[We find our protagonists still in the tunnels of moderate doom. They haven't been making much progress, but hey, they're still alive! Which is a far cry better than the poor saps who were just killed. Er... again.] [It's carnage aftermath time, with the seven of you in a natural room large enough for all of you to have room to move in. And did you ever need it earlier! It's a former camp of some sort; probably Shomuran, since you just fought Shomuran zombies and a Shomuran armor... thing.] [Session Start.] * Suzunosuke looks around. Undead ...dead. Check. * Jinx gives a small grateful grin to Millie but raises his hand, waving off the proffered potion. "Thank you, really, but I'll be fine by the morning. Save it for an emergency." * John continues checking around the room for anything of value that was on the re-corpses. If you're sure... * Jinx nods. "Thanks, but yeah, this I can handle." * Millie sighs and slips it back into her pack, lifting up her front locks a little but her eyes a bit downcast. * MaryAnne recovers her composure and lady-like demor as she straightens out her clothing and dabs the tears at her eyes with her hankerchief. * Jinx is good as his taunts, and proceeds to join John in the looting. * John whistles while he loots. Kinda scarry, no? We shoulda gone left... [Looters gimme perception with a -4 bonus.] 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-4) and gets 4. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-4) and gets 1. * Mikoto casually looks through corpses for booty with a grim look on his face. (John's one of the Seven Dwarves, yes? =) ) 2d6-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-6) and gets -2. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-4) and gets -1. * Tairan grumbles. "If the dead're gonna wake up and try to gut me, they damn well better have some useful stuff..." * Jinx nods as he loots. "Yeah, that was my mistake. I'm sorry, bad call." * MaryAnne comments as she sees the looting activities "Really! That is most distasteful." ( I'm presuming Heightened Awareness applies to perception, anyway. ) Turn away if it's too dirty for ya to watch. But I bet they have something that could be useful. * Tairan eyes MaryAnne. "They tried to kill us. Least they can do is give us their stuff. Apology of sorts." [John finds coinage. 686 kanmon, even, though he might not be able to tell how much of what it is.] * MaryAnne fans herself with her handfan. * Millie looks back at the entrance to the area, then pulls out her compass and looks at which direction the backtunnel leads. * Mikoto glances at Mary Anne, with a very different expression on his face than normal. "You take what you can get. It's a rule of survival, which is rarely pretty." * John pulls out the coinage. "Jinx's the treasurer, right?" Jus'...make it quick. We're gettin' outta here as soon as possible. [Jinx manages to find a metal tube a little bigger than his finger and a small, paper scroll wrapped in red ribbon. Mikoto must've been looking in the archer's territory, because he finds bows and arrows: lots of them. Two of the arrows stick out, though: they're unusually cold to the touch, and blue- tipped.] * MaryAnne comments her continued distaste to the matter "How low the mighty have fallen." ...on the one hand, they are hardly in their graves, so you're not really desecrating anything. Still, it is... distasteful. If for no other reason than carrying something around that's been attached to a rotting corpse for years. * Millie peeks around down the passage. ... hey, Mikoto. You wanna take the naginata? I already got a weapon, and you could prolly use something in case we meet more armored people. * Jinx nods. "Which reminds me, Tairan, you're getting two potions from me at the next store." Oh... wait on that. * MaryAnne says while fanning herself "I would like to continue onwards as soon as possible." * Jinx stands up holding the metal tube and the scroll. "Thing is, we should be cautious with that spear thing." ( I have a wakizashi, actually. And a gun. I should have pointed that out at some point. ^_^ ) * Millie looks back at Mary and Suz. "Why don't we check the other passage while they're busy?" I think the spear is worth taking... but you may not want to make direct contact with it until we're sure it's not cursed, I mean it was flying around. * MaryAnne says "Yes, quite the good idea, Miss Reinhart." * Mikoto gathers up the better quality-looking of the bow, and any arrows he can find (especially the blue ones). He glances at Tairan and raises an eyebrow. "Well... if nobody else feels they need it, I would be thankful." * MaryAnne follows Millie. * Millie straightens her vest, and hat and the rest of her clothing..it seems like it's was pretty well in disarray. ( What other passage? ) Don't see why. The armor was animated. The naginata's just a weapon... magic, I suspect. Hurt me way more than it shoulda for the way I got hit. * John hands Jinx the money. "I'm countin' on you ta spend it right." [Tairan finds the naginata! He also