JMHthe3rd
Not too sore, are you?
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Chapter Fourteen
Saturday, August 8th, 2015
(Your phone) 12:01 PM
"Eddie. Heartstone," you say.Saturday, August 8th, 2015
(Your phone) 12:01 PM
Wordlessly, he hands you the red sphere, which dims in your palm. You pass it to Maribel, whose fingers envelop its glassy surface. At her touch, the stone shifts to cyan and brightens, bathing you all with an ethereal glow which casts an almost fluorescent sheen to the sofas' white sheets.
The air stirs, and your body grows buoyant. Vertigo reels your brain; your stomach lurches. The couch you're kneeling on bobs an inch. By the wall, the crate of tools jiggles as though alive.
"Mind turning the gravity back on?" Helen says, still perched on the opposite sofa. She doesn't look away from her scope, though her eyes are teary from the gas.
You pat your baby sister's shoulder. "Easy, Maribel."
Crouched on the floor, she clutches the heartstone like a squirrel with an acorn star. Her watery eyes shimmer. Your weight returns. The levitations settle. Around you, wispy tear-gas ghosts swirl and stream out the kitchen window as they sing a breezy wail.
Outside, wet patterings cross the grass--closer now. You aim your shotgun at the backdoor's window. Beside you, Eddie cocks his golden revolver.
Footsteps quicken into thuds. A tall, lumbering shape barrels from the Fog and slams into the door, which splinters inward but jars against the breakfast table wedged under the knob. Pressed against the window, the creature is caught in the heartstone's pale light.
The Deep One is not what you expected. He wears a wide-brimmed 'doughboy' World War One helmet and a leathery gas mask with round lenses and a tin can mouth. His padded vest is thick with woven plates and festooned with grenades and ammo pouches. For a heartbeat you think he might be human, but his bare, burly arms are a muddy blue glistening with tiny scales.
He raises a pump shotgun in his stubby, webbed claws. Good thing you have a shotgun too.
You pull the trigger. A mule kicks your shoulder. Fire flashes out the muzzle. A boom claps your eardrums.
The Deep One staggers, returns fire, but it shoots high. Glass sprays over your head. Eddie's shaky shot leaves a cracked spiderweb in the window's upper corner.
The Deep One stumbles to its left, out of your line of sight. It's muffled, loose-syllabled curses bay over the ringing in your ears. A second, lighter voice bleats a reply. Two pairs of feet--one limping--lope eastward along the patio flagstones.
You blink back after-images, then squint at the smoking, baseball-size hole through the breakfast table and the door. You fired low. Did you hit the Deep One's leg? Groin? A giddiness floods through you. Panting, you fidget with your weapon, flexing numbness out of your fingers.
"Everyone all right?" you ask louder than you intended.
Eddie nods, twisting a pinkie in his ear.
"I'm good," Helen says. She's aiming her carbine at the shot-up window, her expression drawn in a scared-monkey grimace. Sweat and grease glazes her face.
Maribel seems to shiver, though it's hard to tell with her powers snake-dancing her hair. "Hey, guys! It's . . . it's like I can touch through the air. I can feel the fishies move. There's two there." She points east, at the bedroom behind the stairs. "And two there." She points north, at the front doors.
As if on cue, wood crunches, glass breaks.
Helen trains her rifle on the entryway vestibule. She hunches low like a cat stalking prey. "I got this."
The doors fly open, and two Deep One troopers storm into the great hall's stark lamplight. One has a shotgun, the other a large sidearm. Helen's carbine cracks. The one with the shotgun flinches, but then fires at the Fort. A chunk of armchair explodes from the front barricade. The one with the pistol holds out as though to shoot, but the weapon makes neither bang nor flash.
Your twin wracks the lever, fires again. The Deep Ones scamper across the checkerboard floor towards the cover of the den.
The engagement takes little much more than a second, but it's enough for a decent look. Even with their helmets, masks and body armor, these Deep Ones are obviously nothing like the rubber-suited monsters from the 'Fish Men' movies. Those were reptile superman with spiky hides and rippling muscles--more akin to alligators than fish or frogs.
The creatures before you are not so impressive. They are big--taller than you and perhaps twice as heavy. But they're awkwardly proportioned, with an overly stout top-heaviness that reminds you of cartoon strongmen. Their bandy, blue legs (half covered by webbed kilts) end with broad, flipper feet that force them to nearly hop as they run. They were much more imposing in the nightmare, but there they were in their natural environment.
A Deep One blasts his shotgun from the den's doorway. Helen fires. He ducks back.
"Goddammit, what do you want from us?" you shout. It can't hurt to ask.
Guttural croaking answers.
"I don't know what they want, but I know what they're gonna get!" Helen says, peering feverishly through the scope, her teeth bared in a savage Cheshire grin. "You hear me, you fish fucks? This is Texas, and you're home invaders!" Her carbine spits another round.
She's defaulted to bravado, which means she's terrified. You are too.
Eddie picks something off the floor and rolls it between thumb and forefinger. He shows you the black shotgun slug, about the size and shape of a thimble. "It's rubber," he says and then motions at the wall above the forward sofa. A small silver dart with feathery fletching pokes from the wood paneling.
"A tranquilizer," you guess.
Eddie stares at his revolver. "They're after me. And Maribel."
Maribel curls inward, but her eyes remain fixed on the heartstone.
"They'll never take us alive!" Helen boasts.
More glass shatters. It's from the bedroom down the narrow hall. You peek around the corner, but the room's door is shut. The floorboards creak with footfalls. Throaty murmurs carry through the wall.
"There's two in there," Maribel whispers.
