[Ren]

Mutumbo hopped in the car next to Alzmer, greeted him and introduced himself as Hunter, but he waited for the team to move out of town before bringing up some important topics, as it seemed a general concensus. Once they were out of Mombasa, though, he immediately started to ask questions. At the same time, he opened up a chanel to the rest of the team so they also heard what was said. "OK, as i already told you, you can call me Hunter, and that name is not incidental. Now, i'd like to ask some questions that will make our jobs possible so please answer them as honestly as you can. First, i'd like to know if you ever were in a situation like this: outside of a city, in African wilderness where man can only rely on himself, his wits, his guns, and maybe the person next to him. I'd also like to know what we are looking for out there. As i saw no cage, no boxes, no exuipment whatsoever, i can't even make a guess about the goal of our little hunting trip."

[Reminder]

The man you know as Alzmer seemed surprised at Hunter's direct line of questioning. It took him a few moments to answer.

African wilderness? No, I have never been to Africa before, but I did extensive research on the topic before setting sail. And as for my wits, I will have you know I was second in my class at the University. Guns on the other hand, are quite barbaric, but I know which end to not point at myself if that's what you mean.

As he continues, his tone becomes more steady

As for what we are after, I can only assume they our employer saw fit to withhold that bit of information from you. I know he stressed the need for secrecy on that point when he was hiring me.Hmm...
However, since it is necessary we get where we are going quickly, I feel I must be forced to enlighten you eventually. It may as well be now. We are after a series of samples from abandoned mines in this area. He identifies an area similar to, but not identical, to that which you were informed about from the Johnson.

[Ren]

Same old, same old. Alzmer wasn’t the first person going on a trip like this, thinking studying from books was enough to get by out there. He knew they had to take extra precautions around such people, them being oblivious of dangers they thought couldn’t hurt them because they were prepared.
He compared the area Alzmer showed them now to that the Johnson gave, in relation to the Maasai lands and geographical features, checking what mines he knew of in there. He also thought about what kind of creatures were likely to make their homes in these underground structures.
[spoiler=tests]INT(5) + Area Knowledge, rural(3) [Mental(4)] (8d6.hits(5)=3)
INT(5) + Local Wildlife(3) [Mental(4)] (8d6.hits(5)=2)
LOG(2) + Paracritters: Kenya(3) [Mental(4)] (5d6.hits(5)=3)[/spoiler]

Meanwhile, he continued the questionnaire. ”So, abandoned mines. What kind of structures do we have to prepare for, vertical shafts in the ground or more like tunnels in hillsides? How long have these mines been abandoned? Do you know their exact locations? And about the samples, Mr. Johnson said you will take care of them, but what can we expect in size? Are these samples alive? Do they represent any danger to us after collecting them?”

[Reminder]

Meanwhile, he continued the questionnaire. ”So, abandoned mines. What kind of structures do we have to prepare for, vertical shafts in the ground or more like tunnels in hillsides? How long have these mines been abandoned? Do you know their exact locations? And about the samples, Mr. Johnson said you will take care of them, but what can we expect in size? Are these samples alive? Do they represent any danger to us after collecting them?”

The mines were abandoned when the natives who controlled the mines stopped trading with the corporations or made it unfeasible for them to do so. I was not provided with any schematics but I believe it is safe to assume that these are not strip mines, which means they have shafts and tunnels. They are mines afterall.

As for dangers, I assume your paranormal expert would have briefed you on that.

I'll get the roll results once the others have a chance to chime in if they so choose.
Ren, if you continue the line of questioning with Alzmer, make a ettiquette roll when you do so.

[JackVII]

Mines? Drek... Mlinzi thinks to herself, knowing she had next to no experience with working underground. The only mining operation she had ever been familiar with had been the work at Kilimanjaro that had brought about so much trouble. Still, she searched her memories for anything she had ever read or heard about subteranean paranormal organisms.

She also noted that Alzmer totally avoided the question about the nature of the samples. Grabbing her commlink, she tapped out a quick message to the team.

<<@Team [rohorafiki]>> Not sure about you boys, but I am tired of being kept in the dark. Now that we're a ways out of the city, maybe we should pull over for a quick look through those cases and crates to find out what the frag is going on here.>>

Waiting for a reply, Mlinzi continues monitoring the conversation between Mwindaji and Alzmer. Conversations like this often need to be handled delicately. If needed, she interjects questions or hopefully helpful advice to help Mwindaji along. We could really use the Tourist right now...

Screwed up the Parabotany roll, zero hits either way. Man there were a lot of 4s in there, LOL
Parabotany (1) + Logic (2)/Mental (5) (4d6.hits(5)=0)
Parazoology (2) + Logic (2)/Mental (5) (4d6.hits(5)=1)
Zoology (2) + Logic (2)/Mental (5) (4d6.hits(5)=0)

If allowed, Etiquette Teamwork for Mwindaji
Etiquette (1) + Charisma (8 )/Social (9) (9d6.hits(5)=3)

[Csjarrat]

//Thanks for the heads up on the mines. Dunno about you guys, but I can't say i'm too happy about going down an abandoned shaft. Active mines are dangerous enough//

[Crunch]

If it was gping to be easy they wouldn't have hired professionals. Frenchy drove the Nomad casually, humming quietly under his breath.  M. Alzmer, anything you can give us to help keep you alive would be appreciated. It's in all our interests to get this done as quickly and cleanly as possible.

 

Thought
Speech-English
Speech-French
Speech-Arabic
Speech-Kiswahili
Matrix/Text

[Reminder]

He seems a bit surprised by your question.

Alive? What would be the problem? Mines are perfectly safe. This isn't the 1900s.

