Track 9: Born to Be Wild

[jp1885]

Thoroughly fed-up with this belligerent goon, Tony strikes out with his stick, trying to land a resounding blow on the fellow's helmet. He knows that he can do little to harm him, but hopes that the resultant 'bong!' will disorient the brute enough for Tony to make his escape.

[SunlessNick]

If Tony's attack succeeds, I guess everyone runs, so Zara will too. If Hammerhead is still trying to fight, Zara will try to shoot him, even if she's not confident of the bullet getting though the armour.

[Mr. Handy]

Liz will also flee if Tony is successful in getting past Hammerhead, but if he is not, she will try to mace the brute in his exposed eyes.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Thoroughly fed-up with this belligerent goon, Tony strikes out with his stick, trying to land a resounding blow on the fellow's helmet. He knows that he can do little to harm him, but hopes that the resultant 'bong!' will disorient the brute enough for Tony to make his escape.

Spoiler:

Dex = 14 + 3 for Bartitsu, but -2 for his armor = 150

Probably due to the shaking of the ground, Tony's deadly stick fails to strike its intended target. Hammerhead strikes back.

Spoiler:

Dex = 71

He also misses. The ground starts shaking more.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

If Tony's attack succeeds, I guess everyone runs, so Zara will too. If Hammerhead is still trying to fight, Zara will try to shoot him, even if she's not confident of the bullet getting though the armour.

Spoiler:

dex 13 - 2 for his armor = 110damage1

With deadly aim, no doubt brought about by this desperate situation, Zara's shot strikes in Hammerhead's eye slots, sending him crashing to the ground and moaning weakly. Tony is now able to dash around him easily.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

As the shaking of the ground grows in intensity, the investigators face the choice of following Delgado to the west, or taking the most direct path up to the caldera to reach the airship, or heading back to the huts of the beast-folk, in an attempt to rescue them in some way. None of these seem like very inviting possibilities.

[jp1885]

“Nice shooting Zara,” says Tony, impressed. “What say we all scarper? We’d better take our animal chums with us though - bad form to let them all burn and all.”

[SunlessNick]

"Yeah. Yeah, we can't leave them here. But we don't know where Lota is."

[Mr. Handy]

"Agreed," says Liz. "I bet Delgado knows where she is. He must have been holding her hostage to ensure her people's cooperation. Maybe we should follow him."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Following Delgado is not very difficult; the path between the west and south sides of the island appears to have been well traveled and maintained, for a dirt track. It's obvious that he's heading for the boat where the investigators first saw him.

[SunlessNick]

"You guys go after him and get Lota," Zara suggests, "and I'll get the others and lead them to the airship. I don't think we've got a lot of time." She offers her gun to Liz and Tony.

[Mr. Handy]

"Good thinking," says Liz. "Thanks, but I've already got a gun, so you hold onto it unless Tony doesn't have one."

[jp1885]

“Oh I think I’m adequately armed,” says Tony. “Now let’s catch up with Delgado before he can free up his boat.”

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Rushing back to the huts, Zara is able to hastily explain the situation to the beast folk. They understand quickly, possessing a native wisdom about matters of survival.

Spoiler:

dex 130

No doubt encouraged by the gravity of the situation, Zara is able to scramble up to the caldera, if not quite as gracefully as her charges. They enter the airship in an orderly, if somewhat agitated, fashion.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Meanwhile, Liz and Tony follow Delgado to La Reina del Pacifico. The yacht is guarded, as before, by Bruno, who stands and grips his rifle as Delgado jumps aboard.

"Keep them away!" Delgado shouts as he dashes below deck. "Raise anchor! All engines full astern!"

The clanking sound of the anchor being pulled up mixes with the roar of the yacht's engine.

Bruno fires a shot at the intruders.

Spoiler:

dex 90

The shot flies by harmlessly.

"That was a warning," Bruno yells. "Stay back!"

[jp1885]

“Tell us where Lota is,” Tony yells over the rumble of the engine. “And we’ll let you go!”

[SunlessNick]

Zara also brings the goons we took prisoner (though she has them tied back up once everyone's aboard the airship). She tells the beastmen that Liz and Tony are looking for Lota.

[Mr. Handy]

Liz takes cover and points her EMP device at the boat's engines, but she doesn't activate it yet. "You know what this can do!" she calls. "You don't need Lota any more, but you do need your boat's engine to run!"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

On the airship, things seem to be mostly under control, although there is now quite a bit of smoke and ash coming out of the many fumaroles, and even some lava bursting through the caldera in spots.

"Island angry," says the beast-man Zara recognizes as the Sayer of the Law.

At the yacht, a couple of thugs drag Lota out from below decks. Her hands are tied behind her. They toss her overboard, into the water.

"Lota not swim!" she cries out, as the two guys rush back down. Bruno continues to stand guard, but does not fire.

"Take her and get out of here!" Delgado shouts from below.

[jp1885]

Despite his earlier aquatic tribulations and his perilous state of health, Tony immediately dives in to rescue Lota.