Play@YSDC

Posted: **Fri Dec 22, 2017 3:36 pm**

November 24th, 1928, 10am

Arkham General Store, E Main St, Arkham.

The companions meet here after breakfast to purchase extra supplies. The store sells firearms so they are able to pick up a shotgun, plus flashlights for exploring the dark tunnel, and assorted sundries.
After shopping, they set out in Isadora’s car to connect to the Aylesbury Pike and travel west towards Dean’s Corners. Wrapped up in the draughty car, they move at a good pace through the frigid winter landscape. Luckily though there hasn’t been any substantial snowfall yet, so the roads are easily passable, and they make good time.

They arrive at Dean’s Corners at about 11.15. The village is very small, with under ninety inhabitants. There are a few small stores in the main street, so it should be a good opportunity to pick something up for lunch. Traffic through the village between Arkham and Aylesbury is enough that strangers don’t raise any eyebrows among the locals.

Posted: **Sat Dec 23, 2017 2:52 am**

"We should talk to the locals," suggests Alice. "They may have seen young Baumgartner when he came this way, and they may know something about the tunnel."

Posted: **Sat Dec 23, 2017 10:39 pm**

OOC: Can we keep discussions on what you want to take to the previous thread? It's a bit out of place here Tabs so I'll move it if you don't mind. Here, think about what you want to do in Dean's Corners. We'll just assume you buy everything in Arkham.

Posted: **Sun Dec 24, 2017 2:44 pm**

"Yes, let's," replied Owens. "In a small place like this they must remember Baumgarten. Was that his name?" he wondered.

Posted: **Sun Dec 24, 2017 5:42 pm**

"Close," says Alice. "It's Baumgartner. Albert Baumgartner."

Posted: **Sun Dec 24, 2017 7:40 pm**

"That's the chap," said Owens. "Now, the nearest eatery. A hot drink and sandwich would hit the spot.

"Miss Stanton, Alice if I may, you're working as Putnam's secretary?"

Posted: **Sun Dec 24, 2017 8:10 pm**

"I had been, until he passed away earlier this year," replies Alice. "For several months I worked as Henry Glynn's typist, proofreader, and editor. Then I came back to Miskatonic University to be Dr. Miller's secretary."

Posted: **Sun Dec 24, 2017 11:15 pm**

Henry Glynn

"My work has suffered terribly since." Henry adds.

Posted: **Mon Dec 25, 2017 4:21 am**

There is a small diner in the Main Street with seating for about ten. A middle-aged woman is tending the counter. The only other occupant is a man in his fifties, who is wearing work overalls. The woman greets our heroes in a friendly manner and indicates some seats.

"I'll take your order when you're ready." she tells them.

Posted: **Tue Dec 26, 2017 3:56 am**

"Thank you, ma'am," says Alice. "We're looking for a young man named Albert Baumgartner. He may have stopped by here on his way to Chapochaug some time ago." If she has a description of him, she describes him.

Posted: **Tue Dec 26, 2017 8:13 am**

The woman shakes her head. "Doesn't sound familiar Miss" she says. "You said he's headed to Chapochaug Mountain?" she asks.

Posted: **Tue Dec 26, 2017 12:10 pm**

Henry Glynn

"That's right - he was doing scientific work."

Posted: **Tue Dec 26, 2017 1:34 pm**

innsmouth wrote:Henry Glynn

"My work has suffered terribly since." Henry adds.

"No doubt, sir!" chuckled Owens.

The woman shakes her head. "Doesn't sound familiar Miss"

Owens was very complimentary about the snacks when he browsed them, "Lovely stuff!" and he rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Who should we talk with--someone who may have seen our chap, Baumgartner?"

Posted: **Thu Dec 28, 2017 9:04 am**

Owens was very complimentary about the snacks when he browsed them, "Lovely stuff!" and he rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Who should we talk with--someone who may have seen our chap, Baumgartner?"

Isadora Carmichael

"Are there any scientist or researcher types in town? A doctor, perhaps? Or anybody who spends a lot of time in the surrounding forests?"

Posted: **Thu Dec 28, 2017 3:08 pm**

The other customer’s attention is caught by the mention of Chapochaug. Both he and the proprietress grimace at the mention of that place.

“Can’t say he rings a bell with me either” says the man. “But he may have gone on to Aylesbury and gone to Chapochaug from there”.

The woman nods in agreement. “Visits to the mountain aren’t forbidden, but they aren’t encouraged, particularly to the tunnel. There’s no-one like that around here Miss” she says to Isadora, “but there’s a watchman who’s supposed to look out over the area, and he likes to prowl around the mountain”. She ignores the derisive snort of the other customer as he hears this description. “If your lad was up around the mountain, he might have seen him. He goes by the name of Erastus Hutchinson. Don’t expect him to be too friendly though” she frowns. “Now, what would you like?”

