The little scouting party - comprising of Yelena, her sergeant, and the rest of tretiy otryad, as well as Lena, Julius, and from the British OSI squad Staff Sergeant Halloway and Corporal Morgan - made their way up the gravel road back into the mountains. The incline went steeper soon and Julius had some trouble keeping up with the professional soldiers, who all very quickly fell into a marching rhythm.

The clouds finally opened up, and the sun was shining down on them
A sun, Julius corrected himself.

After about 20 minutes, they made a first brief stop to orient themselves and retreated into the trees lining the road. The Russians looked up the road with little enthusiasm.
"You alright, son?" Staff Sergeant Halloway asked Julius.


Gusarov looked pointed up ahead the road - a rather long, straight stretch, a wall of rocks on their left, a cliff edge to their right.
"No cover at all. We should double-time it."
He looked at the British, then Lena. "They'll get us killed if they don't keep up."
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:31, Fri 06 May 2022.

Julius used the break to catch his breath.

"This whole event has been more active than I'm used to, Sergeant. If I could, I'd rather be home in a comfy chair with a good book and a nice cup of tea." He replied to Halloway.

"Ah, I know what you mean. But don't worry you'll get used to it. I studied English literature when the war started. Not exactly a very outdoors curriculum either." Morgan said and offered his water canteen.

Yelena gave Gusarov a flat look for a moment, though nodded at the end. She knew who the best person was to keep an eye out. [Language unknown: "Ncwhpa int wi eeen ngck enol eretraund essticugh. Ith Outntiarewit ei tranc inon mired ncce, p prwe si der. Ounprostr il icplol ntiun, of pren evat ncmihi tio of beit wh andvirmenint."]

Yelena offered her field glasses to Lena. [Language unknown: "Pl all areersess ithlinted onteli. As, t...encsomlin. Ee no acro."] She pointed at the binoculars to emphasize.

Yelena generally gathered the English-speakers. [Language unknown: "Butruteen. Nd whick n Aconul osne fi nte. Itname ul wa nc olnce, ovear El teek. Inre n menno undughwhi unre lito E om." Neei encastoer lo tho osous eenwe ngloivnd ameomeate. "Allul m vervornti. Mo Ar allme a silech ce, T ouinut el ilouha blencevir wantic aitous. Ll som e oer. Maac ameac romes, een er fi tr inseee. Theca e iouldi at era. Evanch et our, a outsa tired eenoulkor. Ame?"] She looked around for questions.

((OOC: Is Julius wearing a helmet?))
This message was last edited by the player at 16:46, Fri 06 May 2022.

((Julius is outfitted as a British infantryman, with a helmet.))

Julius takes Rupert's canteen. "Thanks."

Taking a small swig, then then hands it back. "When things are calm, I'd love to discuss literature with you, Colonel."

"[Language unknown: Wimo p ur ul in, St menle thpopr Thothaone.]" Julius replies to Yelena.

((I have a shotgun too, but not very good with it, and no need to use it. Yet!))

Yelena brightened a bit at that news. [Language unknown: "P, acni'cahe! Ekleer whwit lin p il ac tiroin pe ha o stroveeveestfor rima."]

The sniper's face turned curious. [Language unknown: "Ndnd foest re k chwa ntiardted, oun? Nde ssfi?"]

"As far as I can see, but it's like the rest of the world goes grey. And it's not always reliable, what I see, or how strong. It is also tiring, so I can't do it constantly."

Yelena nodded at the explanation. [Language unknown: "Er catrti rom is an ect alwh ie..." ]she changed languages to try to get her point across. [Language unknown: "Tecaes comeraout k chceieisun. N eau unhe te the ardineeve ersthuder ivkor?"]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:49, Sat 07 May 2022.

Julius shrugs. "[Language unknown: Hi li me al. Oer ntinceear omelareraous M ave avederent thastrtinwas n, ivloro noti sta momaasse fi t ee.]" He then switches back to English. "I can try."

Yelena nodded. [Language unknown: "Conallhat Yinng estio leslarhas ons ta lo us rutwa ainiet, tedwasere prta aince ichli onmifi ent?"]

Julius nodded. "I can try."

"[Language unknown: Pa icng onwhen bleomeressan asel Intvirsti t les stsi, houie N tinmi m foreveionugh Ecarur, o wiet alnce ne hastinome tio filo nd ni.  Weave O poiswa Se isrefi ingtr.]"  Lena confirmed.

Yelena paused, then shook her head. [Language unknown: "Oneticica p ard str hou ilti. Prrich ti ol ted wifi ponias menoveany hisle reilit Whaddi. Os I si ill illstakor Evetec tin nceromore Urlach, n Ta dayillint un Wasresrom icen k. Laun kor ilnd ntetee ine tehis er t nawit Fo wiacnc din nd pearli ingarepre, u thiionart beent. E a taort tedal ofbe Ivteiv, et tho Intconbut ouiv Liasro, elad U miil es rihi ch adhoce naetta tr Esssut."]

Noting that Lena didn't take the field glasses, Yelena used them to look around before handing them to the American spy. [Language unknown: "Ulour stiee ear ec she anydi pe ilher seenc th ith ntiwittin an aiulst. Ri ard iseau mi one hedin iomeiv wit ti ncckec us ic icaac."]

((18:42, Today: Yelena Malkin rolled 3,6 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,4.  Notice (with binoculars).))
This message was last edited by the player at 02:46, Mon 09 May 2022.

There was nothing to be seen. The road kept rising and then stopped, seemingly midair. That meant that this seemed to be the highest point. Anything, anybody, would be able to get to that point without being seen from the other side.
They would be easily able to get there, unseen. But the same held true for anybody coming from the other side.
It would be bad luck if a German tank platoon was rolling over the horizon just as they got there. Then again... they didn't necessarily seem to have an abundance of good fortune recently.

Yelena put the binoculars away and closed her eyes, just listening. There was no sound to be heard. Some birds cawing somewhere. Some bugs flew past her ear. Nature's sounds. But no sound of heavy machinery. That, at least, was some comfort. But still, there could be an ambush lying in wait.

Morgan chimed in: "We could try to climb up the mountain. Find a goat path or something. Would be the roundabout way, but we wouldn't be caught out in the open."

Yelena looked through the binoculars again, searching. There was something that could be a small path or at least some route higher up into the mountains. But if anybody slipped, it could be a disaster, too.

Yelena frowned. None of this made her particularly happy, though the lack of mechanized sound provided a little comfort. She nodded at Morgan. [Language unknown: "T ouwihe wa anyouness moevst as protheoul. Vorla thsi et lo ivhi niss diou menintine?"]

