Unsure as to whether the device that Erict detected is a sensor or some sort of land mine, the team decides to bypass the issue altogether. Rock tunnels down deeper and goes under the device before tunelling back up towards the surface.
PETER: That sounds great.
GM: My assumption is that Rock generally stays fairly close to the surface when he tunnels. This would allow the rest of the team some hope of being able to get out of the tunnels if something should happen to Rock.
PETER: Good assumption.
ROCK: I would assume that as well. Probably 2-3" below the surface. It's still a pretty good distance underground but not too deep.
The group continues southward. Late the following day, the terrain begins descending from mountainous to hills to plains and finally to swamp. The group is forced to travel on the surface as the ground is just to wet and any attempts at tunneling result in flooded tunnels. This slows the group down and it takes another eight days of traveling across the lowlands before the group spots the warning barrier up ahead.
It is hard to miss. As Captain Insecki sumrised, the warning barrier is a massive wall that extends to east to west as far as the eye can see. The group is about 30 miles from the coast so they can't see what happens where the barrier meets the sea. The wall is 80 meters tall and covered with various outcroppings and spikes that give it a very ominious appearance. From an architectural standpoint, it appears that the wall was specifically designed to have a frightening appearance.
GM: At this point, the group is still about 10 kilometers from the barrier and it is getting close to evening. Let me know if you want to proceed to the barrier or camp for the night. You are still in the lowlands, with many, many lakes and occasional swamps and so tunneling is not much of an option.
ROCK: Rock suggests we camp here. While he can't burrow into the earth for any useful effect, he can shape the earth upwards creating a shelter. It can either appear like a large mound of dirt/rock with the insides hollowed out or he can simply create walls/berms. He would also like to create some defensive positions in the case that a firefight breaks out the group can seek some cover. He would do this that each direction has a good barrier to fire behind.
ERICT: Erict nods agreeably, but doesn't speak out of turn. Makes sense to him to take a little time to scout it out from a distance.
PETER (GM): I know it's low, wet country that's unsuitable for tunnelling, but can we find enough high and dry places for Rock to make us at least a cave out of sight for when we stop for the night? Regardless, to the extent possible we choose our stopping points to allow Rock the best chance to give us shelter and cover. If there's nothing in sight, but we've been passing good sites on the way, let's keep going for a short bit more to see if we can find one. If not, let's go with his suggestion of a mound of earth.
The group searches around for a bit before finding a small mound out of which Rock is able to fashion a satisfactory cave for the group to spend the night in.
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PETER: "Well everyone, we've made it to the Warning Barrier - or close enough, at least. Good job! I know it's been rough going at times, but you've all shown great strength, determination, and hard work. I think I speak for Captain Insecki as well when I say that you've all done a commendable job, particularly our younger travelers." He smiles at the kids. "Now we need to get past the Barrier, and that means taking our time. The original inhabitants of Thengo put the Warning Barrier up to stop people from doing just what we're trying to do. Now that was a long time ago, and anything beyond the Barrier itself has probably long since stopped working. Nevertheless, I think it's prudent for us to take our time getting past it, just in case. So we'll take a day or so to scout it out, which will give most everyone a chance to rest from our travels - a rest you richly deserve."
PETER (OOC): Peter would have run the gist of what he was going to say past Insecki before he spoke to make sure he wouldn't be speaking out of turn.
GM: Insecki appoves and offers his own words of encouragement to the group as well.
ERICT (OOC): I assume that you can put everything back the way it was when we leave? Peter has been informed that Erict is confident of being able to teleport to the top of the wall if we decide to go that way, assuming there are flat spaces to land on and not rows of lethal spikes. He can even take one person at a time with him, and it's quite safe (Safe Blind Teleport). Depending on its thickness at its base he may be able to simply teleport past it too, taking people with him (12m max distance for a group teleport, otherwise the Far Move would work too, intervening barriers do not stop either one, normally). Another option is to use the Far Move to start from 80m+ away, and teleport 80m+ beyond it, avoiding potential sensors and such by never getting close.
ROCK (OOC): Yes and no. Rock can shape the earth/stone all day into just about any shape it can maintain. However, he can't put the plants and other non-earth materials that was on top of it when he's done. So someone would know ground was modified when done. However, someone with camouflage could try to hide the disturbance afterwards. One trick that I commonly do is make the area I disturb be a large boulder that appears natural.
PETER (OOC): No matter what we do for camp, it'll always leave *some* evidence that we've been there. I suspect that Rock's earth sculpting is no worse than a regular camp.
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[Later, with just the various military types around]
PETER: "So now it's time to figure out how we're going to get past that impressive - and may I say disturbing - structure before us. I see four options: over it; under it; through it; or around it. And stragely enough, all seem at least marginally feasible. Erict may be able to take us over the top one-by-one, though that exposes us to view and forces us to go blindly into a spot we can't see clearly from here - namely the top of that accursed thing. It also may give us trouble with getting the carts across. Rock could take us under, assuming the ground will support digging - and I have to assume if it supports the Barrier, it'll support a bit of digging. Rock might also take us through the Barrier, assuming it's susceptible to his digging. It looks like it's made of stone, though appearances could be deceiving at this range. Erict might also get us through, though that also assumes the risk of going blindly to where we can't see. Finally, we could always move to the shore, see about building rafts, and go around by sea. I'd like to avoid that final option, except as a last resort.
