Play@YSDC

With that settled, you press on down a short, roughly hewn tunnel. The flickering candle casts dancing shadows along the damp walls. The light allows you to see some yards ahead.

Keeper only,[dice]0[/dice]

Pressing on, the tunnel appears to widen, developing into a black, yawning maw that the feeble candlelight can barely penetrate. Occasionally something small can be ascertained, moving on the ground in the dark and the sepulchral silence is broken by a soft chittering.

"I think there are rats," whispers Cynthia.

Grigori tries to listen; perhaps he might discern something in the darkness that way...

Listen 20%,[dice]0[/dice]

Mr. Tereshchenko’s sharp hearing, no doubt augmented by the otherwise eerie silence of the tunnel, does indeed confirm that the sounds is that of a myriad of rodents.

"You'll get no argument from me," says Cynthia. She continues down the tunnel.

"I'll keep 'em peeled."

Turns head to look back every few steps.

The tunnel opens up into a rough chamber (as far as you can ascertain in the undulating candle light.

Scritching, skittering and scurrying around every conceivable nook and cranny are hundreds of rats. The ground before you is carpeted with these fat, loathsome beasts and the urge to strike out with your feet is difficult to resist.

Please can you all oblige me with a POW roll. Succeed and you hold your nerve, treating carefully through the vile throng. Fail and you instinctively lash out, causing some reaction among the creatures.

POW=50%,[dice]0[/dice]

OOC:   Who'd a thought POW/SAN would be important in a Call of Cthulhu game...

The sight of the rats is almost too much for Cynthia, but she summons up all her courage.

OOC,POW roll (80% stat) in the rat room: [dice]0[/dice] I'll spend 2 Luck to make that a success.

POW: 60

[dice]0[/dice]

Phew..Professor Garrett keeps his cool, for now.

While Miss Knight and Professor Garrett hold their nerves, Mr. Tereshchenko, you are not so unflappable. As such you cannot help lashing out with your foot, agitating the little beasts as they scurry over it.

Squealing in annoyance, the rats swarm towards you, scenting Russian blood!

Mr. Tereshchenko, with the highest DEX you can make a combat move of some sort before the rats get to take a nibble out of you.

Miss Knight and Professor Garrett, you get to make a move after the furry horde.

Grigori swears loudly in Russian, points his shotgun at the largest mass of the vermin, and pulls the trigger...

In the confined space, there is an enormous bang, absolutely deafening...

OOC:   4d6 damage at 10 yards or less! I do hope he doesn't fumble... /ooc] Shotgun 50%,[dice]0[/dice]

Seeing as the rats are uncomfortably close, you may roll a bonus die if you wish.

Keeper roll,[dice]0[/dice]

OOC:   I will indeed take up the bonus die. tbh I'm angling for the extremely loud noise to be enough... But who knows how determined these varmints are...

Rollin,[dice]1[/dice]

[dice]0[/dice]

Damage at close range,[dice]0[/dice]

Despite the close range of the shot, the rat pack is not particularly thinned out. However, as you correctly surmise, the noise of the blast is enough to deter the filthy rodents from any further aggressive action.

Squealing in alarm, the horde squirms and scatters past you, leaving nothing but the less-than-pleasing odour of art droppings in their wake.

With the shotgun blast ringing in your ears, you will all have to add a penalty die to any listen rolls.

"Let's keep going," says Cynthia, though she can barely hear her own voice. "Our foe will have heard that. We must not give him time to prepare."