Posted: **Thu Dec 28, 2017 4:36 pm**

Henry Glynn

"A beef sandwich please. And Mr Owens here would like some of those sour pickles. Where would we find this Erastus fellow?"

Posted: **Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:01 am**

"I'd like a grilled cheese sandwich," says Alice. Henry has already asked the question she would have, so she waits to hear the answer.

Posted: **Fri Dec 29, 2017 7:04 am**

As the woman goes to the kitchen to see to their orders, the customer continues talking.

“I believe he’s taken to living in the old maintenance building outside one of the tunnel entrances. He’s s’posed to check on the tunnel daily, you know, to make sure it’s not falling apart and that no more darned kids have gotten themselves killed in it, but I doubt he does. You’ll probably find him roaming the mountain”.

He rolls his eyes. “What do you expect, he’s from Dunwich”.

Posted: **Fri Dec 29, 2017 12:02 pm**

"Why do the natives have such outlandish names?" commented Owens.

Posted: **Fri Dec 29, 2017 4:40 pm**

“Natives!” exclaims the man. “Sheesh!”

With a dark look, he takes his food to the other end of the counter.

OOC: Unfortunate words from an explorer! Let's hope that his pickles are free from native phlegm.

Posted: **Sat Dec 30, 2017 2:35 am**

"Thank you," says Alice as her order arrives. "Mr. Hutchinson sounds like exactly the fellow we need to see. If Albert Baumgartner went up there, he wouldn't have escaped Mr. Hutchinson's notice. Can you please give us directions to the maintenance building?"

Posted: **Sat Dec 30, 2017 6:12 am**

OOC: I edited the above post to help it fit into the narrative flow. Apologies for my busy fingers.

Posted: **Sat Dec 30, 2017 4:47 pm**

“Well, sure Miss” says the proprietress. “But strictly speaking the tunnel is out of bounds. Entry is forbidden. Sure, local kids go there on dares, and older ones use it for other purposes” (she colours slightly here), “but I really don’t advise fooling around Chapochaug”.

She lays the companions' food down, and begins to fill their coffee cups.

Posted: **Sat Dec 30, 2017 6:15 pm**

Owens didn't intend to be offensive. Nevertheless, when a plate of pickles is set before him he checks it over carefully for any suspiciously slimy extras.

Posted: **Sun Dec 31, 2017 2:47 am**

"Thank you, we'll be careful," says Alice, "but we would like to speak to Mr. Hutchinson and find out if he's seen the young man." She takes a bite out of her sandwich, savoring the melted cheese.

Posted: **Sun Dec 31, 2017 4:32 am**

“Well, if you’re sure” the woman sighs. “There’s an access road just off the Pike a couple of miles out on your right side. Head up it and you’ll come to a gate with ‘no trespassing’ signs around it. You’ll find the tunnel. Hutchinson’s shack should be there too. Please be careful.”

Posted: **Tue Jan 02, 2018 5:56 pm**

Isadora Carmichael

"Thank you for the information," says Isadora, and finishes her sandwich and coffee.

"I think we are good to go," she says to the others. She checks the time on her wristwatch.

Posted: **Wed Jan 03, 2018 1:37 am**

"Yes, thank you," says Alice. She finishes her grilled cheese and dabs her mouth with a napkin. "Okay, I'm ready."

Posted: **Wed Jan 03, 2018 8:49 am**

The investigators return to their car and set off along the Pike. Sure enough, after about ten minutes they spot the access road and turn up it. Alongside it, there are some low stone walls marking the boundaries of local properties. The ridge of Chapochaug can be seen ahead, dark with tree cover.

They come to a closed wooden gate marked “Boston and Maine Rail Road”. Signs saying ‘Private Property’ and ‘No Trespassing’ are positioned alongside it.

Posted: **Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:09 am**

Alice looks around to see if the shack is visible from here.

Posted: **Thu Jan 04, 2018 10:57 am**

Henry examines the gate to see if it will open or if it is easy to scale.

Posted: **Thu Jan 04, 2018 3:43 pm**

"We're just visiting and won't be trespassing," said Owens.

Posted: **Thu Jan 04, 2018 4:12 pm**

No shack is visible but the gate is unlocked and opens easily.

Posted: **Thu Jan 04, 2018 4:36 pm**

OOC: If the road goes no further we'll continue on foot taking our gear.

Posted: **Fri Jan 05, 2018 5:25 am**

"Looks like we have to go inside to find the shack," says Alice, working up her courage.

Posted: **Fri Jan 05, 2018 7:44 am**

A rough track big enough to be used by a car continues to the tunnel.

Posted: **Fri Jan 05, 2018 11:50 am**

Isadora Carmichael

"Let's use the car," Isadora says. She is not keen on hiking... She sits still, nursing the bundle that hides the alien blaster on her knees.

Posted: **Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:21 pm**

The car eases gently towards the tunnel and stops. The mouth of the tunnel looms ominously ahead, its interior dark and foreboding.

