They had landed quite the distance from what Chani knew would be the Orgiz Canyon. If asked, she'd have told them the story she'd heard from the other Fremen: a worm had got into an insufficiently blocked canyon entry and had ravaged everything. If anything had been rebuilt there, it was only with great financial, material and human commitment.

It was midday. Al-Lat was merciless, temperatures reaching 65 degrees out of shade. Dehydration was almost immediate for anyone not protected by a good stillsuit. Of them, Cuyler's was the most lacking, and she'd be wasting water the fastest. Face flaps and hoods weren't optional, so all they manifested were the eyes.

It was dangerous to wait for the night, it was dangerous to go. But the same scorching heat must have been affecting potential operators at the sight, so some sloppiness and inattention could be perhaps assumed.

Either way, they had perhaps a mile to go between sharp rocks, and quietly, to approach Orgiz enough to have a look.

[Cuyler's Rolls have difficulty raised by 1 due to insufficient stillsuit quality for this time of the day. For the extended task, it means her results are at 1 success less.]

[2 Threat: Harkonnen Surveillance]

[Blazing the trail to Orgiz requires 15 successes over as many rounds as it takes. Understand, Discipline and Move can be used with appropriate foci. Complication is at 19 but if it hits, they've been spotted. I spend 2 threat on each roll to cut off one success - for environmental factors and possible patrols.]

Chani led them through the rocks with almost preternatural stealth, hiding her presence even in the full sun.

EA8. Sneaks. Bold. Deliberate Motion. Subtle Steps. Faith/Move (Stealth). 2 Threat for 4th Die. 8/6 (Stealth): 4#1d20 14 16 3 1

[Threat Balances Out; 5 - 1 = 4 successes, no complications, no rerolls.]

Seeing that Cuyler was having difficulty because of her stillsuit, Bomilcar was at her side. He had stamina to spare to aid her in keeping up with everyone. He otherwise just stayed on the path others laid out and ducked down when signaled.

D8 EA, Discipline + Faith, Focus: Resolve, 3 threat 3 dice, 1 determination for autocrit on 1 die, TN 14, Crit 7: 4#1d20 14 14 15 13

5 - 1 = 4 successes

+1 threat with GM 2

Cuyler kept watch as they moved, looking for any sign of the Harkkonen and any better paths they might take.

- - -
Passive Scrutiny: Best approach?

A Look from Afar [EA8], Blazing the trail, Discipline (8)/Duty (7), Observe, Constantly Watching, It's Hooot!!!: 2#1d20 1 9

[Best approach is from the massif, not from the desert. Constantly Watching removed success penalties from heat and surveillance.]

Cuyler: 3 successes. Running total: 11 successes.

She quietly passed along her observations to the others as they pressed on.

The high rocks they'd been climbing could be offering enough of a view on the Orgiz Canyon beyond...

Ahmina had been trained to blend in in all situation so that even an observing eye would not look twice at her. Dune is alive, after all, and all things move...you just need to learn and follow the rythm

Sneak to Orgiz, Move (unobtrusive)+ Faith (15), subtle steps, threat for 1 dice, complication 19: 4#1d20 5 9 18 12

[4 - 1 = 3 Successes]
[Running Total: 14/15]
[Threat Count: 21]

The difficult passage didn't let them cover the whole ascent just yet, mere tens of metres before looking over the ridge. They were potentially exposed there...

And then, an unmarked thopter appeared on the sky, emerging from the other side, circling way up, but after a a while turning in their approximate direction...

EA8. Suspicion check. Diff: 5-1 Successes lacking = 4, 3 Threat Spent. 6/6: 4#1d20 7 4 5 3

[4 Threat: Heightened Surveillance: 3 Successes off each roll, Complication at 18]
[Threat Count: 14. Everyone gets an Advancement Point]

They had to make a call: risk pushing forward, or turn back when they still had a chance...

"Over there!" Cuyler said as loud as she dared. "That might hide us."

- - -
A Look from Afar [EA8], Discipline (8)/Truth (8), Observe, Constantly Watching?, -1 Determination for Crit: 2#1d20 5 8 Forgot to note +1 Threat for extra die.

[Cuyler is at -2 Successes, so 4 generated, 1 needed, +3 Game Momentum]
[Threat: 15]
[Challenge Cleared.]

Using Cuyler-pointed and Chani-approved shortcut amid narrow rocks that hid them from being immediately tracked down by the thopter, they got through, and...

...there was a refinery! It was hard to tell anything more from the distance than it was robust, relatively new, and operational. It had a landing field for mid-sized craft, pads for harvesters, and large spice silos. The entry to the canyon, where the worm had once entered, was re-walled with a lot of rock and plaz to keep the enclosure as safe as possible.

