The Prologue (1941) - Part II

[Nanshork]

Richard gets very still and tilts his head slightly, seeing if he can hear what Esteban hears.

Listen: 22

Gah, realized I didn't link the roll.

[j0lt]

Loder stops and listens to the surrounding jungle, his hand straying to the holster on his hip.  He whispers to Russo.  "Maybe now isn't the best time or place to be talking about demons..."

Listen = 12

[ragincajun2288]

Pingo sheathes his machete, his spear still lying against his shoulder in his other hand, and pulls out his bola instead.

Listen (1d20+2=15)

[BowenSilverclaw]

Puzzled at the others' sudden vigilance, John can't hear anything else besides the same jungle noises he's been hearing all day long.

2

[Tarotdragoon]

"uh right" said Russo also curious at what had gotten everybody so uptight, he stood still eyes looking around trying to see just what was going on looking from Bones to Esteban to the kid and the others in turn

listen: 8 Spot: 6 It's a pretty safe bet Russo is clueless as ever 

[Nanshork]

Richard turns around, rifle at the ready and tries to see if he can spot anything.

Spot: 29

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Eisen, catching the sound seemingly before the rest of the group, concentrates his efforts on it. Listening is a kind of magic lost to many, and Eisen liked to try and train it in himself; more reliable than his eyes, he tried to pin down the sound he'd heard to a general direction, especially if it could help him see it. He slides the rifle more comfortably onto his shoulder, gripping the front with his calm left hand, ready to blow anything even potentially hostile away.

Listen: 22
Spot: 14

[jacemachine]

The majority of you catch the tension in the air around you as Richard and Esteban continue to watch the jungle that you have just passed through--

The sound of insects is heavy in the air, as well as the clouds of annoying gnats.

"¿Gato de selva?" Esteban says warily in low tones. It is clear by his face that he is just guessing.

Richard

Taking the time to look you still don't detect the source...

Eisen

You can barely make out a slight rustle from out in the jungle somewhere behind you. It isn't REAL close, but it isn't too far either. You don't see whatever the source is though.

[Nanshork]

Richard shoulders his rifle and slowly moves about twenty-five feet towards what he hears.  As he does he starts to talk in a calm soothing voice, it might be just an animal and his knowledge of languages isn't all encompassing so no matter what he doesn't want to antagonize whatever it is.  

In as many languages as he can get out he says, "Whoever you are, it would be best for you to come out now than for me to have to come get you."  

Assuming that nothing jumps out at him, he quickly performs a visual sweep of the area.

Performing a sweep as described in the notes section of my character sheet now that I'm (hopefully) close enough.  I hope something doesn't jump out and eat my face.

Haha, you think I'm kidding don't you?  

Spot: forthcoming, IC is down again.

[jacemachine]

Richard delves into the jungle calling out in a handful of languages...


(Nanshork, check your PM Box)

[Nanshork]

Richard kneels down and swears softly to himself.  He walks back towards the group and nods at Esteban.  "Gato de selva."  To the rest he curtly says, "Jaguar, alone.  Been stalking us for awhile.  Protect the mules, they're what it wants." 

With that done he goes back to the front and resumes scouting out a path.

Aww, is my automatic +18 spot modifier making my DM unhappy?   

[j0lt]

Loder slowly draws his pistol out and turns to Esteban.  "Cubrir tus oídos."  He says as he raises the gun over his head and pulls the trigger, firing straight up into the air.

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Hearing Loder shoot, Eisen sighs, his shoulder seeming to slump. He still has been acting a little bit odd, different from the relatively calm and unaffected man you'd all come to know. This odd Eisen walked briskly over to the Doctor and put the barrel of his rifle to the Doctor's forehead. It probably came as a shock to all around, though he didn't seem incredibly into his threat. "Doctor, know that I have infinite respect for you. That shot, whilst no doubt effective in scaring the jaguar, assuming it isn't hungry enough to wait until nightfall despite  us, it was less effective in sneaking away from both the Nazi's who are possibly nearby nor the cannibals able to track us and who might have pinpointed our location now. Please, in the future, abstain from premature loud actions."

With that, he withdrew back to his spot, listening again for sounds of movement, distant like soldiers or nearby like a pack of hungry cannibals. He seemed just slightly miffed.

[j0lt]

Sneering at the German's threatening action, Loder followed Eisen and fell in behind him.  "They sure don't teach you much in soldier school in the Fatherland, do they?  A single shot is not enough to figure out someone's location, ESPECIALLY in mountainous and jungle areas!  Even in Boy Scouts, they teach you that you should fire three shots in succession if you're lost and want to lead searchers in your direction!  Now, if we're done playing games, let's get to the damn ruins and get what we came for."

