The pangs of consciousness slowly pry your eyelids open as you remember where you are. You start feel very thirsty, and that feel is soon accompanied by a dull, but pulsating headache; the dull turning ever-so sharper with sudden movements. Your muscles feel rigid and stiff, and a foreign, eerie feeling that was almost overwhelming slowly creeps to the back of your head. Slowly, you pull your face up from the sand, and manage to sit up.
The morning came too soon, but also not fast enough. The light isn't helping your headache, either, and you have a feeling this will be another hot day. The only saving grace, you feel, will be the breeze coming off of the ocean. The sea. Ah, 'the irony,' you start to think as you begin to hurl. After some time, you regain your composure once more and stand up.
Your camp fire from last night has long gone out, and the empty bottles of rum are starting to attract flies. They catch your eye; their iridescent bodies are particularly interesting to look at against the glass. Glancing over to your right, you see the Captain passed out in the sand.
The Captain sleeps here, looking bedraggled.
You begin to feel hungry
You are thirsty
Exits: East, West, North, South
[Previous][Next]
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Here to There part 7
Previous: part 6
"Get your gear and get in the Gravitycraft," The alarm beeped with a unsettling pulse. "We have contact with unknowns at one of their communications arrays. I want us in the air and inbound for that position in five minutes. Am I understood!" The men and women of the Sergeant Kandrini's squad called back with a renewed energy, "Yes Sir!"
Four and a half minutes later they sailed out of the sprawling colony, into the clear air of the alien world. Large winged creatures wheeled through the unnaturally colored sky and screeched in atonal defiance as they soared. Strangely colored vegetation of unnatural shapes and sizes spread and creeped across the hills and valleys that zoomed by beneath.
The Gravitycraft moved about as gracefully as a 10 meter long brick of grey-black metal, plastic, and glass could move. Which is to say not at all. The steady thrum of the gravity jets seemed to rattle everyone's bones.
Everyone was silent, even Jacobs for once. They were going into battle they knew. And, the enemy was largely unknown.
Sure they had all been briefed on the files of these men of the Corp Survey team. But, what sort of men might still be alive after living in the wilds of this strange world for more then a year. What secrets were worth protecting that had driven them to these extremes, and what might it drive them to still.
Waters called to the squad from the pilot's seat as the ship began to descend, "I can see the tower over the..uh...treeline. Looks like there is a clearing nearby." The Sergeant loosened her safety straps and moved to see over his shoulder.
Winged creatures erupted from the tops of the things that mostly resembled trees as the slowing Gravitycraft began disturbing their roosts with its gravity jets. There on the bank of a small river where the plant life seemed to not grow as heavily was a gated facility holding a large assemblage of metal and wires that formed a structure, protruding up above the vegetation into the alien sky. A pulsing light blinked relentlessly at it's peak.
"Where are they Waters?" asked Anna. "I don't see what set off the alarm." The area looked peaceful enough.
"There," he pointed to a shabby looking buggy parked near a hole in the fence line. "They must have spotted us and hid in the trees."
"Set us down Private. Everyone else, I want these men alive. Fire in self defense only. Straugh, I want you and Jacobs to secure the tower. Make sure there aren't any more of them hiding over there." Corporal Martin Straugh was a reliable man, and Anna trusted him to handle Private Jacobs.
She turned to the others, "Sheng and Timball." They snapped to attention, "You two are with me and we are going to find these rebels. I want a their trail found."
She nodded at them all and tried to project her confidence into them, before turning back to Waters in time to watch the final descent into the clearing. "Waters, once we're off, I want you back in the air. We can't afford to lose our ride home. Keep your channel open in case we need to lift off quickly."
With that they touched down. The doors opened and the gravity pulses from the still running engines were causing ripples in the dirt. Their boots hit the ground and no one hesitated. In moments the Rectangular-cube shape of the Gravitycraft was gone from site and the sounds of the alien jungle became all they heard over their own breathing.
"Get your gear and get in the Gravitycraft," The alarm beeped with a unsettling pulse. "We have contact with unknowns at one of their communications arrays. I want us in the air and inbound for that position in five minutes. Am I understood!" The men and women of the Sergeant Kandrini's squad called back with a renewed energy, "Yes Sir!"
Four and a half minutes later they sailed out of the sprawling colony, into the clear air of the alien world. Large winged creatures wheeled through the unnaturally colored sky and screeched in atonal defiance as they soared. Strangely colored vegetation of unnatural shapes and sizes spread and creeped across the hills and valleys that zoomed by beneath.
