Once SG-X2 steps through the wormhole, they find themselves standing on bare rock in front of the stargate. The new-style DHD is just ahead, about where the regular one would be. There's a bit of steam coming up through the stone from cracks in it, which is enough to keep the area around the gate clear of snow.

The ice castle is behind the gate. The icy landscape makes it hard to judge distance, so it's probably a good thing the MALP had been able to determine that.

There's no sign of the wildlife at this time.

The temperature is below zero, but not by that much.

[From the Gate Room.]

Sarah took a moment to gather herself as she looked around before producing a pair of binoculars from 'nowhere' and scanning the horizon for signs of life.

23:18, Today: Sarah Morgan rolled 20 using 1d20+2. Spot.

To the side of the gate Fox is knelt on one knee sweeping the area with  pair of binoculars

[From the Gate room]

When Michael arrived, the team was already hard at work scanning the area. "Tell me if you notice something, I will dial home."

He started to push the symbols one by one and engaged the connection.

Michael can't try dialing home with this strange DHD until the wormhole is shut down. That doesn't happen until Blaine comes through, having brought up the rear.

He finally steps through, and then the gate closes.


Sarah and Travis have been scanning around with anti-glare arctic binoculars, but don't see anything at first. However, by the time Blaine comes through, Sarah spots what is probably a herd of animals about two miles away. There are maybe 50 creatures; they look like caribou.

Travis has been looking for more hazardous sights. He doesn't spot any, but then again, in this kind of terrain, an army could be hiding under his feet and he wouldn't know it. He does spot one telltale sign, however--a faint wisp of smoke coming up from ice castle.


The major is able to dial the gate address for Earth... each key lights up as he presses it, and when the 7th is pressed, the gate activates.

++"SG-X2, the MALP isn't rated for that kind of weather, so you should probably send it back. Do you have anything to report?" General Hammond says over the radio.

Everything sounds good so far and Sarah points out the caribou on the horizon, "Definite signs of life.  And where there are antelope, there are doubtlessly predators, herders... and probably both.   We need to take this carefully as who knows what could be hiding in the snow."

 Fox keeps watch switching his binoculars to IR he sweeps the area around them carefully.

<quote Michael Galamore>

Travis has been looking for more hazardous sights. He doesn't spot any, but then again, in this kind of terrain, an army could be hiding under his feet and he wouldn't know it. He does spot one telltale sign, however--a faint wisp of smoke coming up from ice castle.

Fox very quietly reports the information to the team commander

"Commander we have signs of life in the castle, some whisps of smoke"

After getting the first report from Sarah and Travis, Michael took his radio and answered to Hammond : "Sarah has been able to spot some animal General. There's also some smoke coming from the ice castle."

Before sending the MALP back to Earth, can you send us the last meteorological informations please ?" asked Michael.

Switching his binoculars to IR, Travis doesn't see much difference in his surroundings. The smoke shows up clearly, but he also sees half a dozen similar 'columns' of heat in the surrounding area.

He does notice that the ice castle registers as a degree or two warmer than the surrounding ice.


"Telemetry on the weather is unchanged," Sgt Wyler replied. "We detect no variations in pressure, humidity, temperature or wind. We don't know enough about the overall weather of the planet, however, to say what kind of window that gives you. Here, it'd be twelve to twenty-four hours. It could be a lot less there."

"Thanks a lot Sergeant." replied Michael. "I will send the MALP back right now. he added before starting to drive the MALP throughout the gate.

When it has disappeared, Michael turned in direction of the team. If you have nothing special to add, we will start to walk in the direction of the castle.

Fox listens then adds: "Sir I have heat sources similar to the castle at..." Fox gives compass point bearings. "Also the walls of the castle are hotter than the surroundings."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:36, Sun 23 Mar 2014.

"Thanks for the report Sergeant. Let's move in direction of the castle and stay in group."
Then, Michael started to move in the direction of the massive structure, looking for any threats that could show up.

Sarah tweaked the shoulder straps of her backpack (which possibly surprisingly appeared almost empty if the flabby outer was anything to go by) and followed after Michael, scanning around them for anything else interesting.

 Fox moves to break trail as TL had chosen the direction

Travis doesn't need to do much trailbreaking. There's clearly a trail through the snow once he moves toward the castle. It's not really snow at the moment anyway, more like ice... a bit crunchy and doesn't compress much.

There's a clear ice pack on the land, rather than a winter covering, so for all the team knows, this could be the middle of summer.

They reach the castle without incident, without seeing any additional signs of life other than the thin wisp of smoke. As they get closer and change perspective slightly, they can tell that the smoke isn't come from the center of the castle.

There is no sign of a door but after walking around it a bit, an opening is found. It kind of goes in sideways and then doubles back on itself.

"A-CHOO !" Michael's sneezing echoed in the castle. "Sorry. If an army starts to run over us, it will be my fault." he joked, trying to warming up the cold atmosphere.

"Let's walk in this hallway. We should try to locate one of this smoke origin point." he added before starting to walk inside the castle enclosure.

Fox moves in checking each corner as he comes to it
Trying to get the feel of what ever lives here , checking for tracks, any technology in evidance
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:18, Sat 29 Mar 2014.

It quickly becomes apparent that the design of this ice castle was to use a series of baffles to protect the inhabitants from the wind and weather. It won't stop the cold, but it will keep out chilling winds and driving snow.

Travis missed it at first, but after a few turns, he notices that there is a mark cut into the ice of the walls, down near the floor where it'd be easy to miss. It's a trail mark, but has no particular significance... just a way for the person who made them to retrace his or her steps.

He can tell by the ice shavings on the floor that is fairly recent, though he can't say how recent... an hour, a day, possibly longer. He doesn't think it's that long ago. The ones closest to the entrance likely would have been blown away by the wind.

Michael noticed that Travis had probably find something. "Something is wrong Sergeant ?" he asked.

 Fox jumps, he was not aware that he had gone so silent
Hmm slight mark in the  wall here Commander, no idea on its purpose  but given the wind it is no more than a day old

"Ok, we will try to follow them for the moment." replied the captain. "Maybe they are nothing. Maybe they will lead us to something interesting."