". . . there was no gleam, no shadow, for the heavens, too, were one still, pale cloud; no sound or motion in anything but the dark river that flowed and moaned like an unresting sorrow."

-George Elliot, The Mill on the Floss
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:44, Thu 15 Nov 2007.

Wednesday, October 4th, 2000
1800hrs.
Vistula river, approx. 1/2km upriver from Nowy Korczyn, Poland
50 F
Overcast; light rain

You’ve barely seen the sun all day, but its passing does not go unnoticed. The already gloomy day darkens quickly as the sun, still hidden by clouds and rain, sinks behind you. The temperature seems to drop along with the sun. It’s colder than it’s been in days and those of you with old wounds feel the added ache born of penetrating humidity and cold.

The preceding six hours have passed uneventfully. Only thirty kilometers have been traversed in that time- a concession of speed to safety- but the party has successfully negotiated a stretch of river bereft of human habitation but punctuated by no less than six tributary mouths, each spewing forth a tongue of sand, silt, and debris. Each danger zone required a slow, methodical approach as the plucky, old tug nosed its burden of a barge around and past the sometimes subtle- but no less dangerous- natural obstacles. Anything but subtle was the sandbar thrown out by the merging of the Dunajec River. It was at least a meter high in places, stretching over half-way into the path of the Vistula and heaped with dead wood, the random flotsam of  decaying civilization, and- you’re fairly certain- at least one bloated, naked corpse. The tug never made more than 5kmph during the afternoon, but regardless of the seeming lack of progress, you’ve navigated a treacherous length of the river successfully and without further injury (physical or mechanical) or delay.

About half a kilometer ahead and to your left (North), you can just make out the angular shapes of a collection of buildings known as Nowy Korczyn, barely visible in the faltering light of dusk. The village stands dark and silent, but strangely intact.

The sound of the anchor chain rattling against the hull as it plunges into the dark water seems unusually loud in the still of the evening.

Actions?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:47, Thu 15 Nov 2007.

Bayer asks Adam to hold their position before getting closer to the town. "Can we stop here? Before we get close to that village?" he asks, pointing towards the rooftops on the darkening skyline.

OOC - I assume Adam always stops traveling at night anyways?

Its 1800 hours, so he goes to quietly call for the last light stand too. As he intended, he asks for a consensus from the team. Visiting each member at their post, he ask "Do you think we should check out Nowy Korczyn?"

The points he makes known...
1. A helicopter was spotter flying near there.
2. Its a chance for either trade or scrounging or gathering more regional info.
3. Every stop is dangerous and can jeopardize their attempt to reach Warsaw.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:42, Thu 15 Nov 2007.

Despite his brief midafternoon nap, Old Adam is looking rather haggard.

"Yes, of course. Tadeuz is seeing to it presently."

OOC: Yes, it's SOP to stop and lay anchor before last light. It's just too difficult to spot and avoid the various obstacles that plague the river in the dark and travelling with the spotlight on is bound to attract unwanted attention.