As the companions climb out of the car and take in their surroundings, they can that the steep slopes of the mountain are rocky and densely wooded, although many of the trees have lost their leaves, and is divided by steep gullies. Definitely climbable, but no easy stroll. The undergrowth is denser on the lower slopes which are covered in small brush and scrub trees, and which have retained their foliage. Higher up the trees are much taller and older.
There appears to be a trail which begins near the base of the tunnel entrance and leads up - over the tunnel.

Posted: **Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:23 pm**

Isadora Carmichael
Natural History 10%
[dice]0[/dice]

Isadora usually only encounters nature on her nightmarish / dreamy landscape paintings, but this time she has an insight about their surroundings.

Posted: **Fri Jan 05, 2018 6:52 pm**

"I think we should follow the upward trail," says Alice. "That's most likely to lead to the shack."

Posted: **Sat Jan 06, 2018 6:35 pm**

Henry Glynn

"Good idea Alice."

Posted: **Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:41 pm**

Natural History 50% roll [dice]0[/dice]

'Er--I can't quite work it out,' said Owens.

Posted: **Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:27 pm**

Posted: **Sun Jan 07, 2018 5:35 pm**

Posted: **Sun Jan 07, 2018 6:30 pm**

Isadora Carmichael

Isadora doesn't have any formal training in biology or sciences, but perhaps she somehow managed to connect to this landscape on a profound natural level. She takes in the primordial beauty and... dread of this mostly untouched land.

"This is an ancient place," she says, and shivers.

"Let us take the trail."

Posted: **Mon Jan 08, 2018 8:07 am**

With Isadora’s dark thoughts in their minds, the heroes set off up the trail. The cold wind blows through the trees and the sound of a whippoorwill can be heard. The companions pass a pile of jumbled stones.
Halfway through their hike, about twenty minutes later, the companions begin to notice something odd about the rocks of Chapochaug. They seem to have a rough angularity which makes them appear to have been almost…artificially assembled? There is an uncanny orderliness to them…

Posted: **Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:19 am**

Isadora Carmichael
Idea 70%
[dice]0[/dice]

Geology 1%
[dice]1[/dice]

Isadora has some ideas about the pile of jumbled stones...

Posted: **Mon Jan 08, 2018 10:30 am**

Spoiler:

Posted: **Tue Jan 09, 2018 1:08 am**

Something about the stones seems very familiar to Alice.

Posted: **Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:16 am**

Our heroes may be disconcerted by the strange rock formations, but it occurs to Isadora and Alice that the pile of stones is probably the remains of a sighting pillar, used to align the ends of the tunnel during construction, and therefore has no sinister overtones.

After about 45 minutes, the heroes reach the other tunnel entrance. Sure enough, not far away, stands a rather decrepit looking shack; what must be an old maintenance building. A thin line of smoke spills from the chimney. Outside a line of pelts can be seen, drying in the weak winter sun.

As the companions reach the ground and look at the tunnel entrance, they can see the number ‘1869’ engraved over the top, with the intertwined initials ‘A’ and ‘N’. There are two wooden signs sunk into the ground, saying “DANGER” and “TUNNEL UNSAFE” in faded red letters. They have been defaced by what looks like pitting caused by small caliber bullets – obviously the result of target practice. The wind whistles eerily through the tunnel, whose secrets are carefully hidden away in the darkness of its interior.

Posted: **Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:09 am**

"Looks like he's home," says Alice, pointing at the smoke. "Shall we knock?"

Posted: **Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:15 am**

Isadora Carmichael

"Yes. And I think we can be straightforward about our motifs: we came here to find a lost person. I see no need to burden ourselves with subterfuge."

Posted: **Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:23 am**

Henry Glynn

"Agreed" says Henry. He approaches the door and knocks on it.

Posted: **Thu Jan 11, 2018 2:58 am**

Despite Henry's knocking, no-one comes to the door.

Posted: **Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:36 am**

"I wouldn't think he'd go out with a fire going," says Alice. "Perhaps he's nodded off, but the knocking should have woken him. Shall we peek inside?"

Posted: **Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:03 am**

Norman Owens Luck 50% roll [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:56 pm**

“Hey there!”

Suddenly there is a shout from behind the investigators. They turn and see a man approaching from the trail behind them.

“What are you folks wanting, eh?”

As he comes nearer, the companions can see that he is a middle-aged man with unkempt hair and a beard, dressed in shabby-looking overalls. He wears a misshapen cap on top of his head, and carries a double-barreled shotgun under his arm. He carries a brace of dead squirrels over his shoulder. He is very ugly, with a large nose. His mouth is drawn back in a sneer.

He stops not far from our heroes, eyeing them suspiciously.

“Can’t ye read the signs, eh? This is private property!”

He frowns in displeasure.

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 2:28 am**

"I'm sorry for the intrusion," says Alice, "but we came here looking for you, presuming you're Mr. Hutchinson. We're looking for a student from Miskatonic University named Albert Baumgartner who we have reason to believe came here. We were hoping you'd seen him." She describes Albert to him.

