Well this explains the shaft. This room was once a blacksmith's, and you land in the base of the forge's chimney. Luckily for you the ashes are cold.

There is an anvil and a set of tongs here. There is a steel drum lies in the corner.

There is a door on the south wall.

Joseph puts down the burlap coffee sack and lets Bernard out.

Bernard starts sniffing everything.

Forever curious, Gunnar swipes the set of tongs and goes to investigate the barrel. Using the tongs to poke around to expose what he can to the dim lantern light. Occasionally pulling out any small piece that he can.

Using the tongs to pry open the lid, you recognize the smell and shade of the lamp oil in the drum, about three-quarters full.

Litton stands behind Gunnar, also watching the southern door. He listens close for any sound.

Thomas takes a few moments to slowly sweep his baton through the ashes at the bottom of the chimney once everyone is clear. He isn't really expecting to find anything, but reasons that there's at least a chance that something might have been lost amidst them if the chimney had been used as an entry and exit route, never mind when the place was still active as a forge.

Thomas finds nothing noteworthy, not even a lump of coal.

Litton speaks softly, "Do we want to take some of this lamp oil?"

"Depends how much juice this lantern can handle," says Haf, "we don't have to weigh ourselves down carrying masses of oil with us. We might be able to return here without making ourselves extra flammable. I don't fancy being fried before we find this Mason fellow. Erm.. take about a vialfull, or enough to see us a day."

Haf inspects the oil with his finger, swirling it around in the liquid and tastes it from the tip of his gloved finger.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:48, Tue 10 Jan 2023.

It tastes like lamp oil. Probably made from rendered whale blubber or from some similar cryptid. Quite vile.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:13, Tue 10 Jan 2023.

"I don't have any containers to carry the oil and Haf is probably right. I'm going to check this door carefully, be ready for anything..."

Gunnar heads to the southern door to open it as quietly as possible with his pistol in his other hand.

Gunnar opens the door to two hallways going south and west.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:19, Tue 10 Jan 2023.

"Too heavy to haul around unless you want to go back up for a dolly," Thomas observed lightly. "Good to know that we can refuel here, though."

He peered through the door at the two branches of hall stretching beyond. "Not much to tell them apart. Someone take a quick look each way?"

Haf grimaces at the taste of the oil. He smacks his lips unpleasantly and walks towards the south door. He holds the lantern high enough to let the light shine through. "Hello?" Haf says, loudly. "Anyone down there?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:59, Tue 10 Jan 2023.

Haf’s voice echoes down the hallways.

”WHO IS DOWN THERE!” an angry voice booms back.

"I suggest you mind your tone, good sir," Haf calls out. "We are your rescue party. My name is Haf Bellin. Mr Bellin to you. Do you keep Professor Mason in your company?"

Litton laughs. “A quick look or a quick shout, either will do.”

”I ain’t got no company! Ain’t nobody alive down here but me! I’ve got enough firepower on me to rip you in HALF Mister Haf! Now go back up that chimney before you end up like the last bunch of thieves!”

"Sirs I have a smoke bomb that could provide cover if we need. Haf I shall take your lead"

Said in a low tone that only his companions may here. Gunnar produces the smoke bomb from his pack and pulls the hammer back on his pistol.

”Like the last…?”

His face turns scarlet with rage.

”THAT MURDERING SON OF A BITCH!”

He looks down at his weapons.

”Somebody loan me your gun!”

The dog’s hair stands on end as he growls.

Litton backs away, unwilling to instigate with knowing how much firepower the man in the other room might possess.

[DM]

Kostya, in a similar position to Joseph and having brought knives to a gunfight, backs away to the forge and looks back up the smokestack.

”I know you want revenge, Joseph…but we’ve given away our position and we’re stuck in this room with a barrel of flammable liquid! We’re sitting ducks! There’s more entrances to the Underground than holes in a wheel of Swiss cheese…there has to be another way down here that isn’t in this madman’s territory!”
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:24, Wed 11 Jan 2023.

"Kostya is right. This madman is down the southern passage. We can go west, we just need to watch our backs."

Charlie, with his gun already in hand, thinks briefly about giving it to Joseph. Then Kostya points out the obvious -- that they're not exactly in a good position for a gunfight -- and cooler heads prevail. Charlie nods his head towards the western passage.

"Making distance for now sounds best. We can deal with him once we know more about where exactly we are down here; and where he is."

