If he was going to potentially be leading a number of green, but non-expendable, people into the wasteland Dai wants to be certain that there are no obvious and glaring obstacles between them and their destination. It would be hard enough herding cats as is, with the near certainty of unexpected dangers, let alone stumbling across a chasm, criminal stronghold, or nest of horrors between point A and point B.

As he approaches the barrier between the city and the Desolation he pauses to queue up his holorecorders. No reason he couldn't potentially get an episode out of this... as long as he didn't release it until after they had visited the target.

Konbonwa Delve Devotees! It's your man, Delvin' Dai, back at it once again!

For those who've seen and shared the last episode - thanks as always - I can't do it without the fans. Today we're stayin' a little bit shallower than Ground Zero but hopefully we'll find somethin' cool to make it all worthwhile.

If my neck and soul bein' only maybe at risk gets you feelin' low remember to reach out and grab a White Wolf! White Wolf's got that jolt of energy sure to keep you watchin' even if I'm not runnin' for my life. Awooooooo!

Let's get ready to dive!

Holorecorders secure in position he approaches the checkpoint and presents his permit.

The Excavation permit is examined by the guard on shift, then accepted with a grunt and a nod.

Dai would find the holoslate map that Kioku gave Dai during the meeting remarkably precise, even though, as expected, he would have some difficulties in making his way to the facility - mainly those caused by areas being completely blocked off or impassable due to chasms, debris from parts and at times whole buildings that fell apart during the accident or in the years since, and other obstacles. Still, judging from the first parts of the way, it wouldn't be that hard to find his way to where she had pointed out...

In the first part of the way, at least, the only odd things Dai will find are the same Ephemeral butterflies he'd seen before...


Eeny meeny moe | 1k1 ⇒ 6 (TN: ?)

Dai takes a few moments of footage of the butterflies before moving on.

Here's hoping for not a full repeat of last time... Though if things that big are coming this far from Ground Zero things are worse than I thought.

As much as anyone could Dai knew the Desolation like the back of his hand so with the added benefit of a map, even if it was pre-destruction, he was hopeful he could make it quickly before anything truly scary caught his scent.

(Pushing on)

Even with Kioku’s notes about the location of the former Soshi GeneBioTech lab where samples of the Rainbow Olm might still exist, blazing a trail to its location and locating its entrance among the rubble, debris and destruction in the bleakness of the Desolation is not exactly easy. With old landmarks razed to the ground, buildings half or wholly destroyed and streets wrecked, finding one’s way guided by the memories of a landscape that is no more is a slow, frustrating and at times dangerous prospect - and, for obvious reasons, it takes longer than it would in a different landscape.

Catch a tiger by the toe... | 1k1 ⇒ 3 (TN: ?)

To Dai's luck, all he sees as he tries to find his way are more of the butterflies - or were those moths? - he's seen before. They flutter around him ominously, at times, as if they were beacons or harbingers of sorts, but cause him no harm, and in a way serve as companions of sorts during his lonely trip through the devastated landscape.

After some time, a half-destroyed, dust-covered sign at the façade of a metal and plasteel building - originally probably 6 or 7 stories high, its entrance behind what must one day have been a garden of some sort - indicates that the target location has been found, at least.

‘SOS I GeneBi Te ’, the remaining letters read, somewhat ominously.

Dai notes the location and the path he took in his mental map of the zone. Satisfied with that he begins to blaze another path towards a different exit point than the one he entered through making sure he would have options if something horrendous blocked this one on the trip.

As he goes he now keeps his eyes peeled for any salvage of note or glimmerstone to help make the trip even more worthwhile.

(Starting to head back out but looking for valuables other than the target on the way)

With Dai's sense of direction and his knowledge of the Desolation area, he notices he might even be able to make a mental map of the area with enough free space to maneuver a vehicle to reach the laboratory site quickly when guiding the others. That would need some keen observation and some notes, but it might be possible.

As Dai starts making his way back, he meets more and more of these moths. They flutter around the area, then around him, and it again feels almost as if they were dancing around as a beacon to attract... other things.

If he squeals, let him go, | 1k1 ⇒ 1 (TN: ?)

For now, though, nothing else glimmers around him or calls his attention...

OOC: If Dai goes straight to the exit, he has one more chance to find something.
If you want to find a way that can lead to the laboratory driving a vehicle, can you also roll Investigation/ Perception vs TN 20, please?

You fuckers really want to feed on whatever's left over, huh?

Dai is used to keeping his speech mental only while within Desolation but it doesn't mean he doesn't cuss out the spirit-bugs to himself.

Vehicles were beyond Dai's means so he rarely thought of them. But now he has the resources of clan samurai behind him and if they could obtain one life would be much, much easier.

As such his Way with the blasted land combined with his keen eyes and years of experience chart such a route to go with the other.

(D6, EE: People can afford vehicles? Investigation/Perception, VP for +1k1+2(WW) | 7k4+2 ⇒ 32 (TN: 20)

Success.

Dai doesn't like to push his luck so one last try at shinies on the way out)

With some thinking as he made his way back, a secure route is imprinted into Dai's memory. Unfortunately, nothing seems to shine or stand out in the way as he crosses the eerie silence and gets closer and closer to the border with the 71st Habitation district.

As he goes through some of the crumbling buildings, however, the silence is broken by a sound Dai might recognise. A low, but high-pitched shriek, carrying the sorrow of tragedy and lost opportunities deep into the heart of the experienced delver. The source of the sound is soon visible - the ghastly, white and transluscent form of a woman, maybe a teenager, maybe a young adult, her face distorted in pain. She doesn't seem to notice Dai, but the sound and the sight are enough to send shivers down Dai's spine...

OOC:
Fear 2 check, please!

Though many think Dai brave in the abstract for being willing to brave the ruins and dangers it was more a matter of necessity. He much preferred discretion over valor whenever possible. That said losing one's head, metaphorically, in this place could lead to one losing their head literally all too quickly.

As such Dai drew upon the last reserves of his will, knowing the exit was at hand, and calmly made his way past the mournful ghost.

(D6, EE: Fear 2 check - Willpower check + Honor, VP for +1k1+2(WW) | 3k3+3 ⇒ 20 (TN: 15))

Shaking off the instinctual fear and keeping his head clear, Dai is easily able to find his way back to the other exit he had in mind. As he approaches the guarded fence, the guard on site nods towards him.

Another dive, and he was out safe again. Might not have found much to show for it this time - but the group's way to the ruins of the GeneBioTech lab should certainly be much easier and safer now.

(/thread, I guess?)

With such an uneventful run he didn't even bother recording an outro on site - he could always do it in post.

But a good show was not the goal this evening so he was satisfied.

/scene