ERICT: Hopefully between Rock and myself we can get some sense of what is beyond the wall without breaching it. I haven't had a lot of experience using this talent, but it seems rare that something can block it.
PETER: "The obvious next step is to do some investigation. I see two main issues. The first is the Maginites. It's possible that they've set up surveillance here to look for people fleeing as we are. It seems far-fetched, but their behavior is not always predcitable, so we want to be careful. They might have sensors placed above ground or burrowers below. We need to see if that's the case."
PETER: "The second issue is the Barrier itself. The people who built it obviously had power. It's possible, albeit unlikely, that they left more than just the Barrier to stop people. It might be resitant to Rock's digging, or extend far beneath the surface. It might even serve as a barrier to teleportation for all we know. The technology that went into building it is unknown, but it might have been high. There may even be other defense mechanisms built into the Barrier that we don't know about. What we do know is that a potentially advanced race built the wall to stop people from traversing the land bridge. We should treat them, and it, with respect. Captain Insecki, Cartographer Caerlina, are you aware of any other defenses the Barrier might have?
INSECKI: "The barrier, while formidable, is really not that much of a challenge to get past if there are no other defenses. An aircraft could obviously fly over or around it. Someone with a boat could sail to the southern continent without ever seeing the barrier. It's my belief that the main purpose of the barrier was to warn people that they may not want to head to the southern continent.
PETER: "What I suggest is that we spend a day scouting ahead to learn more about the Barrier and any potential dangers in our approach to it. We leave the civilians here with a guard and send some of our better scouts ahead. Caerlina or I should go forward to help update our maps with whateverr the scouts uncover. [OOC: Include anyone else in that who has shown cartography skills over the past months] We should also keep an eye out for a spot that could be used as a forward staging area for the trip to the other side - something about a kilometer away should be good. Cal and I can serve as forward scouts to keep out of sight. I want Rock there to look for burrowers, buried devices, and to get a look inside the Barrier. I want Erict there to keep a watch out for buried devices, hidden life forms, and to let us know what his unique senses show. I want Marko there to see if the ancient inhabitants of Thengo did anything to the Barrier that would hinder psychic powers. Does that sound workable, captain? Anyone else have thoughts on the situation?
INSECKI: "That sounds like a commendable plan, lieutenant."
ROCK: "Sir, I would be happy to recon the barrier to see what it's made of. I could do so in my mud form."
PETER: "That's an excellent suggestion."
PETER: "Also, I'm afraid this is one situation where I think we should risk at least a short use of your vision. Rock can probably tell us what's *in* the Barrier. But it would be a great help if we knew what was *beyond* the Barrier. It can be a very short look, but if you and Erict agree that you're up to it, I'd like you to come with the advance party and scan the far side of the Barrier.
MACK: "Sir, I'm afraid that I can't do that. I can't do any of the stuff that I used to. I can't even see through a dirty window anymore, much less a wall. I don't think I can do my artillery strikes anymore either. My mutant abilities jus' seem to be on vacation now."
PETER: "I'm sorry to hear that, Mack. I hope you're in no other distress. And if Erict gives you a clean bill of health, I think we should get you back on the rotations. You're still a trained soldier, and right now we may need those skills as much as anything.
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ROCK: (OOC): It would be best if our top scout, Cal, could make sure the area is clear first. If the ground is waterlogged then he can't burrow there. He could become mud and ooze his way there, examining as he goes along. That should be about as steathly as you'd need. What sensors would be detecting for earth movement? ;)
PETER (OOC): Cal is clearly our most skilled scout, and probably our most stealthy. The real question is jsut how stealthy. If his invisibility doens't work against radar, then it's of minimal use to us and shouldn't be relied upon. And even if it is good against radar, it seems like there are a heck of a lot of wierd enhanced senses around, so we ought to be very careful.
ROCK: I'm doubtful the Rock could tunnel through the barrier though. He can't go through composites or force fields and I bet it's got one or the other somewhere in it. Perhaps he could tunnel through most of it but we'll see.
PETER (OOC): I think that's low on our list of options. It may be difficult, as you say, and I'll bet it would leave a mark where we passed. Better to make a mark on the dirt where wind and rain will wipe it out. I was just thinking that if it's blocks of stone or molded stone, you might be able to dig through.
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PETER (OOC): Still no word from Marko. Is he still playing?
GM: Sam is no longer receiving the emails. I told him to let me know when he can start playing again and I will include him again, but I am not optimistic.
PETER (OOC): Also, I never got a response from Cal - did you buy up your invisibility so that it works against radar?
ERICT (OOC): Technically my sense is a 57 point sense that I paid full points for, so it should be pretty impressive ;) I doubt I can feel anything beyond it at this range, but it's possible (base PER 15-, +2 vs range, +2 for long look, +? for huge area or very obvious features to sense [rolled 7]).
GM: At this distance, it is just too far away to sense anything clearly. You think that the barrier is probably about 20 to 40 meters in width and that the terrain beyond it is much like the terrain on this side, but that is about all you can tell. |