Secondary Game Thread

[j0lt]

Loder listens quietly to the old woman's story.  "Pienso que es seguro ahora. Usted debe subir y conseguir un poco de alimento."

[jacemachine]

There wasn't any sound of further fighting coming from outside.

When you finally got the women and children up into the church itself, sitting in the chairs. You notice a good many of them get on their hands and knees and pray. Towards the alter, you notice Paco & Esteban bowed in prayer.

[j0lt]

Dr. Loder, not being well-versed in religious beliefs awkwardly stands at the side, unsure of how to act.

[jacemachine]

The expeditions porters Esteban and Paco finish their prayers by making the sign of the cross across their own chests. They rise and come to meet with Loder.

"Soy doctor apesadumbrado, pero mi hermano y mismo tienen muy miedo. Debemos haber escuchado nuestra madre y haber permanecido en el país. Todavía no debemos haber dejado las mulas." Paco says. He looks ashamed. Even Eteban has lost his goofy grin.

From the corner of his eye, Loder can see the old woman, Muta's grandmother. Her once bright red gown was now marred with dirt and splashed with mud. She looked grim as she patiently awaited her turn.

[j0lt]

Putting his hand on Paco's shoulder, Dr. Loder smiles reassuringly.  "Usted no debe preocuparse, usted está haciendo un buen trabajo. Sé que esto es peligroso, pero su ayuda está agradecida y esto es muy importante."

Loder turns to the old woman.  "¿El otros en mi grupo está cerca de la barra, puede usted demostrarme qué sepulcros disturbado?"

[jacemachine]

A side door near the rear left of the church took Loder and the elderly lady outside of the church. She led the way following a narrow, but short trail that opened up upon the village's humble cemetery. Headstones were a mix of materials. Some were carved wood. Some carved stones. None of them resembled any tombstone that Loder was used to seeing. Even in the small village of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania the grave markers were the traditional granite carved slabs.

Generations of villagers had been buried in this jungle clearing over the years. Evident by the sheer number of markers. Perhaps a hundred. possibly more. Loder didn't need the older woman to show him which grave had been disturbed. It was obvious before he was even remotely near it.

The grave was simple. or had been rather, before the Nazis had it dug up. The skeletal remains of its former occupant lay in a heap next to the earth, still clothed in rotted remains of the garments it had been interred in.

The woman stood by as Loder approached the grave.

[j0lt]

Dr. Loder makes a careful search of the immediate area in and around the disturbed grave, doing his best not to further disturb the remains of the former villager.

Search check = 34
Investigate check = 21

[jacemachine]

This man's clothes date him to at least 2 decades ago. He was buried with his possessions; a rotted leather satchel laid torn open-- it's contents strewn about. An old rusted compass. Crumbling scraps of writing paper. A bottle of ink, sealed by it's long dried contents. Rusted pens and extra pen nibs. An old pocket knife, engraved with a monogram "D".

[j0lt]

His voice trembling with excitement, Loder asks the old woman to wait in the church.  He breaks into a frantic run to go back to the others.

[jacemachine]

Loder enters the main thread.

[jacemachine]

Pingo grits his teeth and motions for Sgt. Kestrel and Max Hawkins to follow. He heads off towards the log-made dock, then heads along the riverbank heading East.

[BowenSilverclaw]

John follows Pingo, trying to stay out of sight and not make too much noise while making sure there aren't any surprises waiting for them.

Hide: 19
Move Silently: 21
Listen: 21
Spot: 16

[Neull//]

Max follows john and Pingo always on alert

Spot (take 10): 15

[jacemachine]

The packed-mud trail that Pingo took followed the river east. Foliage hugged both sides of the pathway giving it a very narrow hall sort of feel. Between the trees, vines, and undergrowth the river's dark chocolate flow could be seen, headed back to the west, to continue past Orino Perro.

Soon you came to where a tributary emptied the main river. This tributary ran south, and eventually it brought you to Bone's beloved river boat, El Halcón.

The boat was at least 100 feet in length, with a width of approximately 20- 30 feet. A large cabin dominated the front half, while the rear of the boat was open, but covered by a wooden roof. Old tires hung from rope over the sides, and portholes could be seen along the front of the hull, indicating at least another floor belowdecks. The smoke stack protruded from the top of the boat, clearing it by a good 10 feet. The only thing that was taller was a red flag, with the black silhouette of a falcon in flight.

It wasn't pretty to look at. Bones didn't seem to be much for keeping its appearance in good shape, what was that he said during the hike that morning-- 'she didn't look like much, but she'd get ya where you were going.'

It was moored at a small dock. Likely a local secret-- similar to the dock in Orino Perro it was constructed of logs cut from felled trees.

The boat itself was quiet. Pingo went across the gangplank, under the long rear roof overhang, and into a doorway.

[BowenSilverclaw]

John follows Pingo onboard.

"Okay, Pingo, show us where the bomb is."

[Neull//]

"And then I suggest you abandon ship...you don't want to get blown up with us" says Max smiling

[BowenSilverclaw]

"At least you'll be able to enjoy some good fireworks." John smirks.

[jacemachine]

Pingo led the two men below deck to the engine compartment.

Taking stock you see the riverboat's firetube boiler. The smoke stack rises through the ceiling, through the floor above. Valves dotted the stationary motor unit. But there were still pieces laying on the floor, as was Bone's heavy wooden toolbox containing the tools that hadn't been left on the floor.

Pingo points to a nondescript cardboard box tucked away behind a stack of fuel wood. Wires can be seen running from its side...

Pingo waves farewell, and he disappears out the engine compartment door. You can hear his bare-footed steps recede, and climb a set of stairs in a rush.

Okay gentlemen, here you have an explosive device. But it isn't going to be as easy as a single Demolitions check to defeat it.

If your character's were really here, they would no doubt want to know as much as possible about the bomb, and how it is rigged. So think carefully about your actions, and I offer the following skills as a reminder of your various options; search, spot, disable device, knowledge: technology.

When you THINK that you are ready to us Demolitions, let me know!  Just remember. You CAN get blown to bits if you aren't careful!

[BowenSilverclaw]

Sorry, no time for fluff right now, I gotta catch an AC/DC gig. I'll edit some in tomorrow, for now I'll just go ahead and post the rolls as to not slow things down too much. For rolls with a chance of failure, I'll leave them to Neull if he has a better chance of succeeding.

Search: 14
Spot: 29
Disable Device: 10
Knowledge (technology): 19

Demolitions (in case Neull thinks we're ready): 28

[Neull//]

Max and John thorough examine the explosive device.
Search (take 20): 20
Spot (take 20): 25
Knowledge: Physical Sciences (take 10): 16
Once they think they know what they are dealing with with they slowly start working on disabling this death trap…

Demolition check to aid John: 25 (this is a success for a total demolition check for John: 30!)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2132516/