They're probably the ones who attacked the backdoor, which means one is full of shot. The piled up dining room chairs will keep them from rushing the hall, but now the Deep Ones can shoot at you from two directions.
"Are there any more outside?" you ask.
"I don't think so," Maribel says. "If there are, they're away from the house."
You lean close to your brother, catching a whiff of bad breath. "Eddie, get down to the basement. Do what you can with the witchboard."
"But it might take hours to--"
You grip his skinny biceps. "Do something! Do anything! Just try!"
"It's a Hail Mary," Helen says, "but what do we have to lose?"
He chews his lip rings. "Okay." Grabbing the Klostermanns book, he leaves the revolver on the sofa. "Don't anyone die, all right?" With his flashlight, he descends the stairs in a duck walk.
"Good luck," Helen says.
The tear gas is all but gone, but the faint, windy howls continue. Across the great hall, a wide, gray dust devil whirls in the den's doorway, and though the Deep Ones are out of sight, they jabber in annoyance. A similar commotion emanates from the bedroom.
"I tried to pick up the fishies," Maribel says, her words wan and distant, "but they're too heavy. So I'm blowing air around to make them dizzy."
"Nice," Helen says.
The Deep Ones in the bedroom speak up, their voices dampened by the walls. The ones in the den respond. They have discussion.
"Hai grah'n fm'latgh ep ah!"
"Mnahn' ep ah hai!"
"Nog mn mnahn!"
"Hlirhg! Hai! Hai! Ep hai!"
"Ba! Ba!"
Helen laughs. "What's the matter, fish? Got cold feet?"
You chuckle more from fear than humor. In truth, the emotion is but a weary resolve tainted only somewhat by dread. To consider unspeakable 'ifs' would petrify you, so you ride the detached moment, basking in the hurricane's eye. The adrenaline helps, you're sure.
Propped on the rear sofa, leveling your shotgun at the bedroom door, you glance back at Maribel. Her attention is now submerged fully in the heartstone, her dark pupils sparkling in the radiance like moonlit pools. She trembles. Perspiration beads her brow.
Over the whirlwinds in the den and bedroom come mechanical clack-clack, clack-clacks that your recognize as the wracking of shotgun slides. Objects fall and roll on the floor. The Deep Ones are ejecting their ammo. The sound is soon followed by the softer click-shink, click-shinks of shells being fed into tube magazines. You imagine these won't be rubber.
"They're taking off the kid gloves." Helen says. She fumbles in a vest pocket and hands you three long, obsidian shells: Black Stilettos--armor piercing. She also has three Thunderfists--explosive slugs. The rest of the special shells (including the Atomic Wraths) are in the basement.
Should you join Eddie down there? Since the Deep Ones are--apparently--giving up on capturing you, it may be prudent to retreat to a position with a single entry point. You and Helen could cover the stairs while Maribel maintains her aeromancy distractions.
On the other hand, the Deep Ones don't have to shoot their way into the basement. They could stay upstairs and toss tear gas through the door. You don't know how many of those grenades they have, but you'll err on the side of 'too many.' And you don't know how long Maribel can keep up her magic, even with the heartstone. It might be better to hold Fort Sofa. Helen seems to have the ones in the den pinned down. You just have to cover the bedroom.
There doesn't seem to be a good option, but you have to choose.
***
Chapter End Time
Saturday, August 8th, 2015
(Your phone) 12:02 PM
Saturday, August 8th, 2015
(Your phone) 12:02 PM
***
Inventory has been updated. Next I'll update the Notes and References. I know the vote was to retreat to the basement if it devolves into a shootout, and the default still is 'retreat,' but you're free to change your vote in light of this chapter's developments.
Voting will remain open until the evening of next Friday, July 1st.
Here is an updated tactical map. I hope it makes sense. I'll post a more cleaned up version later. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
The greened in areas indicate estimated locations of the Deep Ones. You can't see them, but this is more or less where you think they are. The blurred areas are Maribel's dust devils.
Tactical Summary: You think one Deep One in the bedroom is wounded (it was limping). Helen may or may not have wounded one of the Deep Ones in the den (it flinched, but then again it's wearing body armor). At least two of the Deep Ones are armed with what look like to be pump-action shotguns. One was carrying handgun of some sort, which based on the silver dart in the wall, may have been a tranquilizer pistol.
Here's your party's current inventory:
Inventory has been updated. Next I'll update the Notes and References. I know the vote was to retreat to the basement if it devolves into a shootout, and the default still is 'retreat,' but you're free to change your vote in light of this chapter's developments.
Voting will remain open until the evening of next Friday, July 1st.
Here is an updated tactical map. I hope it makes sense. I'll post a more cleaned up version later. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
The greened in areas indicate estimated locations of the Deep Ones. You can't see them, but this is more or less where you think they are. The blurred areas are Maribel's dust devils.
Tactical Summary: You think one Deep One in the bedroom is wounded (it was limping). Helen may or may not have wounded one of the Deep Ones in the den (it flinched, but then again it's wearing body armor). At least two of the Deep Ones are armed with what look like to be pump-action shotguns. One was carrying handgun of some sort, which based on the silver dart in the wall, may have been a tranquilizer pistol.
Here's your party's current inventory:
Inventory
- Dodge SUV with trailer, half tank of gas (Parked in front of the house)
- Water: 5-gallon water jugs (4)
- Fuel
- Gas can
- Vehicles
- Dirt bikes (2)
- Kayaks (2)
- Skateboards (2)
- Water
- 5-gallon water jugs (4)
- Bottled water (16)
- Food
- Food for three or four days (1/2th of a day used)
- Boxes of snacks, sandwiches.