She looked over to her Sergeant. [Language unknown: "Reawer-hateve ut seertrilne e was Ieelmonafi thase nosi p andlo Ticbutset u herth ee icred lo ofver hatnotith hassi ho nte li man hotrol. Ererestin u le artundeen ugh en hatnt pre san ne nt pl ilsisa. Hi atic mo whiesstinwhe fotost e rut finot a ear verndeugh."]
This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Tue 10 May 2022.

Lena thought of something.  "[Language unknown: At esstedich teesch thi ic pa pe antan i ol tr mostnc ivoul me armian focaenil e Ouneveiou our?  Om anich k vorandivetio po...]"

Lena shuddered at the memory of having to learn Morse code in a ridiculously short amount of time.  But it couldn't be helped, they had insisted.  They had actually been correct.

Yelena nodded. [Language unknown: "Le wer thularove, wito. Earstiiou adulei ithin rostic. Toine thuic ne iosifi any."] She smiled at the last bit, apparently thinking it was something of a good joke.[Language unknown: "Eeout she m Astitheve enc trca liasha plst loos ma ma Rutvirman."]

Gusarov nodded.
"Permission granted, comrade Malkin."

"[Language unknown: Nticomvorvor'dinenc p ck dayainprothu re chsi M ti, was Miiveeng olroro k estrdi redno whe hisech whtasi.]"

lol we're lucky, I Googled it and standardized International Morse Code had been in place for a long time long before any of our characters would have been alive to learn it.

Yelena nodded at her Sergeant. [Language unknown: "E ncort meutei fi po unai."]

She turned to Lena. [Language unknown: "Iooul, anceom ich we pl riere. Ting il mi ca our evchaiplchom som ouncss a ithhouill ntewerest? Est ei riven ati t caofndatng, ha was he o oer ntithastr? O hitrss anect m fonoei icape ome, hou ntkor tiooertinect ine all wasus din o leurol." ]

"[Language unknown: Naes thaeveent evour aipoiv iowa wh Yiningrom il thu u, ch ter hasoreure se Il eethe ureortear tr WILME encomepro larnotear A erathuard.  Sheee a ondipe Dimo hontfi!]"  Lena sounded almost offended.  Though she was pretty sure she couldn't keep up with Yelena in a contest of some sort.

Yelena smiled at the response. [Language unknown: "Ne to fowifi thi nding foom. Hoous eve p nock n Sspo di Ceul'urfi m ente? Teriverut aibeno p ilsi mo m whetraher."]

"[Language unknown: Omeersica omeameametho onsre diwh k moni Amenceson, itove earha ndeorelarand.]"  Lena suggested.

"Hey, I'm happy to tag along, ladies", Morgan replied. "If it's alright with you, sergeant?"


Halloway scoffed. "You go on right ahead, lad, I'll make sure Mr. Sykes is getting his breath back."

((That'll be an Athletics roll to climb up, then. Failure means you slip, and you'll have to make another roll at -2 to avoid bumps and bruises. Snake eyes means automatic bumps and bruises.))
This message was last edited by the player at 08:15, Thu 12 May 2022.

Lena did not dazzle, but they'd warned her that she might have to get out of some strange places in strange ways long before she went to Berlin.  It wasn't the climbing she'd prepared to do, but she had at least prepared to climb.

18:20, Today: Lena Vogt rolled 5,3 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,3.  Athletics.

The Soviets also kept their footing.

((15:42, Today: 3rd Platoon, 3rd Squad rolled 4,7 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+1)7.  Tsimmerman (not sure about wild die).

15:41, Today: Yelena Malkin rolled 3,5 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5.  Athletics.))

Morgan makes his way up, with such skill and finesse it makes him seem as if he was a goat in human form!

((16:10, Today: OSI Rangers (British Squad) rolled 12 using 1d8, rerolling max with rolls of (8+4)12.  Athletics.))

Morgan lead the way up the trail, winding behind rocks, leading through narrow crevices and behind shrubs and the occasional shriveled tree. It was a steep incline, leading away from the road below, winding up into the mountain. But after 20 minutes of determined climbing, the path opened up onto a small plateau, nearly flat, with a slight incline forward.

Lena, almost out of breath, had an idle thought about how nice this had to look like during a rain shower when the rain would gather here and then fall down in a narrow cascade down the mountains.

The view from up here was breathtaking. They were now on one side of a mountain pass, the other side rising steep into the sky. To the right they saw forests, hills, and rivers. There were some dark columns of smoke on the horizon.

To the left, on the other side of the pass, were rolling plains and gentle hills.

And directly on the mountain pass was a German fortress - two towers, one on each end of the pass dominating the routes leading up to it, with concrete walls around it.

There was one large building in the center, as well as several smaller ones. Yelena had seen similar barracks before, in a place called Treblinka in Poland. But here, there were some vegetable fields and there was a small football field on the side. All in all, this fort was probably at least twice as large as the Forstlager.
On each of the two watchtowers, a flag was flying in the breeze - a thin black stripe in the top, a thin red one in the bottom, between them a field of white. On the field was some symbol, but hard to make out.

There was quite some activity in the fort, but it seemed routine.

((Notice for more details, let me know what you're looking for specifically))

Yelena looked around at the breathtaking beauty and paused to appreciate it. She commented on that fact to Tsimmerman. [Language unknown: "Wiwh naen'usha, trailltha u?"] She smirked for a moment, then lifted the field glasses to start taking a look around. She also offered them to the others so they could do so as well. As others used the field glasses, Yelena additionally used the magnification of her scope to look at some small details.

((OOC: 6 Notice.

Yelena is looking for anything that might pose a threat to the advance of the group. She's also interested in the structure (obviously) and anything she can see there. The columns of smoke also caught her interest, so she looked in that direction to see if anything could be discerned at their origin.

08:07, Today: Yelena Malkin rolled 6,4 using d6+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2.  Notice.

And just to be clear, the fortress overlooks the road that they were trying to take, right?))

Lena considered their target carefully rather like, well, a spy.  A spy judging the value of the target and its weaknesses to infiltration, if it is worth infiltrating.

Lena is trying to see beyond the obvious, what are these places protecting and why, what is their strategic importance?  How many entrances and exits?  Is someone guarding them, who and how many?  How tight is the security?  Are people going in, especially Not Soldiers?  Do they seem to have vehicles or are they using horses? What are they doing for food, water, waste?

19:18, Today: Lena Vogt rolled 5,5 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3.  The Most Important Skill in the Game, Notice.

Morgan hunkered down and scratched at the moss between the cracks of the stone with the tip of his knife.

The German fortress was clearly meant to block the pass for anybody trying to cross over from one side of the mountain to the other. Four trucks are clearly visible, and there might be another one behind the large building, which seems to serve both as main fortress, office building, mess hall and warehouse.

There was no obvious water source, but there had to be one - there was at least a company of soldiers stationed here, maybe more, and they looked relaxed and at home.

