Return to Tunis

 Present:  Bernard (Jamie), Cooper (Ian),  Gazala (Richard), Jean (Jeff),  Wonton (Darryl), Jacob (Chris), Mesmer (Shane)

Marmalading: Fleur (Stephen), Felix (Kevin)

By Cooper

Night Watch

This session brings us together in the Tunis desert. Felix and Mesmer slump to one side and marmalade encases their sleeping bodies.

The rest of the group are settling for the evening in their camp near the main highway. The evening dew is settling in on a moonless, but star lit evening. 

The first watch settles in. Always amazed at the immense beauty of the Tunis desert as the night takes hold.

[ A stranger appears (Shane out of game). This stranger, a short red haired man, carried an intriguing box. What could it be? Bombs? Grenades? Mythos items? Money? Even better than all that!!! Wine, lollies and chips!!!! The group thank the stranger for his mouth-watering gifts as he slips quietly into the cool night desert. ] Mesmer slowly awakens and shakes off the marmalade.

First watch hands to second watch (Bernard and Jacob). Jean awakens with a scream, arms flailing about. Gazala had just been opening his front with her knife (in Jean's dream of course). Through his panting sobs, Tala gets the groups attention and mentions a Shadow Creature behind Bernard. Not the imp the group are used to, but a humanoid shape. The Shadow is behaving very suspiciously, lurking with cold shadow hands caressing Bernard's shapely head.

The watch wake the rest of the crew out of their restless sleeping.

"Kill it" is the initial cry.

"No! Wait" Wonton exclaims, "Let's communicate. It may just want a hug and someone to talk to?"

"Great idea" the group agree.

In the meantime the creature has wandered out further into the desert away from the camp by about
30m. "You go out there Wonton and tap it on the shoulder", suggest the wider party.

"No way! Me not do that" Says Wonton with a sudden burst of rational thought.

Remember, the party can't actually 'see' the creature. Its location and actions are all translated through Tala (the mirror). Wonton did try a detect Mythos and could locate a glowing blob, approximately where the shadow was, but that is all - and only for 10 minutes before the detection wore out.

The next few minutes the party try speaking to the creature in various languages, with absolutely no
response from the shadow. It keeps its distance, but likewise, never acts aggressively. The group tried
waving and gesturing and got a good response with the shadow mimicking the party, as best it could -being a Shadow.

One different action from the Shadow Creature was to action the cutting off of its own head. The creature was clearly gesturing to Gazala. Pointing at Gazala, shaking the decapitated head at her. "Ok, so the Shadow Creature obviously has some kind of beef with Gazala" the group conclude.

Gazala moves toward the creature with her evil, ebony knife drawn. The Shadow Creature rapidly retreats further out of range. Another conclusion: Shadow Creature does NOT like the knife. The party surmise that it makes perfect sense for the 2 behaviours to be linked. 

Knowing that the Shadow Creature is both not a threat, and has probably been following the group for days, the party return to their watch or sleep and carry on through the night.

At some point Tala makes the watch aware that the Shadow Creature had moved back to the camp and was now behind Jacob who was on second watch. Its shadowy hands caressing Jacob in a dark embrace. Jacob felt a warm tingle of joy at this.

"Tala, can you describe how evil this Shadow Creature is?"

"Oh, easy" Tala responds. "Not very evil at all. MUCH less than Wonton, Gazala (her knife anyway) and Mesmer".

The Shadow Creature stands over the sleeping Gazala and imitates her brutal slaying. Kicks her, hits her. Cuts her throat. Nothing that Gazala notices of course.

The Shadow Creature moves around the group, giving everyone a good night caress.

Last Watch of the night goes without much happenings. Cooper wakes calmly with a start as the dream he had was Gazala skinning him alive. "Friking dreams" he roughly mutters and lights up a cigarette to calm the nerves.

Daylight

The party break camp on another glorious Winter's day in the Tunis Desert. Fine, dry and warm. Great day for adventuring.

At 9AM on the dot, the radio crackles into life as expected.