- Mini-fridge
- Styrofoam cooler
- Food for three or four days (1/2th of a day used)
- Medicine
- First aid kit (Fort Sofa)
- Misc. Medicine (Fort Sofa)
- Weapons
- Halberd (Fort Sofa)
- Ammo
- Box of ammunition for the Golden Revolver (100 bullets, blunt tip) (2 boxes) (Cardboard box, Fort Sofa)
- Box of ammunition for the Golden Revolver (14 bullets, 'Stilettos'?) (Cardboard box, Fort Sofa)
- Box of ammunition for the Golden Revolver (10 bullets, 'Ice bullets'?) (Cardboard box, Fort Sofa)
- Box of .38 Special (50) (Bedroom behind stairs)
- Boxes 9mm Parabellum (No inventory taken, but hundreds of rounds found in the basement) (Basement)
- Boxes of 7.57Ln Shot Shells (83) (Basement)
- Boxes of 7.57Ln Slug Shells (77) (Basement)
- Box of 7.57Ln Black Stilettos (10) (Basement)
- Box of 7.57Ln Thunderfists (6) (Basement)
- Box of 7.57Ln Atomic Wrath (5) (Basement)
- Camping Supplies
- Changes of Clothes
- Floor lamps (4)
- Propane Generator
- Fuel: 5-gallon propane tanks (8)
- Tents (4)
- Misc. camping gear
- Electronics
- Eddie's laptop
- Maribel's Tablet
- 1950's Portable Radio
- Research Items/Artifacts
- Hieroglyphic book
- Old computer
- Volume 1 of Uncle Grubb's Journal
- Various books and letters taken from the library and bedroom
- Tools/Hardware
- Ax
- Box of Nails and Screws
- Chainsaw (Rusted)
- Claw hammers (2)
- Collapsible ladder (12ft, can telescope to 24ft)
- Drill
- Hacksaw
- Hatchet
- Hedge Clippers
- Hoe
- Jumper Cables
- Machete
- Roll of Twine
- Shovels (2)
- Sledgehammer
- Tacklebox with fish hooks and string.
- Tire iron
- Wood floorboards, 3ft long (5)
- Wood planks (12)
- Wrenches and pliers
- Armor
- Normal clothes (Jeans, button up shirt, shoes, etc)
- Weapons
- Ernestine-Wettin Ancestral Sword
- Eirohm 7.57Ln Triple Barrel Shotgun (Loaded: 2/3 shot shells)
- Ammo: 7.57Ln Shot shells (3, shirt pocket)
- Ammo: 7.57Ln Slug shells (3, shirt pocket)
- Ammo: 7.57Ln Black Stilettos (3, hand)
- Leather scabbard for shotgun
- Ernestine-Wettin Ancestral Sword
- Personal Effects
- Wallet, Drivers Licence, Credit Cards
- $300 Cash
- Electronics
- Smartphone
- Keys
- Ring of old fashion keys
- Magic Items
- Copied Runic Diagram (Anti-Fog)
- Mysterious Amulet
- Artifacts.
- Strange Newspaper
- $560 in Earth-1901 money
- Utility/Tools
- Flashlight
- Bag of Herbs
- Spoon
- Armor
- Normal Clothes (T-shirt, jeans, sneakers, snapback hat
- Hiking Vest (Very Light Armor: Torso)
- Weapons
- .38 Special Revolver (Loaded: 6/6 rounds)
- Ammo: Box of .38 Special ammo (50 bullets)
- Elvish Carbine (Loaded: 5/9 rounds, standard)
- Boxes, (~250 bullets, 36 'Black Stilettos')
- Extra cylinders (2)
- Aunt Esha's saber
- Ammo:
- 7.57Ln Shot Shells (4)
- 7.57Ln Slug Shells (4)
- 7.57Ln Thunderfists (3)
- .38 Special Revolver (Loaded: 6/6 rounds)
- Personal Effects
- Wallet, Credit Cards, Etc
- Cash?
- Keys
- Glass Pipe
- Lighter
- Bag of Marijuana
- Sunglasses
- Electronics
- Smartphone
- Earbuds
- Magic Items
- Copied runic diagram ('Anti-Fog')
- Artifacts
- A few Teddy Roosevelt 'novelty dollars'
- Utlity/Tools
- Flashlight
- Bag of Herbs
- Spoon
- Olive-green canvas bag, moldy (contains Carbine ammo).
- Armor
- Normal Clothes (T-shirt, jeans, shoes, etc)
- Weapons
- Ammo: Box of 93 bullets for the golden revolver
- Holster for golden revolver
- Personal Effects
- Wallet
- Cash?
- Keys for SUV
- Bag of marijuana (bad quality)
- Electronics
- Smartphone
- Earbuds
- Magic Items
- Copied runic diagram ('Anti-Fog') (x2)
- Utility/Tools
- Flashlight
- Bag of Herbs
- Spoon
- Armor
- Normal Clothes (t-shirt, jeans, sneakers, etc)
- Electronics
- Smartphone
- Earbuds
- Magic Items
- Heartstone
- Copied runic diagram ('Anti-Fog')
- Utility/Tools
- Flashlight
- Bag of Herbs
- Spoon
If you like this quest, please vote.
The Deep Ones are in the den and the bedroom behind the stairs. They're loading their shotguns--probably with lethal ammo this time.
[ ] Stand your ground.
[ ] Grab your supplies and retreat to the basement. (Default)
[ ] Write in.