Both sides of the pass were blocked by a large gate in the wall. Interestingly enough, the gate toward the side you had been coming from was open, but still watched by a squad in the watchtower. A few people were standing close to the gate and there were two guys on a ladder with tools. Apparently, there was some issue with the heavy gate.

After a few minutes watching, a tank rolled out from behind the building, towards the gate, then stopped. More men came and brought a heavy chain, tying the gate to the tank.

"Huh. Haven't seen one of those in a while." Morgan mused and pointed at the tank. "That's a Panzer I. Completely outdated."


Yelena couldn't make out the source of the smoke columns. But something big was burning in the far distance.

Yelena translated the comment for Tsimmerman so he'd know what was said. She asked in both Russian and English, "Anyone know that flag?"

((OOC: Just to be crystal clear, the road that Yelena had originally chosen for her group to take is the one that this fortress is overlooking/guarding, correct? I presume that the sniper in Yelena would say that as soon as any sort of enemy would be apparent on that road, they would be in position to be completely slaughtered before getting a sniff of the fortress walls, much less the front gate, right?))

Lena looked, but she also counted.  Guards, trucks, tanks, buildings, granaries...

((Alright, this is a very rough sketch of your view:
https://kanka-user-assets.s3.e...kWGvek4WfK8uN5je.jpg

But the road you were going up leads to this mountain pass and the pass itself is completely blocked by this fortress.))

A gust of wind straightened out the flag for a moment, allowing a good look, but none of you have seen this flag before:
https://kanka-user-assets.s3.e...WU82d1t1y4JD1PR9.png

It reminded Lena a bit of the old German Imperial flag, but the ratio of the bars was completely different, more like the Prussian flag.

The scouting troop sat there in silence. It was Tsimmerman who broke the silence first.

[Language unknown: "Ng rat o ssroof al petali. Eauio ones thos mapaof i ur sipelo u p nesile o pl k weni'plho."]

Yelena looked over at Tsimmerman and nodded at his assessment. [Language unknown: "E icadayati et pr linhe fiit sta ei arefi."] She gestured at the fortress as if the subject of her statement wasn't obvious. [Language unknown: "Le hape no ou ionwh wi ri ounromrom t m nosabe a ic a ei ersconyin."]

She looked at the others. [Language unknown: "Weil ticfi fo al? A diine teras?"] Yelena collected her binoculars and took one more look. The number of men still inside would be important to the math, but a fortress like that was likely impenetrable to anything except a Trojan Horse. Or well placed artillery. She had already found a place to be a good artillery spotter.

((OOC: The other thing Yelena is going to consider is if there is any perfect sniper perch above this fortress. For future use - she's not going to start shooting now.

Edit: Also, did we see any tracks on the way here?))
This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Tue 24 May 2022.

"[Language unknown: Os vor sawil lesectthu Me butthahas, iv ur ol erastrnot eiis.]"  Lena didn't see what else they were going to determine from up here, and she wasn't going to get precise, meticulous numbers on an initial scout.

This was a pretty good spot for a sniper, Yelena decided. A little far away, but if it wasn't too windy, she should have a good clear view of most of the fortress. The watchtowers could be a problem if the occupants retreated to the other side, as they'd be covered by the roof. But other than that... a good position. Only mortars or artillery came flying.

The way down was going a bit slower, as the group pondered what they had just seen, but soon enough they were re-united with the rest of the little scout squad.

Upon their return, Yelena gave a detailed description of what the group had seen. She translated into both Russian and (broken) English, though turned to Lena at some point during the English part so the spy could provide much better descriptions.

Once they'd finished describing everything, she turned to Gusarov. [Language unknown: "Anyure-thoesspro ncev pre ivbe stinad thearethiomereastiyin. Be resainich n naeser ustoto which int. Whimenthu ee ol a es eehasa ckfi ouerouev."]

((OOC: Did anyone notice tracks on the road we took? Or should I roll for tracking?))

Lena for her part was happy to oblige, and would have done it in German too but... wrong audience.

It didn't take long for the small scouting party to re-unite with the rest of the squad, who were still nervously waiting in what litte cover the side of the mountain provided.

[Language unknown: "Cknoho, atinck." ] Gusarov barked as soon as they were close enough.

(This'll give Julius a chance to chime in about the findings if he wants.)

Yelena nodded at the order. "Yes, Sargeant. We were able to successfully climb up the goat path to observe what is on the other side of this rise. This road leads into a mountain pass. The peak we went to is on one side of the pass, the road goes through a valley between peaks, and on the other side of the pass there is a large fortress overlooking the road. The fortress has a tower overlooking each end of the pass and there is a gate across the road on each end of the pass. The fortress appears to be active and manned, with an odd flag flying over it." She described the flag before continuing.

"There are crops growing in fields that appear to have been recently tended. They even have marked off a small football field. We saw four trucks, and there was room for another behind one of the large buildings near where the four were parked. They also had a tank, though it is an old Panzer I." She also added some of the observations made by Lena who had done a better job of estimating total manpower.

((OOC: Just using quotes and no language masking as she would eventually translate her report and ask others that joined if there's anything else to add.))

Lena, for her part, dutifully recalled how many she'd counted of everything from men to trucks to buildings.  It was a sort of Spy 101, they always wanted to know how many and of what.

The scouting party headed back towards the cross-roads, but it doesn't take long and the stop again, as they first see, then hear another truck coming up. Thanks to the modifications that were done to allow more people to travel by truck, the vehicle is easily identified as the "Allied Mechanized Brigade".

Having kept an eye out for the squad, as soon as he spots them, Konnikov thumps the top of the cab and signals for them to stop, despite it already having begun doing so.

[Language unknown: "Roek i osie peadek, thumanugh nt, waei anaswi m hisencwasthe."] he says to the troops in the back with him, and then as a few disembark the truck, he hops out and moves to go take the squad's report.

He waits a moment for Strelnikov to join them before addressing the squad, "Serzhant Gusarov, report."*


(( * Translated from Russian, as I'm sure the English, Americans, and Comrade Politruk will be present.  ))

Never too careful, Yelena scanned the incoming truck with her binoculars as it approached. Once she recognized some faces, she gave an approving nod to her squad leader and then settled into the squad. Or rather she settled in over by Lena.

[Language unknown: "Tio ilbut diee oullatmentio, Widietekas. Tednottio ort nde men tinillate outicatic int triewh widay notineera stionsnti th anenc, bela?"] Yelena recalled some of the previous discussions they'd had. [Language unknown: "Aikor coneauted cear na u ic ureomeica. Ioalne we maon'latr pa ai ure be ard ast ratnotrom."] Yelena tapped her rifle to emphasize her intent.

Lena was philosophical.  "[Language unknown: Ardateatince, Elic preredhas estit.  Res yin korderven thothuprethi si ncehisstr m comastbut, Sanom ioinmo iewi he paouna k a leurri.  Ameie vorviryin any m reame sssan loto est ll icmopo.  Th mecon derhouich fi weur som ntave tedentill ni diich no k, to ectit entruther enctineau.  Any preresast el ica ecat thaaveure ame eick.]"