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 2:45 am**

“Yeah, I saw ‘im, that foreign fella” says Hutchinson, sullenly. “A few days ago. Said he wanted to collect rocks or summat from the tunnel. But you shouldn’t be messin’ around here. It’s private property.”

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:05 am**

"No, we just want to find him and bring him back to Arkham safely," says Alice. "He never returned, and we're worried about him. He shouldn't be messing around here either. Did he actually go in the tunnel?"

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:29 am**

“Well, that’s where he said he wanted to go” Hutchinson replies. “And you say he didn’t return? You’re lookin’ for ‘im?” He seems to be slowly beginning to understand the situation.

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 4:02 am**

"Yes, that's right," says Alice. "He's gone missing, and this is the last place he was seen. He most likely is still inside the tunnel."

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 4:42 am**

Hutchinson looks worried. “Well, I walked through just yesterday mornin’. D’int see ‘im.”

He turns his head and looks over his shoulder at the tunnel, muttering under his breath, and then turns back.

“You wanna go in there and look for ‘im?” he asks.

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 5:08 am**

"Yes, I think we'd better," says Alice.

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 6:36 am**

“Weeell…” drawls Hutchinson, uncertainly. He doesn’t seem to want to let the investigators go in, but also seems concerned about the missing Baumgartner. He glances back over his shoulder again at the tunnel, an anxious expression on his face.

“I ain’t s’posed to let no-one in. I don’t want any trouble”.

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:29 am**

"We won't cause any trouble, sir," said Owens. "Just a quick visit, so that we can honestly tell the folks back in Arkham we did look for Baumgartner."

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:42 am**

Hutchinson nods. ”Okay then, but don’t be too long. It ain’t no good to stay too long in the tunnel.” He still looks apprehensive.

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:48 pm**

Henry Glynn

"Thank you Mr Hutchinson. I understand the tunnel is a dangerous place, but is there anything in particular we should beware of?"

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:05 pm**

Hutchinson suddenly turns his ugly face toward Henry with an intense look, but then his eyes seem to go vacant, as if his mind is wandering elsewhere.

“It… sometimes…” he says vaguely, and falls silent, staring at nothing in particular. He seems to have withdrawn inside himself.

Posted: **Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:27 pm**

Henry Glynn

"Right then" says Henry, "We'll watch out for that."

Posted: **Sat Jan 13, 2018 3:49 am**

"Should we get some things from the car first?" asks Alice.

Posted: **Sat Jan 13, 2018 3:18 pm**

"I wanna go fetch my shovel and trowel, and Alice's chalk could be useful," said Owens.

Posted: **Sat Jan 13, 2018 3:39 pm**

Posted: **Sat Jan 13, 2018 4:51 pm**

"We'll need flashlights, of course," says Alice, "and we should bring food and water. Mr. Hutchinson, do you have a map of the tunnels?"

Posted: **Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:33 am**

Hutchinson is jerked out of his daze by the question.

”Tunnels?” he says, confused. ”There’s only one.”

Posted: **Sun Jan 14, 2018 6:04 am**

"Oh, it's just that I saw another tunnel entrance at the base of the trail," says Alice. "I guess this must be the other end."

Posted: **Sun Jan 14, 2018 6:33 am**

The companions set off back along the trail after saying farewell to Hutchinson, who warns them not to stray off as he has set animal traps.

After another 45-minute hike without incident, they arrive back at the car and equip themselves. The entrance to the tunnel stands behind them, its mouth looming ominously.

Posted: **Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:21 pm**

"Well, let's go inside," says Alice, getting her flashlight ready.

Posted: **Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:42 pm**

Owens rested the shovel upon his shoulder. "Let's go!"

Posted: **Mon Jan 15, 2018 2:44 am**

Bracing themselves, the companions enter the tunnel.

There is a fair amount of graffiti around the entrance, mainly just initials and dates scratched into the brickwork, some encased in love hearts. The light of course is very dim but not pitch black, as our heroes move further in it is obvious that there is a faint source of light coming from somewhere. The tunnel smells musty and damp.

The dimensions of the tunnel are about twenty feet tall and twenty-four feet wide. There are two lines of tracks running parallel, which while in fair condition would probably need some repair to get working properly again. The walls have been hewed from the rock but are bricked over at certain points, and are subject to more graffiti. Mostly everything seems intact. There are white lines painted what seems to be every ten feet, but these are faded. Debris, mostly broken bottles, is scattered around the entrance but decreases further in.

After walking for about ten minutes, the heroes come across a collapse – the brickwork has caved in, which has created a heap sloping down from the wall of bricks, which covers one set of the tracks. It is easily passable though.

Posted: **Mon Jan 15, 2018 3:11 am**

Alice shines her flashlight right on something of interest.

Posted: **Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:23 am**

Isadora Carmichael
Spot Hidden 40%
[dice]0[/dice]

Isadora advances through the tunnel, with a flashlight in one hand, and the alien weaponry (still wrapped in rags) tucked under her other arm. The musty odor unnerves her, and she ties her scarf to cover mouth and nose. With all these actions, though, she misses what's there to notice...