finds three scrolls, similar to the one Jinx found: one wrapped in a red ribbon, one blue, and one white.] (From last week, when it split left and right) I would rather not split from the group again. ( That was a ways back... ) ... scrolls. Should I open up the cases and take a look? * Jinx takes the money and smiles. "Will do. Right... Uh Mikoto, just as a safety precaution, if you're just going to take it, let me hold it for a sec first." (Tairan loses sanity points! Oh wait.) * Millie heads back down, taking out a torch and lighting it. * MaryAnne follows Millie along. * Mikoto holds out the bow. "I don't suppose we have any archers among the group? I cannot use a bow to save my life. Though I admit, I've always wanted to learn." * Jinx takes out his two guns and offers them to John. "If anything goes wrong, I'll be a lot less dangerous than Mikoto is unarmed." I am only a mediocre shot. [There are also quivers (the arrows come from somewhere), katanas, cooking utensils, yadda yadda.] * John nods and takes the guns. [The armor is both old and damaged; it doesn't look very useful] ... um, Millie? MaryAnne? We don't know that we got all the things walking around these caves.... * Mikoto smiles faintly at Jinx. "But you won't be unarmed. You'll have a naginata." With a more serious look, he nods. "We'll do our best to take it away quickly if something goes wrong." *glances at the two moving women, then looks over to Jinx* And with a minimum of violence. But I doubt it'll be an issue. * MaryAnne comments while fanning herself and walking just behind Millie, "Of course, that why we are going to look." * Jinx walks up to the naginata, and bends down to pick it up. "Yeah.. true. Well I have no clue how to use it. But still, please shoot to wound." He grins up and then grabs the weapon. * Millie 's footsteps stop for a moment, but then keep sounding down the passage as she continues. Okay, but you're hand'll be hurting for more than a few days. * Suzunosuke twitches, and follows the idiot girls. (Let's split up gang!) (This room didn't have any other exits, correct?) (Yup.) [When Jinx picks up the naginata...] *mutter* Why do people not understand the poor tactics of splitting up... [Nothing happens!] * Jinx grins. "Seems to be fine." He then holds the naginata out to Mikoto, blade end safely pointed towards himself. ( It's a polearm, silly. Holding it that way means you're probably bleeding right now. -_^ ) * Mikoto chuckles. "Trusting that if anything bad was going to happen to anyone, it'd happen to you?" he remarks with a smile, taking the naginata. "I appreciate the risk." (Blade pointed past him, whatever, not that trickey. ^_~) Good. Non-evil weapon. Now about the scrolls... ( Wah! I'm overburdened. ) (Who has bow/arrows?) ( Me. And the naginata. I'm trying to get RID of the bow, mind. ) * John smirks as he hands Jinx's guns back to him. ( I think you can pawn it off on Suz ) * Jinx chuckles. "Yeah, that's the idea." He takes the guns back. "Thanks John. We can probably divide up this stuff once we're out." * Mikoto slings the bow and quiver over his left shoulder. "I feel a bit like a pack mule. Hopefully the exit is closeby." * Tairan eyes the three cases in his hands. "D'ya think I shouldd open up these scroll ca- ah, good idea. I'll wait 'till we're out. More light and all." *stows them in his pack* * Jinx looks over at Mikoto. "I can't use it, but if you want to distribute that, I can take it for now." * John nods. "Do you need help carrying any thing Mikoto?" * Mikoto laughs. "I can handle it, they're not heavy. And if we have to do any more fighting, I'm set." * John chuckles. "Then let's get out of here. I doubt the ladies will wait for us." * Jinx nods and puts away the scroll and tube he starts moving. "Quite." * Tairan nods. *follows* * John follows along. And I meant it about the potions Tairan. I'll cover potion replacement cost for anyone, but you're getting one on me. Good job with the ankles. * Mikoto glances down at his only free hand. "Indeed." He pauses. "Maybe I need to invest in spiked knuckles." Don't have enough weapons already? Thanks, Jinx. Appreciate it. That naginata's somethin' else... * Mikoto laughs. "I don't plan on keeping the bow. I have a gun... I'm just not a very good shot. I also have a short sword... I'm just not very talented with it. But... they're a little more security than being empty-handed." [You walk along. Before too long, you hear Millie's voice, "If ya think it's that easy, go get 'em...I'm scoutin'. I'll hollar if there's any trouble." And then, around the corner, there's Suzu, Millie, and Mary Anne, who apparently stopped to talk.] ( Before too long, but after not long enough! :P ) (We can't talk while we walk?) (Nope!) * Suzunosuke relaxes a little. * Jinx takes the time to load his shotgun. (Not when you say you stop, you can't. :P) (I guess it would be hard for MaryAnne to climb over Millie =P ) * Millie takes a deep breath. "Took ya long 'nuff." Just like you hollared when the zombies attacked you? * Tairan