The defensive perimeter was thick, they could tell, of similar quality to the one at Wind Pass, if not better. Thopters, turrets, patrols, perhaps shigawire fences, maybe traps. The workers and machines there didn't seem to be taking any midday zaha rest.



There was one caveat though: no visible sign that Harkonnen had anything to do with it. Everything was unmarked, anonymous. If there was a smoking gun proof there, it wasn't in the aerial recording. What they had was that this place existed.

The thopter above them was circling incessantly...

[Another 15 Successes procedure; at -1 to go back, at -3 to push forth closer.]
[Legitimate Suspicion: secret refinery confirmed]

Chani didn't comment, but she quickly agreed to the notion to fall back. They weren't prepared to face all that was ahead. But she prioritised caution over pace this time. Their pathway was being watched from above.

EA8. Sneaks. Bold. Deliberate Motion. Subtle Steps. Faith/Move (Stealth). 2 Threat for 4th Die. 8/6 (Stealth): 4#1d20 15 14 2 15
EA8. Sneaks. Bold Reroll.: 1d20 15
[3 Successes - 1 = 2 Successes]
[2/15 Cleared]
[Cuyler and Chani acted on Round 2]
[Threat: 16]

Bomilcar tries to guide them back through a safe route, doing reasonably well picking out a safe route.

D8 EA, Discipline + Faith, Focus: Observe, +3 threat, TN 14, Crit 7, Reroll: 4#1d20 2 8 14 16
4 -1 success, +3 threat
[5/15 Cleared]
[Cuyler, Chani, and Bom acted on Round 2]
[Threat: 19]

It had been several days now that Ahmina had carefully walked under the eye of the Harkonnen and that was a muscle that was keeping it's strength. She took her turn leading the group out at a good pace

Sneak away from Orgiz, Move (unobtrusive)+ Faith (15), subtle steps: 3#1d20 7 1 8
5-1=4 successes

(9/15 cleared)

The thopter didn't have a clear mark on them but kept looking. Something must have alerted them, or it was just their high-security protocol around here. The infiltrators could hear engines of additional craft approaching from behind the massif they'd been descending from, heavier by the sound of it. A troop carrier of sorts? Perhaps they wanted to deploy ground search teams. Their thopter ahead was well-camouflaged, but from the ground it couldn't avoid discovery.

[2 Threat: Ground troops deployment, Additional -1 to successes, at -2 now.]

However, fate smiled at them. The circling thopter was so intent on tracking them down that it hit an outcropping with its articulated wing and had to land before it would crash. It gave them a narrow window of opportunity to exit the critical area and fly out before being noticed.

EA8. Suspicion check. Diff: 3..1 Threat. 6/6: 3#1d20 6 20 4

[Threat: 16]
[Round 3]
[One of them has to fly out, it is by default Chani, but if you want it otherwise, it's fine. But that person can't roll for successes this turn.]

Cuyler watched and listened for any pursuers as they made there way back, ready to warn the others.

- - -
A Look from Afar [EA8], On the Lookout, Discipline (8)/Truth (8), Observe/Listening, Constantly Watching, 1 Threat for 1 Die: 3#1d20 14 15 5

[4 Successes, -2 for difficulty, -1 for subpar stillsuit + 2 for Constantly Watching = 3 Successes]
[12/15 Cleared]
[17 Threat]

Ahmina continued to move with the wind

Sneak away from Orgiz, Move (unobtrusive)+ Faith (15), subtle steps, 2 threats: 4#1d20 11 18 2 13
dedication used to re-roll the 18
Sneak away from Orgiz dedication to re-roll the 18: 1d20 9

5-2=3 successes

(19 threat)

[Challenge Cleared]

Bom and the others could tear down the camouflage just as Chani got behind the controls. Time was of the essence, as the hum-buzz-flap of the other craft behind them was audible to a keen ear. Once they'd emerge from over the massif, they'd surely take the chase.

Fortunately, Chani knew what to do. After they took off she burned the cells to speed up into a nearby canyon and dunked into it with the engine shut, using down thrusters for braking, then flew very low, on the shaded southern side. The dart-out was timed for when the troop carriers might have already landed and deployed.

After half an hour of hide-and-seek, they were out, en route to Cave of Birds.

[Scene, or Discussion Time. You arrive EE9.]

"Thank you, Chani. Thank you, Ahmina. For keeping us safe." Cuyler said.

"Yes," Bom agreed. "Appreciated."

"Must connect Harkonnen. And Harkonnen to Verdun right?" he asks. A massive order.

"That would be ideal." she nodded.

"It was hard. I'm not sure if they discovered us." Chani said matter-of-factly. Her attention was at the pathways among the higher dunes that allowed them some cover, even in the sun.

''It is impossible to know for certain...but they did not shoot at us so it is a good omen''

Bomilcar, now that focus wasn't necessary, turned to Ahmina. "Glad you're alive."