 |
| pic credit: Steve Douglas on Unsplash |
Previously On The Theoretical Science Foundation:
Having escaped the Nazi U-boats, our heroes beach their craft on another mysterious tropical island, where they encounter an aircraft graveyard, ancient ruins, animated vines, and saber-toothed tigers, oh my!.[Like British public transport, you wait for ages for a gaming session to come-together and then you end up with two back-to-back. For the first time in our group's long history, we played two sessions in consecutive weeks. Unfortunately, Mark was unable to make it because he had choir practice ahead of a big Christmas concert, but Simon finally returned after a long absence]
With the tigers defeated, our heroes returned to focussing on their main goal: repairing the Dornier and getting the hell out of Dodge.
But they were still rather fixated on the possible correlation between the "magical astrolabe" and the 100ft monolith.
 |
| Strange "saucer craft" glyphs on the monolith |
Eventually, using parts salvaged from the aircraft graveyard, they cobbled together a rickety ladder that would allow someone to carry the astrolabe up to the indentation at the crown of the ancient obelisk.
Dismissing sending the lone child survivor, Tina, up there, Freya (Clare's photojournalist) volunteered and carefully made her way to the top and inserted the astrolabe. Nothing happened!
Frustrated, she returned to the beach and we continued working on the plane, while also thinking about the stone pillar.
After several hours of being stranded on the island, it struck our party of seasoned adventurers that the sun hadn't actually moved in the sky (a situation we had encountered before on the strange, red alien world we spent some time on).
Trying to get some kind of fix on where we were, Buck (my explorer) also realised that there was something hinky with the plane's compass: south was where north should be!
Checking the cockpits of the various crashed aircraft on the beach, all (with working compasses) shared the same discrepancy.
Even if we could get the aircraft aloft we had no idea which direction we should be heading or if we would even find land before our topped-up fuel supply ran out.
As we worked on the Dornier, Fr Ned (Simon's priest) turned his book smarts to the the hieroglyphics on the monolith and after a lot of head-scratching he realised that once the astrolabe was fitted into the top of the pillar, it needed to be adjusted to a certain setting and the jewel in its heart pressed to activate it.
With the plane repaired as best we could, Freya carefully returned to the top of the monolith and followed Fr Ned's instructions.
Coastline was spotted and Buck smiled, recognising the South American landscape.
Confidently, he indicated to Onyx where to land, chuckling: "I know a good bar in Rio."
Dismissing sending the lone child survivor, Tina, up there, Freya (Clare's photojournalist) volunteered and carefully made her way to the top and inserted the astrolabe. Nothing happened!
Frustrated, she returned to the beach and we continued working on the plane, while also thinking about the stone pillar.
After several hours of being stranded on the island, it struck our party of seasoned adventurers that the sun hadn't actually moved in the sky (a situation we had encountered before on the strange, red alien world we spent some time on).
Trying to get some kind of fix on where we were, Buck (my explorer) also realised that there was something hinky with the plane's compass: south was where north should be!
Checking the cockpits of the various crashed aircraft on the beach, all (with working compasses) shared the same discrepancy.
Even if we could get the aircraft aloft we had no idea which direction we should be heading or if we would even find land before our topped-up fuel supply ran out.
 |
| Deep In Thought: Father Timothy 'Ned' O’Flaherty |
As we worked on the Dornier, Fr Ned (Simon's priest) turned his book smarts to the the hieroglyphics on the monolith and after a lot of head-scratching he realised that once the astrolabe was fitted into the top of the pillar, it needed to be adjusted to a certain setting and the jewel in its heart pressed to activate it.
With the plane repaired as best we could, Freya carefully returned to the top of the monolith and followed Fr Ned's instructions.
This time, the effect was dramatic. The obelisk shook and a hole ripped open in the sky, though which storm clouds and the night sky could be seen, as a mighty bolt of lightning struck the monolith. The edges of the tear crackled and flickered, so we got the impression that we had to be quick before this "portal" resealed itself.
Freya crashed back to Earth, sliding down the pole, and we turned to run back towards the beached Dornier - which Onyx (Mark's daredevil pilot) and Hans (our German NPC pilot) had fired up - only to find our way back blocked by another pair of hungry-looking sabre-toothed tigers.
Freya crashed back to Earth, sliding down the pole, and we turned to run back towards the beached Dornier - which Onyx (Mark's daredevil pilot) and Hans (our German NPC pilot) had fired up - only to find our way back blocked by another pair of hungry-looking sabre-toothed tigers.
 |
| The big cats are back! |
As one, our heroes (bar Fr Ned who doesn't believe in firearms) drew our guns and blasted the big cats.
One died instantly and the other, badly wounded, limped off.
We made it to the plane and were soon airborne, looking forward to returning to reality.
However, Hans was now standing in the cockpit, with a drawn Luger, saying something about us not heading where we wanted but to a German outpost instead.
The plane banked, throwing him off-balance and Fr Ned dived in with a magnificent one-two punch, one in the jaw, the second in the pilot's testicles.
One died instantly and the other, badly wounded, limped off.
We made it to the plane and were soon airborne, looking forward to returning to reality.
However, Hans was now standing in the cockpit, with a drawn Luger, saying something about us not heading where we wanted but to a German outpost instead.
The plane banked, throwing him off-balance and Fr Ned dived in with a magnificent one-two punch, one in the jaw, the second in the pilot's testicles.
Hans crumbled.
 |
Pic credit: Victoria Model from Pixabay |
Onyx took control of the plane, with Buck sliding into the co-pilot's seat to navigate.
Coastline was spotted and Buck smiled, recognising the South American landscape.
Confidently, he indicated to Onyx where to land, chuckling: "I know a good bar in Rio."
To Be Continued...
The Theoretical Science Foundation - The Cast:
- Buck Hannigan - played by me
- Richard 'Dick' Tate - played by Kevin
- Father Timothy 'Ned' O’Flaherty - played by Simon
- Freya Larson - played by Clare
- Onyx Jones - played by Mark (absent)
Showrunner - Pete
Missed an episode? Catch up with this hot new show right here.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your interest in HeroPress.
Comment moderation is currently on again because of annoying spammers!
My apologies to genuine commentators for the inconvenience.
As ever I shall endeavour to acknowledge, and respond to, your comments ASAP.
However, if you're just looking to post spam, please don't bother. It's neither big nor clever. And will just be deleted.