The SSRS Kostroma lies idle in the southeastern bay of Mended Horn Island. Only the front portion, the two forward masts and the front of the superstructure that sits in the center of the freighter's hull, is illuminated by a pair of dim lights that glow orange-red, a sure sign that the boilers of the Kostroma are dying, and the lights will soon go off. The remainder of the ship's funnel, and the mast behind the superstructure are visible only in silhouette. The gibbous moon and starry night that would have provided a clear backdrop to the black hulk of the Kostroma have been smothered by the overcast skies and light rain.
A sound comes, not from the Kostroma, and indeed, not from anywhere at all. A low, vaguely tinnitus-like sound that drains out the sound of silence. It calls to you. It calls to everyone.
"Come to the Kostroma, good soldier. Join us here. Come."
/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
1320 replies and 54 files omitted.
>>194315
Yes. Soon (TM)
>>194316
To clarify, Kira and Cavaliere are in one of the cabins trying to break into a locker. It's a smaller locker made of steel. Kira was able to severely damage one, and likely would have shattered it open if she hit it again. But it's steel. Thin steel. It will give way if you hit it hard enough with something like flesh or a sharp weapon. But doing more damage to it than it does to you does not mean it does not damage you.
Yes. Soon (TM)
>>194316
To clarify, Kira and Cavaliere are in one of the cabins trying to break into a locker. It's a smaller locker made of steel. Kira was able to severely damage one, and likely would have shattered it open if she hit it again. But it's steel. Thin steel. It will give way if you hit it hard enough with something like flesh or a sharp weapon. But doing more damage to it than it does to you does not mean it does not damage you.
>>194318
Posey is attacking it with a +2 weapon and ki focus: harder than normal steel or even tempered steel, so it should overcome the hardness of the locker. Can she not hack it open by striking it repeatedly?
If Posey takes 20 using one of her nonmagical weapons or her slam attack (she doesn't care if it hurts her), she could eventually hit a 19 on iajutsu and deal +4d6 damage to it, which I think should be enough to meet the break DC.
If we have no way to open it, we should just keep moving towards the boiler. We can always come back for this later.
Also, this is a case for Silver to learn Mountain Hammer (the Fighter's Lockpick) if he rebuilds after this mission.
Posey is attacking it with a +2 weapon and ki focus: harder than normal steel or even tempered steel, so it should overcome the hardness of the locker. Can she not hack it open by striking it repeatedly?
If Posey takes 20 using one of her nonmagical weapons or her slam attack (she doesn't care if it hurts her), she could eventually hit a 19 on iajutsu and deal +4d6 damage to it, which I think should be enough to meet the break DC.
If we have no way to open it, we should just keep moving towards the boiler. We can always come back for this later.
Also, this is a case for Silver to learn Mountain Hammer (the Fighter's Lockpick) if he rebuilds after this mission.
"We do not have time for this. The boiler is about to die. Onwards."
Posey gives up on opening the locker and proceeds towards the boiler room.
Posey gives up on opening the locker and proceeds towards the boiler room.
>>194320
The locker is visibly damaged, bent towards the right, and with the door appearing stuck in its frame. Maybe Kira could have broken it open, if only she struck a second time.
Posey lines up her sword before taking the strike. When it comes down, it comes downwards and to the right. There is a very loud "CLANG," and viewing in slow motion, the sword hits, bends the steel, bounces, bites and slides back down before the frame of the locker breaks, and then bends. The sword moves backwards, stabs into the wooden panel of the wall and hits the steel hull of the ship behind it with another, smaller "clang," before coming to a rest partly in the wood of the paneling. The door falls over, before falling out on the floor with still another clang. Some fabric item falls out, followed by a porcelin something that hits the floor and breaks.
Distantly, and downstairs, there is a "Tap tap," as if metal tapping against metal in reply.
The locker is visibly damaged, bent towards the right, and with the door appearing stuck in its frame. Maybe Kira could have broken it open, if only she struck a second time.
Posey lines up her sword before taking the strike. When it comes down, it comes downwards and to the right. There is a very loud "CLANG," and viewing in slow motion, the sword hits, bends the steel, bounces, bites and slides back down before the frame of the locker breaks, and then bends. The sword moves backwards, stabs into the wooden panel of the wall and hits the steel hull of the ship behind it with another, smaller "clang," before coming to a rest partly in the wood of the paneling. The door falls over, before falling out on the floor with still another clang. Some fabric item falls out, followed by a porcelin something that hits the floor and breaks.
Distantly, and downstairs, there is a "Tap tap," as if metal tapping against metal in reply.
>>194331
The porcelain figure is a small statuette of Celestia. Princess Celestia. It was solid, and Cavaliere can tell that because it has broken. While most of the statuette is now in two pieces, little flakes have broken away in such a way that it can't exactly be put back together again elegantly.
The porcelain figure is a small statuette of Celestia. Princess Celestia. It was solid, and Cavaliere can tell that because it has broken. While most of the statuette is now in two pieces, little flakes have broken away in such a way that it can't exactly be put back together again elegantly.
>>194332
"That is interesting. Tell me, why would a communist crewpony sailing from a communist country be keeping a statuette of his former alicorn 'oppressor'?"