blinks at Jinx, then goes to reload his pistol. "Going senile in my old age..." * MaryAnne says Millie "Let's do get back to traveling, if you please." I can take lead again, if everyone likes. * John 's weapons are already reloaded. Go him. XD * Suzunosuke squeezes back to the rear of the group once more. * Millie looks at John and puffs her cheeks out as if she's angry but deflates and just turns around and puts out her torch now that the lanterns here. Her head's drooping a little. * Tairan hangs toward the back with Suz. "Suzunosuke... you said you've had a little experience with bows?" * Mikoto nods at Tairan, then ambles over to Suzunosuke and presents the bow and the pretty glowing arrows. "I think these would be best in your care, for the moment." (Did you take ordinary arrows in that quiver too, Mikoto?) ( If they'd fit, yes. ) ( But the pretty glow arrows were the priority. ) (Yes. There's only two pretty glowing arrows. ^^) Not any real training. Merely shot with some... soldiers a few times. Hey, I'm just pullin' your leg a little. No reason ta get all mad or anything. Well, you're the only one in the group without a ranged weapon... might come in handy. * Millie just walks away from John without comment. I have the strength to use a bow pretty easily, but I've never tried using it in combat. Mmm. * MaryAnne follows immediately behind Millie. (You just need it to shoot the eyes that make the chests appear so you can grab the keys to unlock the doors.) * Tairan grins. "No time to learn like the present." * John shrugs and starts walking. * Suzunosuke takes the arrows and stows them in his ruck, then examines the bow and casually unstrings it. * Jinx works his way to the front of the group, as he works his way up to Millie he comments quietly to her. "I'm happy to be treasurer for the group, but I'm worried about carrying this much. You seem to keep track of your stuff pretty well, want to hold some of it fow now?" * Suzunosuke then finds a way to hang it from his ruck strap. * Mikoto smiles, switching the naginata to his other hand. "Thank you. It's easy to drop one weapon, but two and a quiver might be a bit much." Regardless, there is no way I could use this bow in here. * Millie speaks in a soft voice, standing near the corner. "...I suppose." * Millie holds out her hand, still not turning around. * Jinx hands over a wallet with about 400 kanmon. (Want to say exactly? It's unrealistic but simpler.) * Tairan nods, and starts walking along with the others. "Yeah, but when and if we find these bandits, it might come in handy if we're all able to hang back and shoot at them before getting into melee range. * MaryAnne is of course immediately behind Millie, but not that she intentionally eavesdrops. * Millie glances at her hand and looks at it for a while. "Huh? What's this for?" As long as you don't expect me to hit anything. [You come across a branch! One path going to your left, another forward and right.] ... well, that *is* the idea. Just make sure you use the normal arrows until you get a bit more experience with it, okay? *grin* * MaryAnne comments to Tairan "I would think firearms quite adequate for that purpose, Mister Tairan." Nothin' beats a good gun. Yeah, but Suz doesn't have a pistol. Better he have a bow than nothing. ( A ninja could. ) * Jinx grins. "Insurance. Too much money in one wallet or even on one person is a bady idea, I think it'll be safer in your hands for now." If...if ya really think so. * Millie looks up at the branch, then heads on forward. * MaryAnne giggles quitely behind Millie. * Jinx nods and smiles and comments slightly more quietly. "Now keep your head up, I want your rifle covering me once I'm in front." Gotcha. * Mikoto sighs wearily. "Can someone else hold the lantern this time? My hands are slightly fuller now." * Millie stops to slip her rifle off her shoulder sling and cracks it open for a reload. * Jinx works his way to the front of the group, with his shotgun out. * Suzunosuke looks behind him as they move, vaguely convinced that more zombies are coming. [As you walk, it begins to get warmer.] Don't worry about it, Suzunosuke. If something's about to try to eat your brains, I'll warn ya. (and...suddenly...a barlog appears in front of the party - oh my.) ( That's not a bad idea. Hmmmm... ) * John keeps walking along. "So what direction are we headed?" * Millie slides the wallet into her pack. ( That way.) We're headin' forward, that's what. Here, I'll carry the light. But I'm tossin' it ta one of ya if I gotta use my rifle. * John rolls his eyes. "Hand me the light. I can shoot with one hand." * Suzunosuke has a torch. But he's in the back. * Millie reslings Greenpeace and then gives John a minute glance before hmmphing, turning her face away. [It's getting warmer. Warmer! The tunnel widens some, so you can walk two people to a side without trouble, should you so wish. It also bends a little to the right.] * Jinx trips while the light is being transfered. "Ouch, stupid blasted rock, why'd it have to be there