RolePlay onLine RPoL Logo

, welcome to Freelancer

15:13, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier.

Posted by DJShirowFor group 0
Zelpuz
player, 1365 posts
Mon 24 Apr 2023
at 04:46
  • msg #728

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

While Zelpuz takes a careful look into the lockers, he says: "If my sense of direction is not completely off, we may end up in the room we just came from on the other side. I'd say let's check that out. I wonder what all these rooms were made for though."
Vanyra
Player, 861 posts
Freyan
Natural
Tue 25 Apr 2023
at 14:31
  • msg #729

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

Vanyra opens the door Zelpuz indicated to look through.  "More hallway, we can check."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:31, Tue 25 Apr 2023.
Yuu Jin
player, 1034 posts
Fri 28 Apr 2023
at 13:52
  • msg #730

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

Yuu follows in behind Vanyra, looking down the hallway. "Or if there are more of those giant empty shafts going down into the earth. Maybe like... these tunnels lead to a series of them."
Vanyra
Player, 862 posts
Freyan
Natural
Fri 28 Apr 2023
at 23:08
  • msg #731

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

Vanyra continues down the hallway, looking for hazards or signage.  After a bend in the hall, she stops at a door on the side of the continuing hallway.  "Shall we?"
Zelpuz
player, 1366 posts
Sat 29 Apr 2023
at 04:55
  • msg #732

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

"Let's" Zelpuz says, opening the next door and following the hallway.
Zelpuz
player, 1367 posts
Mon 1 May 2023
at 01:29
  • msg #733

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

"OK, that was a big loop. Let's see if we find another loop the other way, too." Zelpuz says and heads down the next hallway until he hits another door. He looks around for more signs before opening the door.
Vanyra
Player, 863 posts
Freyan
Natural
Tue 2 May 2023
at 16:31
  • msg #734

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

Following Zelpuz into the room, Vanyra opens the other doors to see where they lead.  "More hallways here," she adds to the search.
Zelpuz
player, 1369 posts
Wed 3 May 2023
at 02:01
  • msg #735

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

"I have a feeling we'll get back to the beginning if we go right here." Zelpuz says heading down the hallway on the right and reaching another door looks for more signs.
Zelpuz
player, 1370 posts
Thu 4 May 2023
at 01:32
  • msg #736

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

After running another circle and arriving back at the room they visited earlier, Zelpuz says: "OK, looks like this area is very repetitive, might be better to come with the team, they may be able to read the signs and make some sense of this. Should we explore the cave some more and establish a safe route down here? .... " He pauses for a while scratching his chin, "Should we try to find a safe route, or make the cave a safe place?"
Yuu Jin
player, 1037 posts
Tue 9 May 2023
at 01:59
  • msg #737

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

Yuu frowns, "The problem is, we don't know if another safe route in exists, and we have no idea how long it would take us to find one on our own. Let's pass back out through the cave, and speak with the team. We can coordinate exploration teams together... provide escort through the caves, and maybe with more of us exploring, we'll find something together."

"Plus," he adds, "there is definitely stuff in the cave the science team will want to check out anyways."
DJShirow
GM, 1984 posts
Thu 18 May 2023
at 21:23
  • msg #738

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

It takes a fair amount of time, though nowhere near as much as the infiltration, to reach the exit of the cave. A half-dozen short exploratory checks of adjacent passages yielded mostly more forks, twists, and turns, and thus your party sticks to what they know. Upon reaching sunlight and vast jungle, which proves oddly rejuvenating after hours in dark and damp confines, the trio is able to contact the research time with little effort. They are quite relieved upon finally getting a communication, as they were getting worried after so much time. Since it is getting late in the day they suggest meeting up at the edge of the fissure and then heading back to camp as soon as possible to discuss the findings.
Vanyra
Player, 866 posts
Freyan
Natural
Thu 18 May 2023
at 22:56
  • msg #739

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

Shuffling her feet in the first real dirt they've been on in hours, Vanyra shifts her attention upwards, making sure the way is clear, before undergoing a quick ascent back to the surface.
Zelpuz
player, 1373 posts
Sat 20 May 2023
at 03:00
  • msg #740

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

After returning to the camp, the trio tells the exploration team what they discovered, from the strange cave with floating Nether, to the vast underground ventilation system, then asks what the explorers want to do.
Yuu Jin
player, 1039 posts
Sun 21 May 2023
at 09:11
  • msg #741

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

Yuu fills in the team with more technically questions, his enthusiasm for the adventure barely slowed despite the long hours of the day.
Vanyra
Player, 867 posts
Freyan
Natural
Sun 21 May 2023
at 13:45
  • msg #742

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

"Don't forget about those crystals and the creatures.  We'll need to set up a safe way to get in and out without disrupting the creatures too much."
DJShirow
GM, 1985 posts
Mon 22 May 2023
at 00:40
  • msg #743

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

Given the discovery of the maintenance tunnel system in such proximity to the facility below the base camp the logical conclusion is that the two are at least related if not directly connected. After creating a basic map, based on Zelpuz's and Yuu's eidetic memories of the place, then overlaying it with a general area map the full extent of whatever facility they have discovered is shocking, bordering on the unbelievable.

Doctors Vaanhak, Ulaar, Rezam and Hyunzi take particular interest in the script found in those tunnels beyond the cave. That it was in an ancient script marks the area as distinct from the Zhen Halan expedition's facility at the bottom of the lift. While not immediately recognizable to any of them it does follow that it could be something dating to the Phoenix Age or even the late Dark Age. Dr. Rezam will contact their habitat in hopes of finding some hint in their data archives of what language it is and who used it.