The Gravitycraft moved about as gracefully as a 10 meter long brick of grey-black metal, plastic, and glass could move. Which is to say not at all. The steady thrum of the gravity jets seemed to rattle everyone's bones.
Everyone was silent, even Jacobs for once. They were going into battle they knew. And, the enemy was largely unknown.
Sure they had all been briefed on the files of these men of the Corp Survey team. But, what sort of men might still be alive after living in the wilds of this strange world for more then a year. What secrets were worth protecting that had driven them to these extremes, and what might it drive them to still.
Waters called to the squad from the pilot's seat as the ship began to descend, "I can see the tower over the..uh...treeline. Looks like there is a clearing nearby." The Sergeant loosened her safety straps and moved to see over his shoulder.
Winged creatures erupted from the tops of the things that mostly resembled trees as the slowing Gravitycraft began disturbing their roosts with its gravity jets. There on the bank of a small river where the plant life seemed to not grow as heavily was a gated facility holding a large assemblage of metal and wires that formed a structure, protruding up above the vegetation into the alien sky. A pulsing light blinked relentlessly at it's peak.
"Where are they Waters?" asked Anna. "I don't see what set off the alarm." The area looked peaceful enough.
"There," he pointed to a shabby looking buggy parked near a hole in the fence line. "They must have spotted us and hid in the trees."
"Set us down Private. Everyone else, I want these men alive. Fire in self defense only. Straugh, I want you and Jacobs to secure the tower. Make sure there aren't any more of them hiding over there." Corporal Martin Straugh was a reliable man, and Anna trusted him to handle Private Jacobs.
She turned to the others, "Sheng and Timball." They snapped to attention, "You two are with me and we are going to find these rebels. I want a their trail found."
She nodded at them all and tried to project her confidence into them, before turning back to Waters in time to watch the final descent into the clearing. "Waters, once we're off, I want you back in the air. We can't afford to lose our ride home. Keep your channel open in case we need to lift off quickly."
With that they touched down. The doors opened and the gravity pulses from the still running engines were causing ripples in the dirt. Their boots hit the ground and no one hesitated. In moments the Rectangular-cube shape of the Gravitycraft was gone from site and the sounds of the alien jungle became all they heard over their own breathing.
Comic Fifteen
This comic was generated by pairing a random line of text from a table with a random image from a directory. Clicking on the link above will take you to the website for this 'avant-garde' project. Some comics the website generates might be unfunny, but there are roughly 9000 different comic combinations (and growing) and that is part of the fun!
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Something Something Heros
The swamp reeked of old people's farts. That was what Rylie kept telling them anyway. There wasn't anyway to deny what he was saying, it did smell distinctly of gas and decay. But, man was it annoying being constantly reminded of the fact. Thobis had been the genius that agreed to drag them into this pungent palace of peat and piss, but he was too busy swatting at the millions of insects that assaulted them all every waking moment to appreciate how unhappy everyone else was. That wasn't going to get him off the hook for this mess though.
"This swamp reeks of old people's...," came the all too familiar icebreaker. It was cut swiftly short by a furious shove from Agthor the Mighty. More like Agthor the Anger problems. Rylie stumbled and bounced off a tree from the waaay to hard shove Agthor had brought. Dick move. With a girlish scream and a valiant scramble, Rylie tried to catch his balance, but it wasn't enough. With a splash and a gurgling sound he was on his back in the muddy water. Thobis swatted at his neck, before balling his fists and shouting at them all, "This is supposed to be an easy adventure! Quit being such children." He then stormed off in a huff mumbling about learning a spell of protection from incompetence.
Meanwhile Agthar the giant jerk was studiously ignoring Rylie flopping about in the muck and instead was busy striking out with the Nealoo the priest of Alilili. Her plain white robes had been frayed and stained beyond repair and the last thing she wanted was the over-muscled no-brained Barbarian telling her how many goats she would be worth in his clan. Besides, had this guy ever heard of brushing his teeth? Ugh. Finally, Rylie climbed out of the gooey swamp and pulled himself on shore.