Your shotgun has two shot shells remaining. Helen has given you three Black Stiletto armor piercing shells. She also has three Thunderfists explosive shells. You yourself have 3 shot and 3 slug shells in the pockets of your shirt. Do you choose to reload, and if you do, which ammo do you use?
[ ] Write in.
Anything else you want to do concerning firearms?
[ ] Write in.
Maribel is distracting the Deep Ones with swirling dust devils. Should she do anything else?
[ ] Write in.
If you stand your ground, any additional tactical ideas?
[ ] Write in.
If you retreat to the basement, what should you do while in there?
[ ] Write in.
Anything else you want to add?
[ ] Write in.
You can safely ignore the results below. They're won't come into play until later, and by then they might be obsolete.
The four of you sense an evil presence. Eddie and Maribel feel the Deep Ones are just outside.
[ ] Try to board up the windows.
[ ] Retreat to the basement, lock the door.
[ ] Use furniture to make a barricade on the landing midway up the stairs, and retreat to the basement and lock the door as per Eddie's idea if too many hostiles enter the house for us to fight off.
-[ ] Eddie says there's no time to board up the windows, and Helen makes the good point that if we hole up in the basement we don't know how long that'll take. There's no reason we can't first try Helen's suggestion, and go with Eddie's plan if things go south.
-[X] Alternate bullet types until you find one that works. (Accepted)
-[X] Get Maribel to whirlwind your packets or herbs and salt out onto the enemy. It might do something, and she shouldn't be shooting anyway. (Accepted)
[ ] It's probably just our imagination. Let's get back to reading.
[X] Immediately retreat to the basement if there are too many of them. Prioritize safety.
Should Maribel try to contact the fairies?
[ ] Yes
-[ ] If we have time.
[10] No
[X] That's not the plan, but if combat happens and things start to look real, real bad, we're getting overwhelmed, the guns and magic-swirled spices aren't helping (or aren't helping enough), then it's worth a shot. (Accepted)
[X] If we're holed up in the basement and combat isn't happening, it might be helpful to see if she can contact Elfstar -- not sure if he'll be reachable or friendly or knowledgable, but perhaps he's more likely to be friendly than the fairies. "SOS, stuck in Uncle Grubb's basement, fog around house, Deep Ones coming -- what should we do?" -- this is only a good idea if there's a gap in time. (Accepted)
If you retreat into the basement, is there anything you would like to add?
[X] Grab what supplies we can safely do so on our way, such as ammunition.
[X] Gather water, food, and as much high tech equipment that is fragile as possible. Turn off the generator, etc. (Compromise. Will be discussed. Aside from flashlights, the generator lamps are the only light in the great hall. Turning it off would make things very dark)
[X] Things to make sure we have, downstairs, in order of priority: anything we know is useful for fog-dispelling, any more ammunition; water; food.
[X] We must grab any weapons which could be used against us (e.g. Halberd.)
[X] Once down there, see if Eddie can turn off the fog (at least enough to turn away the Deep Ones).
[X] Eddie could try scribing runes on the door? Things to force the fog/ fishmen away, if possible, or just reinforcing it.
If combat occurs, is there any tactical ideas you have in mind?
[X] Keep Maribel out of the fighting if possible. Flee to the basement if it looks like we can't fight them off.
[X] Have Maribel use the heartstone and swirl the spices through the air into the Deep Ones. Try to intimidate them into fleeing before resorting to combat.
[X] If combat occurs, Burt is in front with the shotgun and sword, with Helen and the carbine and saber behind him. Followed by Marbel using magic. Eddie should focus on figuring out the damn runes and drawing us some kind of protection ward, since that's likely what we need most to actually survive.
[X] If it gets to violence, Maribel and Eddie should act as spotters, since the location is open from 3 sides, while Burt and Helen act as shooters. Eddie could join in in a pinch if things get hot, but normally he should be charged with reloading the guns so that the adults don't get distracted. Thankfully, we have spares.
[X] If something/someone enters, try to intimidate them and get them to back off. Maybe Maribel can do some creepy magic stuff. Don't open fire until everyone is behind the barricade.
[X] If there are more than two enemies, retreat to the basement immediately.
[X] Don't attack them if they show signs of holding back at a certain distance -- i.e. not attacking us.
[X] Aeromancy may have effects on the fog. Theheartstone should be on Eddie so he can do some stuff. Helen and we should have the axe and saber, at least.
Below is the long term votes that have yet to be played. You can change your votes or elaborate, or you can just ignore this section.
Four 5-gallon water jugs are left in the trailer.
[ ] Everyone go out together and get then.
[ ] Eddie and Maribel go out and get them while you and Helen watch from the front doors.
[6] Leave the water in the trailer for now.
-[X] We have four 5-gallon water jugs, that's about 80 litres. If we're careful about consumption that will last us for quite a while; making food, washing and staying hydrated can be done on a scale of ~2 litres a person a day in a temperate climate, so we've got almost three weeks' supply already if we're careful.
[ ] Write in.
Helen thinks Eddie should drive us out of the Fog.
[ ] Yes, we should have Eddie drive us out of here.
-[X] We might not still be on Earth with the Fog being what it is...should check.
[12] No, it's too dangerous.
-[X] We have found a lot of helpful things in the house so far. We should look for more before leaving.
-[X] The way out feels less safe now than it did before we went out into the fog; Eddie driving us out using the hearthstone is a plan of desperation, not least due to the risk of us idly stepping out of the vehicle as it's moving or something...
-[X] Given the effect it has on the two H's, we realistically cannot leave the house until we've done *something* about the Fog.
