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Monday, May 21, 2012

Chapter 4 - The Daedalus

Vance Mercury dismisses the staff and gives the remaining group a few more minutes to finish your snacks and drinks.

After about ten minutes, the man-servant that was serving drinks returns dressed in clothes that appear to suit him better. He is dressed in khaki pants with boots and a light jacket. A worn flat cap sits atop his cropped short salt and pepper hair. Vance speaks to the group. “Dirks here will show us the craft and the supplies.” He motions to the servant with a flourish from his hand.
The servant speaks, “If you would be so good as to follow me, I will show you to your craft.” Without waiting for a response, Dirks exits the room and continues down the hallway. The expedition team follows him down the hall and past the kitchen where a woman works busily preparing dinner. Dirks opens a door that leads outside behind the manor.
The destination is apparently the strange barn behind the manor. He keeps a reasonable pace but it is brisk enough that Tempest has to hurry to keep up. He does wait at the barn door for everyone to catch up before proceeding inside.
In the center of the building sits the Daedalus. It is a strangely shaped wedge of shiny metal. The craft looks to be about 30 feet long from nose to tail and 60 feet wide from wing tip to wing tip. A wide bank of windows adorns the front above the nose and an open ramp extends from the belly of the craft below the tail. Small windows also run along the sides above the wings. The wings start from the nose and flare back forming a triangle. The center of the craft is like a cone but flattened at the bottom where it meets the underside of the wings. This sits atop the wings. A tall tail fin protrudes from the cone at the rear above what you take to be the engine.
The bottom of the craft is black. 6 large fans are in set within the wings and positioned on either side of the cone-like center; 2 toward the rear and 1 center, also in a triangular pattern. Oddly, there does not appear to be any landing gear. The whole thing floats about 4 feet above the floor. Heavy ropes extend from the floor to the craft at the wings, nose and either side of the access ramp.
Behind the Daedalus are many stacked crates. There appears to be food, weapons and ammunition, clothing and medical supplies. There are backpacks outfitted with ropes, machete and canteens. A couple of tents in canvas bags are stacked near bundles or wooden poles. There are also small odds and ends that have been placed in open boxes nearby. These items appear to be afterthoughts gathered neatly by someone well meaning. Together the supplies seem to be enough to support a dozen people for 6 months.
The rest of the barn is filled with all manner of strange and unusual things. The area in front of the craft looks to be the repair and maintenance facility. Tools, conventional and the strange, are mixed throughout the area. The interior perimeter of the barn is stacked with more crates and more items covered with tarps. Stairs lead up to a loft where more items can be seen. Ropes, chains and pulleys hang from the beams above. A large empty area is located next to the Daedalus. It is clearly large enough to accommodate another craft.
Dirks turns on all of the lights so that you can get a better view of the ship and your surroundings. The Daedalus bobs gently against its restraints like a boat upon water. Vance Mercury says “This is the Daedalus and the expedition supplies. I believe that you will find everything is satisfactory.”

42 comments:

  1. Justin will duck behind a stack of crates and cast Postcognition. Strange equipment? Rocketship prototypes? Mysterious backers? Rich eccentrics that want to go to Skull Island? "Maybe I should write pulp after this," he mutters to himself.

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    1. Does Mr. Tempest notice Tylmaronde duck behind the crates (he has a Perception of 7). If so, he will walk over to the crates opposite of his location, rap on the top of the crates very solidly, and then say rather solidly "I would shudder to think what would happen to somebody who engaged in any form of skullduggery" and then walk off.

      If he did not notice, then he will just walk on past and look into the craft (without entering).

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    2. How far back in time is Justin trying to investigate?

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    3. Tempest notices Tylmaronde trying to duck behind some equipment. Tylmaronde recognizes that he was spotted.

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    4. Justin winks at Tempest and continues casting. He takes the time to mutter "Only my curiosity is getting paid on this trip, Moneybags. I'm making sure I don't miss anything."

      Justin will attempt to go back one week.

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    5. What is Justin trying to find? Looking back a week most likely will show the activities of the staff making preparations for the rescue expedition.

      Dr. Mercury's expedition has been gone longer than a week. If Justin is looking for something about them, he will need to look back further.

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    6. That's kinda what he's after. "Hey, be careful with that Flux Capacitor" or "didja hear the old man skinned another Negro?" kinda stuff. Things people say when guests arent around.

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  2. Mr. Tempest takes his time walking out to the barn, he does not wish to stress out his bad leg, and people need to learn to wait. at the barn, he looks briefly at the craft, then comments to Mercury "Looks a tad smaller than i expected." He runs his hand along the hull and a welded seam "but i see the workman that i paid for did an acceptable job."

    he drifts over to the stacked supplies, and after a quick look, "No Brandy or Scotch" he says with a quiet sigh, "and i would wager that there are no cigars either. primitives."

