This thread will be used to describe the events (if any) inside the warehouse.
This message was last updated by the GM at 15:20, Tue 16 Dec 2003.

Don opens the door to the Warehouse in a hasty manner and makes a quick look of the building. If there is any people in there that doesn't seem to have heard about the fire, Don shouts it to them. If there are more than a few people he doesn't scream, and instead makes Mr Nelson aware of them.

The inside of the warehouse has been divided up by ropes into about 100 stalls. Presently there are around 20 horses here although tack for around 80 can be seen. Presumeably, the other 60 are out grazing.

There are roughly a dozen soldiers here that were tending to the horses, mucking out stalls, or maintaining the equipment. At present they are quickly finishing what they were doing, or securing the horses and moveing to see what is happening outside. One calls out a few questioning words as Don enters. [Private to Donnachaidh: Please roll d10 for a Language: Polish check]

The building is aproximately 20 x 50 metres in size. In addition to the doors in the west side, large vehicle doors are in both the north and south walls and another 2 personell doors in the east wall directly oppisite those in the west. There are a few bales of hay in the north east corner and 3 wagons are parked in the north west corner.

"Feureish stradjii machtash"

Don responds the question in a confident, yet hasty manner, and quickly turns to tell Mr Nelson about the many soldiers.
[Private to GM: Hopefully they speak this kind of Polish in the mountains at the border to Slovakia, or somewhere else, for that matter. Donnachaidh rolled 9 using 1d10. Polish in the stables]

Don does not understand the words the soldier said to him. You do however have an idea that he is interested in either what is happening, who you are, or what are you doing here.

As stated before, Don shouts fire, to the questioning man.

The soldiers appear to be suspicious until Don calls out fire. At the sound of these words, a look of dread crosses their faces and they rush to the west doors to peer out. Five go to the door you are at, the rest to the north. Andy recognises one of those at your door as a member of the patrol that captured him.

Do they recognise him?

The Sergeant Major ducked back from the doorway in an attempt to avoid recognition.

The five at the door you are at, push past you and rush towards the burning building yelling out something you cannot understand.

The remaining Polish soldiers do the same at the other door. All are in a state of semi panic at the sight of the flames licking the eaves of the hall you just came from. A bucket line is begining to form from the fire hydrant towards the hall. (The hoses were apparently sold on the black market years ago, that is if they were ever issued by the communist government.)

Andy quietly says: "We can use this opportunity to take a horse each. A fast exit may be the best way out of here."

Some of us have absolutely no Horseriding experience (IC). How are we going to pass ourselves as members of a Cavalry Unit?
Do we have our own Horsemaster, pick out the most staid horses for the novices amongst us?

I look for a docile-looking, but not moribund, horse. Preferably one with saddle and tack already attached.

Mal goes over to the horses to check & see if they are capable of ben riden or if they are broken down nags that are recuperating inside the barn.


[Private to Nuked: 7 on Horsemanship Roll]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:41, Fri 02 Jan 2004.

Mal, Tanya and Cam inspect the horses to try and find the best to take. Mal and Cam quickly find what they both believe to be the best eight but, fortunately for everybody, Tanya points out that all the animals here are either injured or sick.

Guido keeps an eye on the door just in case we are interupted, "with no horse skills there is little else I can do at this time".

If no one posts soon Guido will tie himself into the saddle and do a mad dash past the gun pit dropping a grenade on the way through.

Any better ideas?

[Private to Nuked: Do you think that will do it?, carry this out if no one posts by the 11 Jan 04]

I'm happy to just walk out of the place as far as a machine gun nest and then blast the crap out of the nest and run.

Is it a plan? all other plans of sneeking out have been canned
Lets do it no one else is doing anything.
If we have the someone with horses ready and the rest of us approach the gun pit, 75% chance of failure and will be hunted there after.

[Private to Nuked: The game ends soon]

Lets not be too hasty about blowing up a gun Pit, that will undo all the work we've just done convincing everyone that we are dead.
I don't fancy being chased from the outset on horses that are already in poor shape.
Maybe we can send someone outside to get better horses from the yards out there?
If we pretend to be a legitimate Patrol we may get away without being rumbled (Murphy's law kicks in about here).
Does this building have a hayloft, upper windows to see our surroundings in more detail, we didn't get much of a look from the hall.

