The completionist in me as a player wants to finish the map.

The person trying to imagine my character thinks she probably doesn't care a lot, though she would remember that we are trying to secure an area as well as investigate it, so she would want to make sure we didn't have unknowns all over the place.

I know, it's hard not to finish the map, but there is another whole map we didn't finish, and this one seems huge. I am game either way.

For now, I opened the door on the other side, assuming we all went there.

Assuming there is not a really red sign with tons of new requirements listed in front of the door. But my icon ran through the door without opening it already, so I figured I can open it just as well.

These computer console things... do they have button with icons or words on them? And would any correspond to some of the characters Yuu's been seeing on the signs?

Basically, I'm trying to see if Yuu can piece together what some of this equipment may have been used for and a theory on the purpose for this place.

Yes, the consoles have keyboards and a host of buttons and probable displays (you're not sure since they are dead now). Yuu and Zelpuz would recall seeing a number of the icons on the signage on doors and the hallways, they are distinct from the pictographs.

Without power to the devices it would be nigh impossible to figure out what these consoles do, but it would be a fair assumption that they are for monitoring and possible control of the machinery and piping you have seen through the facility so far.

I've pushed Yuu through the north tunnel back into the room we came from just for ease of gaming, but he'll still be with Zel and Vanyra.

Judging by where Zelpuz is on the map, should he go through that next door he will quickly recognize that he is back at a room they just visited a short while ago. So he essentially did a large loop.

Hey guys, just some info; since I built my new desktop machine I loaded the newest version of the mapping software I've been using for years, and there was a bunch of custom symbols I utilized for the maps we use. Thus I need to go through the somewhat lengthy process of reinstalling all those custom assets before I can muck around with the maps any more.

May take a few days. I do have an expanded copy of the right-side of the map you are on presently but not the left. So ultimately if the PC's want to continue exploring the maze of tunnels in this facility there may be a pause in the action while I sort the maps out.

If you want to go back into the cave though that is fully mapped out and ready for you.

I think the plan was to basically go back up here, hopefully get back to the other room we were in before already, and then head back to the cave and report back.
I went into the room.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Tue 02 May 2023.

Status update: I managed to reload all the custom items into my mapping program but the old ones are not really compatible with the new system, so I have to go in an recreate the furnishings in each room. Since most of them are almost carbon-copies of each other should only take a day or two.

The new symbol packs I got have WAY more stuff in them though, so things may look a bit different once complete. But as I said I still have maps ready for most of the facility and you have the entirety of the caves yet tool.

Managed to recreate the old map, so we're good to go.

Zelpuz is very sure of instincts on turning right to go back to where they were. His photographic memory also confirms this, to an extent, when looking at the signage on the door and corridors. He cannot be certain since he does not understand the language but many of the symbols match.

Nice dude, what parts you put into your new machine?

AMD Ryzen 7800x3d with 32gb of DDR5 6000 CL30 on a ASUS b650e-f Strix mobo. Then for graphics I got a Radeon 6950XT (AMD version; great deal at $600). Put in a 1000w PSU to power it all, Corsair Shift series.

Got a Deepcool LS720 AIO cooler for the CPU, just for low noise.

All wrapped up in a Corsair 5000D airflow case with wood panels.

Gives me some good room to upgrade the GPU if I get a 4K monitor at some point as the mobo supports PCI-e 5th gen.

For storage I went all M2 drives, three in total for a total of 4TB. Only bought one and harvested the others from my older system, which I'm turning into a media-PC for the living room.

For the purpose of saving time, are the characters going to backtrack the way they came and then contact the rest of the team? If so we can expedite the process with a few checks since you would not be exploring any new area... unless you mess up the checks of course.

Sweet system, I always like putting things together myself.

I was thinking we are trying to go a way that is basically next to the way we came, the tunnel system seemed to have lots of connections, so I would explore a bit on the way back, too. Unless the others just want to go back?

Vanyra kind of wants to go straight back. The way we came just has the big bug.  The herds of smaller bugs were kind of in the other passages that we didn't follow as much.

We need to make sure to keep shutting doors behind us.

Right, you generally know where that large insect-creature is, and there were passages that would allow you to avoid it. The horde of smaller creatures was in a section that is certainly out of the way from your path back outside the cave.

OK, let's walk back the 'safe' way, and maybe add some marks on the wall to show the way.

/agreed

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.

Should this have been an IC post?

Yep, should have been.

So you guys are just at the exit of the cave. It will be a simple matter for you guys to head up the side of the fissure that originally lead you to the cave to meet with the rest of the team. Just let me know in IC what you are doing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:42, Thu 18 May 2023.

You can post any suggestions in IC if you want, but if you've questions regarding:
1) viability of a particular safety/security effort
2) who exactly is coming (Grad & undergrad students)
3) weaponry
4) recap of things you found in the cave and tunnels

And the like just post it here.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:00, Mon 22 May 2023.

From Yuu's perspective, it's up to the science team who they want to send down for the next stage of investigation. We can provide security for the scientists moving through the caves to the facility itself. Once at the facility, security for the scientists is less a direct issue. They can probably just go scurrying about their tasks, and once all have completed what needed, we can escort them safely back through the cave section.

This can work for a temporary measure. One thing we can aim while in the facility is mapping out a possible second entrance, especially if we find the facility is creeping towards that elevator shaft area, then we can skip the cave issues altogether.

Yes, so how many of them want to go down? And what do they want to bring, how much equipment? Can we make a trail of torches? Maybe that'll keep the creatures away.