Haf is stood with his back to the wall and his hand resting on his pistol's holster. He mulls the situation over. His curiousity to find out the truth of the actual firepower of the man in the south exit outweighs his loyalty to Joe. He could send Joe in and put the man's words to the test, then if Joe is truly torn in half, then Haf could use the smoke bomb to cover himself, grab the pistol and finish the gentleman off himself. It's a good plan. It's worked before. Haf looks towards Joseph without quite meeting his eyes. He's about to hand Joseph the pistol when Litton speaks and reminds him of the western passage.

"I'm afraid I can't give you my pistol, Joe" Haf says reluctantly, a little bit disappointed, "but I promise you we will sort this little blighter out."

Haf calls out to the man in the southern exit, "there are twelve men here armed to the teeth, good sir. We are a highly trained and organised paramilitary sent by the Mayor of Bastion themselves with orders to bomb this entire area if just one of us comes to harm."

In a hushed tone, Haf motions towards the western exit and suggests for somebody to take a look. He is using hand gestures that may or may not resemble actual military signals.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 16:37, Wed 11 Jan 2023.

”Poppycock! I am a garrisoned officer of the Taurus Security Regiment, stationed by order of the Core Ministry of Information to keep trespassers OUT! Furthermore I have NINETEEN highly trained soldiers deployable at a moment’s notice! And as everyone knows, the CORE supersedes whoever the Mayor of the outer boroughs happens to be this week!”

There’s a pregnant pause.

”If you have been sent here in error and simply following orders …then you may leave the way you came, unmolested. Be sure to seal the chimney back up behind you. There will be a nasty surprise for anyone after you.”

”Now hurry up! I have a bell to ring in one hour. And you all better be gone. And don’t steal the tools or the lamp oil!”

"If we're going west, here's another thought." Thomas calmly (as much as one could in this situation) closed the door and proceeded to shift the barrel of oil to block it.

It would be that much more difficult for the nutter to come through without making both a mess and a level of noise that would alert them to the intrusion.

"Not to mention surrounding themselves in highly flammable lantern oil. Good thinking Thomas."

Pistol in hand Gunnar peers down the west passage and walks slowly down as far as he can see, being careful to place his footsteps with the utmost caution. No telling what that madman has set-up down here.

Make a roll under your DEX please.

Also - if you’re not carrying a lantern there’s no light to speak of.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:25, Thu 12 Jan 2023.

In a loud whisper "Haf! I could use some light down here"moving slowly with a hand on the wall he is now kicking himself for thinking there would be enough ambient light


_{My roll was a 4 on the dice roller}

Haf steals some of the lamp oil, filling the lantern to its capacity and maybe a little more than the container could handle. Haf moves towards the western exit, the oil dripping from the lamp. Following in Gunnar's footsteps, the light of the lantern gently illuminates the back of Gunnar's shirt.

*BLAM!* *BLAM!*

A pair of pistol shots flash in the darkness.

08:54, Today: The Judge rolled 8 using 1d8 ((8)).

Haf's body slams against the wall as both bullets find their mark!

Haf, you are down to HP 0 and you 2 points of Critical Damage.

Roll below your new STR of 13 to stay conscious.

16:47, Today: Haf Bellin rolled 20 using 1d20.  Rolling to remain conscious.

Haf's body hits the ground fast with a loud thump. The light of the lantern spins out of control, turning momentarily red with a flash of blood. He lays there, motionless. His light coloured suit dyed maroon.

Hearing the bark of the gun in the dark. Gunnar slides to a crouch spinning on his heals.

"You dirty bastard!" he cries out rushing to Haf, pulling his unconscious body back inside the room if he is able.

Thomas steps to one side of the door - back a bit from it if the space is already crowded, but not yet in line with the hallway - and readies his harpoon gun. It's hardly the ideal tool to fire into the dark, but even a blind shot might offer some cover if the first rescue attempt fails.

Charlie leans into the hallway and fires his pistol down the southern passage; hoping to deal with their new assailant before anyone else gets hurt.

Let me know what I need to roll for this; I'm new to this system.

Thomas and Charlie, since this is a coordinated attack, even though it’s impaired. Both of you roll a d4 and the foe takes the highest roll.

I understand there’s no light left in the hallway, so both sides will be impaired as well.

10:58, Today: Charlie Cameron rolled 2 using 1d4.

21:38, Today: Thomas Hastings rolled 1 using 1d4.

16:57, Today: The Judge rolled 3 using 1d4. – 3

16:56, Today: The Judge rolled 2 using 1d2. – (To see who was hit)

After Charlie and Thomas return fire with thundering echoes down the hallway and the cloud of black powder smoke assailing your nostrils and stinging your eyes, a louder report answers back with a flash of red through the smoke. Not a pistol this time but a full musket.