This building is just a typical warehouse / storage shed that has been taken over temporarily by the Polish Cavalry to house a few horses. There is no hayloft but there are windows located higher up in all four walls. There is also a ladder leaning against on of the walls that could be used to climb up and observe the surrounding area.

The change of sucessfully fighting your way out of here is about zero. Your best chance is to go now while the fire still attracts everybodies attention. How you do that is up to you.

"'ey, laddies and lassies. Healthy horses are just plain stupid and dangerous since they bite, but injured ones are even worse since they are completely useless.

I suggest that we just strap our gear on ourselves and starts walking out of the city from the backdoor of this building instead. Everones attention is probably on the fire, so even the guncrews are probably looking on it.

You Dave could probably get a great look from the roof to pick the best way out of here. We'll wait down here, making us ready to walk away"

OCC: just trying to get the game moving.

Guido will see if he can get a vantage point to "observe" a safe exit from the back of this warehouse, while attempting to keep a low profile

Ok Dave can go up the ladder & check to see what is around. Any open paddocks that could hold horses & anything else of interest would be helpful. Since he has the best obs skill, he should be able to pick more information up then anybody else
This message was last edited by the player at 14:26, Sun 11 Jan 2004.

Dave climbs the ladder and peers out over the windowsill. From his perch at the window, he can see in all directions (a row of windows runs all the way around the building just under the roof). To the west is the burning hall where a small army of soldiers is rushing about trying to extinguish the flames.

To the north and east is open fields where several dozen horses can be seen grazing the lush green grass.

To the south is the main road towards Lodz, and a couple of miles beyond a few fields, a forest can be seen.

There are no more MG posts that can be observed from here and all attention (besides those already mentioned) is towards the fire.

What I am mostly looking for is a gap in the observation of the MGs and view

The fields have a slight depressions that can only effectively be seen into from a position like the roof of a building.

The natural uneveness of the ground should give cover from the MG's after no more than half a kilometre.

By using the building you are presently in to block line of sight for as long as possible, you should be able to travel approximately 200 metres before either position can see you.

As a dumb idea, since we are dressed as poles, we can look like a pole patrol by getting 200 meters and making a sharp turn before we get into sight rather than making a straight line from the camp, 200 meters they can't realy challenge us without leaving their pit and they are not about to shoot other poles.
Ultimately we should draw no suspicion (I hope).

"Aye, let's start walking. Unless you, lassie, is keen on getting one of the horsies from outside?"

"They are evil, but they are good at carrying, those horses, and you seem to be a good rider!"

Don smiles to Tanya and takes a good look at her rear end, blinking back at her when he sees her being intimidated by it.

Don gets his gear going and starts walking, after a few meters he stops and checks so the others follows.

Is there access through the back of the building or do we have to make one?
Guido adjusts his equipment for the walk while making a mental image of the characteristics of the terain that he is about to die on go over so that the team can get the most cover for the longest period.
"Are we headed straight to the trees or are we going to look like a patrol and swing to one side to look like we are passing through, with the fire their main concern it is unlikely they will have a challenging patrol available."

"My suggestion is to get to the forest. Since we are Polish soldiers we can be in pursuit of the responsible for the arson. We might have a better chance of getting through as a searchgroup if we had at least one, or rather some horses. Though, I will not be one of those having one, if I have a say in this matter"

We could pretend we are infantry, just have to get rid of anything cavalry.

This is a Cavalry unit. Anyone not mounted will stand out. Even a novice could pass at a distance provided we pick quiet horses and stick to a walk.
The Idea of moving out concealed by buildings appeals to me. We could use that with the horses to move towards the road then head east for a while.
This would serve several purposes, We would seem to be heading towards these guy's superiors in Lodz lending us the apearance of legitimacy and if a pursuit were to be staged later it would send them in a misleading direction. Once out of sight we head south into the forest along one of the many minor roads.

Comments?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:07, Wed 14 Jan 2004.

"A well, I'll mount one of the beasts then, if you say so, mr Smythe. Since you are with me on the way to get out of here, let us do it."

...walking over to Tanya...

"'ey lassie. Why don't you go over to the horses and bring some of them here. Then we need to find the things to put on the horse as well, even though I have no idea of how to find it or do it"

OK people, everyone pick up tack & harness for a horse. We are going over to the paddock to collect a horse each & slowly ride out of here.