Posted: **Mon Jan 15, 2018 1:41 pm**

Henry Glynn

Spoiler:

Henry shines his flashlight around in the darkness.

Posted: **Mon Jan 15, 2018 3:06 pm**

Owens Spot Hidden [dice]0[/dice]

He did see something unexpected...

Posted: **Mon Jan 15, 2018 3:17 pm**

Posted: **Mon Jan 15, 2018 5:31 pm**

"Did you just see that light flicker?" asks Alice, pointing it out to the others. "Maybe it was Albert."

Posted: **Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:32 am**

Henry Glynn

"Probably just out flashlights glinting off the wet rock."

Posted: **Tue Jan 16, 2018 12:12 pm**

"Yes, I saw it too," answered Owens.

OOC: Whereabouts?--the tunnel's ceiling, near the rubble, opposite the rubble.

Posted: **Tue Jan 16, 2018 3:00 pm**

OOC: As I wrote, in the rock wall. The brick collapse is to your right; the lights were off to your left.

Posted: **Tue Jan 16, 2018 7:14 pm**

Isadora Carmichael

Isadora examines the ruined brickwork: did it collapse recently?

Posted: **Wed Jan 17, 2018 12:04 am**

Posted: **Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:15 am**

"I think we should take a closer look," says Alice.

Posted: **Wed Jan 17, 2018 5:31 am**

The heroes shine their flashlights over the rubble, looking for anything untoward. There is nothing in the pile of bricks itself, but by examining the rock wall they formerly covered, it seems apparent that something from behind the bricks may have forced them to come loose.

Posted: **Wed Jan 17, 2018 8:33 am**

Isadora Carmichael

"We have to be careful, this collapse is recent," she warns the others.

Geology 1%
[dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:31 am**

Despite her warning, Isadora stumbles on a brick and bangs her head against the rock wall.

Posted: **Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:30 pm**

Owens Geology roll [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Wed Jan 17, 2018 3:19 pm**

Posted: **Wed Jan 17, 2018 5:41 pm**

"Isadora, are you all right?" asks Alice.

Posted: **Wed Jan 17, 2018 5:54 pm**

"Apologies," said Owens, tearing his eyes away from the tunnel wall which he'd been examining closely. Miss Carmichael, I trust..." but his voice trailed away, "There's a fault within the rock--probably stretches far back. It seems crystalline..." he poked his trowel at it.

Posted: **Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:14 am**

Posted: **Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:49 am**

Owens Spot Hidden roll [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Thu Jan 18, 2018 1:17 pm**

Henry Glynn

Henry peers into the fissure.

Spoiler:

Posted: **Fri Jan 19, 2018 3:58 am**

While Alice had had perfect vision before, it was hard to make out what was in the fissure.

Posted: **Fri Jan 19, 2018 5:37 am**

Posted: **Fri Jan 19, 2018 6:20 am**

"There, I saw it again!" says Alice, shining her light through the fissure. "The light isn't coming from the rocks. It's soft, whatever it is. Perhaps it's phosphorescent fungi."

Posted: **Fri Jan 19, 2018 9:36 am**

Isadora Carmichael
Spot Hidden 40%
[dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Fri Jan 19, 2018 9:57 am**

Posted: **Mon Jan 22, 2018 12:10 am**

Isadora Carmichael

"Fungi? I don't like the sound of that... You should cover your mouth as well," Isadora proposes to the others. "It's fungi that have spores, right?"

Isadora wonders - could the growth of the fungi (if there are indeed fungi) force and push the brickwork to fall apart? Or corrode the bricks in any way?

"Should we proceed further?"

She shines a light into the tunnel.

Posted: **Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:41 am**

"Maybe, Miss Carmichael," said Owens. "But I think that we should do a little excavation here first--remove some bricks and whatnot. Let's cover our noses, though--good idea of yours."

Posted: **Mon Jan 22, 2018 3:07 pm**

The heroes begin to move the bricks, stacking them to one side. After about 15 minutes though, they cleared more than halfway down, but are yet to uncover anything of interest.

Posted: **Tue Jan 23, 2018 5:14 am**

"We should keep it up," says Alice. "I know I saw something."

Posted: **Tue Jan 23, 2018 9:46 am**

Posted: **Wed Jan 24, 2018 5:18 am**

"I don't think we can get through the rock wall with what we've got," says Alice.

Posted: **Wed Jan 24, 2018 5:00 pm**

Henry Glynn

"I guess we'd better explore further."

Henry proceeds cautiously in the direction of Isadora's light.

Posted: **Thu Jan 25, 2018 6:52 am**

Shortly thereafter, they come across a curious sight. Propped against the tunnel wall, an animal skull has been mounted atop a long branch. Underneath it, scratched in charcoal, is the legend “en touto nika”. On the ground, several crates are stacked, which are topped by extinguished candles.

