Chapter 8: The Vanishing

[HoneyDog]

FitzWilliam,FitzWilliam needs to roll Idea - if it fails he'll avoid temporary insanity.

[Philulhu]

Idea roll (75%),[dice]0[/dice]

[Rooter]

SAN,69[dice]0[/dice]

Spot Hidden,45%[dice]1[/dice]

Percy spots something.

[HoneyDog]

FitzWilliam,FitzWilliam now has temporary insanity. You’ll need to roll 1d10+4 (combat rounds) to see how long it lasts, and you can roll 1d10 to determine the nature of the insanity, unless you have your own idea. I think we have to disregard the Spot Hidden roll. It’s a shame this has happened, but it’s in the nature of the game! Perhaps FitzWilliam can still give a good account of himself.

Percy,Percy can see Ursula and Reuben among the children in the wicker man. He also notices that due to the children’s struggles, the wicker figure is swaying slowly – it is obviously unstable and imbalanced. The flames are burning towards it, but they have yet to consume it.

The little people are chanting and moving in unison now, bunching into groups, still fixated upon the flames and the wicker man.

[Philulhu]

Temp. Insanity,Duration [dice]0[/dice] My instincts are that [b]FitzWilliam[/b] will revert to what he knows best - being a soldier - and charging into battle without heed for himself.

[aine]

"Oh Lord!" Breathes Isolde, "It's not how I imagined it at all. Those things look viscous- goblins- they must be! And they mean to sacrifice the children in that horrid contraption. Look; they are fixated on the fire. We've got to stop them somehow!"

[HoneyDog]

Philulhu,Yes, based on his war experiences he might suffer from a homicidal or suicidal mania. What do you think? I'll leave it up to you - it might depend on how attached to the character you are. Please don't post any actions until Percy has spoken though.

[Mr. Handy]

"Whatever they be, they've got to be stopped," says Alexander. "They're so distracted, we may be able to get closer without being noticed and rescue the children. Whoever's best at sneaking should try that, while the rest of us cover them with our guns."

[Philulhu]

HoneyDog,I’d have preferred FitzWilliam to make it through but with 45 SAN that was always going to be a challenge... :roll: He can feel the heat of Africa on in his face again...

[HoneyDog]

Philulhu,Sorry, but actually, reading the rules, FitzWilliam has lost 10 SAN in quick succession which puts him into indefinite insanity. It's not going to wear off before the end of the game. You can roll 1d6 to see how many months it would take him to recover, if he should survive.

[Philulhu]

Honeydog,Ok :( What does that mean in terms of available actions for FitzWilliam? Can he act or is he just overwhelmed by what he has seen?

[Rooter]

"I can see Ursula and Reuben inside the wicker man," Percy points out. "And the cage looks unstable. Perhaps a good push will dislodge it out of harm's way."

[HoneyDog]

Philulhu,I would say just go with what we already discussed, and what you intimated from the prior posts. The situation is perhaps making him relive some past trauma from his service. Maybe he thinks he's back in South Africa, in the midst of some battle or skirmish.

[aine]

"At least we've found Ursula but she'll never be the same again after this and really it doesn't matter which children they are we've got to rescue them. And we have to stop the curse too or this will continue happening. But first things first. We must hurry. " She turns quickly to the local men,
"How many children are missing? Is that all of them in the cage or do we need to rescue others too?"

[Philulhu]

Captain FitzWilliam looked upon the scene in abject and uncomprehending horror. Inside, his grasp of reality snapped.

He couldn’t see the snow and the cavorting goblins - in his mind’s eye he could only feel the heat from the Natal sun and see the Zulu impis dancing the Indlamu - their war dance! Their short stature puzzled him momentarily but the drumming was loud in his head - drowning out any doubts he might have.

He looked around him at his now red-coated comrades-in-arms. “Hold that flag high, Ensign!” he ordered Mr Stringer. He looked back at the cavorting goblins and with his gun raised, yelled “For the Staffordshires! For Sarn’t Evans!” and charged into the fray!

[HoneyDog]

Alexander & Percy & Isolde,Now the creatures will be aware of your presence – you don’t have much time if you want to save the children! Roll Physics or Idea!

The little people look up in surprise, then anger at the figure of FitzWilliam charging at them. Although terribly outnumbered, some of the villagers and gypsies join him. The little creatures brandish their stone clubs and knives eagerly.

FitzWilliam,Roll 1d100.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander thinks of something.

OOC,My Idea score is actually better. Idea roll (80% stat) to find a way to rescue the children: [dice]0[/dice]

[Philulhu]

OOC,[dice]0[/dice]

[aine]

Idea,80 [dice]0[/dice]

"He's totally mad!" Isolde exclaims with horror but now is the only chance they'd have to rescue the children.
"Quickly let's get to the cage whilst the Captain creates a diversion!"

[HoneyDog]

FitzWilliam launches himself at the small figures, dashing them aside. With surprise on his side, he has the upper hand, but it won’t last for long.

The creatures have been shocked out of their chanting and seem furious, ready for blood.

Alexander and Isolde both see the same thing – a gap has opened up; if someone can get to the wicker man, they should be able to push it over, allowing the children to escape. The rescuer will need to jump through the fire however!

FitzWilliam,Realistically, he is unlikely to survive this encounter - there are too many of the little creatures. He has successfully interrupted their ritual though and has opened an opportunity for the other. How do you feel about this situation?

OOC,A successful Jump roll is needed to clear the flames and push the wicker man.