now." Just don't smile, John. The reflection could blind us. * Jinx springs back to his feet qucikly enough. * John smirks, but does not smile. * Jinx kicks a rock away from the group, then keeps up the lead, watching the ground a little closer. * Millie gets more towards where John isn't, which should be the back. * Mikoto sighs as he glances around. "I hope the warmth is from the sun, and not some other unforseen danger. I never thought I'd be so anxious to see something as simple as the sky." * MaryAnne keeps her position as Millie slides past her. (Aren't you all glad nobody took the defect claustrophobic?) (No) (It'd be funny) (Well, no not really) I don't mind it so much down here... just prefer places with more room to maneuver. Cramped quarters make poor fighting grounds. * MaryAnne says "I would just like to feel we aremaking good progress." If all goes well, we shouldn't have to fight. * Millie says...nothing. Just walks in silence. If our prey did not take this shortcut, and if we can gain their trail... we will have cut off several days. * Mikoto nods. "There is that. I'm anxious to find the tablet, now... not even for the money, simply for my own curiosity." Well, we're alive and the undead things are... undeader. That's progress of a sort. * Suzunosuke scratches his head. "More deader, maybe? * Jinx frowns. "I'll be glad to reach the surface. I got stuck in a cavarn formed by an rockslide once before, unnpleasant memories." Redead, perhaps. Completly dead. * Millie shivers a little. "Couldja please stop talkin' 'bout it?" [By now, it's getting *really* hot. Rather like the desert, only more concentrated. Anyone with bare skin touching the wall or floor can definitely feel it.] Is this the correct path? * Millie gets out her compass and checks the direction they're headed. This isn't heat from getting back to the surface I think. You have any idea what could be causing this Mary Anne? ... and we found some stuff that looks useful, to boot. * Mikoto frowns. "Salamanders, or a magma vein... we do seem to have the worst luck." Is there any other kind? [You're heading roughly east.] * MaryAnne comments "Well, I would expect volcanic activity. Hopefully we can avoid getting to close." * Millie snaps up the compass in her hand. "Well, this is still the right way ta go..." * Jinx scratches at his neck, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Yes actually, there are all sorts of luck, trouble is the worst sort as amazing timing." Heard a saying once... there's no such thing as good luck. Just bad luck and skill. Ain't it the truth? * Jinx nervously fiddles with the simple turquoise necklace he wears. He then slowly runs his arm down his shoulder to his wrist, a moment latter he removes it. Great men make their own luck. * Jinx chuckles to himself but refrains from commnet. * Millie concentrates on looking where they're going more than talking. * Mikoto glances at the naginata he's holding. "Good fortune or good skill... results are more important, don't you think?" No. Because ya can't trust that good fortune'll always be 'round. Skills are harder ta loose. * Jinx fixes up his garbs a bit as he walks, doung his best to move them so there are no longer any wounds exposed to the air. (Who's near the front?) (Jinx is first) It's better to rely on your aim than on them running into your aim. * MaryAnne adds "And scientific advances can make up for lack of skill in certain situations as well." [Jinx, perception roll.] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6) and gets 9. (dr1) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6) and gets 6. * Mikoto laughs. "Well, the victors write the histories, after all." (nope) [Jinx steps onto something horribly hot. It burns.] (MaryAnne is second unless someone moved infront of her or beside her) Another saying... fortune favors the bold and the dumb. * Jinx jumps up a bit in the air and lands a few feet forward. "Damn it. Hot rock, don't step there." * Millie looks down at where Jinx stepped. His rocks have a habit of not being rocks. [Jinx's boot is partially melted; some of it's even burned through, along with part of his foot. Gooey leather!] [Millie's a quick one: it's not a rock. It's a small magma vein, as earlier predicted.] .me manages not to bump into the person in front of him. * Tairan blinks, and pays more attention to the ground. "I'd comment, but I'm afraid of tempting the fates." * Mikoto blinks, tilting his head. "Are you alright?" He turns his eyes to the ground around his feet too. * MaryAnne makes sure to avoid the formentioned temperature challenged surface as well as becomming more vigilate in looking before stepping. Damn it..magma. We're really inside a volcano aren't we? * John looks to make sure he doesn't step in anything hot or sticky. * Jinx curses to himself and stops, finds a safe placec to sit down and tries to get off the boot without touching the gooey bits. "Lemme get this off." Wait...ya stepped in somethin' hot an' you're gonna go BAREFOOT now? * Jinx continues to curse quietly, nows your chance to pick up a few creative Injun idioms. "Anyone have an extra set of boots?" * MaryAnne stands still and comments with a positve outlook "As a good point, we should have some naturally lighting." * Millie cautiously makes her way around the vein. 