Posted by Gamemaster Robert Archer (GM) in Main Sim - Barovia Village - The Living-Dead?
[snip]

Around them the Vistani were finished packing up and as one began to move in rough southerly direction after discussion with their elderly woman from the night before.

GM CockRoach

The engineer climbing up the tree id not go past Will, his innate curiousness pushed him towards the tree, and with a stretched neck he looked up and called out “Anything interesting catch your eye?” He asked.

CSO

Chris laughed and was going to yell out *No. You’re supposed to say Find anything yet?!” But suppressed himself with great difficulty since he was in mixed company. He found the old lady and bowed to her. “Thank you allowing us to stay with you last night and the information and to partake in you morning meal. We will head out now to Barovia and find out what is going on and if we must I will talk to the Count with the really cool name. Good speed on your journey and future travelings ma’am.” He bowed again.

Turning to his crew he looked for his XO. “Commander! Assemble the troops and we will be off!”

Lord Taggart, Fellowship of the Warp

Bridie helped gather up her team and moved out when the Captain ordered it. The skirt was bothering her, wishing for her leggings at least, and pants at the best. But not one of the other women in the group of those they were with were wearing pants. So, unfortunately, she was stuck with her legs exposed in the outfit for another day. She wondered if she entered one of the tents at night and beamed out just for a shower and warm pants for a bit and returning in the morning, would be noticed.

Then her gaze looked to the Captain. He was managing, almost thriving. She wondered if his love of horror movies was anything to do with it. A few of the movies she had watched with him seemed to take place in wilderness type settings. Perhaps he was imagining himself in the role of hero in the movies he watched. She hoped so. Because if he was thinking of being the antagonist in his movies… the thought brought a slight smile to her lips. The man whose head was covered in spikes came to mind. He would certainly cut a deadly path and get what he wanted.... she left the thought fade off as she watched him command everyone with the aire of a Captain and the voice of someone that fit in this time and place.

Bridie
CE

Blaze landed on the ground after his trip up the tree “Nothing much to see sir just some smoke to the south and to the north. I believe the north area is the Barovia Village and Close to the mountain through the fog I see a castle” he said as he put his spy glass away “I even saw a lot of fruit in the trees thing that look like green apples and some animals looked like they are game to eat”

Ranger Blaze fellowship of the warp

“Excellent work Ranger (Blaze). We will head out towards the village and gather information there and along the way gather some grub.”

Lord Taggart CO Fellowship of the Warp

Ensign Valharra was in a crouched position, as part of the perimeter security. He was close enough to the camp that he could hear the crew’s conversations, but also far enough away to hear anyone or anything approaching. He was alert to everything going on.

Ensign Valharra, security Fellowship of the Warp

Mwezi stepped over to the Captain and stood near him, glancing around with a quiet expression on his face. He was curious about these beast folk the natives spoke of, if they were alike to him or not, how beastly they might be… His eyes glazed over, lost in thought for a few moments before he snapped back to attention, watching for any possible sources of trouble as they prepared to set off on their journey to this “Barovia” place.

Mwezi, CTO

After going over his gear one last time William was finally prepared to go with the group, he preferred to walk alone slightly to the side of the group. He liked to be able to blend into the crowd in case he needed to scan anything without being noticed.

CSO, 2O

Bridie moved up near the CSO. “Guess I’ll keep you company, if that’s all right. Can’t see a need for an engineer on a trip like this, but Captain wanted me along.” She tugged on her dress and sighed. “I’ll never complain about my jumper again, that’s for sure.” She smiled and nodded to him hoping he wasn’t going to claim he was sick, or wanted privacy or simply nod and walk off to join the Captain. Being new on the crew, she wasn’t part of any of the ‘cliques’ of the away team that had been formed. And a woman alone in this situation seemed like the wrong idea to pursue.

Bridie
CE, Fellowship tagger on

William turned his head slightly to the Engineer and shrugged “No problem” He turned his attention to the road ahead “The Captain doesn’t like to leave things to chance and seeing as we do not know what we will be facing I do not blame him” He explained as best he could. His gaze turned to the Captain for a moment “Although according to ship gossip it might be a personal preference of his” There was neither humour nor judgement in his voice, simple cold assessment, he looked forward again “Unfortunately I have a chatty staff that excel at spreading such inane clishmaclaver” He absentmindedly tapped his satchel as if to see if it was there “I understand you served on Mars?” His manner of speaking betrayed his lack of experience at small talk.

CSO, 2O

Bridie flushed slightly and glanced away out into the woods. “Well, this clishmaclaver isn’t far off the mark.” She looked back at him and shrugged. “You should know. I don’t want to publicise it to the the crew. But as his Second, you and the XO should both know. For good or ill.” She looked forward again and sighed. “I guess it’s a good thing he wants me around. And I know he’s keeping me at arm’s length cause of how many are around. But…” Saying it out loud, it sounded foolish and selfish.

Will simply nodded at her explanation, he hadn’t given any heed to the rumours going around the ship and was slightly surprised they turned out to be true, then of course Starfleet didn’t regulate inter-personal relations so he didn’t much mind.

When he mentioned Mars, she smiled once more and nodded. “Yes. Was an interesting experience.” She went on to make small talk about it with him for most of the day.
The walk north was a long one, almost an entire day in fact had passed as they neared a worn sign declaring Barovia Village and its gate was just ahead, night fall was already coming yet again after a little more then 12 hours walking on the dirt road. They were coming up to the gate when they found a gate guard in conversation it seems with a stunningly beautiful woman. The gate guard though was up on a wooden wall out of direct line of sight of her. “..Come now certainly you can open the gate just for me you wouldn’t let a woman like myself out in the cold would you?” She asked.

”..Afraid you don’t want to enter right now the living-dead are....restless in the town right now this coming night got orders to only open the gate to adventurers who seem able to counter them and you don’t seem it..” He replied.

GM CockRoach

As they approached and heard the excuses, she stepped to the outer edge of the group and turned to face them so she could keep an eye on their backs as well. The idea of ‘living-dead’ didn’t sit well in her gut, despite having no idea how someone could roam in such a state. She only knew that title being used on people in stasis. No one wandered around when in a cryo chamber.

Bridie
CE

Chris heard the conversation but not all of it. “Here, Here guard. I am Lord Taggart and this is my crew. If the young lady wishes, we will be more than happy to escort her inside. Now open the gate and tell us where the nearest Inn is.”

Lord Taggart, Fellowship of the Warp

The guard turned his gaze from the woman to Taggart, “..You lot? Only way I’m opening this gate is if you’re willing to fight the living-dead roaming around the village, last count put them at 12 or so. Odd that they walk at this time of year but that is beyond my knowledge..” He said.

GM CockRoach

“What is the point of training armed guards if they cannot combat what seems to be a regular problem” Will said quietly to his Engineering counterpart. Of course the captain was going to get involved in this, maybe this time William would get to negotiate a truce with undead lizardmen.

CSO, 2O