In the meantime efforts continue to remove the ward on the large double-doors in the facility, and they hope to have it removed within the next day or two. It would appear that the imperial expedition felt it necessary to lock in or possibly lock out those who would seek the ancient structure below. Given the report of no life, power, or defenses in the tunnels the assembly of researchers hypothesizes that the ward was mostly likely to keep would be thieves, spies, or bandits from disturbing the site. Rather than risking disturbance of any local, potentially hostile fauna further, it is decided to focus the main efforts on gaining access through the Zhen Halan facility. But the alternate entrance presents another opportunity for a smaller team to collect some specific data and dedicated mapping.

The proposal is made to return to the caves the following day. A team lead by Vanyra, Zelpuz, Yuu, and Vashilli (main guide in case you forgot), and including 4 researchers with dedicated sampling and dating equipment, a data terminal, electronic patch kit, and portable power source, will focus on assessing the nether gas phenomenon found in the caves and then attempt to extract any data from the consoles within the maintenance rooms. The mini-expedition will be given a full cycle period in which to complete their task and return, after which rescue efforts will be mobilized.

If the trio of pathfinders have any further suggestions to enhance the safety and speed of the mission the expedition leaders would be glad to hear it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:59, Mon 22 May 2023.
Yuu Jin
player, 1040 posts
Mon 22 May 2023
at 01:58
  • msg #744

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

Provided the team does not disturb the area with the hive creatures, Yuu does not suspect they will prove a problem. He also suspects the large creature will either be dead, still nursing its wounds, or hauled off by the hive creatures to be consumed. Should it be found in perfect health, he doesn't suspect it'll be interested in a round two. Finally, the trio know how to b-line it straight to the interesting places, avoiding the inhabited side-tracks.

This leaves threats from fauna mostly solved, for the short term. The biggest threat Yuu sees is the unknown, especially that strange nether area in the cave. And the facility itself appeared dead and dusted, so the only threat he can see from that would be environmental.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:58, Mon 22 May 2023.
Vanyra
Player, 868 posts
Freyan
Natural
Thu 25 May 2023
at 01:19
  • msg #745

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

Vanyra wonders if there is any way to bring some portable barriers, lights, or sensors to help block off or protect certain areas.  She believes that the large creature could still be a threat as it is an ambush predator which is very good at hiding and can still likely kill someone very easily even if cornered and wounded.  Vanyra suggests establishing a defensible path down one side of the cave system, away from the hive creatures, but notes that this would require finding and identifying the whereabouts of the large creature.
Zelpuz
player, 1374 posts
Fri 26 May 2023
at 01:04
  • msg #746

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

"We should also put in some relays or lay a cable down to the structure to ensure communication." Zelpuz suggests. "That way we can guide several groups in and out whenever needed."
DJShirow
GM, 1987 posts
Thu 8 Jun 2023
at 20:50
  • msg #747

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

The expedition team agrees that a communications relay system would be essential, and they may be able to integrate some sort of defensive or repulsive field technology into those beacons that would deter the cave fauna or at least provide a defensible position to withdraw to. A few days will be required to put them together and in the meantime they can continue working on the ward in the below facility. This will give Zelpuz, Vanyra, and Yuu a couple days to rest and prepare.
Vanyra
Player, 870 posts
Freyan
Natural
Fri 9 Jun 2023
at 03:56
  • msg #748

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

"Can we mount relays on the ceiling?  These don't seem like ceiling crawlers."
DJShirow
GM, 1989 posts
Sun 18 Jun 2023
at 18:03
  • msg #749

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

The technicians confirm the relays can be affixed anywhere with the right equipment.
DJShirow
GM, 1992 posts
Thu 29 Jun 2023
at 02:54
  • msg #750

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

It will take but a period of diligent work to prepare a set of ten communication boosters, which should allow for at least voice comms through the cave. The range of each will depend largely on the nature of the cave stone and the path linking each of them.

Dr. Carla Hyunzi, a Spacer Archivist, will be heading up the small team, accompanied by Fernelex (one of the guides), and research assistants Sayuri Ishma, Seri Jonsen, and Vash Tefelanshi. While they prepare their own gear, Vanyra, Zelpuz, and Yuu can do likewise.
DJShirow
GM, 1996 posts
Mon 10 Jul 2023
at 00:34
  • msg #751

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

The following day the mini-expedition team sets forth back to the fissure and the cave complex beyond, armed with a set of comms relays, which can also serve as navigation buoys, and a host of scientific equipment to delve into the secrets of the ancient abandoned facility. This second foray proves to be much quicker, As Vanyra confidently leads them through the maze of corridors while Zelpuz affixes the communications relays at critical junctions.

The group makes a slight detour to mark nebula of nether energies, and a number of readings are taken. Given the distance and potential for encounters ahead the stop is cut short.

As the team passes through the cavern with the desiccated bug bodies on high alert, ready for a revenge attack by the mantis creature, a couple samples of the fauna are taken for later study. Luckily the chamber guardian is nowhere to be found this time, allowing them to make directly for the crystalline tunnels leading to the facility entrance. Once again the team stops to take some samples and readings of these crystals, with the preliminary results producing some interesting results and even more questions, at least according to the researchers.

Finally, without incident, they reach the broken wall and that first small room of the ancient facility. After conferring with their guides and double checking the maps created, the researchers split off and delve further into the corridors beyond. The plan is for them to return here after 4 hours, deliberate on the findings and then determine if further investigation is warranted.
Zelpuz
player, 1381 posts
Fri 21 Jul 2023
at 01:19
  • [deleted]
  • msg #752

Chapter 10 IC: Old World, New Frontier

This message was deleted by the player at 16:51, Fri 21 July 2023.
Sign In