Nealoo the priest of Alilili looked over at him and wrinkled her nose. "Now, who smells like old people's farts." Yuck. Once Rylie had his feet again, Agthor gave him a too strong pat on the back and the encouraging shout, "At least we know you can swim now!" They all laughed, but Rylie. He grabbed at the mud encrusted knife hanging from his belt and stared holes in their backs as they moved ahead swatting at mosquitoes. With a final shake of his head that sent mud and gunk flying everywhere, Rylie pulled himself together and started after them. "Wait up! I don't want to get stuck out here alone."
They drudged on for what seemed like a half hour of eternity. Finally they came to the place Thobis had told them about. The entrance of the Sunken Dungeon of Evil and Hateful Bad Stuff. "We shouldn't stay out here any longer," Thobis suggested with a slap and a swat at his hated foe the flying buzzing insect. Nealoo the priest of Alilili held her hand aloft and struck action poses while whispering to herself, before providing them with a bit of advice, "Alilili suggests we all wait 30 minutes after eating before entering the pool."
"Ha!" Agthor the Mirthful shouted, "I laugh at your God's puny warning."
Rylie shook his head and scraped a bit more of the muck from his hair. "Let's just get this over with you big idiot." With that he began slowly moving towards the entrance looking here and there for the ancient traps the Evil and Hateful Bad Stuff no doubt left to guard their Sunken Fun-geon.
Suddenly, Agthor the Big idiot pushed him aside and strode confidently into the entrance. He stumbled back out seconds later clutching at the poison arrows the trapped entrance had shot into his chest. Nealoo the priest of Alilili knelt over the corpse of Agthor the Once living and shrugged. "I guess that'll teach him to laugh at Alilili's warning," she beamed.
"I'm sick of this swamp!" shouted a now furious Thobis. "Rylie, can you disable the traps or not? Why did we even bring you?" He slapped his neck again and grinned. "Got one that time!"
Rylie gripped his knife again, but calmed himself. "Patience wizard. Go cast a chill spell or something while I do my job." With that he began working his way around the entrance and inner hallway. The pit trap, the arrow trap, the gas trap, the mouse trap. All identified and disabled in under 30 minutes. Rylie was pretty pleased with the situation now. He might be wearing the swamp, but Agthor the Aerated was gone and things were looking up.
Nealoo the priest of Alilili and Thobis followed Rylie into the Sunken dungeon of Evil and Hateful Bad Stuff. They didn't bother to loot Agthor the Forgotten, as no-one wanted his loincloth or sandals.
Next: part 2
Choose Your Own Adventure: Part 7
Days go by, but you remain vigilant; always gazing at the horizon, and always wondering: "Is that a town to the north?"
The third night comes, and you again see the lights to the north. Sounds, too, find their way past your head. Friendly voices, faint chatter, all welcoming sounds. If only there was a way to travel across the land. Alas, one only can dream.
Your legs are weak, and you haven't eaten in days. The snake meat that you didn't cure is stankin' up the joint. Severely dehydrated, and miraculously staving off rattlesnake venom, you finally collapse on the cold, desert floor. It feels like one of those dreams where you are walking around, but then are suddenly paralyzed. The world goes on, but I'm afraid you have to step off.
You try to breathe, but there is a heavy sensation that is soaking up the remaining drops of life with each exhale. C'est la vie, eh?
You may:
The third night comes, and you again see the lights to the north. Sounds, too, find their way past your head. Friendly voices, faint chatter, all welcoming sounds. If only there was a way to travel across the land. Alas, one only can dream.
Your legs are weak, and you haven't eaten in days. The snake meat that you didn't cure is stankin' up the joint. Severely dehydrated, and miraculously staving off rattlesnake venom, you finally collapse on the cold, desert floor. It feels like one of those dreams where you are walking around, but then are suddenly paralyzed. The world goes on, but I'm afraid you have to step off.
You try to breathe, but there is a heavy sensation that is soaking up the remaining drops of life with each exhale. C'est la vie, eh?
You are dead! R.I.P
You may:
<Respawn in this universe>
Comic Fourteen
This comic was generated by pairing a random line of text from a table with a random image from a directory. Clicking on the link above will take you to the website for this 'avant-garde' project. Some comics the website generates might be unfunny, but there are roughly 9000 different comic combinations (and growing) and that is part of the fun!
Monday, June 9, 2014
Here to There part 6
Previous: part 5
The conversation with the Governor had gone as she had expected. He had said a lot without saying anything. "It was a total waste of time Martin," Anna complained to Corporal Straugh. "I should of just thrown him in a cell with that worthless Security Chief." With a fierce shout she kicked a nearby desk. "Ow. Ow. Ow!" she cried as she hopped on one foot and grimaced with the sharp pain.