"Inspector Heroux calling. Anything to Report? Oh and by the way, I have a message from Tariq Nadir the trader that he wants to see you. What does that mean???"

The party jump on the comms. "Nope, nothing of interest to report. Not sure what Tariq wants? Barely

know the guy"

Heroux, "Ok, all good. See that you note all activities and report in as soon as you can".

The group head out into the desert toward the canyon they are all so familiar with. The truck is all

geared up and the party are ready to tackle the day head on.

"Why don't we go now, directly to Tariq???" Wonton pleads. "There is nuffing in the desert for us. Lets go straight back to town". Gazala eagerly agrees.

"Hmmm" the group ponders. "While it would be good to find out what Tariq wants, now that we are

HERE, we might as well check out the explosion site under the light beam and take that information back to town. Sorry Wonton and Gazala, we are heading to the valley"

"Ok" Wonton and Gazala agree immediately. [ Well, actually Darryl mentioned Wonton's desire to return to town EVERY conversation and at 5 minute intervals - without stopping, but I am not writing all that up. ]

After a short while of winding carefully across the sandy desert, the group notice a B2 Citroen moving

across in front of them - Left to right. Dust rearing from the wheels. The party quickly decide to follow to capture and question the occupants.

Cooper manoeuvres the truck on an interception course and quickly covers the ground to the escaping car. Interestingly the driver takes no action to avoid. Just stays on course. As the gap closes, it becomes clear that there is only one occupant, slumped over the steering wheel. No wonder there has been no attempt to evade.

Cooper gets the truck in front of the car and slowly applies the brakes. The car engages grill to tail to the truck. At the worst moment possible, the truck's left hand side drops into a sandy pothole and pitches. Everyone lurches in the truck, but the trailing car manages to wedge under the rear of the truck, leaving the trucks driving rear wheels off the ground, spinning in mid air.

The driver of the car is catapulted out of the car (an open roofed 'jeep') and slings loosely across the

desert for 15 meters. Ending in a squidgy tangled pile, covered in sand.

The group pile out of the truck and investigate. The driver of the car turned out to be headless. Roughly decapitated at some point before the chase. The car had a number of useful items:

• Small amount of money
• Water
• 1 set of Binoculars
• 1 riffle
• 1 can of Petrol (Party's truck is diesel)
• A map that showed a circle on an area in the canyon that was very much the source of the light
• column

While Cooper uses the jack and other advanced recovery techniques to get the truck off the jeep's

bonnet, the group cremate the body.

Eventually all carry on to the valley mouth camp site. Arrive mid day. Investigation finds the poor driver's decapitated head about 1/2km from camp. Many, many strange 'wolf' foot prints (Wolf is the term for anything Mythos and weird, including the ghouls, giant bone monster and anything else 'not normally explained').

The plan is to camp here at the valley mouth and leave first light to get to the collapsed cave sight for

inspection early, then BACK to camp before night fall. 12 hours normal walking. 6 to 8 at forced march. This avoids the valley during the dark.

Night Camp

The camp is set with the truck backed into a small defensible cliff face. Everything is secured and ready for a long night.

About 1 hour before dark, there is a scratchy scrambling noise approaching rapidly from the canyon. The party are on full alert and fully loaded, when a shambling Berber appears RUSHING at the group on all 4's. The movement resembled that of a monkey in a hurry.

Mesmer, Bernard and Gazala take the first round of rifle shots. Rounds go wild with Gazala and Bernard scoring lead on target for 15 points total.

As the creature enters machine gun range, the valley explodes with the rapid sound of a clip of

ammunition being dispensed. Terrific hit and the creature disappears in a pink cloud of human remains.

Total destruction.

A round of sanity checks passes with everyone passing with flying colours. All in a days work it seems. The group use some of the petrol to burn the squidgy pile of offal and meat that used to be a Berber warrior. 

As the distant sun sets in a blaze of orange glory, a movement in the distance draws attention. A large

'Dire Wolf' (shambling bone monster) passes by. No action taken.

