The investigators somberly huddle over the dead body in the blood-spattered tent.

They barely recover from the shock, when a metallic chiming commences on the outside. For a moment, everyone is surprised, but then they remember the alarms set up by State Trooper Stanley Kramer. The steel marking rods and empty cans he tied to a string surrounding the camp have come into motion - but the sound emanates not from a single point, but from all around, as if not a single person, but a whole army was approaching in the darkness. The clinking doesn't stop, growing into a metallic choir.

"That could be the wind picking up," says Stanley. Shotgun ready, he peeks outside.

The chiming intensifies. The State Trooper's explanation is rational and plausible, but now the Investigators understand the deep and irrational ramifications of the rising wind in this god-forsaken forest...

Stanley Kramer cautiously looks outside.

Stanley Kramer,A sudden gust of wind hits the fire in the middle of the camp, putting it out, and scattering hot ember all around. Light is on in the equipment tent, and also in one of the living tents, where [b]Antal[/b] is staying. Other than these, the camp is submerged into darkness.

"Yeah, it's the wind, all right," says Stanley, shutting the flap. "It just blew out the fire." This is worse than Nam, he thinks, though he doesn't give voice to the words, lest he damage the others' morale. He takes out his flashlight. "Is there any duct tape here, or failing that some more line? I'd like to secure my light under the barrel of the shotgun."

Stanley can utilize band aids from the medical supplies that are with them in the tent.

Stanley uses the bandages to affix the flashlight under the shotgun's barrel. Lighting it, he takes another look outside.

Jeff busies himself making sure the tent ropes are secure.

The pegs are driven deep and the tent seems stable - but then Jeff recalls how their solidly tied-down airplane was picked up and smashed by the raging winds of Sukakpak...

Stanley scans their surroundings. The cone of light reaches the treeline, but doesn't penetrate into the depth of the forest. The chiming continues. It feels like a wall of pulsating sound encircles the camp. However, there isn't a slightest movement of air inside the circle. Suddenly, the sounds breaks, but just for a moment, as if to let through something. Then the metallic vibration resumes, stronger and meaner than before.

The flashlight flickers, but it's enough to illuminate a figure standing at the edge of the camp, but inside the perimeter. A dark giant, a vaguely human form, or maybe a bear standing on its hind legs? It steps forward, painstakingly slow, and lifts its arms. Staley recognizes the bulky, strong physique of Assistant Surveyor Mike Ravello, but cannot see the apparitions face - it is covered by a red-and-brown mask.

"There's Ravello," says Stanley. "What the hell's he doing? He's wearing some weird mask. Where'd he even get it?"

"Shoot the bastard," Jeff urges.

"Good grief Jeff, this isn't Dirty Harry! We can't just shoot him!" exclaims Harry.

"Maybe just shoot him in the legs Stanley. You know, slow him down a bit."

"Out here, that would be as good as killing him," says Stanley. "It might be even if we were near a hospital. Shooting to wound is a myth, even with a pistol. With a shotgun, forget about it. I don't want to kill him. I don't think he's himself. He must have succumbed to the voices. I'd like to take him alive and handcuff him if I can. If I can get close enough, I can club him over the head or punch him out."

Jeff,When [b]Jeff[/b] says "shoot the bastard", he feels a soft brush of air on his face. A caressing touch, an approval of what he said. And it feels good, really good. The kind of warmth and understanding he does not get at home. And to find it, of all places, here, in this wilderness!!

While the investigators contemplate the best course of action, Ravello slowly starts walking towards them. Stanley's light reveals that the masked Surveyor is holding a large Bowie knife in his hand.

"What's going on? What is this weird sound?" Antal shouts from his tent.

Ravello stops, then changes course, starts walking towards Antal's place.

"Damn, now we have to shoot!" says Stanley, training the light on Ravello as he takes aim. "Antal, don't go out! Ravello's back!" He fires, but the blast goes wide. "I wish I had my revolver. I'm a much better shot with that."

OOC,Firearms (Rifle/Shotgun) roll (45% skill) shooting at [b]Ravello[/b]: [dice]0[/dice]

Ravello stops and turns his face towards the investigators. His voice comes booming over the wind and chiming.

"Do not interfere, Hunter!"

He takes another step towards Antal's place.

The tent shakes as the scared surveyor scutters away from the entrance.

"Give me the pistol back and take the shotgun," Stanley tells Harry. "Keep the light trained on Ravello."