'Fraid mah boots wouldn't fitcha even if I did. [Jinx's burn slowly but steadily starts to heal.] No extra boots here. I'd gladly lend ya some if I had them to spare. Have a spare set of sandals if you want. * Jinx continues to keep his foot aimed away from the group, he digs through his saddlebag. Lets get outta here 'fore this thing decides not ta be dormant. Can we get over it? ...is there a bigger one further ahead? ^^; * MaryAnne comments "It would be rather poor timing for an eruption, wouldn't it now." * Jinx puts on a nicer looking shoe, that's more than a little unsuitable for wilderness wear, he then stands up. Didja find any more of those blue tipped bullets back there while ya were pilferin'? * Millie rubs her chin thoughtfully. * Mikoto taps his finger against his chin. "No... but the bow..." He points at Suzunosuke's quiver. "Those have glowing blue tips. A few of the arrows, anyway." * Jinx decides the boot is unsalvageable and tosses it into the magma stream, and watches it melt. * MaryAnne stands waiting patiently for everyone to resume their journey. If we can't get across...maybe shoot it? Might freeze it over. No bullets, unfortunately. Jus' hold on 'till we have ta though. Well, let's worry about it when we have to. * Jinx looks around, trying to get a better feel for the area and the vein, and moves around it if that's possible. * Mikoto shakes his head. "Perhaps we've been focusin too much on direction, and too little on elevation." ( What we need is a dwarf. ) (Could we get a bit more description?) I didn't think we passed any turns... The first cavern's the only place I can think of...means Jinxy's luck picked us the wrong way ta start with. * John nods. "But there haven't been any other turns, so this must be the way... unless you want to go all the way back to the entrance." [There's the vein. It's not very big, maybe two inches across, trailing down the right wall and halfway across the tunnel floor.] * Millie eyes Jinx, then eyes the vein. [Looking ahead, you can see more of them, but they don't seem very big. Maybe. The tunnel also narrows, an starts bending left.] So we go on. And watch our step. * MaryAnne suggests "Yes, let us press on." * Jinx cautiously steps over the vein and keeps walking. "Never offered any guarantees when I picked." He keeps walking, carefully. * MaryAnne makes sure to be especially mindfull of her steps and not to touch the walls as well. * Millie walks on, gingerly stepping over any veins she finds. * Mikoto smiles, slings the naginata over his shoulder to keep the haft from touching the ground, and nods at Jinx. "It's like we said. Call it good luck or bad luck, depending on the results." Quite. [Jinx, I need a Body roll, -1.] 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-1) and gets 9. (dr2) 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-1) and gets 10. (dr3) 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-1) and gets 4. (Dicey's particularly evil tonight too) [Jinx manages to make it over the first two veins without hurting himself. Give me another one.] 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-1) and gets 9. (dr4) 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-1) and gets 4. ( ...jesus. Cut the guy a break. c.c; ) * John continues along. [He makes it over the next one! Another.] 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-1) and gets 7. [Makes it over another two. Seems to be clear now.] * Jinx grabs at his wrist after making it over the first few viens. He then puts his hand back on his gun. * Tairan eyes the lava as he avoids it. "Okay, I admit that this dampens my enthusiasm for cave exploration." Is this common in caves? Only ones in volcanos.. * John tries to aviod the lava as best he can when he tries to get around them. "None that I've seen." * Mikoto nods, stepping gingerly over anything that even LOOKS like a magma vein. "I suspect exploring a volcanic peak isn't common, however." * Millie sighs and wipes sweat from her brow. "Dammit, Millie hates volcanoes. It's too damned hot in here." [And how!] ( Yay, dressing like Lara Croft finally pays off for me. o/` ) [Everyone treks along, making it safely over magma veins. Watch your step, folks. The tunnel keeps bending left, then starts bending right, veins staying on the right side of the wall and floor.] * Suzunosuke ought to be overheating in his samurai garb, but shows no sign of discomfort... yet. * Jinx is again quietly cursing to himself as he walks. "New personal rule. I charge double for volcanos. I'll put that in all future contracts." Only double? * MaryAnne hazards a slight chuckle. Well.. I'm not greedy. * John wipes a little sweat off his brow. * Millie stops to tug off her gloves and take off her vest. Her blouse