Anyway, getting there and back is your responsibility. I am here to collect the samples we need. He pauses for a moment, and then continues, more to himself than anyone in particular. Just think of it, a new mineral. Maybe. Well not exactly new, but close enough. He turns to Frenchy and grabs his arm as he continues. Do you know how rare this is? All my chums back at the University would just die to have this opportunity!

[Crunch]

The wheel barely twitches as Frenchy compensates for his passengers actions. Jealous colleagues can cause problems my friend, and Africa is a dark and dangerous place even now. We are all professionals of the highest caliber I hope but like in any endeavor the more we know, the smoother we can make things.

Thought
Speech-English
Speech-French
Speech-Arabic
Speech-Kiswahili
Matrix/Text


I'm assuming 8 hits was a success, if not I can edit the scene.

[Ren]

Mutumbo sent a short text to the team. >>Wow, paranormal expert, does one of you recognize him/herself or do I assume this responsibility?<< To Alzmer, however, he said ”Enthusiasm is an admirable sentiment, and it is far from me to try and curb it, but I’d appreciate if you didn’t act on it when we get to these mines. I hunted these areas for several years now, sometimes alone, sometimes in groups, and I can tell any abandoned structure doesn’t remain abandoned for long, especially structures this big. Usually nature takes it first, it provides shelter for a wide variety of normal and paranormal animals like snakes, or bats. Sometimes even bigger predators may dwell in such places.
“And two-legged predators often look for places like these. The mines are very adequate for a smuggling operation as temporary storage, or even a base. And they are the easier to get friendly with. The area is pretty close to Maasai tribal lands, and they don’t relate too well to strangers trying to steal what is theirs. And trust me, they will see things this way.
“Now, I don’t say all these to frighten you, or to try and dissuade you from your goal. I just want you to be aware that this is a dangerous place where we need to be constantly cautious.

“With above dangers, we can calculate. What I asked if the target of your forage – a mineral, as you now say – is dangerous in itself. We have to know if we need to take special precautions around it. And that, even if we have a paranormal expert, would be your area of expertise, better than any of ours.”
Mutumbo hoped he said everything right. Usually, this was the job of the Eagle, and the hunters only communicated with the guests when needed. He heard the man talk to the tourists on several occasions, and tried to use the same tones and such, but he wasn’t so sure of himself.
[spoiler=Etiquette]CHA(2) + Etiquette(3) [Social(4)] (5d6.hits(5)=2)[/spoiler]

[Reminder]

“With above dangers, we can calculate. What I asked if the target of your forage – a mineral, as you now say – is dangerous in itself. We have to know if we need to take special precautions around it. And that, even if we have a paranormal expert, would be your area of expertise, better than any of ours.”
Mutumbo hoped he said everything right. Usually, this was the job of the Eagle, and the hunters only communicated with the guests when needed. He heard the man talk to the tourists on several occasions, and tried to use the same tones and such, but he wasn’t so sure of himself.

Alzmer gives you a befuddled look.

I was told there would be a paranormal expert on the team, and this would be their area of expertise. I assume they have been informed of what to expect.
If the ritual that disrupted the spirits on Kilimanjaro truly did alter the properties of some of the tanzanite, I have no way of dealing with anything like that. All I know is that some tribe, what did you call them, the Mass-eye, are using it in some rituals, or so the rumor goes.

Like I said, not my area of expertise. I don't talk to the spirits.




Why are you looking at me like that?

[Ren]

There was a minute’s silence from Mutumbo. His expression spoke volumes as half-formed thoughts raced in his head. By the time he could think coherently, his initial flare of anger mostly subsided, so only a short string of Kiswahili swearwords escaped his mouth. He tried not to glare at Alzmer without much success while texting the team. >>Guys, did you come to the same conclusion as me, that we were actually hired to steal some magical thing from the Maasai? If this is true, we are up to much more than we expected, like regular tribal patrols in the area, even shamans. Do any of you know something more about this stone or whatnot, to give us a better chance to estimate opposition? Are these stones sacred?<<

[Csjarrat]

//Bit outside my area of expertise. I'll run a search, see if anything comes up. Whatever it is we're supposed to be doing out here, its not sounding particularly good//

>>>Matrix Search terminal 1.10.0.2b:
Terms:
-Tanzanite,
-Maasai,
-Rituals
Ultra, piloting from VR, opens a shimmering terminal form and quickly hashes out a search from Alzmer's new info, forwarding the instructions to his agent as well.

Ultra's search results: log 5, computer 2, hot sim 1 (8d6.hits(5)=4)
agent's search results: agent (6d6.hits(5)=4)
getting lots of good rolls today :-)
note: -running signal scrub and through datajack for -3 noise

[JackVII]

Wonderful... the woman thinks to herself. Mlinzi says, "My magic training was sparse on magical objects and materials. Let me check with one of my contacts, assuming I can get a message sent out here." Huddling down into the passenger seat, the woman flips open her commlink and taps a message out.

[spoiler=Mlinzi's Comm]<<@AmazingGrace47 [rohorafiki] Jambo, Grace! Long time. Working a thing. Ever heard of tanzanite having magical properties/significance? Hope everything is well!>>[/spoiler]

[Reminder]

Wonderful... the woman thinks to herself. Mlinzi says, "My magic training was sparse on magical objects and materials. Let me check with one of my contacts, assuming I can get a message sent out here." Huddling down into the passenger seat, the woman flips open her commlink and taps a message out.

The reply comes through surprisingly quickly.

Now that tis a strange question out of the blue. Who do you be hearing that from?
It possible I guess. Magic, like anything else has consequences. And their was some seriously major mojo used on that mountain.