A bullet rips across the skin of Charle’s shoulder, ruining his jacket and causing a deep scratch. [3 HP]

”You had your chance! You’re just scavengers like the others! And down the pipes is where you’ll rest!”

Bernard slips through the door and charges through the cloud.

You hear vicious barking and human screaming.

17:27, Today: Bernard the Talking Dog rolled 12 using 1d12 ((12)). [Enhanced]

Litton follows Bernard through the smoke, drawing his sword.

Litton is running in the dark, but hears Bernard’s barks. Then he switches to Bastionspeak.

”I got him! I got him good! That’s what you get for hurting my friends!”

Well.

Thomas took the time to reload his gun, but he wasn't about to shoot blindly down the hallway with friendly folk in the way, so he waited until the rushing about had sorted itself and he could either follow them along or - in the worst case - try to cover their retreat.

Litton speaks toward Bernard, moving his body to keep the sound from being pinpointed as best he can, “Is he down, dog?”

”He is down!””

Litton can hear his panting nearby.

”Be careful or you may fall on his blood. Because you only have two legs.”

“Yes, and I’ve forgotten a light. With only one good eye, I’m hardly any use.”

He hisses back down the tunnel: “Someone get Haf’s lantern and bring it carefully this way, Bernard has slain his man.”

Gunnar attempts to apply first aid to Haf, using strips of clothing to stop bleeding.

"Come on Haf, you cant go down so soon..."

if it is clear that Haf is gone Gunnar will retrieve the lantern

Thomas shouldered his gun and retrieved the fallen lantern, bearing it down the passage to illuminate the situation. He was mostly concerned about Haf and the assailant (or what was left of them), but if there were more threats lurking in whatever corners or passage-ends awaited them around the latter, he wanted to catch those too.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:29, Sun 15 Jan 2023.

Having reached Haf so soon after being wounded, Gunnar is able to bind his wounds. With a steaming cup of Joe, he’s able to woozily rise to his feet.

[He is back to full HP, but it will take two weeks or full rest to get his STR points back]

Thomas finds Bernard iwagging his tail and standing over an old man in a blood-soaked uniform with a bullshead patch on the shoulder. The man is not dead yet but his throat is torn open.

Two dueling pistols are tucked in the man’s belt, still smoking. A musket lies almost upright against the wall where it fell, also smoking.

There’s also a lit fuse on the ground, sizzling as it leaves red embers as it trails down the hallway.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:20, Mon 16 Jan 2023.

18:18, Today: Charlie Cameron rolled 2 using 1d20.  Strength Saving Throw.

Charlie staggers backwards as the musket shot rips through his jacket and skin. The shock of the shot is far worse than the damage done by the bullet itself, but Charlie remains standing. On watching Bernard rush off to maul their attacker, Charlie contents himself with reloading his pistol and resting briefly against the wall; recovering his composure.

Thomas muttered something uncivil under his breath as he hastened to stamp out the fuse before it could reach whatever it was heading for. He might end up with a scorched boot, but better that than whatever the crazy old codger had set up for them.

In reply to Thomas Hastings (msg # 54):

Thomas stamps his foot down on the fuse and pivots his leg.The fuset hisses like a bitter snake as it’s extinguished under his boot.

Litton pats Thomas on the back.

"Good timing, friend."

He looks towards the other passage.

"Charlie, while you rest can you watch that way? I can't imagine we won't have more company after all that noise. I am going to check things here with Bernard and Thomas."

He turns to the old man, bleeding on the ground, wondering to himself What is worth dying like this in such a horrible state?

Charlie grunts a confirmation to Litton, before turning to stand watch down the western passage.

The dog wanders back into the forge room with the hallway, his muzzle and chest died scarlet.

”May I have some water please?”

Joseph investigates the carnage. He examines the monogram on the butt of one of the dueling pistols.

”Yep…that was my friend’s alright.”

He slides the pistol and it’s twin into his belt.

He walks back into the forge room and presents the pistol to Bernard for him to sniff.

”You think we can track them down, Bernard?”

Litton calls to Joseph in the forge room.

"Mr. Templeton, sir, any thoughts on what to do with this man? Anything else we should look for here?"

He looks back down at the bloody mess and considers mercy-killing him with his sword.

"He isn't rightly a corpse yet, but they won't think much of us bringing him upstairs in a state like that," Thomas noted grimly. His attention was on the hallway that the fuse had been set to burn along. Going in that direction seemed unwise considering how it had been rigged, but it was also more likely than not to lead someplace of import.