underneath is torn in the two places the hacker wings slashed her and still hasn't fully healed up. * Tairan lifts the brim of his hat and wipes his brow. [For the record, you guys have been going on for hours. It's getting tiring, given that you haven't slept since the previous night.] * Jinx has been glancing back at the group more often and slightly longer recently, only a barely noticable change though. (However, I sure the group would rather press on than remain in themiddle of a volcano to sleep =) ) (Yes. We might sweat ourselves to death in our sleep) * Mikoto breathes out. "Let's hope that magma veins mean magma *vents*, and a way out." * Millie seems to be being extra careful not to let her rifle touch any of the sides now, staying well away from all the veins. ( While we're here, anyone got any magic rings they need to ditch? ) (I got 5. It was a Crazy Valued Customer Combo Deal.) ( IT BURNSESSSSSSSSS! ) * John walks along. He's careful not to touch the vents, as they can really hurt. ( You mean a Valued Crazy Customer. ) (Both work) [The tunnel jerks left.] * Millie fans herself with her hat, peeking around each corner before she goes around. ... we should set up shop outside the tunnel. Sell it as a weight loss place. * Jinx keeps his eyes forward and checking the ground each time he enters a new area, particularly when going around a corner. Although once he's confident about the lack of magma he resumes checking every couple minutes that the groups still behind him, or something like that... [Jinx, perception roll, +1.] 2d6+1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6+1) and gets 9. (ouch) [Jinx steps on a magma vein while looking back at the group.] d2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Ardweden (d2) and gets 2. [Same foot.] * Suzunosuke is concentrating on the tunnel ahead of him now, and avoiding the hotspots underfoot. He's not checking behind him any more. * John steps lively and avoids the scorch spots. * Jinx cringes rather and leaps backwards, again muttering quietly to himself. "Damn it, same bleeding foot, where am I gonna get another shoe." * Mikoto blinks, then breathes out, looking a bit embarassed, and pulls forward, handing the naginata to Jinx. "Lean on this... I'll take the front for now." * Tairan stops and pulls a sandal of the appropriate foot out of his pack. "Here." *passes it foward* * Millie stops short as Jinx jumps back, so she doesn't run into him. She narrows her eyes at the magma, giving it a cold stare, which unfortunately doesn't freeze it * Jinx searches through his bag and wears goes takes out his other one. "Thanks..." his then starts quietly muttering to himself. "Total waste, this is gonna be uncomfortable.... stupid ripped blouse... should have been paying more attention." Most of what he says is inaudible or close. * Jinx then gets up and follows Mikoto, cringing slightly as he steps what with the wounded foot and the wrong shoe. ( Umm? Sandal? ) * Mikoto smiles weirdly at Jinx. "Healing for the foot, and some new boots... my treat, when we reach Shomura." He then takes point. Woo point. Geez, Jinx...sure ain't havin' much luck with your foot. Maybe someone else should take point. * Jinx smiles at Mikoto. "Hopefully the healing won't be necessary.. but yeah.. thanks." * John walks along. "Ya can still walk, right?" (He's not really a sandal guy.. til he hits the next vein.) * Jinx nods. "I'm alright, just a little uncomfortable, I'll get used to it soon so long as I don't step in any more viens." Sure ya don't want that potion? Might need it soon. [It's hot! And hot! And hot! And right about when you think you're going to die of dehydration... it starts to cool a bit.] * Jinx glances back for a moment to shake his head then quickly looks forward again, not wishing to make the same mistake twice. * John wipes a ton of sweat off his brow. His hat's slung over his back, and his brown hair kept its shape through the entire ordeal. * Mikoto walks carefully onward, but with considerably better spirits once the air starts cooling. * Millie 's practically glistening with sweat, getting a little sticky, but her hair's the same as John's amazingly. * Tairan is sweaty. Eww. [In fact, it gets cooler, very quickly. There's even a faint breeze.] * Jinx limps along but keeps a good pace, he's still glances back occassionally, although he picks his moments very carefully. * MaryAnne continues to fan herself as she diligently watches her step. Mmm. (They paid CP for good hair, darnit.) It was a good thing we didn't need to fight back there. ( I'm assuming that there aren't many lava vents here, as it's cooler. ) * Millie wipes her brow with the back of her arm. "Yeah..." She shivers a bit at the rapid cooling blowing against her sweaty self. Maybe it's good we did go right..I'd hate ta run over that vein runnin' full speed. * Jinx points his shotgun at the wall and takes a moment to rub his hands to scratch at the back of his forearm through his hand. Still looks fairly put out. Yeah... * Mikoto mms without turning around. "On the other hand, it's possible they might not have pursued us down that path... but it's in the past now." ... aah. Much better. * Millie opens up her pack up and tests the metal of her canteen very carefully for any lingering heat retention. [Jinx favors his injured foot less and less. The magma veins are... nonexistant by now. And he needs to give me a body roll!] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6) and gets 8. [Jinx nearly stubs his toe, but catches himself just in time. Must be a first.] (A 50 ton anvil falls from the sky and Jinx just manages to step aside in time - what luck =) ) ( Is Jinx gonna need a body check every time he goes to the bathroom? ^_^;; ) [The tunnel moves on a slight incline.] (Jinx likes to 'play the dice' =P ) * MaryAnne presses onward. * Jinx keeps moving, with a slightly affected limp, and seems to have resigned himself to facing forward. * John walks up calmly. * Millie takes a long draw from her canteen, wiping her mouth and holding it out. "Anyone else?" I'll let mine cool off some more first. I'm okay for now. * Jinx takes a moment to stop. Turn around, and think for a moment while looking at Millie. "That I'll take from you as you're kind enough to offer." Not right now. [As you walk, the twisting tunnel starts sloping downwards a bit. And then... there's a fork. Left or right?] * Millie smiles a little at Jinx. "Sure your foot's okay?" Millie? Which one heads east? * Millie turns towards John, then holds the canteen out to Jinx while digging for her compass. "Jus' a minute.." She points it towards each end in turn, checking both directions. * Mikoto sighs at the fork. "Next time, shortcut be damned," he grumbles. Well. I always so any shoe being burned off by liquid rock you can walk away from.... ::He takes the offered canteen and takes a swig, then wipes it off and returns it:: * MaryAnne says "Well, I'd certainly not traverse through a vocanic mountain range ever again." * Millie points out to the right. "That way's east. But maybe Mikoto's right 'bout the incline.." She takes out one of her spare bullets and puts it at the fork giving it room to roll. [It rolls to the right, very gently.] Haven't we been going down the whole time, though? * Millie picks up the bullet and frowns a little, putting her hands on her hips. "Right's east..but downhill. What do ya think?" Perhaps we should take going up over going east. I'll be happy to be out of these caves, even if it means a little distance to make up in the mountains. It's not that much of a downgrade though. Right then, whatever you think. ::Jinx looks to Millie for any further thoughts: * Mikoto nods. "And the mountain's exit may not necessarily be east. It might be on the north slope." How much is the incline? * Millie nods to Jinx. "Jinx says go left." She starts to head off down the right passage. (Bwahaha!) (*grins*) * MaryAnne follows after Millie. * John smirks. "Smart." * John starts walkin' down the right. * Suzunosuke looks confused for a second, then shrugs and just follows. * Jinx chuckles and smiles wistfully at Millie for a moment before putting his eyes forward and moving ahead quickly, before slowing slightly to show a limp agian. * Mikoto follows along, secretly glad to not have to be leading anymore. [You go right! East. Whatever. The slope is nearly unnoticeable. After an hour or so of walking (and you're all tired and likely cranky by now), the tunnel widens some. Now, instead of lava veins, you have walls trickling with water and the occasional, very shallow puddle. It's quite cool, and you can feel a very faint breeze blowing towards you.] * Millie 's watching where she's stepping still, feeling tired and cranky but surprisingly not showing it. * Suzunosuke has gone back to watching behind the group, though he's perhaps not as diligent about it as when the zombies were really fresh in his memory. * Jinx notices the now cool temperatures and still occassionally glances back to the group while he still has a chance. *follows'n stuff* * Millie leads the way, heading in the direction of the cool breeze. * MaryAnne follows along after Millie. (And yes, still paying attention to where she steps :P) * Jinx keeps pace with Millie, paying careful attention to where she steps.. where he steps. * John heads to the breeze. He walks confidently, but keeps an eye on where he steps. [Jinx gets a good view of the tear across Millie's shoulders now. Lucky him.] [You follow the breeze! Go you. The tunnel keeps widening, ending in a dead end of loose rubble.] * Millie stops and frowns. "Cave-in?" If the entrance is blocked, where's the breeze coming from? * MaryAnne comments "Most unfortuitious, but atleast it's cooler." * Suzunosuke reaches out and taps lightly at the rubble. This's gotta be the right way, I swear.. * John nods. He tries to look for any light-holes in the rock. Oh well, little rubble's not gonna stop ol' Millie. See anythin', Johnny? * Millie steps aside and starts digging in her pack again. [The rubble doesn't budge. John