[jacemachine]

Richard leading the way through the heavy walls of verdant green, cutting his way with a machete. Pingo beside him.

The heat pervaded as the day wore long. The sound of the jungle was so natural to you that it became white noise almost. The strange insects. Colorful and exotic birds. The rich earthy compost smell, thick as it was, was almost something that didn't seem as bad anymore. It was an even competition with the smell of unwashed sweating mule, and of course all of you.

Esteban rode atop his family's horse, the reigns led by the Kid. The two of them watched the sides of the jungle that closed in on both side as the group progressed further into the endless seeming jungle.

They followed the stream as best they can -- a Dunning Letter clue indicated that there were minor ruins ahead if this was the correct stream. By by Richard's reckoning and Pingo's occasional forays out into the trees yielded no other choices. The direction was correct-- still heading to the north.

Richard was fairly certain that they would reach the ruins possibly as early as this evening, but certainly early the next morning at the very latest.

Every so often various members of the expedition would hear the sound of the jaguar as it continued to tail the group. It dared not show its face though. Eventually there was no more sign of it following-- either it had gotten bored and decided to find some other prey or it had gotten craftier in its pursuit.

Regardless, the expedition did not find the ruins before nightfall. Loder and Russo would have to wait until the morning to investigate the minor ruins where Dunning's party had camped 20 years earlier. If indeed they had the right stream.


(Alright! Time to make camp once again. Please write up you camp preparations at this time!-- )

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Eisen quickly made camp, and found that it was becoming second nature to him. Doing it so many times over the course of the trip had made it all but second nature, and the German had time to collect his thoughts while not concentrating on his tasks. He took his time, letting his murderous impulse die down, letting his solitary soldier's mask slide off to allow for personality to come in through the flood gate. After a half hour of slowly and carefully crafting his camp, Eisen was back. Certainly, it had taken the better part of a day and a half, but he was back now.

The first thing he did was approach the doctor, seeming to lend a hand wherever able. He spoke quietly, but made eye contact whenever the Doctor turned to him. "Excuse me, Doctor? Allow me to help...

...I apologize for my earlier actions. I have a bit of a... difficult curbing my impulses when I get like that. It comes from me getting too into this vengeance killing mindset I've garnered. It kept me alive, makes me a bit blunt. I will say, despite my not attending any military academy and receiving minimal training in soldiery, I've lived behind enemy lines long enough to know what the Germans can do. It makes me incredibly cautious, which makes me hostile when I get like that and I'm around other people. I apologize; I did not actually have any real threat behind my remark. Please, if at all possible, be patient with me, if we have another encounter with those Nazi's again."

[ragincajun2288]

To Pingo making a fire was life. He had done it at least once almost every day since his birth. It was something all natives had to learn if they wanted to live through the night in a feral jungle. After Pingo had gathered all the wood it took him seconds to get the fire burning healthily. The native moved lithely through the terrain, chopping smaller limbs and bushes away with his machete and gathering them up to add to the reserves. The fact that the fire needed to burn all night was an important one for survival, it almost always kept the predators away as the light and heat created an unnatural thing to the animal.

It didn’t stop some of the pro’s though, no Pingo had seen some old cats rip into natives with the fire burning brightly beside them. That’s why Pingo slept with one hand on his trusty spear.

With the fire burning and any additional orders from Bones being completed the silent native could be seen warming his hands by the fire, ruffling The Kid’s hair as he passed by.

[j0lt]

Nodding sullenly, Loder replies.  "Haven't been myself much lately either, after what happened with Paco.  Let's just say the next bunch of cannibals we come across pays for what was done."

[jacemachine]

"Russy?" The Kid says approaching the mustached Italian. "Would you mind if I stayed in your tent tonight with you? Pingo has been scaring me all day, and I don't want him to scare me while I sleep tonight."

-+-

Bones in the meantime finishes up with his tent. The crew spends a couple of hours around the campfire eating rations.

"Same as last time, right folks?" Bones asks. "Pingo & Eisen first watch, Richard & Kestrel, then the Doc & I. We should hit those ruins almost first thing tomorrow.

"Oh, and fellas? Keep an eye on them mules. Just in case that jaguar comes back."

[jacemachine]

Eisen & Pingo: You guys are on watch first as you were last evening. I will need to you make a Spot and Listen check during your watch, in addition to any details you may wish to add about your PC's actions during his watch.

When it is your turn for watch, I will require a Listen & Spot check as well from the rest of you as well. Except Russo. Who is comfy sharing his tent with a little boy.