Slow going this past 6 weeks as life got in the way - good things but quite time/space intensive so had no chance for solo gaming.Part Four: The Chance of a LunchtimeDELBOY:
We made it.
I can see the old mine from the satellite photo; a cluster of drab, saggy buildings propped against a rinsed blue sky. They’re three, maybe four kilometres away. It’d be an easy stroll except the air above the fields between here and there quivers and crackles with energy.
This place is seething with Anomalies.
There’s a pile of old shipping containers in the middle of it all too. I tried Pike’s binoculars but the distortion made it impossible to focus.
I saw movement though – lots of things slithering or scuttling in and out of the open doors. Made my skin crawl.
Turning around I saw Marlene checking out an old Hazmat suit, ‘it’s good’ she says ‘ but it’s only got about 8% use left in it’s filters. Enough to run for about an hour, maybe less’.
I can live with that. It's 12.30 now so we should be able to commence a search by 13.00hrs and be ready for some grub by 14.00hrs.
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InsertionThe team move forwards and prepares to enter the area in the South-West corner.
The rest of the team go on overwatch whilst Del moves to the nearby POI, finding a locker that’s damaged and hard to open. He breaks the lock then signals for Rodney to come and search it whilst he moves to the next point.
Rodney moves up to the locker whilst Trigger and Marlene move forward.
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10 MinutesTrigger goes on overwatch as Del Hustles to the next POI, a pile of useful looking junk but infested with the yellow acid spitting plants that seem common in this part of the zone. Del’s reaction are quick enough to dodge the spray as Trigger positions himself to cover both Marlene and Del.
Rodney searches the container and surrounding rubble finding some old but usable ration, a container of murky water and a sealed lithium battery – great start.
Marlene hurries to an anomaly she spotted but freezes with terror as she approaches.
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20 minutesDelboy avoids more acid sprays, searches the pile and discovers a satchel of ammunition, grabbing it with glee before moving to another likely spot to find loot.
His rush means that no-one has had an opportunity to cover him and as he arrives a group of Grubbers emerge from the containers and proceed to surround him.
His reaction kills the nearest but there are still four to contend with, three attack him and two are despatched but one remains in the fight.
The remaining Grubber slithers to Trigger who kills it disdainfully with his knife before climbing atop a hut. He settles down, takes aim and kills the Grubber that was threatening Del.
Marlene approaches and searches the anomaly, finding a spring artifact, before using her stamina to run to the next one. This inspires no fear in her and she gets close.
Rodney uses his time to move forward once more.
The anomalies seem to quiver and the air around them crackles with static.
‘It looks like their going to shift’ shouts Marlene ‘ let’s get them while their hot’.
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30 minutesWith no time to waste Delboy heads towards one of the anomalies, suffers no terror on approach and finds this one exerting massive gravitational forces. They pull him in but he suffers no damage and uses his time to grab the bubble artefact then is forced to sit tight, hoping that when the anomaly dissipates it doesn’t take him with it.
Marlene approaches her anomaly, avoids it’s effects, grabs the heart artefact at it’s core and moves away a safe distance.
Rodney tosses a bolt at a POI and it’s erupts with a puke yellow gas – probably best to leave alone if the needed supplies can be found elsewhere.
Trigger moves towards Rodney, tosses a bolt at a pile of junk under the tower and the pile collapses, exposing a body carrying a large rucksack – definitely worth a search for the needed food and water.
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40 MinutesThe anomalies vibrate more, disappear then reappear moments later; thankfully Delboy manages to leap clear as the last moment and survives unscathed.
Unfortunately two of the appear right next to the body and loot Trigger had earmarked, making it really difficult to approach – bugger.
Marlene and Trigger go on overwatch to cover Del’s approach to another POI. This turns out to be a booby trap, exploding before Del can react, causing him a wound (thank god for military grade body armour) and destroying the loot.
Marlene comes off overwatch and uses her final action to toss a bolt at a POI initiating an angry buzz. Fearing some kind of unknown beast she is then relieved to see a mound of crystals are producing the sound.
‘It’s The Hum’ she shouts, ‘we’ll have to be careful’.
‘Sod that’ says Rod. ‘We need to get out of here asap, I have a bad feeling about this place’. He moves up to the POI, becomes a little nauseous then pulls himself together.
Using his scrounger ability he finds rations, water and adrenaline then uses all his stamina to move away to safety with Trigger following.
A loud roaring sound erupts to the East. It sounds as if some terrific beast, or maybe more than one, is approaching the settlement.
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45 MinutesDelboy and Marlene look at each other and move to follow Rodney and Trigger.
Muttering to himself Delboy says ‘45 minutes in and out, got all the supplies we need and only have to find one more artefact – Cushty’.
Really enjoyed this game although I did get very lucky in pretty much every encounter. Might consider making the final scenario even harder than written to see how that goes.
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