In the summer, the group decided to return to the Refuge and talk to Charlie. Phil led them southwest through a variety of bogs. In one, Wyrik became stuck and it took some time for the party to get him free. Eventually they arrived at the small village of Aneeva, where Wyrik made friends and Phil made enemies by mentioning that they were from a hill of bones. All knew the song, The Devil’s Hill. But Wyrik smoothed over the problem and they were at least able to sleep there that night. They left early in the morning and found themselves a few days later south of the Refuge. As they turned north up the ridge, Charlie contacted them and met them. The Dark had found the Refuge, so Charlie had been forced to destroy it, but he poisoned the hill and left numerous traps there to welcome the Dark should they return. He told the party that he had learned who ruled the Dark and that he did not follow Charlie’s masters. So he resolved to journey westward over the Stone Belt (the Urals) and into the Wastelands in search of ancient weaponry that might allow the River People and People of the Bear to fight the Dark. The party followed (Wyrik reluctantly).
On the way, Charlie led them to a small cache of gear, and outfitted them with with flak jackets. Those who could wield them also received SVD rifles and whatever ammo was still usable. Phil and Freda weren’t strong enough, so they stayed with their black powder rifles.
As they went through the Ancient Pass (southwest of Winterice), the players had to choose if their characters were resistant or unresistant to the genetic plague that lay to the west. Those who were unresistant might… change. Those who were resistant would have the best chance of controlling any ancient machines they might find. Danny announced he was resistant; the rest chose to be unresistant.
Once through the pass, they encountered a fat six-legged black bear. Wyrik wanted to shoot it, but the rest talked him out of it. Afterwards, the bear seemed to blink out of existence and reappeared hundreds of meters further away. It was the first of the weird creatures they would meet in the Wastelands.
lostdelights 