Chapter 3: The Chapochaug Tunnel

[evil_scientist]

Spoiler:

What kind of light sources are we using? Hand-held electric torches of an early make (I think they were available in the 1920s)? No open fire, right? I'm afraid of gas blowing up in our faces...

"Just how long is this tunnel?" Isadora wonders. For her, it seems like a neverending underground journey, and coupled with her vision, it unnerves her greatly.

She looks up the shaft. Is the sky visible? Is it possible to guess the height of the shaft (the distance from the surface)?

[HoneyDog]

Spoiler:

I've been assuming that you've been using electric torches. I hope you brought extra batteries!

Isadora can feel the draft on her face as she looks up the shaft. She can see movement – what must be bats – inside the shaft. The top looks a long way up – at least 100 feet.

[Mr. Handy]

"I don't see how we could get up there," says Alice, looking up and shaking her head.

Spoiler:

Yes, we have flashlights.

[Tabs]

"Yeah, we'd need to be acrobats," said Owens. "Onward down the tunnel."

[HoneyDog]

The heroes leave the shaft behind and walk on. About another fifteen minutes pass by uneventfully – it seems that the companions are alone, with only the oppressive darkness of the tunnel for company.

Eventually they reach what looks like another ventilation shaft. The light seems much dimmer here – it could be that they have reached the centre of the tunnel. Broken glass is scattered around the base of the shaft. They companions shine their torches around, looking for anything of interest.

Spoiler:

Roll Spot Hidden.

[Mr. Handy]

It is too dark for Alice to see much.

Spoiler:

Spot Hidden roll (55% skill) in the tunnel:

Mr. Handy rolled 1d100:
78

[evil_scientist]

Isadora Carmichael
Spot Hidden 40%

evil_scientist rolled 1d100:
16

Isadora's light shines on something.

[HoneyDog]

Isadora’s torchlight momentarily illuminates a shape – it looks like the figure of a man. It instantly disappears up the tunnel ahead of them.

[innsmouth]

Henry Glynn

Spoiler:

Henry Spot Hidden 25

innsmouth rolled 1d100:
8

"Could it be Albert?" whispers Henry.

[Tabs]

Owens' Spot Hidden

Tabs rolled 1d100:
95

[HoneyDog]

Henry’s torch beam picks out the fleeing man. It is hard to make out any details, but the companions can hear his agitated voice. The words don’t sound like English.

Spoiler:

You can roll Know to identify the language.

[innsmouth]

Spoiler:

Henry Know 65

innsmouth rolled 1d100:
32

[evil_scientist]

Isadora Carmichael
Knowledge 40%

evil_scientist rolled 1d100:
2

Isadora might not understand the language, but she's heard it spoken before!

[Mr. Handy]

"Is that German?" asks Alice.

Spoiler:

Know roll (80% stat) to identify the language:

Mr. Handy rolled 1d100:
17

[HoneyDog]

Spoiler:

It is indeed German! If Norman rolls successfully, he can confirm it too.

[Tabs]

Owens' roll

Tabs rolled 1d100:
7

[Mr. Handy]

"That must be Albert," says Alice. She moves forward, calling out. "Albert Baumgartner! Wait!"

[HoneyDog]

But the fleeing figure doesn't wait. He is gone, further up the tunnel.

[evil_scientist]

Isadora Carmichael

Spoiler:

On Keeper's orders... Sanity 64

evil_scientist rolled 1d100:
13

"Let's go! Before he gets hit!" Isadora shouts, cryptically. The others probably don't understand what would the man get hit by in the empty tunnel.

Isadora dashes after the figure.

[HoneyDog]

The companions dash after the figure. Running up the tunnel, find they find that they can no longer see him in the torchlight. But they can now see that on either side of the tunnel is a narrow passage cut into the rock.