[X] The runes let us see in the fog, rather than driving the fog back (look at how each of us can see a different distance, based on how attuned we are to magic). I think right now we should aim to leave about when we originally planned - after staying three days. (Conditionally Accepted, may be discussed later)
Maribel wants to contact the fairies. (Instructions in The Biology of Woodland Fairies)
[5] Yes
-[X] But try to find out more about them first.
-[X] Eddie should keep an eye on her, but should not interfere unless there is a dire need.
-[X] Let her try and talk to the faeries, after discussing the plan with you and the others. Eddie should stay near her, so he can drag her back if she decides to do something stupid, like enter the woods. If you have found rope, tie a rope to her for extra safety.
[ ] No, not now
The brick wall in the alcove seems to have once been a doorway. What do you want to do?
[5] Not urgent, but I want to smash this down and see what's behind it.
-[X] I don't think this is likely to be dangerous like the metal doors, but it could be pretty time-consuming. Test a brick or two; if they seem supremely easy to move then let's go ahead and check behind there, otherwise let's do it later. (I agree there's a good chance it's Esha's grave...)
-[X] After retrieving supplies from outside, see if you can knock down the bricks. A secret passageway, perhaps?
[ ] Leave it be. We'll worry about it once we know more about magic.
[ ] Write in.
Any strategies concerning Eddie and Maribel's powers?
[8] Maribel seems to be happy practicing with her powers on her own; Eddie's seem to be more draining. We should be making an ongoing effort to find texts for them to learn from, safe-seeming artifacts for them to practice with, etc. These powers are likely to be vital at some stage.
-[X] Have them continue to use them for the sake of practice, to gain greater familiarity with their powers.
-[X] Eddie should read the books from the basement. They seem like they would help him.
--[2]Klostermanns Theoretisch Runelogie(Klostermann's Theoretical Runeology) (Accepted)
-[X] Helen or Burt should read the books about elves, see what Maribel should be capable of and how to best develop her. There are some books on phenomenas among elves. (Helen will readPsychical Phenomena Among the Elves)
-[X] Encourage them to experiment in areas without important books and where they won't do a lot of damage otherwise. Let them decide for themselves how to best go about it.
-[5] Preserve the wood cut out from the floor and use it to try and close off the broken windows. Perhaps combined with some plastic sheets?
[X] Try to use Aunt Esha's sword on the bricked over section in the basement. (You did, it might be easier to just use the sledgehammer.)
-[X] And the safe.
-[X] Proceed with caution - they may be closed for a reason, and we don't want to damage anything inside.
-[X] Try to use the halberd if the sword does not work well on the bricks. (Compromise: It will be discussed. Using an explosive weapon in an enclosed space may be unwise.)
What else should you do?
[10] Stay together.
-[2] At least until we've dealt with the Fog, we should probably go easy on splitting up.(Accepted)
-[2] Use the instructions in The Biology of Woodland Fairies to contact the fairies. (Accepted, after Maribel reads up on them)
--[1] Read it first. Are the fairies going to know anything about the runic diagram? Maaaaybe? If so, we want to ask them about it.
-[ ] Read something from the attic.
--[ ] The Elvish-Germanese dictionaries .
--[ ] The Elvish children's books.
---[ ] Shubba und Wolff's Illustriertes Deutsche-Jahag Wörterbuch (Illustrated dictionary)
---[ ] Write in
--[ ] Ein Elfen Odyssee: Kapitän Meero D'Mirsky die Reise in die Venda-Ka Abfall. ('An Elvish Odyssey')
--[3] Die Magie der Welt-Springen. ('The Magic of World Jumping') (Accepted)
---[3] Klostermanns Theoretisch Runelogie(Klostermann's Theoretical Runeology) still takes priority, though.
--[ ] Look in the attic for something else to read. Anything specific?
-[5] Try to translate more of Uncle Grubb's journals (Note: Your skills with Latin will help).
--[3] We should read Die Magie der Welt-Springen instead. (Accepted)
--[X] We should definitely keep doing this, but it's not a priority right now. (Accepted, Eddie's reading takes priority)
--[X] Use the old spreadsheet program to try to decipher some of the runic content. (Note: The glossary in Die Welt der Zwerge und Trolle may also help)
-[ ] Go back to the 'Germanese' notes Uncle Grubb made in the hieroglyphic book. (Note: Your skills with Latin will help).
--[ ] Use the old spreadsheet program to try to decipher some of the runic conent. (Note: The glossary in Die Welt der Zwerge und Trolle may also help)
-[ ] Try to translate the letters found in the closet (You can only try to translate the 'Germanese' ones).
-[ ] Read a book from the library.
--[ ] The Encyclopedia Britannica.
--[1] Have Helen read Psychical Phenomena Among the Elves .Helen barely even skimmed this. (for information on Maribel's powers) (Accepted, but reading the correspondence takes priority)
--[ ] The World Almanacs.
--[ ] The Lost Treasure of Min'Karanda
--[ ] Psychical Phenomena Among the Elves .Helen barely even skimmed this.
--[ ] Or something else? What are you looking for?
-[ ] Read another book from the study.
--[ ] Read The Biology of Woodland Fairiesand see if Eddie missed anything.
--[ ] Read Visions of Y'ha-nthlei, see if Eddie missed anything.
--[ ] Read On God's Ring: The Great Transmigration and the New Age of Colonialism yourself, see if you can catch anything Eddie missed.
--[ ] Look over the science books and the map. (Note: You probably lack the necessary science skills to understand this)
-[ ] Read the Elvish religious book (?) found in the attic tower (Note: You don't know Elvish. Even with the children's dictionary, this will take a long time to translate).