Posted: **Thu Jan 25, 2018 12:34 pm**

"Latin, I think," said Owens, "'This sign conquers.' Maybe some kind of primitive protection?"

Posted: **Thu Jan 25, 2018 1:10 pm**

Henry Glynn

"Could it be kids playing around?"

Posted: **Thu Jan 25, 2018 1:50 pm**

Posted: **Thu Jan 25, 2018 5:13 pm**

Spoiler:

Posted: **Fri Jan 26, 2018 4:22 am**

"Would a better translation be 'By this sign, conquer'? Emperor Constantine claimed he had a vision of a cross and heard those words, which led him to convert to Christianity. Of course, this looks like Greek, not Latin."

Posted: **Fri Jan 26, 2018 11:50 am**

"I salute your education, Alice," said Owens warmly. "Mr. Glynn, surely not kids. If those people in the village represent the locals then I would say it's impossible--unless," he wondered, "they have access to knowledge but do not understand it really?"

EDU roll [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Fri Jan 26, 2018 1:34 pm**

Posted: **Fri Jan 26, 2018 6:30 pm**

Henry Glynn

"I do believe Alice is right. You've been bested Mr Owens!" says Henry.

Posted: **Sat Jan 27, 2018 5:57 am**

"Thank you," says Alice. "Well, we'd better bring that skull on a pole with us. I have a feeling we're going to need it."

Posted: **Sat Jan 27, 2018 6:10 am**

Posted: **Sat Jan 27, 2018 12:59 pm**

"Absolutely, Mr. Glynn, and very happy to have been," said Owens and bowed.

Posted: **Sat Jan 27, 2018 7:14 pm**

Isadora Carmichael
Isadora wants to say something about the strange items they find, but she is suddenly overtaken by a fit of some sorts and loses balance, falling to the ground unless somebody catches her.

"We are in grave danger! The tunnel will collapse soon... We have to be quick!"

Posted: **Sat Jan 27, 2018 8:40 pm**

Henry Glynn

Henry moves to steady Isadora.

"Say, what makes you think that Mrs Carmichael?"

Posted: **Sun Jan 28, 2018 1:27 am**

"How long have we got?" asks Alice, snatching up the pole with the skull on it. She takes this seriously. "Do we have enough time to make it through to the other end, or had we better turn back?"

Posted: **Sun Jan 28, 2018 3:31 pm**

Isadora Carmichael

""I don't... I don't know," says Isadora, breathing heavily. "I had this terrible vision of rocks collapsing and men screaming. It might be just the place bringing out the worst of me -- but I cannot be sure. Sometimes the things are see are real."

Posted: **Sun Jan 28, 2018 6:13 pm**

"Maybe you didn't see the future, but the past," says Alice. "Remember that article we found about the tunnel collapse?"

Posted: **Mon Jan 29, 2018 11:31 am**

Henry Glynn

"We'll let's get along anyway - we've still got a missing student to find."

Posted: **Mon Jan 29, 2018 2:58 pm**

The heroes venture on, perhaps somewhat more warily now. Perhaps the darkness and the dank odour, combined with their knowledge of the tragic history of this place, oppresses them. The occasional flashes of light along the rock walls seem to add to the otherworldliness of the tunnel.

After about ten minutes of trudging along the tracks, the companions notice a nimbus of light playing down from the ceiling of the tunnel onto the ground. There is a pungent smell here, like ammonia. Getting closer, they see that it must be a ventilation shaft.

Posted: **Mon Jan 29, 2018 5:05 pm**

Owens' Listen roll [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Tue Jan 30, 2018 5:54 am**

Alice hears something.

Posted: **Wed Jan 31, 2018 1:33 am**

Posted: **Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:23 am**

"Did you hear that?" asks Alice, pointing up at the shaft. "There are animals moving around up there. Bats and birds from the sound of it."

Posted: **Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:12 pm**

Spoiler:

Posted: **Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:05 pm**

"Is there any way to access the ventilation shaft?" wondered Owens.

OOC: How wide is it?

Posted: **Thu Feb 01, 2018 3:14 pm**

Posted: **Sun Feb 04, 2018 8:07 am**

"Just how long is this tunnel?" Isadora wonders. For her, it seems like a neverending underground journey, and coupled with her vision, it unnerves her greatly.

She looks up the shaft. Is the sky visible? Is it possible to guess the height of the shaft (the distance from the surface)?

Posted: **Sun Feb 04, 2018 8:40 am**

Isadora can feel the draft on her face as she looks up the shaft. She can see movement – what must be bats – inside the shaft. The top looks a long way up – at least 100 feet.

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2018 3:07 am**

"I don't see how we could get up there," says Alice, looking up and shaking her head.

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2018 7:12 pm**

"Yeah, we'd need to be acrobats," said Owens. "Onward down the tunnel."

