Fallout: Great White North

[Aarah]

Chris wasn't really sure what had gone on with Sophia's 'reading', but he wasn't interested enough to question it, not right now, at least.

He took another look at his pistol and doctor's bag; he'd done so numerous times already, but it made him feel reassured to know that everything was in order.

"Before we all go, we might be good taking some of this Rad-X, yeah? One less thing to worry about out there." He held a bottle in his hand, offering it to those gathered.

[Baloth-Kul]

"No need." Rick broke out his own bottle of Rad-X, and took a dose. If I live through the next hour, I'm damn well not dying to a little radiation.

[Unionhack]

"Yes, thank you." Luke told Chris as he accepted a dose. "Better safe than sorry."

[Kerr]

Rick took his own Rad-X and Anderson rejected the offer because he didn't need one. But everyone else took a pill from Chris and swallowed it to provide protection from radiation.

Leaving Johnny behind Bravo squad set out for the path through the hills Anderson had planned out. Their path was just at the edge of where the woods met the deforested zone meaning they could still use the trees for cover. Soon it became clear that leaving Johnny behind was the right call as their path involved a lot of narrow paths and steep inclines. After about 15 minutes of hiking they reached the cliff at the edge of the forest overlooking the logging camp. Just to the north they saw a path which wasn't overly steep that would lead them down the hill and towards the rear of the camp.

The group were looking at the logging camp from the west. The entrance was to the camp was to the south, a pallisade much smaller and weaker than the one at the Chinese camp surrounded the southern part of the camp. A single ghoul was standing guard there. It didn't look like something which could stand up to a truck. On the far side of the wall there appeared to be a large naked man impaled on a wooden spike, but he was too far away to make out without a scope and was facing away from them. To the north appeared to be an extremely large stretch of deforested land. Everything was brown and grey and there were the stumps of dead trees all over the place. For some such a landscape may have been what sprung to mind when they thought of The Wasteland, no doubt people were glad that Elk Lake was rather lush and brimming with life.

To the west, the cliff near where they were they could see two cave entrances, one near where they were at the top of the cliff and another at the bottom of the cliff, near the camp. According Chandler that's where the raiders got their water. They could also see some crops which were being grown and behind some fencing, the cattle which the majority of Bravo team were attempting to deliver to Camp Elk Lake.

In the centre of the camp were four wooden buildings painted red which appeared to be some kind of warehouses or admin buildings arranged in a square. The two closest to the cliff were single story building while the two further away were two story building. There was a square in the middle of the four buildings with various chairs in it and about 6 ghouls who were all just sitting about casually.

To the east of the camp was a large sawmill also painted red which appeared to be about four stories. There was a long rusted crane next to the sawmill.

Hidden:

It would have been a plastic bag for Rick had not a bottle, it's just one tablet, but whatever.

Do you guys want me to make a map in MS Paint? Because I can if you want, it would be a better job at showing you the layout than I just did.

[Baloth-Kul]

Hidden:

I don't think we need a map. Don't think I do, at least.

Before leaving the cabin, Rick hung up his winter coat. If we're going to be sneaking in, initially, I don't think blinding white is the best camouflage.

"Anderson, Sophia, take up your positions. Lester, with me--we need to make sure that cave is clear before we press forward. Everyone else, stay low and keep watch." Rick quietly instructed Bravo squad.

The Black Cat drew his pistol with his right hand, and kept his left on the handle of his combat knife. Crouching, Rick began to sneak his way towards the cave.

[Kerr]

Hidden:

Map Legend:
Light Blue Star: You Are Here
Green: Forrest
Pink: Deforested Land
Grey: Cliff
Purple: Cave entrance
Brown: Pallisade
Yellow: Crops.
Orange: The pen with the Moo Moos in it
Blue Triangle: Gathering of Ghouls
Rectangles with Black Exterior and Red Interior: Buildings
Square with Red Exterior and Black Interior: Crane

This post is just to add the map. I'll do other stuff in my next GM Post.

[Dirty Spaceman]

Lester nodded, and began follow Rick towards the cave. He crouched as well and drew his pistol, though as always he was ready to grab out his hatchet if things came to a close-quarters fight or ambush.

[Aarah]

As instructed, Chris stayed low and kept watch. Not that he needed these instructions; he'd been staying low as soon as he neared the area, and his eyes were watching keenly for any signs of movement.