-[1] Read a book in the basement.
--[1] Klostermanns Theoretisch Runelogie(Klostermann's Theoretical Runeology) (Accepted, will help Eddie translate.)
--[ ] Das Neue Platonismus (The New Platonism)
--[ ] Eine Abhandlung über Panpsychismus (A Treatise on Panpsychism)
--[ ] Void , Substanz und das Träumen Gott(Void, Substance and the Dreaming God)
--[ ] Das Welt und das Abyss (The World and the Abyss)
--[ ] Or something else? What are you looking for?
-[ ] Read something in the rec room.
--[ ] 'Zyklopädie der Neuen Welt' ('Cyclopedia of the New World')
--[ ] Try to translate the Elvish encyclopedia.
--[ ] Try to translate the Elvish diary.
--[ ] Examine the hieroglyphic book with the strange blueprints.
--[ ] Read Uncle Grubb and Elfstar's correspondence.
---[2] Have Helen read Uncle Grubb and Elfstar's correspondence. (Accepted)
-[ ] Try to analyze the 'anomalous audio' from Maribel's EVP tape.
--[ ] Anything to look for specifically? Any specific methods? Write in.
-[ ] Experiment with the Ouija board and tape recorder. See if you can replicate what happened last night.
--[ ] Write in.
-[ ] Continue exploring
--[ ] The roof deck. Try to find a way up there.
--[ ] Explore somewhere else? Write in.
-[ ] Try to connect the rec room's 16mm projector and play reels of film.
-[ ] Play music from the rec room's Elvish photograph.
-[1] Look for specialized literature on the following subjects: elves, Heartstone, Spinoza's Fog (or Spinozas Nebel), Welt-Springer (it's a dynasty, what are they known for?), D'yute (or the Autumn city), and any of related entries that can help us determine what we are currently dealing with. What books might be of interest to us? That should narrow down our immediate reading list that has grown completely out of proportions. (Accepted)
-[1] Start rationing food and water. Don't use the shower. (Accepted)
-[2] Get started on translating a Germanese text. An introductory, practical text on rune magic, if one is available. If not, then Klostermanns Theoretisch Runelogie. (Accepted)
[X] When you pass by the bedroom behind the stairway, grab the rest of the Teddy Roosevelt dollars. You might end up in Earth 1901, in which case local currency would be helpful.
-[ ] Write in.
If you read a book or do some other solo activity, what should the others do?
-[3] This is lower priority than the trailer, but -- we have a lot of books we need to absorb information from. I would like to distribute the task of book-reading and information-collection.
--[3] In particular, Maribel seems to have an interest in the Elvish/German illustrated dictionary. Also, there seems to be a good chance that she has elf blood, and the concept of genetic memory may not be pure woo in this world. Maybe she'll have an easier time learning Elvish than us? Let's try to push this a little farther, see if, say, using the illustrated dictionary as a reference, she can make out the meaning of the Elvish children's books. Maybe this is the thing that the stone-experimentation is the carrot for. (Attempted, didn't work. May try again later?)
---[X] If this turns out to be a complete dead-end, Maribel can instead read The Biology of Woodland Fairies. (Accepted)
---[X] Have Maribel read something from the attic.
----[X] The Elvish children's books. (for teaching Maribel Elvish) (Accepted, bur reading about fairies takes priority)
--[2] Have Eddie read a book from the basement.
---[2] Whatever Eddie thinks useful. (for information on Eddie's powers)
---[2] Meanwhile, have Eddie or Helen read Psychical Phenomena Among the Elves. It may help understand Maribel's magic. (Accepted, Helen will read)
---[2] Have Helen read Uncle Grubb and Elfstar's correspondence.
----[X] Don't force the issue. If they want to do something else that makes sense, let them.
Priorities:
[2] Fog first, fog first, fog first. I think if we can make progress with one problem, we'll all feel a lot better about our chances here.
-[X] I guess some reading is a worthwhile approach there - trying to find a later part of Grubb's journals? Using the Encyclopedia? Or more exploration of the rune program?
--[X] Additionally this might be sorta cheating, but asking our sibs for ideas might be a good idea. Keep them involved.
[8] I think we need to focus on getting information, particularly learning Elvish.
[1] If we're short of other ideas, trying to contact the Fairies might be worth a try, they do live here after all. Hell, they might even remember what Grubb used to do about the Fog...
[6] Priority is to conserve our current modern resources. Figure out more about the fog and world jumping. Also, DO NOT SPLIT THE PARTY when dealing with the fog.
[5] Survival utility (gas, food, tools, knowledge of terrain) should be most important right now.
[2] If the basement turns out to be safe it may make more sense to bunker down there for the night, and trust the big heavy door.
[1] Let's get back to exploring the areas of the house we haven't seen yet, especially given that the time dilation effect may potentially be triggered by or affecting things inside the house with us and that the fog doesn't appear to be an immediate threat to us while we're holed up inside.
[1] Reading is important, but exploring everything (except what is behind that dangerous door in the basement) is more urgent. There could be very important things in those places.
[ ] Everyone go out together and get then.
[ ] Eddie and Maribel go out and get them while you and Helen watch from the front doors.
[6] Leave the water in the trailer for now.
-[X] We have four 5-gallon water jugs, that's about 80 litres. If we're careful about consumption that will last us for quite a while; making food, washing and staying hydrated can be done on a scale of ~2 litres a person a day in a temperate climate, so we've got almost three weeks' supply already if we're careful.
[ ] Write in.
Helen thinks Eddie should drive us out of the Fog.
[ ] Yes, we should have Eddie drive us out of here.