Deeper down the corridor, he can follow the fuse to make out the bomb that rolled backwards out of his grasp after he was shot.

Litton winces, turning his one, good eye toward Thomas.

"Should we...dispose of that?"

"Ill keep hold of it... I'll make sure to trail behind"

Gunnar if able with pack the bomb away into his pack. If too large he will attempt to disarm it but not before he tells the rest to get clear.

Haf rises to his feet with a light grumble. "I might be a bit shaken," he says, "but it'll take more than that to stir Haf Bellin. Now, would one of you remind me just how I sorted the little bugger out?" Haf dusts himself off and attempts to wipe away the blood stains from his suit with a bit of saliva. It doesn't wash out.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:01, Wed 18 Jan 2023.

[im assuming the bomb is bowling ball sized like in the cartoons.]

Bernard looks up at Haf, his muzzle still coated with blood.

”I bit him in the neck!”

"Hm," Haf says, "I don't remember biting anyone. Oh well, if it gets the job done! Thanks for the assist, Bernie. I'll make sure you're credited in the reward papers."

Haf approaches Gunner and Litton, clutching his stomach slightly. "Right then, I happen to be an expert in bomb disposal. If you'd like to give it a try, I can walk you through the steps. Red wire, blue wire and all that. You'll need to break it open to get to the good stuff."

"If you're the expert, go right ahead!" Thomas replied cheerfully with a magnanimous wave of his hand toward the bomb in question as he took several steps away from it.

[This is more of a black powder type bomb in a hollow cannon ball. It could use a longer fuse but otherwise usable.]

Litton returns to the forge room and stands next to Charlie.

"How are you holding up?"

While still keeping his eyes -- and his pistol -- focused on the western passage, Charlie responds to Litton.

"I'm fine. My shoulder hurts like a bastard, but Haf had it worse. Who was the asshole who shot us? Was he really a security officer?"

Litton shrugs.

"I have no idea. A talking dog ate his throat. I'm having enough trouble sorting that out. Need some water?"

Charlie blinks blankly as the realization of what happened hits him.

"That's... Fair. I didn't really think about that.

No thank you. I'm good for the moment."

[The rules say you need a short rest and a sip of water to bring your HP back up]

Is everyone okay with a short rest? Haf and I could probably use one.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:50, Thu 19 Jan 2023.

Absolutely, that's why I was asking about the water!

Haf sits and pulls a half-eaten, slightly bloody sandwich from his pocket and starts eating. "Mm," says Haf "I need to know what this sauce is. They put all kinds of vitamins in them these days. You can really taste the iron."

Charlie rethinks it for a moment.

"Actually, I think I would like a bit of water."

Litton hands Charlie a skin of water.

“Drink up, friend.”

He turns to Haf.

“My guess is something with squid. Squid are in everything these days.”

[DM]

Marion examines the soldier. He shrugs and binds his wounds with some rags, then dabs his finger in the pooled blood and writes something on the soldier’s back. Marion then drags him into the forge room. He ties the rope around the soldier’s torso and gives a loud whistle up the smokestack.

The rope starts pulling up, one arm length after the other. You see the large red M scrawled on the old man’s back; the well known mark of a murderer.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:32, Tue 24 Jan 2023.

Since it required relatively little in the way of actual disarming, Thomas offered another option for the caricature-bomb that the madman had set up: "Might be useful later, come to think of it. Wouldn't want to count on his craftsmanship for anything precise, but if we need to bring down a troublesome tunnel later? Better it than trying to rig up something with the barrel of oil, I'd say."

Joseph looks up as the rope drops back down.

He sits down on the anvil as the dog approaches him. He holds his head in his hands.

”All our companions are gone…except for me and you, Bernard…”

"He was wearing a uniform of some sort. If there's a whole detachment down here like the old loon said...I believe I'll try my luck in another expedition. I was prepared for fighting strange beasts. not a paramilitary division!"

He looks to Joseph.

"Your friends, may they rest in peace, underground. Let's go back up."

Joseph looks down at the dog, then he nods.

Kostya looks around.

"Who's with us?"

Marion raises his hand.

Litton looks at the rest of the group.

"Are we pressing on?"

Charlie shakes his head at Kostya.

"I'm staying. Gun shot shoulder or not."

Thomas shook his head. It was an easy decision to stay. "I wouldn't take his word for it about the detachment, and even if he did come down with one, like as not he already killed the lot himself!"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:30, Fri 27 Jan 2023.

Nodding with Charlie and Thomas, Litton says:

"You can go back up. We're going to continue on."