Track 10: Sympathy for the Devil

[jp1885]

“International cooperation is paramount. I’m sure whatever was the cause of that scream will test our thesis admirably,” P replies.

“Otto my friend, can you lead us to it?” he asks his companion.

[SunlessNick]

"Liz!" Lara yells in response to the scream (though I assume she can tell it was a masculine one?). She looks at Otto as P asks his question.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm okay!" calls Liz, racing for the helm of the vessel to guide it to land. "A tentacle monster got Ivanovich!" Her knowledge of biology telling her that there is probably no such known creature as the one she saw part of on Earth, she realizes that it is most likely from another world, and she tries to send it back there.

Using Exorcism.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

Disregard; I quoted myself twice by mistake; see below.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

see message above

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

Creature's WIS = 12; saving throw to negate Exorcism:d20

The surface of the icy water grows calm, with no sign of Ivanovich or the thing that carried him off apparent. An eerie silence surrounds those gathered together on Makeholem, now joined by by Liz.

"One of the things summoned by SHRIKE's destruction of our reactor," Jan says. "You understand our problem." He points to the west, to the bay known as Sorhamna, where the shattered remnants of the reactor still emit a pale green glow. "Until we can seal that thing off, more manifestations of the realm of chaos will continue to appear. THRUSH doesn't want to destroy the world, only rule it. Are we agreed, ladies and gentlemen?"

Spoiler:

CHA = 9 on the Soviet commanderd20

"Nyet," the Soviet captain says. "Want nothing of this. We go." Barking orders at his men, he directs them to make their way back to the boat.

"Looks like we're on our own," Jan says.

[Mr. Handy]

"The creature in the reactor," says Liz, "like the one I just banished, is extradimensional. I already tried to banish it, but it managed to resist. I suppose I can try again, but what we really need to do is seal the dimensional breach and keep them from entering our world. My knowledge can help there."

[jp1885]

“As much as I would love to study a real-world application of inter-dimensional mechanics, I suppose sealing the reactor is the most apposite move at this juncture,” P concurs.

“Unfortunately we’ve lost a little muscle at the departure of our Soviet comrades, but we shall prevail I’m sure.”

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

number of THRUSH agents2d4

Jan and his seven companions arm themselves with the odd-looking guns seen during the encounter at the meteorological station. They also fit themselves into wet suits, obtained from one of their large tents.

"There are some spare suits, if you would care to wade in with us," Jan tells the investigators. "The water is quite shallow, and we will be able to reach the reactor on foot. Otherwise, use this rowboat," h says, indicating a small vessel nearby.

He leads the seven other armed men into the water, walking toward the ruins of the reactor.

"Come on in. The water's fine."

[jp1885]

P nimbly dons a wetsuit while Otto, no doubt inured to the cold and unable to find a suit big enough, wades into the water as-is.

[SunlessNick]

Zara dons a wetsuit and follows.

[Mr. Handy]

Liz also puts on a wetsuit and enters the water. The suit is a tight fit, as it's clearly not designed for a woman, but she's sure the men appreciate it.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

When everyone is suited up, Jan offers the adventurers their choice of weapons. There are enough for everyone to take either a spear gun or one of those odd-looking THRUSH carbines.

The group enters the water and proceeds slowly to the ruins of the reactor. All seems quiet, until . . .

Spoiler:

d20

A large number of very thin, transparent tendrils whip out of the water, narrowly missing the THRUSH agent in the lead. These do not resemble the tentacle that pulled Ivanovich into the water at all, being much smaller and coming in a bunch instead of just one at a time.

"Better watch your step," Jan says, probably unnecessarily.

[Mr. Handy]

Liz has opted for one of the carbines, always a fan of strange-looking mechanical things. She prays to banish the tendrils (and whatever they're attached to) back to the dimensional plane whence they came.

Using Exorcism.

[jp1885]

Fascinated by gadgets, P also opts for a carbine.

[SunlessNick]

Do these new tentacles resemble the ones from the first creature we saw? If not, Zara says, "That's at least three of them now."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

attempt to resist exorcismd20

Liz's attempt to dispel the tendrilled creatures results only in some churning of the things, revealing that they resemble large jellyfish, with translucent bodies of shimmering, shifting colors, from which the numerous tendrils descend. They are clearly quite different from anything else seen here before.

Spoiler:

2d4

There are four of them, and they seem to be aggressive.

Spoiler:

4d20three successful attacks3d6

The tendrils of three of them hit a trio of THRUSH agents. One yells with pain. "It stings!" The other are rendered unconsciousness and fall into the water. The survivor tries to fire at the thing.

Spoiler:

d20damage1d6

A bullet from his carbine tears through the creature's body, leaving a gaping hole, but fails to render it helpless.

[jp1885]

Sighing sadly at the necessity of choosing brawn over brains, P also raises his carbine and fires at one of the creatures.

[Mr. Handy]

Liz likewise opens fire on the jellyfish-like creatures.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

DEX 5 and 122d20