"That is interesting. Tell me, why would a communist crewpony sailing from a communist country be keeping a statuette of his former alicorn 'oppressor'?"
>>194332
What if somepony were to cast Mending?
Defiant Dust didn't prepare his orisons, iirc. He could take 10 minutes to prep that.
Anyways, time to keep moving. How much further to the boiler?
What if somepony were to cast Mending?
Defiant Dust didn't prepare his orisons, iirc. He could take 10 minutes to prep that.
Anyways, time to keep moving. How much further to the boiler?
>>194330
>Distantly, and downstairs, there is a "Tap tap," as if metal tapping against metal in reply.
Posey rushes to investigate the sound.
>Distantly, and downstairs, there is a "Tap tap," as if metal tapping against metal in reply.
Posey rushes to investigate the sound.
>>194320
Blackheel:
"What are you doing?! Kill the hippogriff, banish that Chernobog, and let us be gone from here."
>>194333
Blackheel:
"Ugh... the same reason some keep gambling dice or alcohol, I assume."
>>194334
Presumably it is a scarf, though it is thin for that purpose. The fabric is black with a golden floral pattern on it. It may be gold stitched into silk. It may also be dyed thread on thin cotton. Hard to tell. The statue was pretty
>>194335
>distance to the boiler
Hard to tell in doors
>>194336
Steel and wood separates Posey from the sound. It's coming from downstairs. Downstairs and in the direction of the bow.
Blackheel:
"What are you doing?! Kill the hippogriff, banish that Chernobog, and let us be gone from here."
>>194333
Blackheel:
"Ugh... the same reason some keep gambling dice or alcohol, I assume."
>>194334
Presumably it is a scarf, though it is thin for that purpose. The fabric is black with a golden floral pattern on it. It may be gold stitched into silk. It may also be dyed thread on thin cotton. Hard to tell. The statue was pretty
>>194335
>distance to the boiler
Hard to tell in doors
>>194336
Steel and wood separates Posey from the sound. It's coming from downstairs. Downstairs and in the direction of the bow.
>>194337
Cavaliere smiles subtly and nods at Blackheel's chagrin. "Never underestimate a soldier's ability to smuggle contraband under your nose."
"Are we ready to go?" he asks the others. "We should be quick."
Cavaliere smiles subtly and nods at Blackheel's chagrin. "Never underestimate a soldier's ability to smuggle contraband under your nose."
"Are we ready to go?" he asks the others. "We should be quick."
>>194337
Kira wraps the scarf around her neck for extra warmth, before both her and Silver join the others in their journey to the boiler.
Kira wraps the scarf around her neck for extra warmth, before both her and Silver join the others in their journey to the boiler.
>>194341
As far as she can get towards the boiler, unless obstructed or distracted by something interesting along the way.
As far as she can get towards the boiler, unless obstructed or distracted by something interesting along the way.
>>194341
I think I misunderstood the question.
Posey proceeds downstairs, in whatever direction she needs to move to reach the boiler.
It's not super easy for me to visualize the path without a grid map, so please just assume by default that we are following a logical route based on Blackheel's instructions, or just following Blackheel.
I think I misunderstood the question.
Posey proceeds downstairs, in whatever direction she needs to move to reach the boiler.
It's not super easy for me to visualize the path without a grid map, so please just assume by default that we are following a logical route based on Blackheel's instructions, or just following Blackheel.
Are we able to make it to the boiler? Does anything get in our way?
>>194346
>>194346
Going down the stairs and into the hull are one or more small rooms of unknown purpose. Heading towards the bow from there is Cargo hold 5. From there towards the bow is Cargo Hold 4. And then from there, in the middle of the ship, under the midship deckhouse, is the boiler room. The cargo holds have an upper level and a lower level. Going down the stairs places you more or less on that upper level. But there are rooms under the stern deckhouse, and before Cargo Hold 5
>>194346
Going down the stairs and into the hull are one or more small rooms of unknown purpose. Heading towards the bow from there is Cargo hold 5. From there towards the bow is Cargo Hold 4. And then from there, in the middle of the ship, under the midship deckhouse, is the boiler room. The cargo holds have an upper level and a lower level. Going down the stairs places you more or less on that upper level. But there are rooms under the stern deckhouse, and before Cargo Hold 5
>>194352
Posey travels down the stairs immediately.
(I thought I said that already. Sorry.)
What does she see at the bottom?
Posey travels down the stairs immediately.
(I thought I said that already. Sorry.)
What does she see at the bottom?
>>194339
Posey, evidently, is on her way down the stairs
>>194342
Kira may or may not go down the stairs
>>194321
Zara is in the hallway of the deckhouse, peaking into one of the rooms where Stained Sand and another pony are walking in and investigating it. Mala is behind her in the hallway, though he is occupied by Patient Pippette, who seems to be trying to directly engage with him by... examing the patterns of his fur? It's not obvious.
Zara turns her head to look back towards Silver.