Lena chuckled.  "[Language unknown: Di ich ic ometicyin vorti caekul m omeundtinter nceichour atioutillugh n sanprothu eneril m artwerant olit setmo ntma'sisi, ter of plek ic al k constrardour.]"

While Gusarov gives the report to the officers, with translations from Zholding for the Westerner's benefits, the rest stand by idly, wondering what the next orders will be.

Then Tsimmermann whistles.
[Language unknown: "Entateenc pa thaundate uthiwian derentich!" ]And he points up the road. A dust cloud's drifting upwards and there is the distant sound of an engine or two, coming down the mountain.

Yelena immediately and instinctively brought her binoculars up to her eyes and trained them on the approaching dust cloud. Her hand was also on her rifle in case she needed to get her scope to her eye in a hurry.

Lena didn't have optics to help her, but she too couldn't help but look.

After a couple of minutes a truck appeared over the crest, one of the same make as the one you commandeered. It rolled down the road and then - probably after noticing you - stopped.

"[Language unknown: Noai ersi i etpo naca essng hoho.]"  Lena mused, hoping she was horribly wrong and looking for a place to duck and hide.

((OOC  Is the road narrow enough to "turn around and run away"?  If not, can I just male a Battle roll to direct our troops in some 'intelligent manner"?  My brain is literally fried from two-weeks of chargen and Fourth of July revelries (no sleep - I live in a Hispanic neighborhood so the fireworks didn't stop until late last night).  ))

Konnikov had ordered their forces split, the Russian troops up the hill with Strelnikov posed to charge and spring an ambush when the trucks stopped, and the OSI split among their truck and the hillside.  Konnikov and one brave spotter who'd lost her sniper remained at the front of the truck pretending to repair it.  She was under it with a rifle held up against the under carriage, ready to roll into position and fire, Konnikov leaning into the engine compartment with his tommy-gun tucked out of sight prepared to turn and open fire as well.


(( OOC:  17:38, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 7, 4 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4.  Battle d8, setting the ambush. – 7,4 ))

((Smarts to smell the trap:11:35, Today: Warmaster, on behalf of SS-Infantry, rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Smarts Roll for the SS CO.

Oh, this is precious.))


A few moments passed, then the other truck slowly started to continue toward you and stopped about 30 paces away.
A couple of men climbed out of the cabin, two more jumped out at the back, their MP40s in hand, but not aiming at you.

The officer at the front stood and set his hands on his hips.
[Language unknown: "Cata o erie Chülaalhi ul pre and utunli virwilive artfi di whla andstaver t it adla?? Thiionove noter, an utei erehouday n hatineyintio!"]

11:37, Today: Warmaster, on behalf of SS-Infantry, rolled 8 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8.  Smart roll for the NCO
The man at his side looks around, wearily, then suddenly snaps his head toward his commanding officer.
[Language unknown: "Osicliolonüre! Ivtrieeviv ckwaal!"]

((Alright - you got surprise, all of you can take an action before the Germans can do anything. Post your action, then draw for initiative.))

Konnikov smiled a grimly to himself as he heard the truck stop, soldiers get out, and the first German speak.  He took hold of his trench-broom, and stepped back and down from the truck spinning into a crouch next to the vehicle in line with the two SS, just as the SS alerted his commander.  The Tommygun opened up on the SS, it's ratta-tat-tat signaling the ambush.

((  08:42, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 5, 5 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5.  Shooting d8, opening up on ze Germans. – 5,5  ))

((I'm guessing you're spraying the Germans on full auto? So please add two more d8.
You're at close range, full auto adds -2 to each roll, but you can spend a benny if needed to re-roll))

(( AHAH!  Included previos roll editted to reflect -2:

08:42, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 3,3 using d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,5.  Shooting d8, opening up on ze Germans. – 5,5
12:06, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled -1,4 using d8-2,d8-2, rerolling max with rolls of 1,6.  Burst fire into SS. – -1,4

12:11, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 4,1,1,3 using d8-2,d8-2,d8-2,d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,3,3,5.  Benny reroll, Shooting d8, Full Auto 3. – 4,1,1,3

12:17, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  Potential damage:  2d6+1. – 8

And because I forgot early, Draw for Initiative!
12:12, Today: Semyon Yegorovich Konnikov drew the single card: 9H using a deck of 54 cards. – 9H  ))

((OOC: From her hidden spot, what modifiers would Yelena have to shoot one of these guys? And how many can she see? I assume multi-action is possible to hit more than one, but maybe she only gets The Drop on one (if any at all) if I understand things correctly.))

((Anybody who's hidden within the trees (ie, most folks) will get the Drop on the Germans in the open. There's the officer, the NCO, at least three more coming around the truck to the front.))

((OOC: And Yelena can, theoretically, fire 3 times during the surprise round, all with the drop? And there's no cover or range modifiers at this angle/distance?))

Lena hadn't actually fired a pistol in years, since going undercover.  She had, when given the opportunity, dry fired one to try to not forget how it worked.  So her practical marksmanship was going to be... basic.

Even then,  crouching, slow moving target, it was basically static target shooting, and she was not looking to win the cup, just put the lead on the paper.  Don't do anything fancy Lena, slow, basic.  Both eyes open, put the front sight right over the dead center of the chest.  Squeeze don't jerk.

16:16, Today: Lena Vogt rolled 1,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Shooting.

Pew pew!  But wait, we have the Drop!  That's actually a 9.

16:17, Today: Lena Vogt rolled 13 using 2d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of (6+2)8,4.  Pew Pew.

Someone got shot right in the toodles.  But wait, we have the Drop!

16:19, Today: Lena Vogt rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Raise Damage.

So that's actually 14 damage.  lol that's probably my contribution.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:20, Wed 13 July 2022.

((I was about to say no - then I remembered that in SWADE you *can* take the same action with the same hand multiple times, so yes, that would actually work, at -4 for each shot. But firing a bolt action rifle that often should be harder than full auto, so I'll add an additional -1 for each additional shot - so -4, -5 and -6))

((Don't forget to draw initiative - goes for the prisoners, too!))

((08:48, Today: Sarwan Bhalla drew the single card: 6D using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative pull (Bhalla).))

((OOC: Hate to be the difficult player, _{(too late!)} but does bolt action allow for normal shooting with only 2 shots in the round since it's just enough slower than 3? So -2 and -2? I'm probably just going to roll with that, but understand that it's possible the second one is -3.))

Yelena leaned over and peered into her scope, picking out the two Nazis who were talking. She was also aware of the men near the back with the MP 40s. They were probably an even bigger threat than the idiot officers who probably couldn't even read a map.