Tala from the Mirror is awoken for a Mythos inspection;

"Um, this entire camp is in some kind of evil field? Its everywhere. A massive light pillar in the distance. Evil Wonton and Mesmer. Other than that, everything is normal. Ah, interestingly - the Shadow Creature is nowhere to be seen?".

The party know this is a hot Mythos site so buckle down for the night.

First Watch (6 hours):

• Jacob
• Bernard
• Mesmer
• Jean
• Tala from the Mirror

Second Watch (6 hours):

• Wonton
• Cooper
• Gazala
• Tala from the Mirror

Again the night is moonless and clear with the immense spectacle of the Milky way providing the only

light.

Not long into first watch, the keenest ears detect a bone crunching shuffle in the distance. Careful

inspection reveals 4 humanoid bone creatures quietly (as can be) sneaking to the camp. Evil is on the

menu.

The rifle team quickly and quietly signal to target one create. The one on the far left.

Round 1 - Blam, blam, blast - 3 rifles explode to life. This gets the attention of the sleeping party

members in an instant.  Only Gazala hits for a glancing shot.

Round 2 - Second volley with Jean and his machine gun.

• Mesmer scores 12 into the first creature
• Bernard and Gazala both hit for 10 points each
• Jean focuses on the far right creature and scores 36 in 2 great hits (17 and 19). Then scores 28 with the second clip into a third creature.

That leaves one humanoid bone creature, now rushing at Mesmer (We all rolled against luck - low is good  - and Shane rolled a 20! Oops). Mesmer is now in hand to hand combat with the creature and dodges as best he can, not being well-trained in the fighting disciplines.

Round 3 - Hand to hand

Mesmer takes a hit with a small injury. His dodging not as fluent as it could be.

Round 4 - Bring it on

Cooper, Jean and Gazala close in as shooting into combat is no longer an option.

Mesmer takes a large hit for 8 points of damage, leaving him on 1 point.

Cooper and Jean totally miss the mark.

Gazala with the black sword gets a hit and the creature evaporates into a dusty cloud. What the? That was good, but what the heck is that blade?

Jacob heals 2 points to Mesmer who is now sporting a serious wound.

Tracking the creatures reveals that they (again) sourced from the valley.

Gazala passes another sanity check and now knows that the creature was some kind of sandy dust cloud. Some weather effect obviously (not really).

"We have had enough of this. Its only the start of the first watch" complains the more timid party

members. "We will never last the night at this rate".

The group agree and break camp, moving 1/2km into to desert. They verify the 'evil field' is not in effect here. They keep going another couple of kms into the night desert and set camp again. More like find a flat spot in the truck and try to get some rest.

Second watch has the Shadow Creature return. Jean is disembowelled by Gazala (dreaming of course),

but otherwise the night passes uneventfully.

Valley Run

Day dawns bright and cool. Cooper clears the dew from the truck windscreen and warms the engine. As soon as everyone is set, the truck makes its way directly to the valley camp sight and parks. Cooper grabs a vital component for the diesel injection from the engine bay and packs it carefully in his backpack.

The entire group sticks together and starts its forced march to the cave site. Unfortunately, not far into

the tramp, Bernard starts wheezing and coughing (Jamie only player to fail his Toughness roll).

"Get rid of the poncy cigarette" offers Jean.

"Undo your cravat" Cooper suggests

"Stop carrying and drinking all that Cognac and Champaign" Jacob bellows.

The group slow their pace and eventually reach the collapsed cave site slightly later than expected.

The inspection begins with the following findings:

• Massive number of bony tracks around the site
• The collapse is still in place with nothing disturbed
• Probably 3 to 4 days to dig out silver chest with what the party have on them (nothing). Will need more organised effort to excavate the site
• Cooper's sandstone statuette is vibrating fiercely. Plenty of Mythos here it seems.

The party take all the notes they can and scramble as fast as possible back to the truck. The return trip in daylight is safe and goes without issue. Arriving just before dark.