"I'... Yes" She answers, simply
Posey, evidently, is on her way down the stairs
>>194342
Kira may or may not go down the stairs
>>194321
Zara is in the hallway of the deckhouse, peaking into one of the rooms where Stained Sand and another pony are walking in and investigating it. Mala is behind her in the hallway, though he is occupied by Patient Pippette, who seems to be trying to directly engage with him by... examing the patterns of his fur? It's not obvious.
Zara turns her head to look back towards Silver.
"I'... Yes" She answers, simply
>>194353
Looking down the stairs, Posey can see a steel wall that curves backwards as it comes closer to the ceiling. This must be the backside of the ship. There are a couple shelves, and in the center of the room, and to the left of the stairs (but starboard for the ship) is a large, gear mechanism. Or like half of a gear, connected to other machinery.
Looking down the stairs, Posey can see a steel wall that curves backwards as it comes closer to the ceiling. This must be the backside of the ship. There are a couple shelves, and in the center of the room, and to the left of the stairs (but starboard for the ship) is a large, gear mechanism. Or like half of a gear, connected to other machinery.
Cavaliere reluctantly turns off his flashlight and follows Posey down at a short distance. He looks up and says, "We shouldn't lose sight of each other. Let's form a file so none of us gets lost and we can respond to anything we find."
>>194357
>>194356
The room is mostly empty. Oddly empty, in a way. Unlike the rooms upstairs, where the walls were covered in wood paneling, here the walls are naked steel. It's the structure of the ship, only three quarters of an inch separate from the exterior with nothing between. There are steel "ribs" every twenty inches or so, which protrude three or so inches. Everything is painted white, and it almost seems to glow in Posey's field of vision. The room is shaped to the end of the ship, curved in a not-quite half circle with rounded edges. The floor seems to be a sort of grated metal, presumably to prevent slipping when wet. There are two shelves on the left and the right. There seem to be boxes on them with lubricating oil and rope, if Posey could guess, but she can't really know for sure, and there is more empty space than filled. The great gear-mechanism that occupies the center of the room seems to be its purpose. It still only occupies perhaps a fifth of its area.
Turning around and towards the bow of the ship is a wall, not all that many feet past her. It has two doors. The door on the left is closed. The door on the right is cracked slightly open, though she cannot see past the darkness into that room. To the far left on the left wall of the room is a duct - not hidden behind a wall but on top of the wall, completely exposed. It emits a slight sucking sound.
But the most interesting sight in the room - even more than the gear mechanism, is what lay on the floor a foot left of, and perhaps four feet in front of the right door.
There is a pool of blood, partly dried, which covers a three foot radius area of the floor. In the center of that radius is... to be blunt, part of a griffin. "Part," because the hind quarters, the hind legs and the like, are completely missing. The griffin - it seems to be a male - has outstretched claws reaching forward as if in the direction of the stairs. Its beak is closed, its golden eyes remain open and in the direction of the stairs, its tan jacket has some blood on it but is mostly intact, its dark red feathers and wings remain close to its body, and it lies on its belly, as if crawling to the stairs. Everything below its ribcage is missing. No entrails are strewn behind it.
>>194356
The room is mostly empty. Oddly empty, in a way. Unlike the rooms upstairs, where the walls were covered in wood paneling, here the walls are naked steel. It's the structure of the ship, only three quarters of an inch separate from the exterior with nothing between. There are steel "ribs" every twenty inches or so, which protrude three or so inches. Everything is painted white, and it almost seems to glow in Posey's field of vision. The room is shaped to the end of the ship, curved in a not-quite half circle with rounded edges. The floor seems to be a sort of grated metal, presumably to prevent slipping when wet. There are two shelves on the left and the right. There seem to be boxes on them with lubricating oil and rope, if Posey could guess, but she can't really know for sure, and there is more empty space than filled. The great gear-mechanism that occupies the center of the room seems to be its purpose. It still only occupies perhaps a fifth of its area.
Turning around and towards the bow of the ship is a wall, not all that many feet past her. It has two doors. The door on the left is closed. The door on the right is cracked slightly open, though she cannot see past the darkness into that room. To the far left on the left wall of the room is a duct - not hidden behind a wall but on top of the wall, completely exposed. It emits a slight sucking sound.
But the most interesting sight in the room - even more than the gear mechanism, is what lay on the floor a foot left of, and perhaps four feet in front of the right door.
There is a pool of blood, partly dried, which covers a three foot radius area of the floor. In the center of that radius is... to be blunt, part of a griffin. "Part," because the hind quarters, the hind legs and the like, are completely missing. The griffin - it seems to be a male - has outstretched claws reaching forward as if in the direction of the stairs. Its beak is closed, its golden eyes remain open and in the direction of the stairs, its tan jacket has some blood on it but is mostly intact, its dark red feathers and wings remain close to its body, and it lies on its belly, as if crawling to the stairs. Everything below its ribcage is missing. No entrails are strewn behind it.
>>194358
"Somepony drag Silver down here do we can put that zegro to wor-"
Posey pauses as she sees the griffon, cautiously approaching the corpse to examine it
"Bisected cleanly... A conjuration effect? Could it be a portal mishap? Or baleful discorporation? "
Arcana to think of what sort of magical effect or monster may have caused this
[1d20+11 = (14+11) = 25]
Posey looks at the pool of blood for any pony or monster tracks, that might indicate activity, and then looks into the darkness on the opposite side of the griffon to see if whatever sundered it still lurks there.
