Episode 05: Blood on the Tracks

[Mushgnome]

After some debate, the party agrees to retreat from the Foreman's hideaway rather than face the superior numbers of diseased White Men. Quietly they exit the nesting chamber and retreat toward the Monorail track...

The passageway leads north and you must walk single-file. Around a bend and then you are out of torch-light of the nest room. There is--thankfully--no immediate sign of pursuit.

Ahead of you, the rough passage is interrupted by a slick, bottomless drainage hole (a metal grate lies nearby, cast aside by the plant-thing as it emerged from the hole). On the opposite side, turbulent water rushes in through the opening you tore in the bloody brick wall.

Through the distant gap in the brick wall, you notice a dim light from the Monorail tunnel. There is a chugging, mechanical sound coming down the track, moving from east/right to west/left (toward the crash site). Gradually the light grows brighter, and you hear the mournful howl of a steam whistle! Something big is rumbling down the track!

I'll need a single-file marching order, and your reactions to this new situation!

[Deleted]

Minion of The Unholy Fragnog quietly asks "is that your train?"

[tombowings]

"I don't think so," replies the Sovereign Mask of All Who See, grabbing his flail and striding to the head of the group. Maybe this wasn't the safest plan after all.

[vito]

Can you describe the tracks please? Is there a space beneath them that a person would be able to lie down in, allowing the train to pass over them safely? Sort of like what you find in most subways, you know?

[Mushgnome]

To be clear, you are not in any immediate danger from the train--you are still in the side passage that leads to the Foreman's lair.

You remember the track being about 2 feet high, you could probably duck safely under the water while the Monorail train passed over you, (assuming you could hold your breath long enough).

Here is how I picture the Monorail, except that the track in your case is supported by girders two feet above the ground, "elevated" train style.



(What sorcery prevents that thing from simply tipping over? Very mysterious...)

[Mushgnome]

Of course, you don't know for certain whether the approaching contraption is the same design as "your" Monorail. For that matter, if you're hoping to catch up with it or flag it down, you'd better hustle, as you're currently about 60' away at the opposite end of the side-passage, separated by a bottomless pit and rushing water...

[ehiker133]

The Shadow says, to no one in particular, "If they don't know about the other derailment, there could be another explosion in the near future..."

[vito]

"Are we sure that's really a train?" Mirthful Doomed says "What if it's a monster pretending to be a train?"

[crusssdaddy]

Fated to Die: "Godammit, I just want a quiet moment to look through these $#@%# bags!!!"

[kipper]

Breath of New Moon remains where she is. "Let the train pass, we should be safe here." She moves over to the grate, and attempts to muscle it back into place.

[Mushgnome]

Jun 6, 2011 21:24:04 GMT -6 kipper said:

Breath of New Moon remains where she is. "Let the train pass, we should be safe here." She moves over to the grate, and attempts to muscle it back into place.

(Strength check = 15) The strongest member of the party single-handedly slides the grate back into place over the drainage pit. It is dented and rusty, but less scary than leaping over the void!

[Mushgnome]

The westward-bound Monorail (for thus it appears to be) hurtles past with a great rumble that shakes the bedrock itself.

Not 30 seconds later is a loud blast of steam, followed by a desperate, slowing, squeal of metal on metal: SquuuEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeee....!

[crusssdaddy]

Fated to Die: "Gentlefolk, let's get to that train. We need to put some distance between ourselves and the Foreman's gang."

[kipper]

Breath of New Moon leaps across the grate, then waits for the rest of the party to pass. She then removes the grate again, and pulls it well away from the hole to hopefully slow any pursuit or at least cause a few fatalities among any clumsy pursuers if such there be.

[Mushgnome]

EEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeee....

But the crash you feared never comes; perhaps the Monorail stopped in time?

Jun 8, 2011 7:51:37 GMT -6 kipper said:

Breath of New Moon leaps across the grate, then waits for the rest of the party to pass. She then removes the grate again, and pulls it well away from the hole to hopefully slow any pursuit or at least cause a few fatalities among any clumsy pursuers if such there be.

Good idea! With their shambling gait, it is possible the White Men will have difficulty crossing the pit.

[ehiker133]

The Shadow enters the main tunnel and looks in the direction the train was headed to see if he can tell anything of what might have happened from this point.

He'll begin walking that direction just as soon as others do, since he doesn't have his light anymore.

He will carefully scan the ceiling as they move along, making sure to keep an eye out for whatever might have taken the pack slave.

[Mushgnome]

Eye of Thundera follows The Shadow into the tunnel, illuminating the way with his headlamp. No creepy-crawlies on the ceiling!

In the distance you see a faint light and hear shouts in a strange language. (Does anyone speak Green? Remember the bonus language house-rule: One language per Intelligence point over 10.)

Will the party approach the newly-arrived Monorail??

[tombowings]

The Sovereign Mask of All Who See follows behind his fellow, leery of the incoming vessel.

[crusssdaddy]

Fated to Die speaks fluent Green Man. He pushes his way to the front to hear what the voices have to say...

[kipper]

Breath of New Moon follows at the rear of the party. However, not having a light source herself, she is careful to keep close and not fall behind.

((OOC: She also speaks Green (as she was able to understand the Foreman) ))

[Mushgnome]

In Green: "...good thing Ol' Rusty braked in time! The red man said if there are any survivors, they went this way. Hello! Can you hear us?" In Babel (the Common tongue): "Hello? Anyone there??"

[Deleted]

Thaimos replies in Babel "We're here, my companions and I! A handful of survivors from the wreck of the other train. You might wish to radio back to your fellows at the station. Something Not Right At All awaits at the end of this tunnel," he says, feeling a bit sheepish by the end.

[Mushgnome]

(in Green, over his shoulder) "Boss, we got live ones here!" (in Babel) "Over here! Are you hurt?"

Two green men approach; they are wearing heavy-duty railroad uniforms, wearing headlamps, and carrying crossbows.

[ehiker133]

The Shadow holds out his hand, palm facing the green men, and says, "Stop. We just ran into someone claiming to be a 'foreman' here and he ended up attacking us with 15 savage white men. Indeed, they killed one member of our group. How do we know you're not going to try and do the same?"

[Mushgnome]

Jun 10, 2011 11:59:44 GMT -6 ehiker133 said:

The Shadow holds out his hand, palm facing the green men, and says, "Stop. We just ran into someone claiming to be a 'foreman' here and he ended up attacking us with 15 savage white men. Indeed, they killed one member of our group. How do we know you're not going to try and do the same?"

On viewing the seven-foot-tall, battle-hardened Jale Man, the two Green Men stop in their tracks. "Whoa; just trying to help, man! We're here to bring the passengers out of the tunnel and on to the next station."

[crusssdaddy]

Fated to Die: "I think a nice train ride is just what the doctor ordered!"

Fated hands his bags to Thug Slave, buttons up his fur coat, and is ready to go if everyone else is.

[tombowings]

"I'd prefer to leave as soon as possible," motions the Sovereign Mask of All Who See.

[vito]

"I agree." Mirthful Doomed agrees.

[Deleted]

Minion of the Unholy Fragnog says "yes, a rescue is quite appreciated. We will be boarding this working train and reversing to safety?"

[Mushgnome]

"Sure, we keep this old out-of-service train at the Aylesbury station for emergencies, right now we're loading the wounded on board and... MY STARS! Hey Boss? BOSS!!?"

A scraggly pale humanoid crawls through the opening in the bricks, and another behind; the Diseased White Men have found a way across the drain shaft...

The two Train Men fumble with their crossbows. "Steady, boys!" calls Train Boss, "We're coming!"