As the thopter moved beyond the city limits, looked out the side of the thing as the second moon cresting above the horizon, the mixed light of the two moons on the clear night lighting up the ground below. She glanced at the pilot before turning to Cuyler Gray, "Thanks for agreeing to come along; I wanted to take a look around the area, but I didn't want to leave everyone back in the city and neglect my duties. This is as good an excuse as any."

[2 Threat for Limited Ground Visibility]

The second moon had just risen, but the sharp spikes of the Broken Land were preventing its illumination from reaching the desert beneath them. The first one was gibbous and had already moved toward the Pasty Mesa. They could lower the altitude or turn on the searchlights, but it carried its own risks.

At least the Count's 'thopter was first-rate (Quality 2). It had a shield and a small turret.

(D2 Free Addison Thread) Addison, fitted into her new stillsuit, takes the thopter high over the basin, as they enter the area she looks back from the pilot seat. "Anywhere in particular you want me to take us, Mum? "

Cuyler was beginning to get used to the stillsuit, but only just. As they flew above everything, she took a moment to study the paper she'd found earlier.

Once she realized what it was, she handed it to Addison.

"Can you take us here?"

Those were coordinates of an uncharted place, likely somewhere in the midst of the perilously mountainous part of the Shield Wall, called the Broken Land. But to figure out exactly, one had to rely either on the thopter nav, or on own calculated discernment based on the clocks available in the cabin.

[Understand 3 for the latter]

Addison Moonlight Tour Navigation Roll, Truth/Under Piloting TN 13, Diff 3, Crit 7 +3 Threat: 4#1d20 13 5 2 20

(5 Succsess, 1 Complication, +2 Scene Momentum ) (3 Successes if pilot does not apply)

Addison takes a look at the coordinates and nods, "I should be able to get us there"

[Pilot Counts]

Addison indeed figured out the destination and the flight path, though she was too optimistic about the topography...

[Complication: Perilous Approach]

When she finally led the 'thopter amid the sharp spires and crags, it became apparent that this would be a challenge to manoeuvre among them even during the day, and at night... This land was called broken for a reason; whatever orogeny had shaped it, it was so wildly irregular one couldn't rely on a single ridge to continue for more than a few miles, and tall, narrow rocks were emerging almost out of nowhere. It was full of potential hiding places, but that was not the consideration relevant right now, except for that one they wanted to find. The Second Moon was shining upon the chasms ahead, giving a modicum of light, but not enough to rely on eyes alone. Instincts had to come into play, and they better be preternaturally sharp.

[Discipline or Move 3 to find the right way forward without damaging the thopter, +1 for Limited Visibility, +1 for Perilous Approach = 5]

[Turning the searchlight on would reduce it by 1; turning the shield on may reduce the consequences of manoeuvring failure.]

Addison Assist roll on perilous approach, TN 11 crit 6: 1d20 15
0 Successes on Assist

Addison guides the Orni controls through the passage, letting Gray act as he spotter.

Reyyan kept a calm head and put on her helmet, looking through its visual sensors at the dark terrain. "Rough landing by the looks of it. Seen worse though. Slow and steady and we'll be fine."

She spoke firmly, putting her faith in the calm weather and the piloting of her companions.

---------

Day 2, SMR, Discipline assist for landing thopter, Disciple/Faith, TN16: 1d20 14 - 1 assist success

"We'll want shields, but no searchlight."

Cuyler leaned forward watching the landscape carefully and advising Addison to every potential threat. It was hard to make out anything, however.

- - -
Day 2, Second Moon Rise - Moonlight Tour, Discipline/Truth, TN 16, Difficulty , Observe/Attention to Detail, Constantly Watching, Assisted, Momentum: 3#1d20 17 9 20
Drive Statement: “What one wishes were true is seldom so.”
Constantly Watching: Whenever you attempt a skill test to detect danger or hidden enemies, you reduce the Difficulty by 2.

I don't think I have any Determination for a reroll.

Cuyler Gray wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 26, 2021 4:25 am

"We'll want shields, but no searchlight."

Cuyler leaned forward watching the landscape carefully and advising Addison to every potential threat. It was hard to make out anything, however.

Reyyan put a hand on Cuyler's shoulder, "To the left, slow and steady, like I said Miss Addison. I think I can see a bit better than Lady Gray and there's some hidden rocks below us. A little towards nine o'clock looks better."

She looked at Cuyler a moment, "Just follow my eyes and keep your senses open. No need to strain, just take everything in."

--------------------

((OOC: Bolster reroll for scene to avoid additional complication by adding 2 threat.))

She nodded and took a breath. Keeping herself still, she watched their approach and took it all in.

- - -

Cuyler Gray wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 26, 2021 4:25 am

Day 2, Second Moon Rise - Moonlight Tour, Discipline/Truth, TN 16, Difficulty , Observe/Attention to Detail, Constantly Watching, Assisted, Momentum: 3#1d20 17 9 20
Drive Statement: “What one wishes were true is seldom so.”
Constantly Watching: Whenever you attempt a skill test to detect danger or hidden enemies, you reduce the Difficulty by 2.

Day 2, Second Moon Rise - Moonlight Tour, Bolster Reroll: 3#1d20 2 9 5
5 Successes

[And that even gives you Game Momentum on top what you needed! Yay teamwork!]

By some miracle made possible only through concerted work and strain of senses to their limits, they managed to hone in on a deep gorge, almost imperceptible from above as the entry to it was in a form of an archway. It was probably natural, but in the night they felt as if flying into an ancient cathedral rivalling the size of the most splendorous buildings on Kaitain.

But as the thopter descended, the gorge narrowed to the point flapwings barely fit in and they had to be retracted. The thopter had to fly on thrusters alone, and with the shield still up, the fuel cells were degrading at a rate that might not give them an assured return...

As Addison brings in toward the coordinates with less worry about striking walls she lowers the shields to save power reserves.

The bottom of the gorge was cowled in darkness, but it didn't give off an impression of being particularly spiky. The coordinates checked out.

As the thopter lands Reyyan looks out and turns on the spotlight on her armor's helmet, shining out in a cone to the darkened gorge.

There seemed to be a sandy path onward, where the gorge was probably morphing into a shallow cave.

It was not quiet. The sounds of nocturnal creatures permeated the gorge. Bats, scorpions, kangaroo mice, dwarf owls... some of those were probably responsible for the music of nature on Arrakis they were hearing. It was a place of life, though not necessarily habitation.

Stepping out of the thopter, Cuyler activated a glowglobe.

"Into the cave?"

The glowglobe drifted onward, casting more light on the path and the cave-like concavity. The small critters scattered, shocked by the light. There was something cubical on the rock there.

Addison finishes spinning down the Orni and then dismounts with the others. "Do we know what we are expecting to find out here?"

"No idea." Cuyler shook her head. "I'm not even sure where the paper came from, but it seemed worth looking into."

She moved closer to the cubical shape.

It was a box. Made of plaz. It didn't look like it had a lock.

Addison takes several steps back giving the box a wide berth and keeping an eye on the surrounding shadows.

Since she was in armor, Rey decided to take a look at the thing, "Odd box. Let me make sure it's not trapped or anything first; Would be quite the out of the way and elaborate trap, but you never know with some Houses these days..."

She moved to the box and studied it with the less practical but brighter light of her spotlight.

The sommelier watched and waited.