Search
[1d20+5 = (15+5) = 20]
Spot
[1d20+3 = (10+3) = 13]
"Somepony drag Silver down here do we can put that zegro to wor-"
Posey pauses as she sees the griffon, cautiously approaching the corpse to examine it
"Bisected cleanly... A conjuration effect? Could it be a portal mishap? Or baleful discorporation? "
Arcana to think of what sort of magical effect or monster may have caused this
[1d20+11 = (14+11) = 25]
Posey looks at the pool of blood for any pony or monster tracks, that might indicate activity, and then looks into the darkness on the opposite side of the griffon to see if whatever sundered it still lurks there.
Search
[1d20+5 = (15+5) = 20]
Spot
[1d20+3 = (10+3) = 13]
>>194358
>>194359
With his light off, Cavaliere and the others cannot see their surroundings. He pulls out his flashlight, but refrains from turning it on. "Ms. Ring, what is bisected cleanly? What are we dealing with in here?" He says this softly, but perhaps his voice reverberates anyway off the metal walls. Even for the grizzled griffon, the oppressive darkness is a strong disincentive to talking at all, let alone loudly.
>>194359
With his light off, Cavaliere and the others cannot see their surroundings. He pulls out his flashlight, but refrains from turning it on. "Ms. Ring, what is bisected cleanly? What are we dealing with in here?" He says this softly, but perhaps his voice reverberates anyway off the metal walls. Even for the grizzled griffon, the oppressive darkness is a strong disincentive to talking at all, let alone loudly.
>>194360
Posey puts her hoof out to halt Cavalier and shushes, slowly pointing towards the body.
"Something anonymous happened here. The question is whether or not it has passed..."
Posey puts her hoof out to halt Cavalier and shushes, slowly pointing towards the body.
"Something anonymous happened here. The question is whether or not it has passed..."
>>194361
"This is a life-or-death situation and you have to be specific," he whispers sternly. "If you won't be, we cannot trust your eyes and we will use our own."
"This is a life-or-death situation and you have to be specific," he whispers sternly. "If you won't be, we cannot trust your eyes and we will use our own."
>>194359
Posey goes around to the other side, to look into its bisected torso.
This doesn't seem quite right. Posey knows what portal mishap looks like. Clean slices through intestine and bone. But that isn't exactly what we have here. Some of the intestine is outright missing. It's like predation, almost. But some of the intestine is indeed sliced, and some is hanging out, albeit not by much. Never more than a few inches. The bone is cracked, suggesting that it was broken with force. The thing likely was cut or sliced, albeit probably by more conventional - or at least, less precise - means.
There are no tracks, but there is a trail of blood going towards the right door. It seems the griffin probably was crawling or dragged from the door. Likely it was cut in half right there, right where it lay, after being mortally wounded earlier, in the other room. Hard to tell, though
The door is in the way, too closed to see past
>>194360
The vent makes a sucking noise from negative pressure
Posey goes around to the other side, to look into its bisected torso.
This doesn't seem quite right. Posey knows what portal mishap looks like. Clean slices through intestine and bone. But that isn't exactly what we have here. Some of the intestine is outright missing. It's like predation, almost. But some of the intestine is indeed sliced, and some is hanging out, albeit not by much. Never more than a few inches. The bone is cracked, suggesting that it was broken with force. The thing likely was cut or sliced, albeit probably by more conventional - or at least, less precise - means.
There are no tracks, but there is a trail of blood going towards the right door. It seems the griffin probably was crawling or dragged from the door. Likely it was cut in half right there, right where it lay, after being mortally wounded earlier, in the other room. Hard to tell, though
The door is in the way, too closed to see past
>>194360
The vent makes a sucking noise from negative pressure
>>194358
>>194359
>>194364
There are certain things that, when one sees it, it has an extreme negative effect on the mind. Kira has seen plenty of dead things, eaten things, and by virtue of being a lamia has seen (and participated in) things get eaten alive, but this...this is messed up. The lamia freezes for a moment, staring at the gore, before she slowly points to the room the griffon had come from. She speaks, though her voice is a bit shakey and she continues to stare at the half-griff. "Some...s-something bit this griffon in h-half. He w-was trying to crawl away, and it...it got him. Pulled his...his guts...out with his l-lower half. I think it's s-s-still in there. It left this out here. As a lure..."
Silver unsheathes his sword. Unfortunately, the light from his horn and his magic reflecting off of his blade casts a blue light upon the scene, making it more visible.
>>194359
>>194364
There are certain things that, when one sees it, it has an extreme negative effect on the mind. Kira has seen plenty of dead things, eaten things, and by virtue of being a lamia has seen (and participated in) things get eaten alive, but this...this is messed up. The lamia freezes for a moment, staring at the gore, before she slowly points to the room the griffon had come from. She speaks, though her voice is a bit shakey and she continues to stare at the half-griff. "Some...s-something bit this griffon in h-half. He w-was trying to crawl away, and it...it got him. Pulled his...his guts...out with his l-lower half. I think it's s-s-still in there. It left this out here. As a lure..."
