Ch.14b. A Letter From a Friend (Jerry & William)

[Mr. Handy]

William shakes his head no and puts a finger to his lips, but he doesn't hear anything.

Listen roll (68% skill) near the pit:
d%

[Bullfrog]

Listen 25%: 1d100

Jerry isn't paying attention.

[Philulhu]

No noise could be heard from either direction.

[Mr. Handy]

"Crossing one at a time would leave both of us vulnerable," whispers William. "We can each take one ledge, and if one of us runs into trouble, the other can cover him."

[Bullfrog]

"Seems like the best option to me." Jerry moves to the ledge, waiting for William to ready his gun before starting to cross. He never had much cared for heights, and he had really never cared for putting his life in the hands of others, but if Lawrence trusted that lawyer enough to clue him in on his secret life, then Jerry would have to trust him too.

[Philulhu]

The ledges were three feet wide so it was easy enough for Jerry and William to move past the pit to the end of the cavern, where tunnels extended to the left and right.

To their left, there was the same musty odour that they had smelt from the other tunnel on the same side of the cavern. To the right, the tunnel stretched away into the darkness.

[Mr. Handy]

"Let's try the right first," whispers William. "I'd rather avoid the source of that smell."

[Philulhu]

Choosing the right hand tunnel, Jerry and William found a short walk of no more than about 20 feet before it widened out with two further tunnels heading straight on or to the left.

[Mr. Handy]

William looks around for any sign that anyone - or anything - passed this way.

[Philulhu]

There were claw marks in the dirt, travelling both ways.

[Mr. Handy]

"They've been down both tunnels," whispers William. "I'm thinking we go straight ahead. The left tunnel leads toward the source of that smell."

[Philulhu]

Make a Listen roll, please.

[Mr. Handy]

William hears very clearly.

Listen roll (68% skill) in the tunnel:
d%

[Bullfrog]

Listen 25%: 1d100

Also, can Jerry identify the smell?

"I think we should at least have a look at that awful-smelling room, as much as I hate to say it. Those animals could be keeping Winscott in there, for all we know, so they can eat him later." Jerry whispers in reply, trying not to think of the possibility that the animals down here were hungry enough to have already killed and eaten Winscott. It didn't look like there was much food down here...

[Philulhu]

Ahead and to the right where tunnel branched into two, they heard a sharp ‘crack’.

A Natural World roll would probably help.

[Mr. Handy]

William has no idea what the smell is, but the sound is unmistakable. "That way," he whispers, pointing ahead.

Natural History roll (10% base skill) about the smell:
d%

[Philulhu]

The tunnel ran straight for a few more feet then turned right. Turning into this new tunnel, Jerry and William were immediately greeted with the sight of two people, the first of which was pale-faced, very disheveled and carrying a lantern; the second was more clean cut and carried a lantern.

Jerry wouldn’t recognise them, but for William the people looked familiar! Was that Ivy Ripley and Detective Alex Reynolds standing before them?! As they watched, Ivy raised a poker ready to strike and Alex shouted ”Stay where you are, I'm armed!”

[Bullfrog]

"So are we, so unless you and your lady friend have a shotgun stashed away, you're out-gunned." Jerry holds his gun steady, shooting a steely-eyed glare at Alex. He seemed remarkably calm for a man in a tense, armed standoff; it was almost like Jerry had been in situations like this before...
"Now, I don't see any reason we should start shooting, unless you want to change that. To start with, I'd like to know what you're doing in the caves under Joshua Winscott's basement, and if you have any idea where he's wandered off to."

[Mr. Handy]

"It's all right, everyone," says William, lowering his gun. "This is Jerry, Lawrence's brother. Jerry, these are two more of Lawrence's friends: Ivy Ripley and Detective Alex Reynolds. Funny running into you two here."

[Philulhu]

We’ll continue in this thread: Together Again