The Prologue (1941) - Part I

[jacemachine]

John follows Dr. Loder and heads over to Russo and the others to get them to the tavern.

"Get your gear together guys, I think it's better to relocate to a sturdier building were we can all stay until we're sure what happened here." he says as he holds aside the curtain in the door opening somewhat and looks outside.

The Kid looks up at Loder and Kestrel.

"Awwwww! Rats!" The Kid exclaims, "Russy... lo siento-- Russo and me just got that giant cannon put together!"

[Tarotdragoon]

"ah well kid, you can help me at the other end if you like" he gives them all a smirk and begins disassembling his gun wrapping it up rather hastily back in the Tarp

"here hold this" he said giving the kid the big heavy tripod, nodding to Paco and the mules, he shouldered his pack and carries the large wrapped gun cradled in his arm and resting on his shoulder and walks out the hut with the others.

"We found anything interesting? I heard a shot"

[j0lt]

"Nothing much, I think it was Eisen who was firing, but he didn't answer when I asked him.  I hope he didn't kill anyone...  Anyway, there's at least one survivor, though barely alive, in the tavern.  It's probably the best place for us all to hole up while we figure out what's going on.  Loder quickly translates for the two brothers and begins to lead them out the door.

[jacemachine]

Those making their way back from the huts near the front of the village pass through the sticky mud road leading through the mudbrick and thatch shacks of the village. Richard joins the group.

You pass by the wide well mouth, up onto the porch, and into the mouth of the Grateful Goat. 

As per Loder instructions, Esteban and his brother Paco help lead the mules into the interior of the bar itself. Immediately the newcomers of hit with the incredible stench of death.

Standing over the unconscious body of the filthy villager, identified as Muta the cheif's son were Max, Kestrel and Esien. John Kestrel had his gun trained on the unconscious form. Which had not moved since Loder had left him where he lay.

[Neull//]

[j0lt]

Jumping to his feet suddenly, Dr. Loder calls after Max.  "Wait, I'll go with you.  I want to test the well water...  Call it a hunch."

[Flay Crimsonwind]

[spoiler]Um, I was gonna explore a few huts a post or so back... I'm still down, if someone wants to come assist...?[/spoiler]

[BowenSilverclaw]

"Sure, sounds like a good idea." John says as he follows Max and Loder out the bar.

[Tarotdragoon]

the smell hits Russo like a wall he reels and gags a little

"Jesus christ guys!" he recoils and puts his bag down as far away from the smell and man as possible and stops the kid walking through "what a wonderful smell you've discovered, Jesus, best stay outside on this one kid, don't worry I'll join you in a second"

making sure his stuff is in order he shakes his head with a disgusted look on his face, he takes his canteen with him as well as that spiffy looking poncho the league had provided for him, then picks up two chairs and walks outside to the kid.

"put up the tripod, just there, on the decking, keep it well under the roof" propping the two chairs flush with the wall he offers the kid a drink and checks his watch
[spoiler] added to that I'm asking to see the weather and light, is it still light, I've just sorta assumed its cloudy to go along with our lovely drizzle I guess. I've played enough games to know this can be important [/spoiler]

"Thirsty?"

[j0lt]

"Why don't we split up then, I'm gonna go check out the well first, so I'll need a hand with that, and whoever else wants to go check out the other huts can accompany herr Eisen."  Loder says with a wink.

[Neull//]

OOC: Sorry Flay I missed that. I will try to wrap up everything in this post. 


"The water? hmmmmm..not bad doctor"

"John I suggest you accompany Dr Loder to the well I will assist Eisen on the investigation of the huts. We will meet you on the well and we can all check the chief's house"

Max makes his way towards huts 18, 29 and 21 where Eisen is already investigating.
"Anything in here Eisen?"

[BowenSilverclaw]

"Okay, you got everything you need Doc?"

[j0lt]

Grabbing one of the medical kits, Loder follows John out to the well.  "I'm going to have to rig up some way of determining whether this water is contaminated without my lab equipment..."

[jacemachine]

Eisen & Max

Structures #18 and #21 appeared empty, as if the people that had lived in them had simply walked away.

#29 The Dock.

The dock was a series of logs, cut down from the forest and tied together using heavy twine, also likely made from the plants in the forest. It was a good dock. Sturdy.

There were no boats of any kind moored to the dock. Nor any visible to ether direction of the river, at least as far as Eisen and Max could see before the rivers natural twists made it impossible to see what was around the bend.

The water itself was a brown color. It flowed from east to west, and somewhere to the north it joined with the Pasion River, or so Bones had said once during the journey to Orino Perro.

There was no sign of Bones, nor Pingo. Nor did you see this river boat of his.

EDIT: Pasion River name was previously omitted for some reason. Now it there, AND it's a hyperlink.

[jacemachine]

It was around 45 to 50 feet from the porch of "The Goat" to the well in the center of the village square.

Russo and The Kid could watch as Doctor Loder and Sergeant Kestrel made their way to the well. It had a low wall of stone surrounding it, at least 3 feet from the mud that it seemed to almost sink into.

Tied to a long slimy rope was a wooden bucket.

Peering into the well, one could not see the bottom.

[jacemachine]

[Neull//]

"Nothing in here Eisen...let's meet the others in the well"

Max moves back to join the others...

[j0lt]

Grimacing, Loder starts to pull the bucket up slowly.

[jacemachine]

Doctor Loder now has a bucket of water.

[j0lt]

Dr. Loder fills his empty flask with the well water and leaves the bucket sitting on the edge of the well.  "Got my sample..."

Next, Dr. Loder cups his hands and scoops up some water out of the bucket.  After performing a quick sniff test, he sips some into his mouth, swishes it around and spits it out.  If it weren't for the current circumstance and locale, you'd think he was a wine taster.

[spoiler]Knowledge: Earth & Life Sciences check to determine whether the water has been contaminated or poisoned = 26[/spoiler]