Play@YSDC

Stanley,Jeff notices Stanley, and changes route - tries to avoid the Trooper.

Jeff,Jeff tries to evade Stanley, but the Trooper follows him sideways into the forest, staying close, but not directly approaching.

Harry,Harry is alerted by the sound of movement in the forest. He doesn't see any figures, but hears Jeff (presumably talking to Stanley): [color=#0000BF]"Let's find Harry!"[/color]

Stanley,But the Hunter knows that it is the sound of his Lord, the Voice, gathering strength for a final epiphany. He can hear the metallic drone in his head: [color=#0000FF][i]"What are you waiting for, Hunter? Kill for me, cull the Prey!"[/i][/color] But the grip of the Voice is weakening, reduced, forced back into suspended animation as a malevolent seed. Stanley's mind is split: [i]am I the Hunter or am I the Trooper?[/i] He feels that in this forest his only choice is to be the Hunter and serve, or face the Voice's wrath. Jeff is trying to run away, but he is still close. The darkness won't cover him, but rather there is a shimmering black halo surrounding Jeff, marking him against the silhouettes of the trees. The Hunter sees everything. --- Last turn of the bout of madness!

Jeff,Jeff increases his pace, and for a second catches a glimpse of a figure maybe a dozen yards away, in the direction where [b]Harry[/b] is supposed to be.

Harry,Harry proceeds with caution...

OOC,How close am I now? Can I try to resist?

Stanley,15 yards. No resistance. Stanley is still in his bout of madness phase (for this last turn).

OOC,Firearms(Rifle/Shotgun) roll (45% skill) shooting at [b]Jeff[/b]: [dice]0[/dice] Damage to [b]Jeff[/b] from shotgun blast, medium range: [dice]1[/dice]

Jeff,[b]Jeff[/b] feels the shotgun pellets bore into his spine, but remains standing. The searing pain he feels proves that Jeff was right about the Trooper's murderous intent...

Stanley,The weapon goes off with a thundering blast. There's a rush of blood and otherworldly ether inside [b]Stanley[/b]'s tortured brain, and the nagging metallic Voice is gone. There is no sweet oblivion, however, no amnesia - the Trooper is painfully conscious of the recent events. He remembers what he's done, and he remembers the pleasure. Stalking through the forest in pursuit of his fellow Investigators was a perversely blissful act... The residue of this excitement still lingers in the labyrinth's of his cortex. And he also remembers the Voice being [i]very[/i] displeased with him.

Harry,[b]Harry[/b] hears the shot from behind, and the cry of a wounded person, but cannot see anybody from his standing point. Then he hears [b]Stanley[/b]'s voice, harsh and menacing: [color=#0000BF]"You are next, Harry boy!"[/color] The Trooper is very close... Maybe hiding behind one of the trees? --- Roll [b]Listen[/b]!

Jeff,There aren't many bushes in this coniferous forest - the lower zones are mostly covered in ferns or rotting tree trunks. Jeff takes cover behind an ancient spruce.

OOC,Waiting for Harry/Mister Ginge's action!

Harry,[i]"You are next, Harry boy"[/i] -- the words still echo inside Harry's mind, but he understands, that they weren't spoken by Stanley. Rather, they originate from the malign force that haunts the unknowable reaches of the forest and the mountain. This realization allows Harry to pinpoint the direction from where Stanley (and Jeff) must be. Harry turns around. He cannot see anything, but hears somebody speaking. Judging from the sounds, Jeff and Stanley must be about 15-20 yards from him, hidden by the trees and the darkness. But can Harry's mind deal with the fact that this force now controls the Trooper like a puppet? --- Roll [b][color=#FF0000]Sanity (0/1d3)[/color][/b]!

Jeff,Jeff ducks behind an ancient tree. He can hear [b]Stanley [/b]apologizing. Spruce needles come raining down on Jeff's head. Somewhere above, the wind starts whistling.

Stanley,Jeff must still be somewhere near, as Stanley doesn't hear any footsteps. The Hunter is gone from his head - and so is his enhanced vision... The forest around Stanley is once again dark, even darker than before. The void swallows his apologies. Spruce needles come raining down on Stanley's head. Somewhere above, the wind starts whistling.

Jeff,Darkness reigns still. Jeff glances at his wristwatch - it's 3 o'clock. The sun will rise some time after 6 in the morning.