The truck is safe and secure. Cooper reinstalls the component and the group jump aboard and head off into the night. They reach the main road and decide to just keep going while the going is good.

Arrive Tunis around 1AM.

Tunis and Meeting with Tariq

The party settle for the night. Catching a shower or bath and what remains of a good night's sleep.

Morning and the group decide what to do for the day?

"There is a lawn bowls tournament on at the moment, we should go to that" exclaims Cooper excitedly.

"Yeah, there is also watching the paint dry on the new church repairs" Gazala offers.

"Whatever we do we will NOT go to Tariq" demands Mesmer.

The party heads to Tariq's compound. On the way they discuss the plan and what to say.

"We should be careful on what we say" states Wonton. "We alway give away too mush".

"Yep" agrees Cooper. "That is because we are all retards. Just for once it would be good to just frikking arrive and start talking." he complains " Makes a change from pre-guessing what is going to be said and coming up for a plan for EVERY scenario. Such a waste of time", Cooper concludes with the flick of the butt of his cigarette, out the truck driver's window in a slick motion.

At the guard house, Hafsa, Tariq's young servant with the sewn-shut mouth who could see mythos pointed out the group's items including Gazala's knife. Gazala tries to charm the guard into keeping her sword instead of handing it in. Guard is not impressed and denies Gazala's charm offensive. Gazala decides to wait outside of the compound. The rest of the party continue to the meeting. The only Mythos items they have in possession (rest is back at the newspaper apartment) are: Cooper's eskimo Statuette and Mesmer's Amulet.

Wonton's dream: On the way in Naseeba meets with Wonton. Naseeba oozes "Oh Wonton, I missed you. We need to have sex - RIGHT NOW". Wonton is taken aback and blushes. He loves Naseeba so much.

"Oh Naseeba, I am so sorry. I am really going to have to disappoint you".

After they have sex; "So sorry.." laments Wonton.

The Meeting with Tariq

Tariq is his usual magnificent host. Offers refreshments and polite conversation.

Tariq asks immediately what the party know about the beam of light as he is aware the group have been moving around the desert, in that area.

"I have lost many men" sighed Tariq. "Many good men. Do you know what has happened to them?"

The party members all look nervously around at each other.

"Why no we don't? That area is very very evil and a group smaller and less equipped than ours would be in big trouble" suggests Cooper.

"Why are you so interested?" Tariq questions. "What is in it for you? Are you working for that Inspector Heroux?"

Bernard takes over, "Not exactly. He is a wonderful sponsor and we have a good working relationship with Heroux. We solve many of his problems."

"The recent troubles in the city were resolved by us and our motivation is to never have that evil occur again. That is why we are interested in the thing in the desert, whatever that could be?" Bernard honestly states.

"Why do we not combine resources and work together?" Bernard enquires.

Tariq pauses and contemplates. His hand rubs his chin and he looks upward.

Cooper asks "You mentioned you have a map of the area? Can we see it? How do you know where this light is when no one can see it?"

Tariq responds; "Sure here is the map. My youngling can see the column from here. We triangulated the spot to mark the map. I have sent my crews to the area but none have returned"

"Ahh" Cooper shows the other party members. "See, we were close" he fibs. "Seems that Mr Tariq is being honest. I for one would like to work together".

Tariq finally responds to the question on combining forces; "While I an intrigued by the idea, I have a business to run. You are a risk to me. I need to know more about you, your motives and what you are doing before agreeing. This is not a 'no' but a 'we will see'". Tariq openly states.

Wonton and Mesmer again try to convince Tariq to open his library to them. No luck this time.

Wonton again asks about Hafsa, the girl with the sewn-shut mouth, "Why you do this? Is bad."

Tariq calmly replies, "Well, it is part of a ceremony we performed years ago. It allows the child to see Mythos permanently".

The group eagerly look at each other. "Ahh" says Jacob. "Lets do that then. Trade Wonton's tongue and speaking ability for Wonton to have Mythos 19!!! Win / win for sure"

With that the session finishes