Track 9: Born to Be Wild

[SunlessNick]

Seeing Tony's reaction, Zara sheepishly says, "Sorry, I guess that sounded funnier in my head." She gets down and investigates the opening.

[jp1885]

Tony winks in reply, chuckling to himself.

[Mr. Handy]

Liz smiles, keeping her eyes and ears open in case of trouble.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

The structure proves to have a wetsuit and scuba gear inside. There are a couple of discarded, empty air tanks, and one full one (judging by the weight.)

[jp1885]

”Perhaps there’s something of interest under the lake. I could take a look if the suit fits; I’m no expert but I once spent a very enjoyable week scuba diving in the Aegean with an Italian countess.” Tony reminisces.

[Mr. Handy]

"We can bring the gear with us," says Liz. "Once we get a look at the lake for ourselves, we'll have a better idea of what might be submerged within it."

[SunlessNick]

"I wonder whose it is. The doctor didn't seem like the type to go diving," Zara adds.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Closer examination of the suit indicates that it was made to fit someone on the tall, slender side. In a pinch, any one of the investigators could fit into it.

Taking a closer look at the lake, they can see that it contains a large number of fish of various sizes and forms, some brightly colored like living jewels, other drab. Given the very clear water, one can tell that the base of the lake slopes down very steeply from the shore. In fact, beyond a meter or so, it is so deep that the bottom is not evident.

[jp1885]

Tony peers into the sloping depths of the lake.

"So, what d'you think ladies? Shall I take a dip?"

[SunlessNick]

"Be careful though," Zara says. (Although she might be said to be a fine one to talk)

[Mr. Handy]

"I could do it," says Liz. "The wet suit looks like it's just my size. Of course, if you'd rather, I think it can still fit you."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Whoever decides to put on the wet suit and take a dive into the lake,The deeper part of the lake is full of plant and animal life, from the tiniest of snails to giant fronds of freshwater weeds. Many of the smaller fish rush away once a human being enters their world, but some of the larger ones do not. In fact . . . [dice]0[/dice][dice]1[/dice] A particularly large fish, well over a meter in length, and weighing about forty kilograms or so, approaches you rapidly. It is silvery blue in color, has the typical long, torpedo-shaped body of a fast swimmer, and, unmistakably, several long, sharp teeth that fit into grooves along its jaws, making them visible even when its mouth is closed. Of course, its mouth is not always closed . . . It attacks aggressively, taking a good, solid bite out of your leg, even through the thick, tough material of the wetsuit. It's not a crippling wound, but blood is flowing into the water.

Whoever stays on shore,You see a dark cloud forming near the person in the lake.

[jp1885]

“Oh, I insist,” says Tony, stripping down to his briefs.

Soon he is pulling on the scuba gear, giving his friends a thumbs up before slipping into the lake.

(Pauses to read the spoiler)

Vic,[b]Tony[/b] lashes out with his good leg.

[SunlessNick]

"Liz, what's that?" Zara exclaims, pointing at the cloud. She waves her arms over the water, trying to attract Tony's attention and gesture for him to surface.

[Mr. Handy]

"Maybe it's a squid or an octopus," says Liz, racking her brain. "Or some other sort of cephalopod. Tony, get out of the water!" she shouts, though she knew he couldn't hear her down there. She also waved her arms wildly and gestured for him to come back.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Tony,DEX 14 but I'm going to be nasty and say -1 penalty for being underwater in the wetsuit = 13[dice]0[/dice]You got it anyway; damage[dice]1[/dice] For the record, I'm treating this fish as a crocodile without armor. Hit points = [dice]2[/dice] Your kick hurts the fish without killing it. Let's see if it gets frightened or attacks. It has a CHA of 5[dice]3[/dice] It quickly swims away, in search of easier prey. Meanwhile, the blood from your injury forms a dark cloud in the water around you.

Liz and Zara,You can now see that the dark cloud is blood coming from a wound that Tony has suffered, floating around him and distorted in color by the water.

[SunlessNick]

"Oh my God!" Zara screams. She makes to dive into the water to try to pull Tony up to the surface.

[jp1885]

Fearing that his blood will attract more predators, Tony kicks back up to the surface. Assuming he remains unmolested, he swims over to the shore and clambers painfully out of the lake.

“Just a little nip,” he says as he removes the scuba mask.

OOC: I’ll edit this post if it transpires that he doesn’t make it to shore.

[Mr. Handy]

Liz quickly strips off her dress now that she knows it's blood and not ink, intent on diving in and rescuing Tony. If he surfaces, he'll be rewarded with the sight of her in her bikini, which matches her dress and has a strapless top.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

With a welcome assist from Liz, Tony is able to make his way back on land safely, if a little worse for wear. Through the dark cloud of blood can be seen the shadow of a very large fish, moving around in an agitated fashion.

Spoiler:

Multiple die rolls[dice]0[/dice]

Liz is able to recognize the fish currently rushing around in the water, excited by the scent of blood, as a bull shark, an ocean-going species which is, none the less, able to survive in fresh water, sometimes being found in rivers far from the sea.

From a rather sketchy description from Tony of the fish that attacked him, Liz, from her studies in ichthyology, is able to identify it as a giant tigerfish, an aggressive freshwater predator species found only in the Congo River basin.

Zara, with her enhanced memory, can confirm these identifications, having once flipped through a book on the world's most dangerous animals.