-[X] We might not still be on Earth with the Fog being what it is...should check.
[12] No, it's too dangerous.
-[X] We have found a lot of helpful things in the house so far. We should look for more before leaving.
-[X] The way out feels less safe now than it did before we went out into the fog; Eddie driving us out using the hearthstone is a plan of desperation, not least due to the risk of us idly stepping out of the vehicle as it's moving or something...
-[X] Given the effect it has on the two H's, we realistically cannot leave the house until we've done *something* about the Fog.
[X] The runes let us see in the fog, rather than driving the fog back (look at how each of us can see a different distance, based on how attuned we are to magic). I think right now we should aim to leave about when we originally planned - after staying three days. (Conditionally Accepted, may be discussed later)
Maribel wants to contact the fairies. (Instructions in The Biology of Woodland Fairies)
[5] Yes
-[X] But try to find out more about them first.
-[X] Eddie should keep an eye on her, but should not interfere unless there is a dire need.
-[X] Let her try and talk to the faeries, after discussing the plan with you and the others. Eddie should stay near her, so he can drag her back if she decides to do something stupid, like enter the woods. If you have found rope, tie a rope to her for extra safety.
[ ] No, not now
The brick wall in the alcove seems to have once been a doorway. What do you want to do?
[5] Not urgent, but I want to smash this down and see what's behind it.
-[X] I don't think this is likely to be dangerous like the metal doors, but it could be pretty time-consuming. Test a brick or two; if they seem supremely easy to move then let's go ahead and check behind there, otherwise let's do it later. (I agree there's a good chance it's Esha's grave...)
-[X] After retrieving supplies from outside, see if you can knock down the bricks. A secret passageway, perhaps?
[ ] Leave it be. We'll worry about it once we know more about magic.
[ ] Write in.
Any strategies concerning Eddie and Maribel's powers?
[8] Maribel seems to be happy practicing with her powers on her own; Eddie's seem to be more draining. We should be making an ongoing effort to find texts for them to learn from, safe-seeming artifacts for them to practice with, etc. These powers are likely to be vital at some stage.
-[X] Have them continue to use them for the sake of practice, to gain greater familiarity with their powers.
-[X] Eddie should read the books from the basement. They seem like they would help him.
--[2]Klostermanns Theoretisch Runelogie(Klostermann's Theoretical Runeology) (Accepted)
-[X] Helen or Burt should read the books about elves, see what Maribel should be capable of and how to best develop her. There are some books on phenomenas among elves. (Helen will readPsychical Phenomena Among the Elves)
-[X] Encourage them to experiment in areas without important books and where they won't do a lot of damage otherwise. Let them decide for themselves how to best go about it.
-[5] Preserve the wood cut out from the floor and use it to try and close off the broken windows. Perhaps combined with some plastic sheets?
[X] Try to use Aunt Esha's sword on the bricked over section in the basement. (You did, it might be easier to just use the sledgehammer.)
-[X] And the safe.
-[X] Proceed with caution - they may be closed for a reason, and we don't want to damage anything inside.
-[X] Try to use the halberd if the sword does not work well on the bricks. (Compromise: It will be discussed. Using an explosive weapon in an enclosed space may be unwise.)
What else should you do?
[10] Stay together.
-[2] At least until we've dealt with the Fog, we should probably go easy on splitting up.(Accepted)
-[2] Use the instructions in The Biology of Woodland Fairies to contact the fairies. (Accepted, after Maribel reads up on them)
--[1] Read it first. Are the fairies going to know anything about the runic diagram? Maaaaybe? If so, we want to ask them about it.
-[ ] Read something from the attic.
--[ ] The Elvish-Germanese dictionaries .
--[ ] The Elvish children's books.
---[ ] Shubba und Wolff's Illustriertes Deutsche-Jahag Wörterbuch (Illustrated dictionary)
---[ ] Write in
--[ ] Ein Elfen Odyssee: Kapitän Meero D'Mirsky die Reise in die Venda-Ka Abfall. ('An Elvish Odyssey')
--[3] Die Magie der Welt-Springen. ('The Magic of World Jumping') (Accepted)
---[3] Klostermanns Theoretisch Runelogie(Klostermann's Theoretical Runeology) still takes priority, though.
--[ ] Look in the attic for something else to read. Anything specific?
-[5] Try to translate more of Uncle Grubb's journals (Note: Your skills with Latin will help).
--[3] We should read Die Magie der Welt-Springen instead. (Accepted)
--[X] We should definitely keep doing this, but it's not a priority right now. (Accepted, Eddie's reading takes priority)
--[X] Use the old spreadsheet program to try to decipher some of the runic content. (Note: The glossary in Die Welt der Zwerge und Trolle may also help)
-[ ] Go back to the 'Germanese' notes Uncle Grubb made in the hieroglyphic book. (Note: Your skills with Latin will help).
--[ ] Use the old spreadsheet program to try to decipher some of the runic conent. (Note: The glossary in Die Welt der Zwerge und Trolle may also help)
-[ ] Try to translate the letters found in the closet (You can only try to translate the 'Germanese' ones).
-[ ] Read a book from the library.
--[ ] The Encyclopedia Britannica.
--[1] Have Helen read Psychical Phenomena Among the Elves .Helen barely even skimmed this. (for information on Maribel's powers) (Accepted, but reading the correspondence takes priority)
--[ ] The World Almanacs.
--[ ] The Lost Treasure of Min'Karanda
--[ ] Psychical Phenomena Among the Elves .Helen barely even skimmed this.
--[ ] Or something else? What are you looking for?
-[ ] Read another book from the study.
