Posted by Gamemaster CockRoach (GM) in Main Sim - Alien Planet - Landing Party 2 In A Field
[snip]

As the group set out heading away from the village, they soon passed by several outlying farms. These were it seems small personal affairs not anything setup for commercial or industrial use by the nearby village. Eventually the softer wet ground gave way to more rocky firm hillsides. A few bird like chirps and cries were heard here and there though none were actually seen. Eventually following the directions they had been given earlier the team rounded up a steep rocky hill overlooking the personal farms below and came upon a clearing. It was roughly octagonal in a haphazard shape, and about 200 yards around give or take here and there. At the far ‘north’ end of the clearing was a steep rock face and opening to what seemed a moderately sized cave. In the centerish area of the clearing though was a smokey burnt area of ground. Even with the steady heavy drizzle of rain and the colder air around them, as they got within 50 feet they found it was still quite hot in temperature. The ground was pitted, and burned down to a depth of roughly 10 feet, the burn site was an almost perfect circular 20ft radius. A faint trail leading off or to this spot to the edge of the clearing to the ‘north-east’ side not far from the cave seemed to be its ending point. This meant either whatever caused this burn circle either came from that point, or something exploded here and then trailed back to the north-east spot.

GM CockRoach

Kovan studied the farms they passed, noting their size and the crops growing in the fields, pointedly ignoring the familiarity of it. Any reminders of that place he was born on were scorned. He welcomed the change to rocky hillsides, and attempted to catch sight of the birds fluttering and chirping above. They were too quick, or too hidden for Kovan to catch a solid look.

He stopped before the clearing and didn’t immediately draw his tricorder. Instead, Kovan swept his gaze across the clearing, the burnt site and the trail leading off towards the cave with an artist’s eye. Memorizing the lay of the area by negative and filled space and mental captures of various details. It took him all of several seconds to create a mental image that he can recreate upon paper. Later, when they were out of the rain.

“Shall we check out the cave?” Kovan said, looking to Nkosenye. He suspected XO Alden and Yarwood would want to start their examination with the burnt area.

Ensign ch’Sirhc, COMMO/ENGR

OOC: Adjusting the title for location change and trimming....

As the landing party stood there in the middle of the field deciding on what to do or where to head next whether the cave, the middle of the burned area, or back the way they came the insistent drizzle of rain began to come down harder upon them.

GM CockRoach

“I’d rather get a look at the burned area or the trail before the rain disturbs them. The cave can wait,” Roman said, glancing between Kovan, Nkosenye, and Yarwood. He thought the explosion must have been recent, for the area to still be heated like this. And in his mind, there would be no point in coming out this way if any information they might’ve found was washed away by rain. He was also interested in the trail, another piece of info that might be ruined by this drizzling rain.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO