If we are ready to proceed ...

Sorry guys. Things have been a bit busy with real life post Gen Con.

Assuming that everyone is still on board and you are all ready to proceed, I will show you the way.

What I need before I will post the next chapter is a course of action. That may be something as simple as "we fly above the storm until it clears and make our toward Skull Island at best speed". If you have anything else in mind, I need to know.

Chapter 7A – The Broadcast

Bear and Dr. Lambshead strain to hear the German voice broadcasting over the radio. The transmission is filled with static and strange noises garble the message. Suddenly, the message becomes clear and is easily understood.

“This is Expedition 12. We have achieved success. The door on Skull Island proved viable. Proceed to rendezvous with rear guard and establish supply depot. Forward camp and perimeter have been established. Glory to the Fatherland!”

The message seems to repeat before the voice is lost again in the static.

While listening to the broadcast, Bear continues to climb the Daedalus above the approaching storm. The craft responds smoothly and seemingly without effort. The German zeppelin is obscured from sight and the view below is replaced by dark clouds and lightning. Above the stars of the night sky are visible.

Apology to my players

I wanted to take a minute to apologize to my players. Things have been busy for me the last several weeks. Part summer craziness, part family obligations, part work deadlines and part preparing my 4 HEX scenarios for running at Gen Con has eatten up my time.

As a first-time convention GM I have been very concerned about getting it right so that everyone has fun. The story I wanted to tell was ambitious. It required the creation of 24 pregen Player Characters, 28 NPC/creatures, 12 new rituals (including a new tradition), 14 new artifacts and 4 semi-connected stories spanning 4 different settings. I have been able to get everything done but just in time. Playtesting turned out to be a good idea as some mistakes and oversights we found and corrected. Wish me luck.

This online game has some ties into the Eye of the Gods scenarios that I am running at Gen Con. I hope that they will turn out to be positive experiences for all parties involved. I expect to be recharged and ready to play after the convention.  I hope that everyone is still interested in playing this game. I will do my best to pick things back up and proceed with the story after I return from Gen Con next week. I have some plans for this game. I really like the characters. I want it to be fun and to thrive.

Chapter 7 - The Flight

The trip continues smoothly for over 12 hours. The Daedalus has passed over the Mediterranean and the Middle East and is currently passing above the Arabian Sea in route to the Indian Ocean. Bear has learned to love the luxury of the autopilot and all have managed to relax and some sleep.

The first signs of possible trouble appear when a German zeppelin is spotted in the darkness off the port side. It is some distance away and several hundred feet below the Daedalus. That the craft is large, armored and armed is easy to see as the exterior is illuminated. A squadron of four Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters appears to be flying escort. The zeppelin shows no immediate signs of hostility but seems to be following a similar flight path. Bear is certain that the Daedalus can out distance and out maneuver the craft if necessary.

Ahead the night skies look ominous. A large electrical storm looms on the horizon. It is still a few hours before dawn.

Chapter 6 – The Launch

The night passes uneventfully. Many of you find it difficult to sleep. Anticipation of the flight and rescue has your minds racing. On top of that, the manor is old and full of strange noises.

Morning and the promised breakfast come sooner than you realize. Once you have dressed and eaten you are escorted onto the grounds where the Daedalus is hovering. The ramp is extended revealing red interior illumination. The exterior of the ship seems to glow with a eerie green light without any obvious source.

Mr. Dirks walks around the craft and addresses Bear, “She is all packed and prepared for launch Mr. Grissom. Once you are at the controls, I will remove the mooring lines. The course has been plotted in the onboard navigation. After that, the rest is up to you. Good luck to you all!”

Vance Mercury continues, “Well said. I expect that you will do your best to return my uncle and his crew to us safely. They are your first priority. If you can salvage any of the Icarus, please do. Trust the people from Project Legacy. They are the closest we have to experts about this mysterious and dangerous island.”

Once everyone is aboard, Mr. Grissom closes the ramp and heads to the cockpit and starts the launch checklist. The craft bobs slightly as the mooring lines are removed. Dirks moves to where he can be seen from the cockpit and waves. Once Grissom acknowledges him, he gives the thumbs up sign.

After completing the checklist, Grissom lets out his breath and opens the throttle and pulls back the yolk. The Daedalus takes to the sky in a fluid leap. The passengers can feel the acceleration as it presses them back into their seats. It is strong but not as jarring as anticipated.

The expedition is underway.

Chapter 5 - The Evening

After receiving instruction on the Daedalus and examining and packing the gear in its hold, the party is escorted back inside the manor once more by Vance Mercury. He announces, “We will be serving dinner in the dining room shortly. Those who are inclined may spend the night here at the manor. Accommodations have been made for you. The Daedalus will be moved to the launch pad and you will embark in the morning at first light.”

What follows is a pleasant dinner prepared by the middle-aged cook, Alice. The fare is simple but very tasty and filling. It consists of a garden salad, freshly baked bread, a beef stew, roasted lamb with potatoes, carrots and onions. Coffee is severed with desert, individual apple torts, and later drinks are offered again in the sitting room. The staff is very busy throughout the process of feeding the party. It appears that there are only the four staff members; Jefferies, the butler, Ms. Adele Westcott, the maid, Dirks, the grounds man, and Alice the cook. That seems to be too few for a property as large as the Mercury estate.

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.”