can see some very faint light from the other side.] * Jinx walks up to the cave-in and pokes at it. Stand back, guys. * Jinx does so, quickly. ( Cave-in pokes back! ) (Hopefully a steady light rather than a glowing pulsing light =) ) * John backs up. He starts looking through his backpack as well. You see anythin' at the other end though? * MaryAnne quite happy to take Millie's advice and stands quite well back. ( Heh ) Uh... * Suzunosuke gets out from between Millie and the pile. * Millie pulls out what she was looking for in her pack. A decent sized pickaxe. She was carrying it around the whole time, who knew? She makes her way towards the rubble holding it to her side, using her momentum to carry her forward as she takes a swing at the rubble. * Tairan starts to draw his katana, but stops when Millie pulls out her pickaxe. * MaryAnne says "I say, you are quite the well prepared trooper, Miss Reinhart. Most handy to have around." * Jinx raises an eyebrow, impressed. "That's, uh, fortuitous, how much do you have in that pack of yours?" [Millie starts digging her way out! She makes progress fairly quickly, and before long it's clearly evident that that direction's where the breeze is coming from. (As if you didn't know before.)] * Millie is too busy swinging to answer. Pickypicky. * John hears the pickaxe. "Well, if you want to do it that way." * Millie wipes her brow after a couple of swings. Work sweat and continues along swinging. * Suzunosuke starts levering rocks out of the pile. * Jinx leans against the wall and intently watches Millie work. "Let me know if you want to trade off at some point." * MaryAnne stands well out of the way. ... I was gonna try to use that thing I can do with my katana, but this works too. (Offering to help people with pride, costless generosity, fun stuff. ^_^) [Some time later, a few of you are likely dozing off. But! Millie has cleared the way, no thanks to you.] * John stands off to the side. (Did you WANT me to blow her up?) * Suzunosuke helped! (Yes. Did I say that?) * Millie sets the pick on the ground and gives a final wipe of her brow. "There." * Jinx grins and gets walking. "Nice work." [Okay, no thanks to anybody but Suzunosuke.] Very nice. I didn't know you had it in you. (Jinx offered to help!, that should get a thnaks, but not thanks ^_~) * MaryAnne clasps her hands together with a **CLAP** and says "Most impressive Miss Reinhart. You are quite the go-getter indeed." Nice. Ever thing of fighting with that thing? * Millie lifts the pick up on her shoulder and grins at John for a moment. "Yeah, well, I've got a lotta surprises in me, Johnny.." * John smirks. "Don't we all? Let's get out of this hell-hole." * Suzunosuke slumps a little. * Millie turns to Tairan, taking off her pack to slip the pickaxe back. "I've considered it..it's a bit heavy ta be effective, an' Greenpeace has done me good so far.." * MaryAnne says cheerfully "Well then, shall we be off?" * Jinx nods, and eargely gets moving, going a good ten yards before remembering his limp, or that is, before his limp reasserts itself. Yeah..let's get out an' set up camp...I'm exhausted. [You don't get more than fifty before you hit light. Sunlight? Probably.] * MaryAnne says "An absolutely wonderful idea." * John starts walkin' again. * Millie pushes herself as if she isn't as tired as she lets on but her eyes show it. * MaryAnne follows behind Millie. Camp sounds good... and it's unwieldy, true. But in a pinch, it could be damn effective. [Ahead of you, out of the hellhole, is a sunrise over a distant forest. You know what they say about grass being greener on the other side? In Shomura, it actually is, and it's all around you.] * Suzunosuke looks back up at the big, big mountain. "On the mountain / Where the silver / Snow is falling / Is a narrow path / Where men pass." * Millie cups her hand under her brow and blinks out, keeping her jaw from dropping in astonishment. "Wow...just...wow." * MaryAnne comments upon viewing the scenery "Most lovely." * Jinx hustles out and the pauses to take a good breadth of the air. "I forgot how good it felt to come outside again... Let alone to this." * Millie whistles and puts her hands at her hips. "The horses'd have a field day in a place like this..." Is it any wonder so many of my countrymen write about landscape? * MaryAnne says "It's been some time since I've seen Shomura's greenery in all it's splender." * John stops once outside. "This is definetly Shomura." * Suzunosuke breathes deeply of the wonderful Shomuran air. * Jinx glances down at his feet. "I may try so of those wonderful Shomuran sandals for walking through the wonderful Shomuran grass. Because I don't want another day of waliking like this." * Millie stiffles a yawn, then looks around for some flat area. "See if ya can find a place ta camp out..I don't know how long we've been goin' through there..." Be it ever so humble... *chuckles* * John yawns. He yawns? Yes he does. [And so, you all made it through. Thought it'd never happen, didn't you?] [Session End.]