Vanyra was referring to the moving blob of magic which no one seemed to understand and which we didn't know if it could move around the cave system dangerously.  Also, I thought we decided they needed to look at the crystal formations for safety reasons as well?

And yes, the beacons were to allow communication with the outside.  Vanyra suggested putting them in the ceiling to avoid damage.

Vanyra will take ten on Navigate for a 16
and will take ten on Survival for a 19

We should emphasize safe areas and unsafe areas, and to stay out of unexplored areas until they are checked out.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:58, Fri 30 June 2023.

What do the scientists want to study first?

They are interested in the facility and not the cave; the facility is top priority. Those crystals near the entrance to the facility may warrant some investigation then maybe the nether cloud. There is suspicion amongst the team that they could both be connected to the ancient facility somehow.

I'm not 100% certain on what Vanyra was referring to; there was a cloud of nether energy you guys encountered around the mid-point on the left side of the map (green blob). That cloud wasn't moving about the cave, it was stationary where it was but it was undulating/pulsing in place. It wasn't that you did not understand what it was, rather it was extremely unusual to see something like that in a natural formation like a cave, as nether energy is not 'natural' in the traditional sense. Thus it is a mystery of how/why it is there versus what it is.

If the facility is the priority, then yeah... zero reason at this point to do anything other than escort the research group into the facility, and escort them back out, by quickest route possible. We can be inside the facility to offer local security while they move about and conduct their tests. Priority would also be on creating access that by-passes the cave entrance altogether, freeing the researchers to come and go at will without need of our direct presence.

Okay.  Then just having a communication network and making sure we locate various creatures so they don't attack would be the priority.

Vanyra, Zelpuz, and Yuu are now at the point where the caves give way to the facility. The members of the research team have gone forward into the facility as planned, and should be returning 4 hours. What do you guys plan to do in the meantime, if anything?

Since they want to explore the rooms, and since we want to find a way into the rest of the facility, do we want to look around the actual facility to finish exploring areas we didn't and look for a way in there before going back to explore the caves more?

Yes, either that, or try to explore the cave to find another entrance, not sure what is more likely. In any case, Zelpuz would like to explore both. But if the researchers want to go further than we did, maybe it is a good idea to go along with them. There may be other creatures somewhere from other entrances.

Another idea, can we tag at least the big creature with some beacon so we know if it comes close? Would have to shoot some sort of hook into a leg or so, but might be worth it for both sides.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:43, Fri 14 July 2023.

As much as Yuu wants to explore (and me), our first priority is the safety of the scientists. We have to be nearby and available to react should they need assistance, and we can't really do that if we're caught up in our own adventures.

Yuu is going to suggest each of us is assigned a group of scientists that will be exploring a specific area of the map, so we can rapidly assist them as required, even if that means us splitting up to follow these researchers.

The idea of setting up a tag on the big creature is really cool, or even cameras/detectors to trace activity, as it helps us plan safely through the cave entrance. At least, until another entrance is found.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:46, Sun 16 July 2023.

That's why I thought to explore the facility around the scientists a little.  If they are in an isolated room for awhile, we can make sure the nearby areas are safe.

There are only 4 of them along with us and the main guide.

To clarify and put it in perspective the team will not be going further than you guys did in the facility as you covered quite a bit of distance. Just by going to 2 or 3 of those rooms with the dormant consoles and equipment would be enough for them on this particular run. If you look at the 4 rooms on the left side of the map, including the entry room, that would be enough for them.

Given that there is only 5 scientists present they could reasonably split into 2 teams at most; three would mean one team would not have the requisite equipment.

I've added two NPC tokens to the map to represent these two teams.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:04, Sun 16 July 2023.

The room on the farthest middle left we haven't gone into yet.

We can go ahead of the teams to secure the rooms and the passageways.  Vanyra's willing to take the lead.

pretty easy to leave 1 or two people with the first team in a room and then move ahead to secure and look into places in advance.

Sounds good, so maybe we can have one of us with the teams investigating the rooms, and the other two explore the rest of the cave, or at least a few tunnels around the path we want to use.

Sounds good.  It doesn't have to take too long to scout.

Yuu can stay with the scientists investigating the rooms... he's most adept, plus he can provide feedback with them. Zel and Van can do the scouting, and are far better built for it.

Sounds like a plan. I think the easiest will be for you to just move your character tokens to where you want to then I will move the scientist groups with Yuu.

If we were playing this live I could drop Erik and Jan (as players) into the cave map, and keep Yuu on the facility map. That would allow you to be on different maps and proceed like normal, but can't do that with how we play.

Instead I'll move the Players to the cave map, and post a picture of the facility map with room numbers into RPOL so Brett can reference which room that group is going to.

Brett, you'll find the facility map on the D map in RPOL; you may need to clear your cache for it to show properly as I replaced the map that was there and RPOL did not refresh my browser cache for that map.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:43, Wed 19 July 2023.

Sounds good. So, should we try the other way back, always turning right, or instead try to keep going parallel to the way we walked and explore the neighboring paths?

Good call. And yeah, I can see the numbers on the Map.

Do the scientists want to stay as one clump, or divide up?

They would prefer to stay together on account that all the equipment they brought will be immediately available if needed.

I think I prefer going parallel and exploring the neighboring paths.  Taking rights will end up with us making a doughnut around a large unknown middle; and there is a really large middle.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:48, Wed 26 July 2023.

Hey guys, I'm travelling to Canada tomorrow for vacation so I'll be a bit touch and go with checking this. Been a bit slow here of late since I've been rushing to get some Rifts stuff done before I head north, so hopefully will improve once I get back on the 10th.

Agreed, let's not make a donut.

I was actually in Houston last week, but had no time to meet, next time I am there I'll let you know.

For sure, drop me a line.

So needless to say I've been a bit busy of late. One of the guys that works for me is on vacation through the end of the month and I'm covering for him, so let's just hit pause until after Labor Day. Everything should settle down by then and we can hit the ground running again.

I've got a few things planned for the game and I'd rather have the time to get them done in short order rather than be interrupted by real life :P

All good dude, that's why this format is so useful... can leave and pick up whenever, and it's all waiting for us right where we left off.

How's life for you all? It's been crazy here, still will be at least until April, but maybe we can continue the game?