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2018 3:46 am**

The heroes leave the shaft behind and walk on. About another fifteen minutes pass by uneventfully – it seems that the companions are alone, with only the oppressive darkness of the tunnel for company.

Eventually they reach what looks like another ventilation shaft. The light seems much dimmer here – it could be that they have reached the centre of the tunnel. Broken glass is scattered around the base of the shaft. They companions shine their torches around, looking for anything of interest.

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2018 4:50 am**

It is too dark for Alice to see much.

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2018 8:21 am**

Isadora Carmichael
Spot Hidden 40%
[dice]0[/dice]

Isadora's light shines on something.

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2018 8:26 am**

Isadora’s torchlight momentarily illuminates a shape – it looks like the figure of a man. It instantly disappears up the tunnel ahead of them.

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2018 12:47 pm**

Henry Glynn

Spoiler:

"Could it be Albert?" whispers Henry.

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2018 1:01 pm**

Owens' Spot Hidden [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2018 2:38 pm**

Henry’s torch beam picks out the fleeing man. It is hard to make out any details, but the companions can hear his agitated voice. The words don’t sound like English.

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2018 2:45 pm**

Spoiler:

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2018 5:13 pm**

Isadora Carmichael
Knowledge 40%
[dice]0[/dice]

Isadora might not understand the language, but she's heard it spoken before!

Posted: **Wed Feb 07, 2018 4:50 am**

"Is that German?" asks Alice.

Posted: **Wed Feb 07, 2018 8:54 am**

Posted: **Wed Feb 07, 2018 11:10 am**

Owens' roll [dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Thu Feb 08, 2018 3:56 am**

"That must be Albert," says Alice. She moves forward, calling out. "Albert Baumgartner! Wait!"

Posted: **Thu Feb 08, 2018 4:22 am**

But the fleeing figure doesn't wait. He is gone, further up the tunnel.

Posted: **Thu Feb 08, 2018 7:10 am**

Isadora Carmichael
"Let's go! Before he gets hit!" Isadora shouts, cryptically. The others probably don't understand what would the man get hit by in the empty tunnel.

Isadora dashes after the figure.

Posted: **Thu Feb 08, 2018 8:01 am**

The companions dash after the figure. Running up the tunnel, find they find that they can no longer see him in the torchlight. But they can now see that on either side of the tunnel is a narrow passage cut into the rock.

Posted: **Thu Feb 08, 2018 12:28 pm**

"I don't s'pose you know which side tunnel he went down, Miss Carmichael?" said Owens.

Posted: **Thu Feb 08, 2018 12:47 pm**

Isadora Carmichael

Isadora tries to concentrate... insights and visions come to her uninvited. But can she open her mind, trace the man's astral footprint? A thin silver shimmer, perhaps?

Posted: **Thu Feb 08, 2018 12:59 pm**

Posted: **Thu Feb 08, 2018 6:43 pm**

Henry Glynn

Henry produces a Dime from his pocket and flips it on the back of his hand.

"Let's go this way!" he says, pulling Alice with him to the right hand tunnel.

Posted: **Thu Feb 08, 2018 6:50 pm**

Isadora Carmichael

"Wait a second," Isadora says, and shines her light at the tunnel's floor, and then down both passages, hoping for an old-fashioned physical track.

Posted: **Thu Feb 08, 2018 7:22 pm**

Alice also looks around to see if Albert left any footprints in the dust.

Posted: **Fri Feb 09, 2018 2:35 am**

A quick investigation soon reveals that the dust is disturbed in both passages, and in fact they don't go very far – they enter into what could be rooms.

Posted: **Fri Feb 09, 2018 9:49 am**

Isadora Carmichael

Isadora follows Henry and Alice into the right hand passage, then, scanning the surroundings with her lamp.

Posted: **Fri Feb 09, 2018 12:30 pm**

Owens' SAN roll [dice]0[/dice]

Owens was motionless for a minute, looking at the floor and "miles away."

Posted: **Fri Feb 09, 2018 3:17 pm**

As Norman is lost in his reverie, the other companions enter the room.

It seems that this was formerly a maintenance space, perhaps to store equipment, although looking around there is nothing of use now. There are shelves built into the walls, although the wood is now in a poor condition. The air smells heavily of damp. There are a few old crates on floor, and a mishmash of debris – old cans, bits of paper, cigarette butts and the like. What looks like a bedroll is against the wall.

Posted: **Fri Feb 09, 2018 3:21 pm**

Isadora Carmichael
Spot Hidden 40%
[dice]0[/dice]

Isadora hates this place, and doesn't spend too much time exploring it...

Posted: **Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:05 pm**

Spoiler:

Posted: **Fri Feb 09, 2018 6:10 pm**

Henry Glynn

"Do keep up Mr Owens, this is no time for daydreaming."

Posted: **Sat Feb 10, 2018 4:43 am**

Alice is about to suggest checking the other direction when she spots something.

