Chapter 5: The long way home

[SpinwardMarch]

You get a prompt from the navigation system:

The route you have chosen* is longer than the recommended route.

It gives you several possibilities that start by going NW, and following the shore line.

Vanegen-2.jpeg (823.68 KiB) Viewed 669 times

*Referee's way of saying that is really the long way there. Future detail maps will be forthcoming. Note that the hexes are still 800 km each.


Where is your next pit stop?

[spanningtree]

Ringar

Takes a look at the routes the navigation system is recommending.

[Jernau35]

Jrec

Jrec rolls his eyes. "Machines always think they should be in charge." He shrugs. "Better do what it says or it'll probably fly us into a cliff in the dark out of revenge".

[ybn1197]

Madox just starts laughing from the back bench at Jrec's comment.

[spanningtree]

Ringar

I'm concerned that the navigation system might make recommendations that take us near law enforcement or and Imperial base... with a slight shrug.

[SpinwardMarch]

The navigation system (Referee) will not have to map the other side of the continent. See comments.

[spanningtree]

Ringar

Ringar shows his comrades the map... IDK, let's go inland north, between the city and forest? I think the coast and mountains might be a bad idea from a weather standpoint. Open to other ideas though.

[Jernau35]

Jrec

"I don't think that's a forest," Jrec replies. "I think that's elevation markings. But yeah, between there and the town is the way we should go."

[ybn1197]

"I'm all for it," Madox remarks from his seat.

[SpinwardMarch]

(Excellent choice.) The lines are indeed elevation lines.

You can fly the air/raft following the contour of the coast, watching for anyone who might observe you. This part of the coastline is sparsely populated, due to the poor weather. The "F" indicates the village where the submarine stopped for fueling. There are just a few people there.

You can choose to take your next pit stop almost anywhere. The area north of the fueling station is rural agricultural lands.

[ybn1197]

Madox

"I think we should fine a remote thicket to land around. Keep us out of sight for as long as possible."

[SpinwardMarch]

Hello; I am back from the 16th century.

First pit stop: In the next hex over* you can find a nice, flat spot. It is well hidden from the ocean by trees and large rocks, located in the first green level. Nothing happens.

You can now proceed northwards. Do you want to fly straight north, over the hills, or continue to follow along the coastline?

* the hex with the waterfall

[ybn1197]

Madox suggests following the coast line.

[Jernau35]

Jrec

"Coastline." Jrec says firmly. "First, anything goes wrong with this air/raft, there's going to be a lot more flat bits to land on down there. Second, flat bits are easier to walk on if we can't fix it".

[ffilz]

Jrec

"Coastline." Jrec says firmly. "First, anything goes wrong with this air/raft, there's going to be a lot more flat bits to land on down there. Second, flat bits are easier to walk on if we can't fix it".

Agreed.

[spanningtree]

Ringar

We are more probable to meet locals along the coast. But we'll give it a try. Ringar will program the navigation system appropriately.

[SpinwardMarch]

The nav system takes your input and produces the following map:

navigationbot2.jpg (183.82 KiB) Viewed 591 times

You are currently at the end of the purple line.
Where do you want to stop next?

[spanningtree]

Ringar

Hmm... what do you gents think of stopping there. Gesturing at the point where the path leaves the water going inland. That looks like a good spot... but also a great place for civilization.

[ybn1197]

Madox

"It's as good as any to me."

[Jernau35]

Jrec

"Those hexes are about 800km across. That spot might be nice, but it's four or five days away. I think the best we can do is follow that flight plan and swing inland to find a place to set down when it's time to take our next break".

Jrec studies the map a little more. "That route takes us close to the city if we follow it the whole way. If we land after we've gone round the peninsula in the next hex, we could head directly north after that. It would shorten the trip and keep us further away from the city."