Anomalous Trip (Part II)

[slicsinatra]

We walk until night fall.

[Dragnoxz]

The drones pick up buildings leading to the village before dark. The first building looks like a wooden house of some sort with a shop or wood cutting mill built into it. There are stacks of boards and other wood of varying sizes nearby under makeshift sheds. The path goes past it and leads to a bigger path that has two impressions like where wheels could travel. Further up are more buildings, wood framed with stone bricks, wood roofs with dark gray clay shingles. There is no IR signs of life. However, there are what look to be old war trenches, at first glance they seem like they are many years old. Shrubs and trees have grown among them, and grasses have reclaimed them, but you can tell how they once were trenches.

Captain Davis: “Oh, this doesn’t look good.” He shares an image. It looks like a 40+ foot tall version of an El Gigante (from Resident Evil 4), it’s just not of that universe. It’s got rags as clothing an has a bag. It’s clearly a giant of some sort. Davis shows a clip panning to several more. “Ok, either we are here before the events of the Legend, during or way after. If this is the land. If not, we need not to be spotted by these big ass things. I should've got an AT-4, dammit.” The giants are far from you, thus you are not under threat of them. You are about 8 miles from the Captain, according to the proximity label. “Caston, it’s too late to come help us, they are moving quite fast. We will evade. They are fairly far from us, we might have time to flank. Keep your search from a distance.”

2nd Lt. Hyla: “It’s attack on titan for real, fo-real.”

2nd Lt. Bardlaw: “They got GL’s, they’ll be ok.”

Captain Davis: “Go on and investigate the town. We are making our way to you instead of evading. But we will run.” You hear him running when he talks.

[slicsinatra]

“Alright fan out. Stay out of sight. Take any trenches or alleys to your advantage. Let’s go.” I begin with my weapon drawn and make my way into the village.

[Dragnoxz]

2nd Lt. Bardlaw: “Taking left.”

2nd Lt. Hyla: “Got right flak- Flank. Right flank.”

Captain Davis: “We are rocky two hours out if we keep up this pace.”

One of those small amphibian creatures hops just out of the way, so not to be stepped on. There are flashes in the distant sky on the dark side from lightning far away. Strange slow moving creatures fly around the tops of some trees, like a small swarms of moths, just bigger and different.

You notice among some of the trenches are rusty chunks of metal connected to thick metal tubes, with piles of rust next to them, among the grass and vines.

2nd Lt. Bardlaw: “Found some big rusty balls in a pile inside one of these trenches.”

[slicsinatra]

“Cannon balls?”

[Dragnoxz]

2nd Lt. Bardlaw: “They might be. But they look very old.”

2nd Lt. Hyla: “I’m finding metal pieces, rusty pieces of old cannon parts. Yes, I can tell they’re cannon parts. Wheel bands. They are civil war era, or earlier. Maybe pre-napoleonic era.”

Captain Davis: “What !?”

2nd Lt. Bardlaw: “It looks like they figured out gunpowder weapons.”

Captain Davis: “I don’t have the mission report, but maybe there was something about cannons being found, but if so, it wasn’t from us.”

2nd Lt. Hyla: “This place is weird.”

Among the trench you find, there are more rust balls. Closer to the center of town you find rusty horseshoes, and rusted down buckets of nails, but they appear newer than the cannons. You reach the first building of the town. It’s two floors, has wood as a frame and stone as the walls. The wood looks slightly decayed in areas but definitely not as old as the cannons.

Captain Davis: “If only we had time to do archeological work here.”

There is an old wooden door on one side of the building, and an oxidized green door handle.

[slicsinatra]

“This is a weird door. Some of this stuff doesn’t match with the aging of the rest of the stuff we are finding. I’m gonna check this building. Maybe find a clue as to what happened here.” I go to the door and check if it is locked.

[Dragnoxz]

It’s not locked. There is no lock. Inside looks like a normal medieval era home. The wooden floor of rough cut planks is covered mostly by a crude rug. There is a crude bed at one side on the ground, a wood burning stove near a wooden half barrel like basket looking tub with water in it, and rags near it. There is a basket of clean rags near it. There is food, like fruits and nuts in a basket on a table. There are a few empty baskets and some rope on a shelf near the table, among other things on the shelf are candles and candle making materials, metal tools like shears and small saw blades and pliers. There are cubby holes of yarns and knitting material. There is two wooden stool like chairs. Hanging up above the wood burning stove is a heavy metal pan, and a deep stew pot. There are wooden bowls in an open cupboard and some dining utensils. The place appears like it’s still in use. It kind of gives you an elderly couple vibe.

[slicsinatra]

“This house looks recently inhabited. Anyone have any signs of a mass exodus. Footsteps, signs of a struggle, anything?” I walk back outside and take a alleyway and keep inspecting the town.

[Dragnoxz]

The building you were in, the alley has stone steps leading up to a place above the one you were just in. There is a sturdy wooden door at the top on both sides.

2nd Lt: Hyla: “Found some ceremonial beads. Got some bowls of food left out. This place is active, they knew we were coming.”

2nd Lt. Bardlaw: “We should be very cautious, they might be setting an ambush. We should have droned the place from a safe distance for a longer time.”

Captain Davis: “Close the gap of distance between y’all. Don’t get separated.” His breathing is heavy. “I say that and I’m-“ He’s cut off.

[slicsinatra]

“Rally up at entrance where we came. Watch out for traps or anyone trying to cut off routes.” I begin to move back but I take cover and stealth.

[Dragnoxz]

2nd Lt. Bardlaw: “Rog.”

2nd Lt. Hyla: “Movin.”

You see Bardlaw walk by the alley.

[slicsinatra]

“Bardlaw, location?” I reach for my weapon slowly.

[Dragnoxz]

2nd Lt. Bardlaw: “Huh ?” He looks back to you and stops. “I’m here. Hyla ?”

2nd Lt. Hyla: “With you. Eery clear.” They stand with you, covering all directions. “Proceed ?”

[slicsinatra]

“Just checking. Making sure I wasn’t seeing double. You never know with these situations. I’ve seen some things man. Let’s go.” I proceed with them both.