--[ ] Read The Biology of Woodland Fairiesand see if Eddie missed anything.
--[ ] Read Visions of Y'ha-nthlei, see if Eddie missed anything.
--[ ] Read On God's Ring: The Great Transmigration and the New Age of Colonialism yourself, see if you can catch anything Eddie missed.
--[ ] Look over the science books and the map. (Note: You probably lack the necessary science skills to understand this)
-[ ] Read the Elvish religious book (?) found in the attic tower (Note: You don't know Elvish. Even with the children's dictionary, this will take a long time to translate).
-[1] Read a book in the basement.
--[1] Klostermanns Theoretisch Runelogie(Klostermann's Theoretical Runeology) (Accepted, will help Eddie translate.)
--[ ] Das Neue Platonismus (The New Platonism)
--[ ] Eine Abhandlung über Panpsychismus (A Treatise on Panpsychism)
--[ ] Void , Substanz und das Träumen Gott(Void, Substance and the Dreaming God)
--[ ] Das Welt und das Abyss (The World and the Abyss)
--[ ] Or something else? What are you looking for?
-[ ] Read something in the rec room.
--[ ] 'Zyklopädie der Neuen Welt' ('Cyclopedia of the New World')
--[ ] Try to translate the Elvish encyclopedia.
--[ ] Try to translate the Elvish diary.
--[ ] Examine the hieroglyphic book with the strange blueprints.
--[ ] Read Uncle Grubb and Elfstar's correspondence.
---[2] Have Helen read Uncle Grubb and Elfstar's correspondence. (Accepted)
-[ ] Try to analyze the 'anomalous audio' from Maribel's EVP tape.
--[ ] Anything to look for specifically? Any specific methods? Write in.
-[ ] Experiment with the Ouija board and tape recorder. See if you can replicate what happened last night.
--[ ] Write in.
-[ ] Continue exploring
--[ ] The roof deck. Try to find a way up there.
--[ ] Explore somewhere else? Write in.
-[ ] Try to connect the rec room's 16mm projector and play reels of film.
-[ ] Play music from the rec room's Elvish photograph.
-[1] Look for specialized literature on the following subjects: elves, Heartstone, Spinoza's Fog (or Spinozas Nebel), Welt-Springer (it's a dynasty, what are they known for?), D'yute (or the Autumn city), and any of related entries that can help us determine what we are currently dealing with. What books might be of interest to us? That should narrow down our immediate reading list that has grown completely out of proportions. (Accepted)
-[1] Start rationing food and water. Don't use the shower. (Accepted)
-[2] Get started on translating a Germanese text. An introductory, practical text on rune magic, if one is available. If not, then Klostermanns Theoretisch Runelogie. (Accepted)
[X] When you pass by the bedroom behind the stairway, grab the rest of the Teddy Roosevelt dollars. You might end up in Earth 1901, in which case local currency would be helpful.
-[ ] Write in.
If you read a book or do some other solo activity, what should the others do?
-[3] This is lower priority than the trailer, but -- we have a lot of books we need to absorb information from. I would like to distribute the task of book-reading and information-collection.
--[3] In particular, Maribel seems to have an interest in the Elvish/German illustrated dictionary. Also, there seems to be a good chance that she has elf blood, and the concept of genetic memory may not be pure woo in this world. Maybe she'll have an easier time learning Elvish than us? Let's try to push this a little farther, see if, say, using the illustrated dictionary as a reference, she can make out the meaning of the Elvish children's books. Maybe this is the thing that the stone-experimentation is the carrot for. (Attempted, didn't work. May try again later?)
---[X] If this turns out to be a complete dead-end, Maribel can instead read The Biology of Woodland Fairies. (Accepted)
---[X] Have Maribel read something from the attic.
----[X] The Elvish children's books. (for teaching Maribel Elvish) (Accepted, bur reading about fairies takes priority)
--[2] Have Eddie read a book from the basement.
---[2] Whatever Eddie thinks useful. (for information on Eddie's powers)
---[2] Meanwhile, have Eddie or Helen read Psychical Phenomena Among the Elves. It may help understand Maribel's magic. (Accepted, Helen will read)
---[2] Have Helen read Uncle Grubb and Elfstar's correspondence.
----[X] Don't force the issue. If they want to do something else that makes sense, let them.
Priorities:
[2] Fog first, fog first, fog first. I think if we can make progress with one problem, we'll all feel a lot better about our chances here.
-[X] I guess some reading is a worthwhile approach there - trying to find a later part of Grubb's journals? Using the Encyclopedia? Or more exploration of the rune program?
--[X] Additionally this might be sorta cheating, but asking our sibs for ideas might be a good idea. Keep them involved.
[8] I think we need to focus on getting information, particularly learning Elvish.
[1] If we're short of other ideas, trying to contact the Fairies might be worth a try, they do live here after all. Hell, they might even remember what Grubb used to do about the Fog...
[6] Priority is to conserve our current modern resources. Figure out more about the fog and world jumping. Also, DO NOT SPLIT THE PARTY when dealing with the fog.
[5] Survival utility (gas, food, tools, knowledge of terrain) should be most important right now.
[2] If the basement turns out to be safe it may make more sense to bunker down there for the night, and trust the big heavy door.
[1] Let's get back to exploring the areas of the house we haven't seen yet, especially given that the time dilation effect may potentially be triggered by or affecting things inside the house with us and that the fog doesn't appear to be an immediate threat to us while we're holed up inside.
[1] Reading is important, but exploring everything (except what is behind that dangerous door in the basement) is more urgent. There could be very important things in those places.