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    1. Mercury gives Tempest a smile with a twinge of mock sympathy, "There will not be room for those types of luxuries. It is likely to be a tight fit with all of you and the necessary equipment."

      "As for the Daedalus, it is build to Uncle Milton's specifications and calculations for the Icarus. If he had not been working toward a vessel to travel to the moon, I expect it could have been made larger."

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  3. Jock Brattle casts an appraising eye over the ship then turns his attention to the supplies, checking that the supplies are suitable for the rescue and likely dangers.

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    1. Brattle finds that the supplies will be acceptable. They are not 100% what he would have gathered but it is close.

      GM Note: To represent specialized equipment needs, each character may spend up to an additional $50 on items that they would like in addition to that supplied by the expedition. (I will work up a complete list of what is included but assume that the basics are covered.)

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  4. Bear keeps pace with Tempest, conscious of the wealthy man's offer and obviously willing to take on the role of protector.

    Inside the barn, Bear whistles admiringly at the Daedalus. "That is one sweet piece of machinery," he says in awe.

    He catches the servant's eye. "Mind if I take a gander inside?"

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    1. Vance Mercury says "Go ahead. You enter through the ramp. Dirks can show you around inside. Of those of us here, he is the most familiar with its operation."

      Dirks talks his invitation and enters the craft waving those who are interested within.

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    2. Bear is right behind him, looking like a kid in line to see Santa.

      "So you a pilot there, Dirks?" he asks conversationally.

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    3. Dirks responds with a slight shake of his head. "Not a very accomplished one, sir. I have a familiarity with the craft. I need to move it from time to time. I mostly bring it to and from the launch area."

      "I know the controls. I know how to fuel it. I know how to properly secure it when parked so that it does not accidently float away. It is a remarkable machine."

      Dirks lead Bear and anyone else that following into the interior. "The rear area behind the ramp is where the engine sits. This next area is meant for cargo. We will load the supplies here. The middle section is the passenger compartment. As this will be a short flight, it will be outfitted with seats. Dr. Mercury outfitted the Icarus with two cabins for sleeping as well as a few seats. The front is the cockpit. There is room for a pilot and a co-pilot."

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    4. "Engine, Check," Bear repeats. " I'll be wanting to check that beauty out before we head off, seeing as I'd be the one puttering with it if anything goes wrong."

      "Pilot and co-pilot, you say?" Bear says, hand stroking his chin. "I've done my time behind the stick, but I don't know if anyone else in this motley crew has done likewise."

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    5. Vance Mercury responds to Bear's musings, "I believe that you are the only pilot among the rescue crew. Dirks can show you what you will need to know to fly this wonder. As I understand it, it almost flies itself."

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    6. Bear's grin is so wide it almost goes around to meet on the back of his head as he slaps Mercury's back in a friendly manner.

      "Well, Mr. Mercury," he drawls, "I think this is going to be a fruitful endeavor. Send Dirksie up when he's available. I'll be here, er, getting acquainted with the controls."

      Bear turns to the dashboard, rubbing his hands in anticipatory glee.

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    7. Dirks begs to be excused. "Excuse me while I take care of Mr. Brattle's request. You can familiarize yourself with the controls and there is a checklist next to the seat. Please be careful not to toggle any of the controls as the craft can escape its bonds."

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    8. Mr. Tempest carefully looks into the craft, not wishing to risk climbing on board just yet. "And I am sure that you are quite proficient at driving this machine, aren't you Mr. Grissom?" he says with an almost sarcastic tone. "I feel more confident about the success of the enterprise already."

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    9. "No worries, Boss," Bear calls out happily from inside the ship. "With me behind the stick, you'll be as safe as a babe in her mother's arms."

      The ship takes that moment to make a slight wobble, followed by a soft "Oops!" from inside the cockpit.

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    10. Justin saunters out from behind a stack of crates.
      "What's the matter, Moneybags? Feelin' nervous about the trip? Don't chicken out on us -- we'll be lost without your special brand of exploratory expertise." He gives Tempest a hearty backslap and follows Bear into the ship.

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    11. Mr. Tempest struggles against the gangway, trying to keep his balance after the "hearty backslap" (ouch). "The name is Tempest, Mr. Tylmaronde. Howard Renfield Tempest, the Third, of the Nantucket Tempests, and I will thank you NOT to place your hands on me in that manner ever again!" he ends his sentence with a harty rap of his cane on the ground, then walks off toward the hanger door.