Yelena did enjoy popping the heads off of officers, but in this case it was all about who had the bigger gun. And the two guys at the front of the truck definitely had smaller guns.

The sniper squeezed the trigger once, quickly chambered another round, and then squeezed off a second, even better shot in the confusion. Watching confused Nazis die was very satisfying.

((OOC: Okay, the -2 or -3 won't matter for the second shot, it's a raise either way. But maybe let's figure that out for the future. First one also hits, thanks to the drop.

15 damage (AP 2) on the first guy with the MP40
27 damage (AP 2) on the second guy with the MP40
Ace of Spades for initiative

08:21, Today: Yelena Malkin drew the single card: AS using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative .

08:21, Today: Yelena Malkin rolled 23,4 using 2d8+5,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(8+5)13,4.  Damage 2 (AP2,raise).

08:20, Today: Yelena Malkin rolled 15 using 2d8+5, rerolling max with rolls of 3,7.  Damage 1 (AP2).

08:19, Today: Yelena Malkin rolled 5,9 using d10+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 1,5.  Shooting 2 (MAP2,drop,Imp. Trademark).

08:18, Today: Yelena Malkin rolled 6,6 using d10+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 2,2.  Shooting (MAP2,drop,Imp. Trademark).))

As the shooting started, Max aimed a couple shots at the officers outside the front of the truck. First shot at the more clueless of the two, and the second shot at the one that seemed to figure stuff out at the last moment.

The report of his rifle was lost in the cacophony of the ambush, but all might be silent again soon enough.

((OOC: Both shots hit, first with a raise.

Damage 1: 10 (AP 2)
Damage 2: 14 (AP 2)

5C for next round

09:48, Today: Max Lewis drew the single card: 5C using a deck of 54 cards.  Initiative .

09:48, Today: Max Lewis rolled 14 using 2d8+4, rerolling max with rolls of 6,4.  Damage 2 (AP 2).

09:47, Today: Max Lewis rolled 9,1 using 2d8+4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,3,1.  Damage 1 (AP2), Raise.

09:47, Today: Max Lewis rolled 4,7 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5.  Second shooting (of two) (Drop,MAP).

09:46, Today: Max Lewis rolled 11,7 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of (8+1)9,5.  First shooting (of two) (Drop,MAP).))

The mountain erupted into a hail of gunfire, claiming the Obersturmführer and his sergeant first, but the two men who came from the back of the truck fell before they were able to bringt their MPs to bear, both going down with a bullet hole in their temples. They were dead before they hit the ground.

The officer had been riddled by bullets and fell back against the front of the truck, his arms spread out wide as if he was Jesus on the cross, slowly sinking to the ground, his blood seeping through his many wounds.

There was much screaming and shouting - and then the rest of the Russians opened fire at the truck.

The men in the back of the truck fell where they stood, one of them tumbling against the side and tearing a hole into the tarpaulin.

One of the Russian lieutenants started yelling and then, suddenly, there was a great silence, the only sound the air slowly hissing out of the truck's tires.

The noise was impossibly loud. Gewehr. That was the Deutsche's word. Bhalla fell more than dove, huddling on the trucks floor with her hands over her head and her knees pulled up, making herself as small as possible. When the high-pitched thunder stopped, a ringing remained in the gnim's ears.

Once everyone in sight was down, Yelena slowly started advancing on the truck, another round chambered and the butt of the rifle comfortably resting on her right shoulder. Her eyes flicked in all directions as she concerned herself with any potential follow up.

The Soviet sniper called out to her comrades to tell them she didn't see anything. [Language unknown: "Illineres wassha I ugh ance!"] One of the other grunts would probably be checking the truck - her role was to keep a low profile next to the vehicle with her weapon trained in the direction from which the vehicle had come.

The Russians slowly came out of the wood, getting closer to the truck. There wasn't really much room to maneuver, they had to get closer.

---

Inside, Mattaki managed to pull one of the guards closer - by sheer luck it was the body of the Deutsche who had chained them to the truck's floor and, after rummaging through the man's pockets, he retrieved a key.
His fingers were shaking when he tried to open the lock, the adrenaline washing through him.

---

[Language unknown: "Ro ers icaforredera."] Tsimmerman said. He was close to Yelena. [Language unknown: "U astessund ie home pr ounallestant."]

Yelena nodded once at Tsimmerman. [Language unknown: "Itasfi il, Mi oerti e ted. Iv trsain."] She ticked off a count of three on her fingers, then spun around the back of the truck and looked inside while Tsimmerman covered her.

Yelena's rifle was directed at the inhabitants, but when she saw who was in there, she immediately dropped the business end of the gun downward so it wasn't pointed at any of the truck's survivors.

She paused for a moment while her brain tried to process what she was looking at, but after a few moments her words started working. She tried a few languages.

[Language unknown: "Terpreles! Any he tiive?"]

[Language unknown: "Sonioumen! Hoic unica st?"]

[Language unknown: "Anyoneugh! Sste al an?"]

(Note she would also try in Yiddish, but there isn't even a language group set up for that.)

Bhalla raised her head, trembling. Her voice had a chirrup-y quality that was exacerbated as she tried to get her mouth around the words. [Language unknown: "Unman plame Haunst? Respa thithuess laen?"] How could there be more of them?

Yelena shook her head at the question. [Language unknown: "La, Adne koraineen osut ol lireca ermoac hisconstadayart aststrson rola ofst Ilrind."] Had it really been that long? Yelena could hardly remember what she'd been like before war came to her town. Maybe that person was dead. Or maybe just dormant.

[Language unknown: "Fowil ivave ceio? Pa ar ivai calihi sanrom'ndeoer? Lovir? Esstof?] Her voice was tender and soft as she asked after their well-being.

Bhalla sat up, slowly. She had not caught all the words the--was this a female?--used. Did the females war with the males? But no, there were others here who were like the ones who had captured her. [Language unknown: "Elnd paer ec Bendun? Ore o neit artthudin Nesaho?"]

Yelena shook her head. [Language unknown: "Sa, nctin Thstta."] She nearly spat the word out in disgust, but then regained her composure and smiled. Her words were again soft. [Language unknown: "Ti nd t Withus. O cemo wasessera e itio Ionbutear."]

She raised an eyebrow. [Language unknown: "Us ev a Hasvorame."]

After a few tries the chains came loose, before he attempted to get out of the truck, which seemed to be the target of all the fire at present he searched round the boxes looking for weapon to use

[Language unknown: "U atca, ecteenear. Usdi at ntpema. Enne ha evni butta week Ounhasevecom."] Bhalla said. She was still struggling to make sense of the situation. [Language unknown: "Plel ro minonifo? Readan ut weom Nearei?"]

Mattaki pushed back another box and his heart skipped a beat. There was his spear, his focus. He could almost feel it calling out to him.

Mattaki took a deep breath and gently reached for the spear as he touched it he felt the power of his ancestors complete the broken circle when it had been taken from him.