Looking at the landscape from the height of the cliff, Chris absorbed the dull and barren view of the deforestation that lay below. It was truly chilling to think, let alone see, of the horrors that the war had done, and brought, to the world. He was glad he had been fortunate enough to be sheltered in a vault for the last 22 years; sure, it had its problems and restrictions, but everything seemed so bleak and depressing out here in the harsh reality of what the world had become.

He reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out the photograph kept within. A melancholy smile came across his face, as he looked down at a young version of himself, Seb, and their dad. His biggest hope was to help everything work out in Elk Lake, and then either take Seb and his family to Vault 5, or bring his Dad to the Chinese camp. That had been the point of all this. He'd set out to find his brother and reunite their family, and so far he had succeeded at the first part, he just had a bit further to go.

He returned the photo to his pocket and continued to keep an eye on the surroundings.

[Unionhack]

Luke crouched next to Chris, plasma defender drawn and doctor's bag slung across his chest. He had been in many life-or-death situations since the residents of his Vault took to the wastes to find a better life for themselves, but this one was easily the most tense yet.

As he peeked over their cover for the purpose of keeping an eye on the situation, he felt his pendant of Saint Luke graze the skin of his chest softly. He forgot that he had tucked it in earlier...

The good doctor looked up to the other; a man of similar temperament and inclination, and found an ally of peace in such a terse time. He smiled and asked a simple question. "Do you ever pray, Chris?"

[Aarah]

Chris shifted his position slightly, loosening his grip on his pistol for a moment, before firmly grasping it once again.

"Pray?" He turned to look at Luke.
"Mmm, not really. I'm not religious, but...I dunno, I still feel like there's someone watching us somewhere." He shrugged.
"I sometimes talk to that 'someone', you know, about the big things?"
He laughed and rubbed his nose, turning to look back down at the camp.
"Don't really know who I'm talking to though!"

[The SheoDovah]

Grace followed Rick's lead with her hand around her hatchet and her revolver ready to shoot.

Hidden:

Yeah, tis a crap post. Blame life for that.

[Kerr]

Anderson and Sophia did as Rick said and took up their positions overlooking the Raider camp. Jan sat on a rock near Chris and Luke.

Rick, Lester and Grace entered the cave, it wasn't particularly wide, only allowing them to walk double file. The ceiling of the cave was about 2 meters high, not allowing for much clearance. The walls were damp and all three knew that because the other entrance was at the bottom of the cliff that the cave at some point would involve a vertical descent, assuming that is, that the two entrances even connected. After a couple of meters the trio could hear a rustling up ahead, like somebody walking across foliage. And Rick could hear the faint patter of water about 10-15 meters ahead. However light from the entrance was quickly fading and it was becoming more difficult to see, they currently couldn't see more than a meter in front of their faces. Grace had a light on her Pip-Boy, as did Luke and Chris and it was possible one of the Black Cats had a light source they could use to illuminate the cave. However they could also turn back or hope that their eyes would adjust adequately enough and continue on in the dark.

Hidden:

revolver ready to shoot.

"Grace dropped her revolver, the bullet ricocheted off a wall and hit her in the head."

At least I think Grace has a Pip-Boy. I don't think there's one on your sheet, but I'm not going to say you can't retroactively add one.

[Baloth-Kul]

Hearing the movement ahead, Rick raised a hand to stop the others. He dropped to one knee, raised his pistol, and listened. Two feet? Four? Coming towards us, or moving away?

[Kerr]

A couple of seconds passed but Rick didn't hear any more movement from up ahead. Whatever it was must have stopped movement, even the rustling he had heard earlier only lasted a second.

[The SheoDovah]

Grace slowly turned on her pip boy's light and made her way towards Rick. She slowly pointed the device towards the noise whilst maintaining her grip on her gun.

[Kerr]

Grace stood next to Rick with Lester behind them. The Pip-Boy 3000 made a distinctive boop noise as she pushed a button and a bright green light flooded the cave. Unfortunately the light attracted the attention of the cave's resident whom they had all heard moving about just seconds earlier. Within a second of activating the light they heard a mighty growl as a large cougar leapt towards the source of the light which had just disturbed it, Grace

Grace felt a powerful claw dig into the armor covering her torso as she was knocked backwards to the ground, she dropped the hatchet that was in her left hand but maintained her hold on the magnum in her right. Grace was on her back, the big cat pinning her down. She was face to face with the beast as let out a terrifying snarl.

[The SheoDovah]

"[&@%!]!" Grace exclaimed as the source of the noise revealed itself to a cougar and was knocked backwards. She held onto her magnum and attempted to shoot it.

[Baloth-Kul]

Guns, no good, end up shooting Grace. Not going to stab it, get shot. Rick's tactical analysis raced through his mind within a single moment, adrenaline surging as he'd realized what had just happened.

Rick backed up so that Grace didn't end up shooting him, instead. He gripped his sidearm, then waited. If Grace didn't kill the cougar outright, he would shoot it in the face.

At least now we can see it.

[Kerr]

Twisting her elbow around Grace pointed her gun at the under left side of the cougar before shooting. The animal let out a whimper as it was knocked to the right, it turned its head to look at Rick who let off a shot of his own. The powerful magnum being discharged in such a narrow area sent out a reverb and a deafening disorientating noise blared in the trio's ears. It was only exacerbated by a second gunshot from Rick. The bullet skimmed the surface of the cougar's left eye, bounced off the cave floor and became embedded in the wall. The cougar dashed past Lester and started making its way towards the mouth of the cave.

Those outside the cave heard two gunshots coming from inside the cave in quick succession. Jan got to his feet and crouched slightly, he aimed the shotgun at the mouth of the nearby cave.

[Baloth-Kul]

"That's enough, let it go!" Rick yelled, though he wasn't sure if his voice was any louder than the damnable blaring in his own ears.

He looked down at Grace to confirm that she wasn't bleeding out. Satisfied, Rick hurried back the way they'd came. Damn it, they better not open fire on that cat...

[The SheoDovah]

Grace pointed her gun at the underside of the cougar and pulled the trigger. She instantly regretted firing her revolver in such a small enclosed space but it was preferable to being eaten alive. "[&@%!]!" She exclaimed as the gunshot resulted in a defeaning noise as a result of her magnum followed by Rick's gunshot, which caused it to increase. "I'm ok!" She half-shouted and was very glad that her armour held up well against the beast. She sat up and used her pip boy light to search for the hatchet. Once found, she would pick it up.

Hidden:

Then Kerr throws a dozen more Cougars at me.

[Dirty Spaceman]

At the sudden appearance of the cougar Lester had reached for his hatchet, but the two gunshots in short succession prevented him from attacking the animal with it, due to both the disorienting noise and the rational thought of staying out of the line of fire. After Grace's confirmation that she was fine, Lester stowed the hatchet at his belt once more and ran back towards the entrance after Rick

[Kerr]

The Pip-Boy light was illuminating an area of a few meters around Grace, there wasn't much need to point it at anything. She quickly found her hatchet and picked it back up. She coughed and felt a pain on her upper left torso, the weight of the cougar would no doubt leave a bruise. She also felt the tips of the animal's claws scratch her chest but didn't know how badly she'd actually been hurt or if the claws had even pierced the skin.
---
Rick and Lester chased the wounded cougar out of the cave. Jan had been aiming his shotgun at the entrance but held his fire as the animal ran for the treeline. By the time Rick and Lester reached the mouth of the cave, the animal was no longer in sight. But both men were easily able to see the trail of blood leading towards the woods.

"Got movement down here! Must have heard the shots!" Sophia shouted, loud enough for everyone except Grace to hear. "It time for the flare?" Jan asked Rick, running towards the man. Everyone knew that firing the flare gun was the signal Constance was waiting for before she'd start her attack.

[The SheoDovah]

Grace groaned as she felt the pain flare up in her chest and had felt it scratch her but did it do worse then that? "Gonna to need a moment to check myself!" She half-shouted to Rick and Lester after retrieving her hatchet. Once Rick and Lester were back, she would proceed to check herself for any further injuries.

[Kerr]

Grace took off the jacket and combat armor covering her torso. A single claw had torn through the exterior of her Vault Jumpsuit. A section of her chest was red, starting to bruise, however it looked like the scratch was fortunately slight having left a mark but not piercing the skin.

Grace no doubt dreaded to think what would have happened if she'd been attacked while she wasn't wearing armor.