Event: Go to Hell (Day 3, EM)

[Comstar]

As the smoke cleared and no return fire came, it became clear that... no... they weren't under attack.

A certain sheepish feeling began to sink in, and perhaps an unspoken contemplation that *maybe* they didn't have to report the fresh battle damage to these wrecks. Explaining spent ammunition might be harder... but still...

Regardless, there was no danger here, though the sight of the mechs, victims of the saturation bombardment which had swept Tartarus as they held the line, was still unnerving, even after they had figured out what they were.

None of these mechs seemed liable to be salvagable, but maybe there might be useful parts left - after all, this particular unit had died fighting, instead of in a nuclear inferno, so perhaps there might be something left.

--- Stage 1 over - 9 shots fired. ---

Atlas - Hit 5 times - ??? destroyed, ??? destroyed, ??? destroyed, LL destroyed, Head destroyed.
Centurion - hit 3 times - LA destroyed, LL destroyed, RL destroyed
Crab - Hit once, RA destroyed.

[Comstar]

Stage 2: Now that the path has been safely cleared and it is possible for the remainder of the group to push forward, it becomes clear what an unnatural formation the Gate is. The massive stone walls, unnaturally smooth, rise easily over 200 feet on each side, in some places even more. It was as if someone had simply taken a knife and carved away the center of a mountain.

The path branched off in places, perhaps where minerals were detected, or for some other reason lost to time. Either way, mapping a clear path south would be challenging, but useful if they ever had to fight or venture into this territory in the future.

Rules:

The process of mapping this terrain is difficult mostly because of how confusing the terrain is - no distinguishing landmarks and numerous winding passages, most of them ending in dead-ends. Therefore the challenge is twofold. First, avoid doubling back and re-covering ground, and second, accurately record the terrain when the automated mapping tools are glitching out thanks to the intense magnetic fields in the region.

Step 1: The process of exploring is challenging, as the explorers must avoid re-tracing their steps. For each attempt to map the explorer chooses to make, they must make a successful Navigation(land)/Stamina test at a TN of 10(+10 if you don't have the emphasis) to avoid getting lost in the maze of passages, dimly lit by the distant sunlight. If this roll is failed, the explorer can no longer participate in the event as they become lost, and a Yokai Matsuri scout must come find them.

Step 2: After finding a new passage to explore, they must successfully map it. This is either a Computers(Sensor Operation)/Intelligence check at a TN of 20 to get their equipment to function despite interference (user must have a holomap to attempt this) or a Craft(Cartography)/Intelligence skill at a TN of 15. If successful, the explorer may return to the entrance and choose another passage to map, up to a maximum of five per character.

Results: At the end of the day, the number of successful passages will be tallied, and the end result will be based upon the number of successfully charted pathways.

12: The path to Tartarus is found, and the terrain is mapped well enough to flank hostiles and maneuver in unexpected ways. This means that any combat that occurs when advancing into Tartarus will occur on favorable ground. Also, the company discovers [REDACTED] which can be [REDACTED] in exchange for [REDACTED] from Human Edge.

8-11: The path to Tartarus is found, and the terrain is mapped well enough to flank hostiles and maneuver in unexpected ways. This means that any combat that occurs when advancing into Tartarus will occur on favorable ground.

2-7: The path to Tartarus is found, and the terrain is known well enough to avoid obvious choke-points and ambush sites. There is not further benefit or penalty.

1: The path to Tartarus is found, but the terrain remains almost totally unknown. This means it is likely that combat attempting to advance into Tartarus will be on unfavorable ground.

0: The company leadership decides that attempting to head south into Tartarus is a foolish proposition. Investigation - City in Hell - Failed.

[Dr. Reinhardt]

Navigation in Hell TN 10: 3d10r1o10k2 11
D3 Hell Cartography TN 15: 5d10o10k4 20
Mapping +1
D3 Hell Navigation Tn 10 , Edge: 4d10r1o10k3 28
D3 Hell Cartography TN 15: 5d10o10k4 20
Mapping +2
D3 Hell Navigation Tn 10 , Edge: 4d10r1o10k3 17
D3 Hell Cartography TN 15: 5d10o10k4 35
Mapping +3
D3 Hell Navigation Tn 10: 3d10r1o10k2 20
D3 Hell Cartography TN 15: 4d10o10k3 15
Mapping +4 (Dice pool was supposed to be 5K4 )
D3 Hell Navigation Tn 10: 3d10r1o10k2 13
D3 Hell Cartography TN 15: 5d10o10k4 22
Mapping +5

Cartography and Navigation are of course one of Doctor Reinhardts passions. He pulls out his holomap and begins working, taking a nice walk through the environs of hell over several hours, enjoying the exercise in his Evironmental Suit. But noone has to come find the wandering professor, instead he makes all his check-ins and provides an accurate map of about a third of the options.

[Gillian Chow]

An experienced scout, Gillian licked her lips before starting a new pencil and paper map, charting the twisty maze of passages, seemingly all alike.

“These rock formations are really weird,” she complained over the comms to Dr. Reinhardt and the others after mapping the first few channels. “These sharp cuts through the terrain don’t look right for erosion. But they’re also erratic for someone to have blasted these passages with high explosives. It doesn’t make sense!”

--
3EM Exploring passage #1 STA/Navigation (land) TN10: 4d10r1o10k2 26 succeeds
3EM Mapping passage #1 INT/Craft: Cartography +Edge TN15: 4d10 27 succeeds

3EM Exploring passage #2 STA/Navigation (land) TN10: 4d10r1o10k2 15 succeeds
3EM Mapping passage #2 INT/Craft: Cartography +Edge TN15: 4d10 30 succeeds

3EM Exploring passage #3 STA/Navigation (land) TN10: 4d10r1o10k2 30 succeeds
3EM Mapping passage #3 INT/Craft: Cartography TN15: 3d10 20 succeeds

3EM Exploring passage #4 STA/Navigation (land) TN10: 4d10r1o10k2 11 succeeds
3EM Mapping passage #4 INT/Craft: Cartography TN15: 3d10 7 fails

Total: 3 passages mapped

[Felicity]

Felicity wandered down one side path to investigate strange readings on her sensors. It was nearly an hour later she returned, and only after a pair of their scouts lead her back.

"This place is like a maze."

(Fail)

[Snorri Tycho]

Snorri is excited with the task, but despite his mapping tools and the powerful comms and sensors...he gets lost.


----
Go To Hell-Part 2-navigation/stamina-TN 20: 2d10 16

[Thomas Moreno]

Well, Explore tunnels? That was something Thomas could do... Probably.

Walking through the tunnels and finding a path was easy enough, well mostly. It was the mapping that was difficult, and sadly while the Soldier made it back his map was unreadable.

go to hell part two. Navigation/stamina tn 20: 3d10 20

go to hell part two. craft cartography/int tn 15: 2d10 10

0 points!

[Comstar]

As the morning came to a close, the company had a nearly perfect map of the pass.

Any future expeditions to the region could advance with confidence, having access to multiple routes and options should any trouble occur.

Result: The path to Tartarus is found, and the terrain is mapped well enough to flank hostiles and maneuver in unexpected ways. This means that any combat that occurs when advancing into Tartarus will occur on favorable ground.

Research Lead - City in Hell, stage 1 complete. Stage 2 begins when the company can get eyes on Tartarus itself, one way or another.

...The company also found and looted quite a few ancient mech parts.