He looked down at his little friend [Language unknown: Ev o wanoat menipo. Hasameich witlinset as urdi forainderlinent conei ne? urre ck trst ateos mate pran plthce Pl bemawh onhis ous]

Even so he pulled the power to him and prepared the spell of protection to be used over both of them if they were attacked

Lena had stayed back, figuring it was better to let the soldiers sweep the truck.  Plus, that was a lot of dead bodies.  Granted, she'd been around a lot of dead bodies before but they were usually in a morgue or something.

They seemed to be talking to somebody.  On the whole, the Russians seemed more likely to speak German than English if they spoke either, so she'd been sticking to Ze German around them.  "[Language unknown: Ietio we Acnout traof seusfiec?]"

With that Mattaki stood with spear in hand, trusting in the powers he welded to protect him if needed.

He looked down at his, little friend [Language unknown: e se ounamenot atiderain an e aier esouse iou dianceos ]

[Language unknown: "Essardeartic."] Bhalla said, gesturing to the 'Soviet' at the back of the truck and the other not-Deutsche visible through the mangled tarpaulin who still surrounded the wagon.

Yelena paused for a moment as she tried to think about how to answer the question. [Language unknown: "Evosle n...theectsti der n...nowean staiveble. M usshe ssarilhi shehe urmi Rompreany"] At least a little bit. How much different was something that Yelena thought about as she tried to fall asleep at night.

She shook her head. [Language unknown: "Usck ndllalng hi e nt ate...Ilthas whmeiv. As ers Voreauverear. Wh Ortwitnce."] She held up a finger to ask for a moment, then shouldered her rife and stuck her head around the side of the truck. Sticking the first two fingers of both hands in her mouth, the sniper whistled, shrilly.

She pointed at Lena. [Language unknown: "Hiitng-toad! Eran!"]

Yelena looked back over at the recent captives. [Language unknown: "Enear fi tin elnalo thu iouhouati ivckpr. Tr te werre oerastoer trilnoca thehernte eve Outessnce."]

"[Language unknown: Nd u ouwa ng aletio?]"  Lena hustled.  She wasn't a great nurse but she was still a passable nurse after all.

She arrived quickly, only to go wide eyed.  "[Language unknown: Ast... din stisanlinall, ati N ro... u erereared ratle m onted our ent.]"

Lena had not yet gotten to the point where she reflexively used English.  Speaking constant German for years on end and letting on you speak anything else only on pain of death will do that to you.

Konnikov slowly advanced on the dead Nazis, using hand signals he ordered First Platoon to move up the hill and take watch, and Second Platoon to hold position as Yelena and the British Spy checked out the back of the truck.  He could hear the strange language, and held the men back to ease tensions with the locals who were no doubt prisoners of the Nazis.

Confident at least that these beings do not mean her any immediate harm, Bhalla moves to the truck's tailgate (though she does not yet get down). [Language unknown: "En thi ch? Romavethi ta Outintwhe? Llekek nt Tedsheoerwhi-allher?"] She closes her eyes and shakes her head and holds up a palm. [Language unknown: "A iv intionnce Notounwhi Ndssli. Korearest. Hees foiv ta p sonwilnot Ncngiv os...Leofli Plheenwe."] She points to the Axtzal behind her. [Language unknown: "Ecwhtrle. U re ncus linlesainect."]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:21, Sat 16 July 2022.

Shagidzyanov relayed Konnikov's orders, then turned to his CO.
[Language unknown: "Trloun Traatible p urecomive mi romthuson ear has urver antad ekunmi el les lo inma saen?"]

Julius, who always stayed close to the officers in case he needed to translate for Captain Jackson or Major Lewis, couldn't help but wonder about the lieutenant asking permission. British or American soldiers - or Germans, for that matter - would have already proceeded to loot the vehicle on their own initiative.

Yelena nodded at the introduction. [Language unknown: “T’o ronde ur ear alna, Astterthe sa Litour. A La ave, Me n thllis Seicpo. Ousof not se en ivntss oldindei, wilnotshe a iouwheill limo om un pepo latas rut. Enhat ulteti hou p ar ck i Proentthuher. T, ain ri sanstikor sanastdayeve not eril, t ce Plssle. A iv orethoted erelarrutove i llrea icpo'onad enc in Tedvenhat.”] The sniper gestured toward Lena as she referenced the other woman.

Satisfied the Germans weren't just playing possum, Konnikov nods to his Lieutenant, [Language unknown: "Oufi, erce ous hasdercom nawhpa en an, roomit ure om no honoeeai ich thndin, naiou reate e ticmanovethe latei ac, ne aswh butratave illthianyith wil di pa wasameantichset forastvor es ei nt p."]

He then approaches the rear of the vehicle and despite being surprised at the appearance of prisoners, maintains a stolid cast (aside from one raised eyebrow).  He stands at ease with the Thompson leaning across his shoulders and calmly eyes the two odd looking folk in the trucks bed.

[Language unknown: "Oficro, encli venad ndeom, utck, foarad elee ain, os rearedwas?"]

Yelena turned to face Semyon and briefly stood to attention before adopting a slightly more relaxed posture. [Language unknown: "Menionwhi, o ic yinredint olpeon utsi ekck larnteearreslar astintyin risain eitrom outvorwhiati. Tr el fotio romwasnti hope Rutstrlar, et Virnd ilnd dial ma re i anfiac wil trtr...ble?"] Yelena was guessing at that last bit.
[Language unknown:
"Nte alan honi titr iowain tio derndetho entntisti ic dineauhat espewhiv fi urasssei oushatand inul are Nincst. Poion si herwiltic ear lat m butverhis userhili, rore nde nc acsa alers res na unsi. Ss laroneles wa latonscon usasek arng is hellel n nt oneestshe latec m fi, Isonio?"] She raised her eyebrows slightly at the end, though generally maintained military discipline as she spoke with the Kapitan.

[Language unknown: "Ca ugh ereril. Wiher Vereename chin ckio re whchmo."] Bhalla says. She catches herself. [Language unknown: "Ioadev lat."] The gnim couldn't remember the last time she'd eaten a full meal. [Language unknown: "Terohi iouromset ad Titeen."]

Yelena turned her head slightly to indicate she was listening to Bhalla, and nodded her understanding. She held up a finger to ask her for a moment, then straightened and spoke to Konnikov again. [Language unknown: "Ro te thei annani. In...urnd-liee nati ssilic artouners tethes ome chthos hong. Maitilieof ca thaameand siul re onut t te eliead? Lawa ch houtrason iemo butoreder urout manlesent e ndch on m e itin ni leelilen wil orethilar."] Hunting was how Yelena had first learned to shoot. Being required to do so again was something she'd enjoy.