Silver unsheathes his sword. Unfortunately, the light from his horn and his magic reflecting off of his blade casts a blue light upon the scene, making it more visible.
>>194365
There is no blood between the griffin and the stairs, save for what has pooled on the floor.
There is no blood between the griffin and the stairs, save for what has pooled on the floor.
>>194366
Kira tries to sneak up to the door on the right, where the griffon must have came from, and tries to use all of her senses - sight, sound, and smell - to figure out what's inside.
Hide: [1d20+14 = (9+14) = 23]
Move Silently: [1d20+14 = (18+14) = 32]
Spot: [1d20+8 = (20+8) = 28]
Listen: [1d20+8 = (16+8) = 24]
Survival: [1d20+11 = (9+11) = 20]
Kira tries to sneak up to the door on the right, where the griffon must have came from, and tries to use all of her senses - sight, sound, and smell - to figure out what's inside.
Hide: [1d20+14 = (9+14) = 23]
Move Silently: [1d20+14 = (18+14) = 32]
Spot: [1d20+8 = (20+8) = 28]
Listen: [1d20+8 = (16+8) = 24]
Survival: [1d20+11 = (9+11) = 20]
>>194367
>Hide
flicks tongue
>move silently
flicks tongue
>spot
It's dark
>Listen
There is a sound, though not especially loud, and somewhat damped by the door. The sound is like some kind of repeated clicking. It corresponds to no animal nor machine known to Kira. The constant pace seems more mechanical than animal, but Kira does not know for sure
>survival
Kira suspects that the griffin fell down after opening the door, or perhaps was let down, based on patterns in the blood.
>Hide
flicks tongue
>move silently
flicks tongue
>spot
It's dark
>Listen
There is a sound, though not especially loud, and somewhat damped by the door. The sound is like some kind of repeated clicking. It corresponds to no animal nor machine known to Kira. The constant pace seems more mechanical than animal, but Kira does not know for sure
>survival
Kira suspects that the griffin fell down after opening the door, or perhaps was let down, based on patterns in the blood.
>>194368
Damn, really thought a nat 20 for the Spot check would let her see *something*
Kira looks back to the group. "Only mechanical noises. Unless whatever was inside is super quiet." Kira goes quiet for a moment as she has a thought. "Machines can't hunt down creatures...right?"
Damn, really thought a nat 20 for the Spot check would let her see *something*
Kira looks back to the group. "Only mechanical noises. Unless whatever was inside is super quiet." Kira goes quiet for a moment as she has a thought. "Machines can't hunt down creatures...right?"
>>194369
the darkness stares back
Was that a smell check?
The smells of the room are, frankly, more subtle than those of the torpedo boat, with its smell of sweat, feathers, equines and the like. But Kira can smell something. Brass, explosives, griffin - more griffins, and that blood. She can smell oil and rock. Saltwater and mildew.
the darkness stares back
Was that a smell check?
The smells of the room are, frankly, more subtle than those of the torpedo boat, with its smell of sweat, feathers, equines and the like. But Kira can smell something. Brass, explosives, griffin - more griffins, and that blood. She can smell oil and rock. Saltwater and mildew.
>>194370
Kira has another thought as she turns to where Zara is. "Hey, Zara? Was the boarding party mostly griffons?"
Kira has another thought as she turns to where Zara is. "Hey, Zara? Was the boarding party mostly griffons?"
>>194374
Then Silver goes back to get her. It's not safe to be alone, here. Meanwhile, Kira gives her theory. "I think something ambushed the pirate boarding party in this room."
Then Silver goes back to get her. It's not safe to be alone, here. Meanwhile, Kira gives her theory. "I think something ambushed the pirate boarding party in this room."
>>194378
"Ah, so it is just normal frightened." Silver sits down next to the poor zebra mare, and pets her. "We have reached boiler. There is griffon in front of door who, uh...it is not pretty. Kira was going to ask you if boarding party was mostly griffons."
"Ah, so it is just normal frightened." Silver sits down next to the poor zebra mare, and pets her. "We have reached boiler. There is griffon in front of door who, uh...it is not pretty. Kira was going to ask you if boarding party was mostly griffons."
>>194379
Her mane is corse, and he feels her shake.
She raises her head
"The boiler? No, you can't have. Unless- have you gone very far?" She turns her head and her black muzzle to Silver "Yes?"
Her mane is corse, and he feels her shake.
She raises her head
"The boiler? No, you can't have. Unless- have you gone very far?" She turns her head and her black muzzle to Silver "Yes?"
>>194380
Silver tilts his head at the shaking mare. "I...do not think so? I do not have much frame of reference for ship layouts, but they must have entered some type of room with mechanical equipment and got ambushed by...something. I just assumed boiler because they might have been trying to turn on lights, themselves."
Silver tilts his head at the shaking mare. "I...do not think so? I do not have much frame of reference for ship layouts, but they must have entered some type of room with mechanical equipment and got ambushed by...something. I just assumed boiler because they might have been trying to turn on lights, themselves."
Sorry, I fell asleep.
>>194364
Posey checks if the body has any interesting items or information on it, before she carefully approaches the door, using her horn to open it from a safe distance. She readies her sword.
>predation
Can Posey identify the monster that could have done this?
Arcana
[1d20+11 = (7+11) = 18]
>>194363
Posey points at the griffon again making a bright flashing arrow with her magical glow.
"Dead griffon. Sliced in half through unknown means. Most likely monster activity."
>>194364
Posey checks if the body has any interesting items or information on it, before she carefully approaches the door, using her horn to open it from a safe distance. She readies her sword.
>predation
Can Posey identify the monster that could have done this?
Arcana
[1d20+11 = (7+11) = 18]
>>194363
Posey points at the griffon again making a bright flashing arrow with her magical glow.
"Dead griffon. Sliced in half through unknown means. Most likely monster activity."
Oh, it looks like the party already went through the door.
>>194370
Posey examines the additional bodies. As a sommelier, Posey is well familiar with blood splatters and the scent of fresh blood. Looks for tracks or anything else that might indicate what caused these wounds, as well as checking if the dead have any interesting items on them (armor that might be magical, rods, wands, rings, etc). She picks up any severed griffon talons, eyes, feathers or other loose parts to use as spellcasting components later.
(This is in the direction of the boiler, right? Posey is moving towards the boiler)
"It appears as though these poor souls found the attention of the monsters conjured by the Intruder. Caught flat-hoofed in the dark against physically powerful opponents with only ranged weapons in a close space and no clue what they were up against, they stood little chance against the beasts. With no visible tracks, it is likely that the monsters demanifested as soon as their work was done, gone as quickly as they came. The question remains as to why they were attacked seemingly randomly, when we as explicit enemies have been left alone this far...? Surely, they would have attacked us just as readily as they attacked these creatures, unless they are leading us into a trap... Or could it be that the Intruder has limits to th frequency of its summons? Whatever the case, we should press forward quickly while we can. Even if there is a trap, retreating or showing weakness now would only provoke it to summon beasts behind us." Posey ponders out loud, before trotting in the direction of the boiler
>>194370
Posey examines the additional bodies. As a sommelier, Posey is well familiar with blood splatters and the scent of fresh blood. Looks for tracks or anything else that might indicate what caused these wounds, as well as checking if the dead have any interesting items on them (armor that might be magical, rods, wands, rings, etc). She picks up any severed griffon talons, eyes, feathers or other loose parts to use as spellcasting components later.
(This is in the direction of the boiler, right? Posey is moving towards the boiler)
"It appears as though these poor souls found the attention of the monsters conjured by the Intruder. Caught flat-hoofed in the dark against physically powerful opponents with only ranged weapons in a close space and no clue what they were up against, they stood little chance against the beasts. With no visible tracks, it is likely that the monsters demanifested as soon as their work was done, gone as quickly as they came. The question remains as to why they were attacked seemingly randomly, when we as explicit enemies have been left alone this far...? Surely, they would have attacked us just as readily as they attacked these creatures, unless they are leading us into a trap... Or could it be that the Intruder has limits to th frequency of its summons? Whatever the case, we should press forward quickly while we can. Even if there is a trap, retreating or showing weakness now would only provoke it to summon beasts behind us." Posey ponders out loud, before trotting in the direction of the boiler
>>194382
>>194384
Cavaliere looks to the vent, then turns back to Posey. "Thank you. Keep telling us about our surroundings, and tell us if there is something worth taking a picture of. We shouldn't be hasty, either. For all we know, these things need light to appear. It seems some machinery in here is still working, or otherwise there's a pressure differential compared to outside."
>>194384
Cavaliere looks to the vent, then turns back to Posey. "Thank you. Keep telling us about our surroundings, and tell us if there is something worth taking a picture of. We shouldn't be hasty, either. For all we know, these things need light to appear. It seems some machinery in here is still working, or otherwise there's a pressure differential compared to outside."
>>194385
"We cannot afford to wait. The boiler is dying." Posey says, still walking in the direction of the boiler
"I will lead the way. Be ready to respond it anything attacks."
"We cannot afford to wait. The boiler is dying." Posey says, still walking in the direction of the boiler
"I will lead the way. Be ready to respond it anything attacks."
I really feel like the physical layout of the ship is just not getting across. It's a cargo ship. It's purpose is to carry cargo. most of the ship is taken up by big cargo holds. The middle of the ship has a big structure on top to hold the crew and underneath it is the engine and the boiler. The bow has equipment in it. And then the stern, which is where the party is, has a little structure on top of it like a poop deck in an old sailing ship. It houses the anti-aircraft gunnery crew, has anti-aircraft guns on top, and has the armory and the rudder under it.
Between the boiler room and the stern are two of the ship's five cargo holds. I want to repeat: this is a cargo ship. It is built to carry cargo. That's it's purpose. That's why it exists. It is a part of an international economic order designed to transfer large quantities of raw materials or finished products great distances safely and economically. It isn't a yacht. It isn't a warship. It is, however, armed.