Posted: **Sat Feb 10, 2018 6:02 am**

Posted: **Sat Feb 10, 2018 11:25 am**

"Yes--yes. Sorry," said Owens. And he hurried after the others. He looked at Henry Glynn and blinked repeatedly, "Must have got something in my eye"--but his explanation sounded very lame.

Posted: **Sat Feb 10, 2018 12:28 pm**

Isadora Carmichael

Tabs wrote:"Yes--yes. Sorry," said Owens. And he hurried after the others. He looked at Henry Glynn and blinked repeatedly, "Must have got something in my eye"--but his explanation sounded very lame.

Isadora notices Owens' strange behavior. Outside Henry's hearing range she asks him: "Is everything alright?"

Posted: **Sat Feb 10, 2018 6:10 pm**

"Okay--I'm okay, thank you," Owens replied. "Delusions--about a train wreck. Very vivid."

Posted: **Sat Feb 10, 2018 6:23 pm**

Isadora Carmichael

Isadora stops and grabs Norman's arm.

"And I saw a man getting hit by a train!"

Posted: **Sun Feb 11, 2018 2:16 am**

"I didn't have any visions," says Alice, "but I did see this." She triumphantly pulls out the stack of papers from beneath the makeshift bed and begins to look through it. "He may have written this, or it could be something he used in his research. Either way, it should have some answers."

Posted: **Sun Feb 11, 2018 1:00 pm**

"Good spot!" said Owens. "I wonder what they say..."

Posted: **Sun Feb 11, 2018 2:29 pm**

The contents of the papers seems to be mostly scribbled mathematical formulae; incomprehensible. But there are a few notations in English which stand out.

“I’ve seen it! The vision! They live again!”

“The creature! God help me!”

“It can be done! C was right!”

Posted: **Sun Feb 11, 2018 9:35 pm**

"The 'they' that live again," muses Alice, "could they be the men killed in the accident? I wonder who C is? I guess we'll only know if Albert explains it to us. We'd better check the tunnel on the other side. He must have gone that way."

Posted: **Mon Feb 12, 2018 1:52 am**

Cautiously, the heroes enter the other passage. It is a room like the first, but in a far worse state of repair. It dank and moldy. A substantial crack over an inch wide runs across the floor from one wall to the other. Emanating from it is a faint, rather putrid scent. There is an old wooden case in the centre, from which can be seen the familiar glow of the spores, but in far greater numbers.

Cowering on the floor in the far corner, shielding his face from the companions, is a dirty, emaciated figure.

Posted: **Mon Feb 12, 2018 2:32 am**

"Albert Baumgartner, I presume," says Alice. "It's all right, we're friends. Your professor sent us to find you. He was getting worried about you." She holds out her canteen to offer him some water.

Posted: **Mon Feb 12, 2018 5:30 am**

The man is indeed Baumgartner. At Alice’s proffered hand, he recoils in terror, muttering to himself. He seems completely petrified.

Posted: **Mon Feb 12, 2018 7:36 am**

Isadora Carmichael

"Please, we have to get out of here. This place is dangerous," Isadora tries to reason.

Posted: **Mon Feb 12, 2018 11:38 am**

"Yes, let's go," said Owens.

Posted: **Mon Feb 12, 2018 2:57 pm**

Baumgartner mutters in German but then screams, a hideous yet pitiful sound. His eyes are transfixed on the crack in the floor. He pulls at his scalp in sheer terror, and makes motioning gestures with his hands, as if to ward something away.

Posted: **Tue Feb 13, 2018 5:29 am**

"Don't be afraid," says Alice in a soothing tone. "We're here to help you."

Posted: **Tue Feb 13, 2018 12:09 pm**

Owens' SAN roll [dice]0[/dice]

idea roll [dice]1[/dice]

"More delusions," thought Owens, and he's mentally staggered by the images, but luckily it all becomes a blur.

He said: "I think that we ought to go, now!"

Posted: **Tue Feb 13, 2018 12:23 pm**

Posted: **Tue Feb 13, 2018 12:36 pm**

Owens' SAN loss [dice]0[/dice]

OOC: Have I got SAN muddled again?

Posted: **Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:39 pm**

Posted: **Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:50 pm**

Isadora Carmichael
SAN 64
[dice]0[/dice]

Isadora stares transfixed at the crack in the rock as well, and grabs her stomach. She almost vomits, but keeps it together.

"Gr-grab him and go, quick, quick!" she says to Henry Glynn, who seems to be the most stable of them all.

Posted: **Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:56 pm**

Posted: **Tue Feb 13, 2018 3:13 pm**

Isadora Carmichael
Spot Hidden 40%
[dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Tue Feb 13, 2018 7:39 pm**

Henry Glynn

Spoiler:

Henry grabs Albert and Alice and attemps to leave with them.

Posted: **Wed Feb 14, 2018 2:26 am**

Alice is too busy trying to get out of there to notice anything.

Posted: **Wed Feb 14, 2018 12:30 pm**

Owens' Spot Hidden [dice]0[/dice]

Play@YSDC

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