Lena let out a very undignified sound.  "[Language unknown: Uswhe... hiatic... he <ou>ard!</u>]"

She began to shake down anyone near her.  "[Language unknown: E M Bewh Ei tic ai les at, aromat orestress paera ic andeaunde!]"

Konnikov nods, [Language unknown: "Ienclo Tangweri, m pa evheun thpr ngusbe, adti fo earinghou i eau ek re widihe ceis mobe ic osany esne-ndpr laint wilprorut hodica.  Ureeut bleareeve n ni urearelarres ha erestithi tic pa."]

He then turns to check up the road and gives a look at the squad higher up the slope that were watching the road.  He deliberately, and calmly, as though at ease in their presence, turns his back to the locals, and listens to hear if they react oddly.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:44, Sun 17 July 2022.

Yelena nodded to Semyon. [Language unknown: "Nc, sail!" ]

The sniper smiled at Lena and nodded before she looked back to the cat-woman. [Language unknown: "Isaran, ss ing der sanwi hat houio. Waday a plth ati u poeiwe,"] she gestured toward Lena, [Language unknown: "undni T ant ine reiou somal lar ol. Verartwhi has."] She pointed to the Axtzal as she mentioned him by name.

Yelena turned to Lena and again nodded. [Language unknown: "Chno ithndeent ess undoulave linac il fimoho asinis stitr p set sanounver beheseat la ndos Dinicaith. Ieecof icac tered o ing atierandewit e, din?"]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:22, Mon 18 July 2022.

Bhalla nods, apparently oblivious to being talked about as if she were an animal, as if she were not a participant in the conversation. [Language unknown: "I ck dinlo mobe. Lo ro icli re o les liteur."]

She turns to the axtzal. [Language unknown: "Iousontha oun arthouble elin eelesail nteivered tick ckall Derardineure, ek ndnt mi o icwil wh ith. Ei ver red."]


19:53, Today: Sarwan Bhalla rolled 1,2 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1,2.  How well does Bhalla understand squeeing Lena?

Lena didn't care.  She was going man to man to woman to man again (the gender disparity was expected here however) asking for ration packs.

(Bhalla misses the finer aspects of Lena's exclamations)

A few minutes later, Bhalla and Mattaki are chewing on dry potato bread stored in small metal cans, as well as some dark brown bitter-sweet bars, washing it down with water.
It wasn't particularly good, but it was the best that either of them had had in days.

Mattaki in particular could tell that these were rations fit for warriors - easy to carry, easy to eat on the go, and probably carefully put together to make sure the troops would have everything they needed to be sustained before a battle.


The rest of the soldiers went to work, siphoning gas from the shot-up truck, hauling down the crates and breaking them open. Inside the crates were various artifacts - wristbands, rings, an ornate dagger or short sword.


In another crate, there were more weapons of ancient make - spearheads, arrows, short swords, but none as ornate as the items in the first crate. There were also a few slim tablets with markings etched into it.

Now that the former prisoners were off the truck, Julius got a closer look at them, too. The one who had been introduced as Mattaki looked similar to the lizard man he had seen in his vision, but his skin pattern is more ornate. The fingers and toes of Mattaki are also webbed, something he hadn't noticed on the other one in his vision.

Once Bhalla and Mattaki had gotten some food and were eating, Yelena sat nearby. [Language unknown: ”Hi venmi con n os onsna ce u st Oulthuvir icwe? I nc ta earthever prilloiv, ofic son anyforich t diel oer case lafo wiuspo ri tr ica.”]

Bhalla ate slowly despite her hunger. She had seen prisoners gorge themselves, only to lose what they had eaten when their bodies stubbornly emptied overfull bellies. Once the gnim had eaten enough for her thoughts to clear, she began drawing in the dirt with a fingertip. Arrows pointed to Mattaki and Yelena, along with various sigils of the Axtzal alphabet. [Language unknown: "Are oulal ho ut eau ver wanoun e alndnt."] Bhalla chanted, repeating the words three times...

10:33, Today: Sarwan Bhalla rolled 7,4 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7,4.  Speak language. Spending 1 extra PP to loop in Mattaki.

Mattaki leaned forward[Language unknown: li hiceom ourecting me es ncecomoun i vir nticel si fohein asroti asin les malo somdineen ho Wi ni ate p... is whistrarehou u si thfoatpl wa os, ni hou it ll Hi adtoal icad k of ousate'ainect nde u e our ainfo yinsonvir]

Bhalla smiled as she felt the still-not-entirely-familiar magic settle into place. <German>"You may ask them yourself, Mattaki."</German> She turned toward Yelena. With the spell in place, the gnim's language was clearer and obviously came more easily. <German>"They have a fortress in the pass. There are many warriors there, and prisons. And...tests. They are trying things to see what works. Where have they come from?"</German>

OOC: We've got 10 minutes of fluent German for Mattaki and Bhalla.

Yelena listened to Bhalla and nodded. <German> "I have seen the Fortress in the pass. It is essentially impervious to what we can bring, except perhaps for a quiet, night time infiltration. Which would be very risky. Do you know if this is their only concentration of power? Or have they spread out further? And are there many more captives in their fortress? How many warriors do you estimate are there?" </German>

She took a deep breath and tried to answer Bhalla's question as best she could. <German> "They are from a country called Germany or any of several countries allied with them. Countries are, hm, large political units where we are from. I am not certain how the Germans figured out how to get here, but there seemed to be some sort of tunnel they created. It travelled between where we are from and where you live and have lived. The Germans appear to have used that tunnel to come here and invade your lands."  </German>

Mattaki nodded he felt the magic settle over him it was different to his but still magic all the same..

He turned to the being that Bhalla was talking to

<german> please excuse me I am Mattaki of the a thunder Crags a warrior mage of my race. I noticed a dagger in that box over there it belonged to one of my companions if it is here then he must be dead I would ask to be given it so I can carry it in honour of his memory<german>
This message was last edited by the player at 18:54, Tue 19 July 2022.

Yelena nodded at Mattaki. <German> "It's nice to meet you, Mattaki. I am Yelena. And I imagine most of the items on that truck did not belong to the Germans. If you'll excuse me a moment, I will retrieve your friend's dagger. And I am sorry for your loss." </German> She looked over at Lena and gestured toward the two, indicating that the Soviet was hoping the American would take over during Yelena's brief absence.

Yelena immediately peeled off and went to look at the goods in question, locating the dagger without difficulty. She picked it up and made her intentions known to any Soviets standing nearby. [Language unknown: "Hat aniese u his ee man somvenvir poprniul, Ble urlaunhe wh di venck."] It wasn't a question. [Language unknown: "Mi, sa satin are, e whe fimiecfo ivlese m ac pa wheverenc ventedwil. U pangul wa re no ckevti u is hiel eswesaha forhistic."] The last she said without expecting an answer, but it put everyone on notice concerning her thoughts on the matter.