The party is at the back of the ship. The back. They are at the rear most possible room that you can be in on the ship. If you go forward, you encounter two doors and two rooms. beyond that, is cargo hold 5. Beyond that, is cargo hold 4, which the party knows was made into a makeshift barracks. Beyond that, is the boiler and engine room.
Besides the choice of which of two doors to go through, there is only a single direction of travel: forward. Beyond that, there are only about three rooms in total separating them from the boiler room, and the boiler room itself is massive and open.
Between the boiler room and the stern are two of the ship's five cargo holds. I want to repeat: this is a cargo ship. It is built to carry cargo. That's it's purpose. That's why it exists. It is a part of an international economic order designed to transfer large quantities of raw materials or finished products great distances safely and economically. It isn't a yacht. It isn't a warship. It is, however, armed.
The party is at the back of the ship. The back. They are at the rear most possible room that you can be in on the ship. If you go forward, you encounter two doors and two rooms. beyond that, is cargo hold 5. Beyond that, is cargo hold 4, which the party knows was made into a makeshift barracks. Beyond that, is the boiler and engine room.
Besides the choice of which of two doors to go through, there is only a single direction of travel: forward. Beyond that, there are only about three rooms in total separating them from the boiler room, and the boiler room itself is massive and open.
>>194384
No. No one has gone through the door. Kira has looked through the door, but no one has turned on any light/otherwise established a source of illumination, nor opened the door.
No. No one has gone through the door. Kira has looked through the door, but no one has turned on any light/otherwise established a source of illumination, nor opened the door.
>>194384
Ship layout is this
Rudder control room > unknown room > cargo hold 5 > cargo hold 4 > boiler room
It's that simple and straightforward. There is only a single dimension involved here. There is only one direction of travel. You can technically go through a leftward door and the cargo holds as well as the boiler room have upper and lower levels, but for simplicity it's "walk forward."
Ship layout is this
Rudder control room > unknown room > cargo hold 5 > cargo hold 4 > boiler room
It's that simple and straightforward. There is only a single dimension involved here. There is only one direction of travel. You can technically go through a leftward door and the cargo holds as well as the boiler room have upper and lower levels, but for simplicity it's "walk forward."
Room
I should have made a map of the island a year ago. Here's a bad attempt at it, though it isn't so relevant anymore
>>194393
Silver leads the scared zebra mare back to the group. Before they leave, Kira also takes the gruesome time to see if the griffon had anything on his half-person worth taking.
Silver leads the scared zebra mare back to the group. Before they leave, Kira also takes the gruesome time to see if the griffon had anything on his half-person worth taking.
>>194399
Kira does look a little shaken up still, but she waves off the worry. "No no, I'll be fine, it's just..." she grimaces, "...really nasty. I mean like, I'm a hunter. I've hunted animals, both to eat and to harvest materials from them, and that usually involves things like skinning, gutting, removing meat from bone, but this is something else entirely. Brutality for brutality's sake, I guess." She looks down at the corpse as she looks for stuff to pilfer. "So is this what adventurers normally do? Go into spooky places and loot things off of dead bodies?"
Kira does look a little shaken up still, but she waves off the worry. "No no, I'll be fine, it's just..." she grimaces, "...really nasty. I mean like, I'm a hunter. I've hunted animals, both to eat and to harvest materials from them, and that usually involves things like skinning, gutting, removing meat from bone, but this is something else entirely. Brutality for brutality's sake, I guess." She looks down at the corpse as she looks for stuff to pilfer. "So is this what adventurers normally do? Go into spooky places and loot things off of dead bodies?"
Is anyone turning any sort of lights on, or is the hope that Posey will be able to see everything for the whole party and no one else will stump their toes in the dark?
>>194384
>>194397
Still grasped in the griffin's foremost claw is a pistol/carbine of an older model, known for its comparatively long range. The griffin wears a leather jacket. A tan color. in its larger pocket are multiple chains of silver. Jewelry, evidently. He carries several notes of stalliongradian paper currency, and several coins, also of stalliongrad. He has one battery, a utility knife, rope, a lock pick, and several stripper clips for the pistol.
>>194397
Still grasped in the griffin's foremost claw is a pistol/carbine of an older model, known for its comparatively long range. The griffin wears a leather jacket. A tan color. in its larger pocket are multiple chains of silver. Jewelry, evidently. He carries several notes of stalliongradian paper currency, and several coins, also of stalliongrad. He has one battery, a utility knife, rope, a lock pick, and several stripper clips for the pistol.
>>194404
A lockpick! Kira realizes that if they find another locked locker, they can safely unlock it using it and the knife. The rope and battery will also be useful. She holds up the pistol/carbine to the members of the party. "Anyone need a weapon?" She leaves the jacket behind, it's not her style anyways. Finally, she takes the jewelry and the money, and goes to ask the Kostroma survivors, "Are any of you missing these?"
A lockpick! Kira realizes that if they find another locked locker, they can safely unlock it using it and the knife. The rope and battery will also be useful. She holds up the pistol/carbine to the members of the party. "Anyone need a weapon?" She leaves the jacket behind, it's not her style anyways. Finally, she takes the jewelry and the money, and goes to ask the Kostroma survivors, "Are any of you missing these?"
