Ch.1a Plane Sailing (Ben, Boyd, Harold)

[Philulhu]

Tuesday, 28 October 1986, 14:45hrs.
Stikine River Valley, Kitimat-Stikine Regional District, British Columbia

Another 30 minutes had passed before Ben, Boyd and Harold had been able to set out, with the base camp needing to be set up before they could leave.

The wind had picked up and snow was falling steadily again as the party headed off in the direction of the plane. By walking under the ledge, they avoided the worst of the snow, but the wind was fierce, any exposed skin feeling its sharp chill as it whistled down the river valley. They trudged on, conscious that this weather would stop any rescue planes from flying and that they needed anything they could possible scrounge from the wreckage to get them out of here…

Can I have a CON roll and Spot Hidden, please?

[Mr. Handy]

Benjamin.png (54.08 KiB) Viewed 669 times

Benjamin has adapted to the cold.

CON roll (80% stat) on the way to the plane:
d%
Spot Hidden roll (30% skill) on the way to the plane:
d%

[kabukiman]

Boyd

Con: 45%


Spot hidden: 30%

[kabukiman]

Boyd has adapted very welll to the cold, but isn't interested in warxhig anything, just getting as qyick as possible to the plane.


"So guys, do you think we get on time to the plane, get any supplies and still return to our companions today?"

[Philulhu]

Barring distractions, it’s expected to take 90 minutes to get back to the plane, and the same back.

[Mr. Handy]

Benjamin.png (54.08 KiB) Viewed 662 times

"I think so, as long as nothing unexpected happens," says Benjamin.

[kabukiman]

"So, it is 3 hour, plus the tine we will spend searchinbg for things."

[Mr. Handy]

Benjamin.png (54.08 KiB) Viewed 654 times

"Yes," says Benjamin. "We can gather what we need to assemble a sledge, but we don't have to build it until after we get back to camp. Although it probably would be easier to pull than to carry."

[Lost_King]

OOC:   I apologize for my sudden absence. It seems time slipped away from me. I will attempt to pay better attention to how long it’s been since I last checked in on progress.

Con (45%)

1d100

fail

Spot Hidden (30%)

1d100

fail

[Philulhu]

No problem. Pleased you’re still with us.

Having failed Harold’s CON roll, he’s feeling the effect of the cold so will take a penalty dice on his next roll.

The way was clearer by the river but the ice seemed to give off a real, bone-chilling cold, which Harold was feeling in particular.

It took slightly longer than 90 minutes before they saw the plane in the river bed ahead. There was movement next to the broken fuselage - Wolves!

[Mr. Handy]

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Benjamin readies his M16 and puts a finger to his lips. He watches the wolves carefully, estimating the distance and how many of them there are. "Stay behind me," he whispers. "These beasts may have forgotten that they're man's best friend."

[Philulhu]

Umm, that’s dogs, isn’t it?

One of the wolves watched the three men curiously, as the rest of the pack continued to scavenge among the wreckage of the plane.

[Mr. Handy]

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"How about you and your friends back off for a while," Benjamin says to the wolf that's watching him. "We don't want anyone to get hurt, and I'm sure you don't either. Once we're done and we've left, you can scavenge whatever you want, okay?" He gestures with the barrel of his M16 that the wolves should go away. He isn't sure if they will, but he's hoping. If it came to a fight, they'd be risking further injury, not to mention using up ammo.

Wolves are basically genetically identical to dogs, they just haven't been domesticated.

[Philulhu]

I get that, but it’s the lack of domestication that means they won’t act in the same way as a dog might in the same situation.

The wolf growled, its hackles rising. A second wolf emerged from the fuselage, then a third.

If the humans went away, then all would be good, but if they stayed, clearly there would be consequences…

[Mr. Handy]

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"Do you guys think it's worth the risk for whatever we can salvage?" asks Benjamin. "My weapon can kill a wolf easily, and maybe the rest would flee, but maybe they would attack. If they do, I might even be able to wipe out the pack with a full magazine, but the wolves may cause serious injury first - they may even defeat us."

[kabukiman]

"I have a flare. Do you want that I use it? It may scatter them."

[Mr. Handy]

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"No, we'll need that later to signal for help if a rescue aircraft is sent to look for us," says Benjamin. "I'd sooner fire a warning shot, but even that may provoke them and could just waste valuable ammo. I'm willing to take the chance if you two are, though."

[Philulhu]

It seemed that fresh flesh appealed more than whatever the wolves could scavenge in the wreck, as a fourth wolf emerged from behind the plane and the pack started tentatively forward in the direction of the three humans.

[Mr. Handy]

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Benjamin points the barrel of his M16 in the air at a 45 degree angle, makes sure it's set to single shot mode, and squeezes off a single round. Then he puts the selector in burst mode and aims at the lead wolf in case they attack.

[Philulhu]

The shot caused all but the biggest wolf to bolt and run. It studied the group for a moment longer, then turned and followed its fellow predators down the river bank, leaving the way to the plane clear.