OOC: Let me know if anyone tried to stop Yelena

Konnikov waved over the officers, <Russian=translated into English>"It's time we withdraw.  This area is too close to the fortress and they too well armed for my tastes.  We have a pair of locals, we can gently retrieve information from, possibly forge alliances.  Regroup, plan, and then act once we've decided the best forward course.  I'm not giving up on the mission, but right now I believe that the capture of Kemmel is unattainable under current circumstances."</Russian>

He waits to see what Major Lewis and Captain Jackson have to say.

Max waited for the translation, but it took barely any time for him to nod agreement. <English translated to Russian> "I agree. This little battle, quick as it was, might have drawn the attention of that fortress. Even if it didn't, we are not ready to have anything to do with the stronghold."

He looked over at Lena and wondered what information she was gathering, then looked back at Semyon. "If we are able to make allies we might be able to make an attempt at the Nazis with some combination of stealth and misdirection. But there is nothing I've heard or seen that would suggest we are equipped to make an attempt just yet." </Englsh translated to Russian>

Lena in the meantime had come up with someone's bread ration, by some miracle of cajoling.  She seemed almost oblivious to everything else going on.

"[Language unknown: Il caho!]"  She reached forward holding out a little piece of the bread.  "[Language unknown: To noei eautinall?]"  The way she said it was like she was asking a little child or perhaps a dog.  Affectionate, but, well not exactly respectful.

<German>"I am Bhalla of the lineage of Sarwan."</German> Bhalla said, ignoring the sing-song woman. She kept her attention on So-viet. <German>"The Germans have killed many thousands. First they only killed. Now they conquer. They stay. They take slaves. They build. Their weapons are powerful, and they have many devices. They carve deeply into the Empire of Fakad."</German>

As he had since linking up with the Allies some time ago, Zholdin continued to facilitate communication as necessary.  Which was of course, more or less every single conversation at this point.  As Yelena made her intentions known, the commissar shrugged his shoulders slightly in complete indifference, wordlessly making his opinion on the matter quite clear.

Turning his attention back to Sarwan, he quickly returned to his role, translating the creature's words into both English and Russian.  He still wasn't quite sure what to make of the creature, but really, anything that killed fascists couldn't be all that bad.  Americans excepted of course.

On the Soviet CO's order, the Lieutenants herded the troops back into the truck, now with the addition of Bhalla and Mattaki, making the back of the truck even more cramped. It didn't help that the Axtzal insisted on keeping his spear with him, too.

Konnikov noticed that a few of his troops had quietly switched their Soviet guns for the MP40s of the Germans. They were running low on ammo, he knew that, and there was no way to get supplies. Soon, they'd have to completely rely on German guns, and even then, resupplying would be a challenge.

The truck had no room to maneuver here, so Chupakhin, their best driver, carefully steered the truck down the mountain in reverse, constantly looking into the mirrors. The going was painfully slow, but the other truck would hinder any pursuers just as much.

And then, something occured to him.

Yes, they were unable to resupply. But the Germans were just as cut off from the German war industry as his troops were from the Soviet factories.
The Nazis might be able to manufacture ammunitions here, maybe rifles - but there was no way, there could be no way, that they would be able to manufacture trucks, or tanks or any other complicated machinery.
And they'd run out of gas, too, at some point.

It was an interesting prospect, but didn't cheer him up as much as it could have.

Eventually, torturously, the truck hit a patch that was large enough to turn and they made good speed after that. Chupakhin was sweating heavily when he was finally able to turn the truck around and actually see directly where he was driving.

[Language unknown: "Wahone naerun n el, ilndio Stiforome?"] Chupakhin asked.

<german>it is similar with my people these, what did you call them? Nazis..... They raided out homes and our nests destroying our eggs. The warrior mage caste banded together as one to hold them off until the nests could be emptied but has cost us dearly<german>he held the dagger in his hand gently for a moment

<german>I do not have skill with the thunder rods you carry but I can call the essence of the land to do my bidding and can make my own thunder if needed I will gladly offer my power to your mission if you will have me<german>

Yelena offered the requested dagger to Mattaki once they had all settled back in and conversation began again. She listened to the reports from what she hoped would be new allies. She directed another question toward Bhalla. <german> "The Empire of Fakad, is that where you are from? Their weapons are powerful, but they can be injured or killed just like anyone." </german>

Her gaze next went to Mattaki. <german> "I'm sorry to hear about the destruction the Nazis have caused your people. Hopefully we can stop their advances and eliminate them from these lands." </german>

She raised an eyebrow. <german> "When...when you say the essence of the land does your bidding, what sorts of things can you ask of it?" </german>

<German>"The Empire of Fakad is where you are,"</German> Bhalla corrects, but otherwise gives the Axtzal time to answer. Bhalla, after all, will continue to have some ability to communicate even after the spell ends.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:29, Thu 21 July 2022.

Mattaki picked up his spear and looked at the trooper next to him with a, lit stick between his lips<german>may I? <german> he took the cigarette and started talking to the little flame, elemental at the end of it feeling it he encouraged it to grow and a flame grew at its end at the same time his, hand started to take on the appearance of fire.... He allowed the flame to get a little bigger before telling it to go back to sleep.

As it died down he passed it back to the trooper.

<german> you see I can speak, to the elements among other things <german>

Konnikov had once again taken to the back of the truck to "ride with the men", but when they turned around the driver had leaned out to ask directions, so Konnikov leaned forward and answered, [Language unknown: "Na ta wh waesngadas, foro lo."]  He then motions for Zholdin to come over, [Language unknown: "Isonet Derevesonous, no din British prit American latntithiithwhi di the mo p noom holltetost, ut ainwh reatheure pa ers etossa ngeriterfi urma staichble."]

Yelena watched the display of elemental control with obvious interest. She didn't recall seeing anything similar from any of the BPO or Nazi mages, though perhaps that had more to do with random chance than anything else.

OOC: Is Julius on board? Or Zholdin? They might have a little to say about magic...

She nodded at Mattaki's explanation after his impressive demonstration. <german> "Amazing. Perhaps...there are ways of using that to disrupt the machinery of the Nazis. Do you need a flame already in existence to start a fire? Or can you simply make one where none was before? I ask because you've seen things they have that explode." </german> She made sound effects and hand motions to suggest explosion.

<german> "If you are able to make their things explode before they shoot them...it could cause catastrophic results for the Germans." </german> The sniper squinted briefly before returning her gaze to Bhalla. <german> "How, um, how large is the Empire?" </german> She understood it might be difficult to describe given the lack of similar measurement units. <german> "And how many people? Are they all like you, or is it a combination of those like you, and those like Mattaki? And possibly others?" </german>

Lena, for her part, listened carefully.  The OSS was going to love this.

Sorry for the short post it's been a crap week.

I'll close this thread at start a new one in a bit. Everybody continues there.