Donnachiath if we are queried about what we are doing, you are to tell them that we were ordered to make sure that the perimeter is secured.

How the heck do I translate the word perimeter into Polish...?

While trying to find the horseriding stuff mr Nelson is talking about, he prepares for the questions probably being asked by the Poles. He silently walks around training on the right way to pronounce the words so he doesn't get stalled when he needs go give a swift answer.

"...smiertzi vladrobin..."

"These critters really are ugly, and they have a ghastly smell as well..."

We should stay back out of sight in the shadows we shouldn't move as a group as they unit has a good idea what every looks like, we will stick out in the compound.

"Au contraire, my dear Guido. I would say that if a troop is ordered the soldiers has to collect the stuff asap, so it would be more strange if we were to collect them one by one. On the other hand, if we can get Tanya to collect all of them noone would be happier than I.

"Ok listen up, I need Mal Tanya, & Cam to help with the provision of the tack & harness, we need to make sure we all have a full set. Once that is done we head east out of this barn, heading towards the paddocks. Once we arrive Mal, Tanya & Cam can help us saddling the horses by given us instructions as we go. Don I need you to stop hitting on the women just till we get out of this hell hole, but also if we are asked what we are doing, you are to inform them we were ordered out on a patrol by Captain Grochawalski"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:11, Sat 17 Jan 2004.

In just a few short minutes all the equipment is gathered and you are ready to head out the east door.

How will you behave? Will you be walking casually, acting as if you are already out in a hostile area (patrolling), marching, walking in twos and threes, etc?

"I suggest we march in a group Polish-alike, since I guess that is what they had done. On the other hand they don't seem to have any authorities, so I guess they march somewhat casually. If Dave wants to stand back for a few moments to see to that noone is following us"

"About my talk with Tanya, then. If we have a little chit-chat I don't think you have something to do with it. She is apparently the best horse-knower around here, that's why I wanted her to do take care of the horses. Her great body had nothing to do with it!"

As requested by Don
(If Dave wants to stand back for a few moments to see to that no one is following us)
"Why not, I am not doing much else?"

Tanya gives everyone last minute instructions on what to do so that people don't look too suspicious not knowing anything about horses when they get there. We will be acting as if we are in a hostile area (or at least Tanya will).

Ok people lets get out of here before someone returns, loose formation up to the paddocks using the eastern approach. Dave keep a watch out for anyone that may spot us. WO2 William Brown you first then Tanya, me, Cam, Don, Richard, Dave & Andy can bring up the rear" the Lt Col informs his troops in a soft voice.
Humping his gear he waits till Will & Tanya leave before following them out.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 14:07, Wed 21 Jan 2004.

The group of escapees exits the shed via an eastern door and tries hard to convince any casual observers that they are leaving on patrol. Saddles hoisted on shoulders, you soon cover the ground Dave estimated was out of sight of the gun posts. A few hundred yards further on you can see horses grazing in paddocks close by.

Do we have a chance of rounding up some horses (black market)

They might come in handy as spare mounts or pack animals too.

"Then it is just the question if our troop looks suspicious if we grab them all.."

We are herding stray animals
This message was last edited by the player at 10:59, Fri 23 Jan 2004.

Will heads for the horses, trying to appear casual, while taking stock of his surroundings. Once at the horses he will help anyone who needs it to saddle up, then mount up himself.

Eight horses are quickly saddled.

"East people, use the cover where possible we need to put distance between us & this camp. Let's ride." Alfred states, as if it wasn't necessary to comment on something so basic as that.

At last guido keeps an eye out for problems

Don feels rather terrified of the evil horses. But he follows Tanyas lead in mounting one of them.

"I hope you'll take real good care of me, 'ey Tanya?"

Don gives Tanya a nervous smile when starting to ride, as slow as he can. He keeps his horse close to Tanya, so that she can grab onto him, if the horse should start galoping.

Guido speaking to Tanya just loud enough for Don to hear Did you warn him about how horses will just drag riders to their death who get caught in the stirip when they fall

"You're quite a comedian, aren't you"

Don forces a laugh while looking worringly around.

Guido turning around mocking suprise It only happens when you fall off, just look out for the hooves

Alfred follows the first couple of riders as they move out in a lose formation

Continued in freedom