Part 4: One Last Nature Hike

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Part 4: One Last Nature Hike

Postby sniderman » Mon Apr 20, 2015 12:23 am

The two cars head out of town toward Tillamook State Forest. It's a straight shot on Route 18 and you should be there in 15 minutes. The sun is dropping lower on the horizon as dusk settles in. During the drive, Webb calls the Timber Grove Police Department and, without identifying himself, asks to speak with Chief Perry.

"Chief, we're heading to Tillamook right now," Webb says, hoping Perry either recognizes his voice or instinctively knows what he's talking about. "We believe the 'answer' to the current crisis will be found there. Can you call ahead and let the park staff know we're arriving? We're going to need some tools as well, so they'll want to have those standing by for our arrival."

"Yeah, I know who this is," Perry says. "I don't have much time to talk as I'm dealing with what happened here. There is no staff at the park though, since it was designated a crime scene. There's no one there except for a couple of deputies guarding the main gate. To get you guys in without a lot of questions, I'll have them drive a patrol around the perimeter of the park. That should take about a hour, pulling them from the gate so you can get in. The gate's unlocked, so just drive in and shut it behind you so they don't notice when they get back. As far as tools, there's a maintenance shed next to the main office when you first drive in. You should be able to find what you need in there. Look, I'm taking a chance on you guys. I hope you know what you're doing."

"So do we, Chief," Webb says as the connection is broken. "We're on our own fellows," he says.

Upon arriving at the Tillamook State Forest main gate, you see that the deputies Perry mentioned have left their post as there's no sign of them. Stretched across the gate is a yellow tape stenciled with “CLOSED BY THE ORDER OF THE OREGON STATE POLICE”. Jack steps out, cuts the tape with a handy penknife, and swings the gate open. The two cars drive through, and Jack shuts the gate behind you, putting the tape back as well as he can from the other side. The two vehicle wend their way deeper into the park. The tree canopy shutting out any remaining sunlight as dawn becomes twilight.

A short distance down the access road, and the cars reach the park's main office building. You pull the cars into the lot next to the office. Next to the office is the maintenance shed Perry mentioned. A series of paths lead away from the offices and into the forest's depths. You put the cars into park and shut off the engines. As the motors die out, you can feel how silent and still the woods are.

What will you do?
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Re: Part 4: One Last Nature Hike

Postby greyarea » Mon Apr 20, 2015 12:30 pm

Hal exits the car and heads to the maintenance shed. He will open it and search it for maps, shovels, and the like.
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Re: Part 4: One Last Nature Hike

Postby merias » Mon Apr 20, 2015 12:46 pm

Magnus puts on the charm bracelet so there is no chance of him losing it, then he heads to the shed to help carry whatever tools they can scrounge.
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Re: Part 4: One Last Nature Hike

Postby segeorge » Mon Apr 20, 2015 1:42 pm

With a sense of urgency, Webb pops his trunk, pushes back any junk that may have shifted, and follows the others into the shed for equipment (a shovel and battery powered lantern [if available, otherwise a flashlight]).

Of his light source, he observes:
We can probably use the cars' headlights to light up the area, but just in case...
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Re: Part 4: One Last Nature Hike

Postby funfungiguy » Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:37 pm

Lucas looks for a shovel and a flashlight as well, some rope or cordage, and a chainsaw if the forestry maintenance has one.
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Re: Part 4: One Last Nature Hike

Postby sniderman » Wed May 13, 2015 1:21 am

Hal leaves the car and heads to the maintenance shed along with Lucas. The door is surprisingly unlocked, and the two walk right in. The well-stocked (and well-maintained) storage building has lawn maintenance equipment, a tractor/mover with a bucket trailer tow-behind, various tools and outdoor equipment -- anything you could possibly need. Hal grabs a couple of shovels while Lucas grabs some rope from a wall hook. A couple of hand lanterns are purloined as well. Lucas finally picks up a chainsaw and smiles at Hal (who shrugs).

Magnus puts on the charm bracelet (so there is no chance of losing it), then walks to the shed to help carry the tools Hal and Lucas have found.

Meanwhile, Webb and Jack busy themselves cleaning out the truck, then joining the others in the shed. (At this point, it's assumed everyone has a shovel and a hand lantern. Lucas also has a chainsaw. Plus any of the devices and weapons you normally have with you.)

The five of you leave the shed and shine your lights around the area. Hal notices a rack with assorted flyers and brochures between the tool shed and the office, and he helps himself to a map of Tallamook State Park. The men gather round as he reviews the map, then shines the light around as he orients himself. He shines his lantern down one nature path.

"That's the path we need to take to University Falls," he says flatly. The path is a typical nature hike path, much too small to take the cars down. "And it's a bit of hike...about a mile to the Falls."

With a start, everyone turns to the tool shed when an unexplained ROAR comes from the building. Trundling out is Jack driving the mower (blade disengaged). He motions to the trailer. "Beats walking there, eh?" he asks. The group piles in, Hal shines his light down the nature path by way of direction, and Jack drives the mower down the path -- its twin headlights illuminating the way...

The mower's not fast, but it's faster than walking. About 15 minutes into the drive, the pathway widens to an open area surrounded by trees. A large stone sits in the center of the path. Jack slows down and stops the mower next to the boulder. Magnus shines his light along one flat face of the stone, which reads "Tillamook Memorial" across the top. Hal shines his light on the map in his hand, then looks up.

"This monument marks the site of the original murders," he says. A chill rushes through everyone. "Apparently Baxter's shanty was torn down and this monument was erected in remembrance of the victims."

Magnus moves his light down the surface of the monument. The next line on the monument reads “In Memory of Those Who Lost Their Lives Here”.

Magnus moves the light further down the rock face where the names of Baxter's six victims appears. Each name has been violently scratched out into oblivion, as if by animal claws.

In the silence as you all process this scene, you hear a snarl and a growl from the darkness behind you. Spinning, you see four large timberwolves lumbering out of the treeline toward you. Their eyes gleam with an unnatural, hellish glow in the darkness. All four bare their teeth, a guttural growl fills the air.

[[Rolling initiative... You guys get it.]]

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Re: Part 4: One Last Nature Hike

Postby segeorge » Wed May 13, 2015 2:56 pm

Pulling out his pistol, Webb comments:
From the look in their eyes, I don’t think a warning shot is going to deter those wolves. Hopefully the officers are far enough away not to hear any shooting…
(If that’s too much soliloquizing, Webb can just think it)

Webb fires at the nearest wolf.
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Re: Part 4: One Last Nature Hike

Postby merias » Wed May 13, 2015 3:25 pm

"Well, that's not good, not good at all," Magnus says as he drops his shovel, then quickly draws and fires at one of the wolves.
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Re: Part 4: One Last Nature Hike

Postby greyarea » Wed May 13, 2015 3:38 pm

Hal Armitage

Hal drops his shovel, and turns to face the wolves. He twists the grip of his cane a tad, drawing his cane sword and taking up a defensive position. He will strike at any wolf that comes in range.
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Re: Part 4: One Last Nature Hike

Postby funfungiguy » Fri May 15, 2015 11:36 pm

"Oh jeez, I didn't think I'd really have to use this...", Lucas says as he pull-starts the chainsaw. Maybe the noise will frighten them off before things get out of hand, he thinks.
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