Corporal Martin Straugh chuckled at her distress. "We found out that he's got more Security forces we should be worried about. He's probably got another 20 guys that were out searching for this Survey team that will back here before you know it. And, then things are going to get ugly for us." He suddenly looked up from the computer terminal he had been steadily working on and locked eyes with the Sergeant as she pulled off her boot to rub her toes. "Sergeant, you need to see this."
"What?" she cursed as she worked her boot back on and hobbled over to look over Straugh's shouder. Displayed on the screen were what appeared to be Transmission schedules and dates. "What good is a damn list of Transmission dates? You just said it yourself. If we don't figure this out, we'll be dead before we can arrange a transmission back home."
"No don't you see," The Corporal motioned to the dates again. "A year ago was the last time they sent a delivery back to the Receiving station on Marron. The same date of the attack by the Survey team, and there hasn't been another since." He looked at her expectantly, "They're only generating enough power to do annual transmissions. The next one is in two days."
She grimaced and crossed her arms as she began slowly, "They're going to make another attempt to get off planet. Of course, that's why they hadn't shown their faces in so long. They were waiting for their ticket out. So, why the double dealing with the Chief and Governor? Why not deal straight with us and round these men up and stop them."
Her pacing took her back and forth on the thin carpet as she reviewed all she knew about this situation. "The Corporation set this colony up to make a profit, but the records show it's been in the red for a decade now. The Survey team had spent a year out in the unexplored frontier looking for easily exploitable resources to help turn this place around, and on the day they were to return home and report their findings, they started a war, that trapped them back out in those same wilds. Why? We're missing something obvious."
Martin glanced up from his computer screen briefly to reply, "Money. Everything is about money. They're a survey team. Either they found something great or they found nothing at all, and our "friends" here in the colony couldn't allow them to go back and report it. Either from greed, or from fear that they'd be shut down, due to lack of profit." He glanced back at his screen and returned to typing, "Or something like that, I dont' know."
The conversation with the Governor had gone as she had expected. He had said a lot without saying anything. "It was a total waste of time Martin," Anna complained to Corporal Straugh. "I should of just thrown him in a cell with that worthless Security Chief." With a fierce shout she kicked a nearby desk. "Ow. Ow. Ow!" she cried as she hopped on one foot and grimaced with the sharp pain.
Corporal Martin Straugh chuckled at her distress. "We found out that he's got more Security forces we should be worried about. He's probably got another 20 guys that were out searching for this Survey team that will back here before you know it. And, then things are going to get ugly for us." He suddenly looked up from the computer terminal he had been steadily working on and locked eyes with the Sergeant as she pulled off her boot to rub her toes. "Sergeant, you need to see this."
"What?" she cursed as she worked her boot back on and hobbled over to look over Straugh's shouder. Displayed on the screen were what appeared to be Transmission schedules and dates. "What good is a damn list of Transmission dates? You just said it yourself. If we don't figure this out, we'll be dead before we can arrange a transmission back home."
"No don't you see," The Corporal motioned to the dates again. "A year ago was the last time they sent a delivery back to the Receiving station on Marron. The same date of the attack by the Survey team, and there hasn't been another since." He looked at her expectantly, "They're only generating enough power to do annual transmissions. The next one is in two days."
She grimaced and crossed her arms as she began slowly, "They're going to make another attempt to get off planet. Of course, that's why they hadn't shown their faces in so long. They were waiting for their ticket out. So, why the double dealing with the Chief and Governor? Why not deal straight with us and round these men up and stop them."
Her pacing took her back and forth on the thin carpet as she reviewed all she knew about this situation. "The Corporation set this colony up to make a profit, but the records show it's been in the red for a decade now. The Survey team had spent a year out in the unexplored frontier looking for easily exploitable resources to help turn this place around, and on the day they were to return home and report their findings, they started a war, that trapped them back out in those same wilds. Why? We're missing something obvious."
Martin glanced up from his computer screen briefly to reply, "Money. Everything is about money. They're a survey team. Either they found something great or they found nothing at all, and our "friends" here in the colony couldn't allow them to go back and report it. Either from greed, or from fear that they'd be shut down, due to lack of profit." He glanced back at his screen and returned to typing, "Or something like that, I dont' know."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)