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    12. Justin climbs into the cockpit, careful not to touch anything as he peers over Bear's shoulder. "Whoo, Moneybags is a bit touchy, eh?"

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    13. "And he has excellent hearing for a man his age, Mr. Tylmaronde" Mr. Tempest casually says as he walks toward Mercury. "So when is this expedition going to get under way?" he asks, "My bags should be here within the hour."

      Note: when he sent for his bags, Mr. Tempest ordered a few extra bottles of Whiskey and Cigars be packed in as well (along with a spare pocket flask).

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    14. Bear chuckles and replies to Justin without looking away from the checklist he's perusing, "First rule of working a gig, lad. Always respect the man who signs the checks."

      The red-haired mechanic thoughtfully taps a gauge, examining the needle's slight jump, and asks in a conversational tone. "So what particular set of skills are you bringing to this little expedition again, Mr. ah, Tylmaronde?"

      Bear's voice adorns Justin's name with a touch of Celtic lilt.

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    15. Justin continues his perusal of the controls as he replies. They're just a jumble of dials and readouts to him, but they're fascinating nonetheless.
      "Me? I'm a private investigator. I suppose the first mystery I'll tackle is: why do they need a private investigator for a rescue mission to the fantastical Skull Island? I have a few theories..."
      He looks out the cockpit at Wally. "But what I really want to know is: why the musician?" He gestures at each man in turn; "pilot, doctor, hunter: I can see uses for them. And no one," he waggles his eyebrows at Tempest, "denies the funder. But a small-time showbiz hopeful? That smells funny."

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    16. Bear shrugs philosophically.

      "Well," he drawls, "when you're setting forth on a hare-brained rescue mission into hostile territory, it's not surprising that most sane people will jump ship. I'm supposing Mr. Mercury is dealing with a case of 'beggars can't be choosers'."

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  5. I ask Mr. Tempest "Is there a lot of pain with your leg? Does the limp ever migrate to the other leg? No offence, I've seen that before, just wondered."

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    1. "It is any old injury, Doctor," he replies, politly but directly, "from many years ago when I was in Eruope. I find that as long as I take my medicine, it does not trouble me much."

      When the Doctor asks the inevitable question of "what medicine?" or something similar, he will politely reply "Scotch" and then walk off to examine the rest of the ship.

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    2. 'Note to self..create scotch in a pill form, could be a big seller.'

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  6. "Hmmm...eh, that'll work... Not bad... What the...oh. Hmmm...haven't seen this brand before. Ooh, nice." Jock mumbles as he works his way looking thru the supplies.

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  7. Learning equipment. Watching people.

    A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something that he can learn in no other way. - Mark Twain.

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  8. Cautiously Dr Lambshead extends his hand betwixt the wing and the earth, trying to test the physics involved with the wondrous craft.

    sci;engineering=7
    craft;mechanics=7

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    1. There is a definite downward thrust from the craft that slaps Dr. Lambshead's hand down when he puts it under one of the wings. The craft appears to be floating on a cushion of some sort of invisible force. It seems similar to magnetic force but also seems different somehow. He postulates that if the downward force was focused properly it could lift and/or propel the craft.

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  9. Holding a rifle aloft Jock asks "This zeroed in, or ya got a spot I can zero it in?"

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    1. Dirks responds, "We can set up some targets out on the lawn. What sort of targets do you desire and at what ranges?"

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  10. Jock replies "Oh, a sheet a paper, marked in the middle would do fer a target. Set em up at 100, 200 an 400 yards should do. If'n we were planning on long distance shootin I'd also want 800 yards, but fer a rescue we shouldn't be a'needin that. I do like ta get ta know how much a bullet fired from a gun drops over distance. Oh yeah, the backdrop ain't gonna be the neighbors window or anything? Into a hillside be best."

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    1. Dirks excuses himself from Bear and he begins gathering the materials required for the impromptu firing range requested by Mr. Brattle. “We have plenty of space to meet your requirements and I do not think that we will have to resort to shooting at the neighbors.”

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  11. Jock gathers the guns that he will sight in and a small amount of ammo for each then goes out and takes them to where they are to be fired. He uses a chair as an impromptu gun rest. When all is ready he will sight in each gun using two to five shots, depending on how much he has to adjust the sights...the last shot being near or on the mark on the paper at 400 yards.
    [Skill 11, +4 for aim, effective skill 15.]
    Afterwards he cleans each gun.

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  12. While loading gear onto the craft Jock overhears Justin's question about why they would need a musician and quips "Mebbe they thought that it was music that soothed the savage beast, though I think it were originally a quote about music soothing the savage breast."

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