>>194405
Blackheel walks down the stairs, arriving later than the others. He scrunches
"Uck... someone is. Damn pirates..."
Rustling pine moves his head closer and looks at the jewelry. He says a single sentence in his foreign language at a lower volume.
Blackheel walks down the stairs, arriving later than the others. He scrunches
"Uck... someone is. Damn pirates..."
Rustling pine moves his head closer and looks at the jewelry. He says a single sentence in his foreign language at a lower volume.
Characters without darkvision should consider investing in some spent ion stones with continual flame cast on them. They're nifty. You can even wrap them in cloth to dim the light.
>>194403
I was under the impression that other characters had their flashlights.
Posey has a flashlight that she could give away if anypony wants it.
>>194404
I thought I looked him earlier. Oh well.
Does that older gun look antique/masterwork? It might be magical.
>>194406
"Looting before securing the area. A common mistake." Posey chides
"His greed consumed him... That or whatever took his hind legs. He cannot alone be blamed for his fate though: he had no idea what he was up against." she continues
"Let us not make the same mistake. To the boiler. Follow me." she says, walking through the door on the right
>>194403
I was under the impression that other characters had their flashlights.
Posey has a flashlight that she could give away if anypony wants it.
>>194404
I thought I looked him earlier. Oh well.
Does that older gun look antique/masterwork? It might be magical.
>>194406
"Looting before securing the area. A common mistake." Posey chides
"His greed consumed him... That or whatever took his hind legs. He cannot alone be blamed for his fate though: he had no idea what he was up against." she continues
"Let us not make the same mistake. To the boiler. Follow me." she says, walking through the door on the right
>>194406
Cavaliere takes nothing. Assumedly no lights have been turned on, and he follows Posey
”Lead the way,” he says.
Cavaliere takes nothing. Assumedly no lights have been turned on, and he follows Posey
”Lead the way,” he says.
>>194408
Kira does have a hooded lantern and oil for it, should additional light sources be requested.
Kira does have a hooded lantern and oil for it, should additional light sources be requested.
>>194408
Posey opens the door. While there is some weight to it, it opens relatively easy.
Looking side, Posey can see shelves. Shelves, and a dumbwaiter like mechanism. She can see artillery shells, cannon shells, and empty racks. And a door. And at the two, two shapes that almost instantly shine bright lights onto Posey. It almost blinds her, though surely her eyes fair better than more light dependent eyes.
>>194409
>>194407
Posey opens the door. Perhaps as long as a second passes, then she is lit up by bright lights. The ponies can see the individual bones on her barding, tufts of wet fur, individual water droplets in her mane turned dark red by the water, and bright, white spots reflecting from her eyes
Posey opens the door. While there is some weight to it, it opens relatively easy.
Looking side, Posey can see shelves. Shelves, and a dumbwaiter like mechanism. She can see artillery shells, cannon shells, and empty racks. And a door. And at the two, two shapes that almost instantly shine bright lights onto Posey. It almost blinds her, though surely her eyes fair better than more light dependent eyes.
>>194409
>>194407
Posey opens the door. Perhaps as long as a second passes, then she is lit up by bright lights. The ponies can see the individual bones on her barding, tufts of wet fur, individual water droplets in her mane turned dark red by the water, and bright, white spots reflecting from her eyes
Pardon the delayed reply.
>>194412
>And at the two, two shapes that almost instantly shine bright lights onto Posey.
Posey hisses at the light, shielding herself with her cloak taking a moment to adjust before confronting this new peculiar room.
What are these shapes?
>>194412
>And at the two, two shapes that almost instantly shine bright lights onto Posey.
Posey hisses at the light, shielding herself with her cloak taking a moment to adjust before confronting this new peculiar room.
What are these shapes?
>>194413
The figures are quadrupeds, about the same approximate shape and size as normal creatures, if slightly larger. Posey cannot see them well at all because of the light, though she can make out the shape. The best guess? Griffons. Possibly hippogriffs or ponies with extra equipment on, or something similarly shaped
The figures are quadrupeds, about the same approximate shape and size as normal creatures, if slightly larger. Posey cannot see them well at all because of the light, though she can make out the shape. The best guess? Griffons. Possibly hippogriffs or ponies with extra equipment on, or something similarly shaped
>>194415
[color 111]”We mean you no harm,”[/color] Cavaliere calls out. ”We are not with the thing in the ship. Identify yourselves.”
[color 111]”We mean you no harm,”[/color] Cavaliere calls out. ”We are not with the thing in the ship. Identify yourselves.”
>>194415
Are there any dead bodies in the room?
Posey readies for combat, looking for any sign of weaponry as she readies her sword.
She takes a step into the room, intent on not showing weakness. Readying her sword.
"Who goes there?" she hisses
"Drop your weapons. We have you outnumbered."
Are there any dead bodies in the room?
Posey readies for combat, looking for any sign of weaponry as she readies her sword.
She takes a step into the room, intent on not showing weakness. Readying her sword.
"Who goes there?" she hisses
"Drop your weapons. We have you outnumbered."
(is there at least 10 feet between us? That will decide if I charge or 5 ft step)
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