Which Hell is this?

[Sum of All Fears]

Day: ???
Time: Night
Temp: 22F

It's been a long road for Dean. Coming out of the ninth gate he was immediately in an unfamiliar place. Sub-zero temperatures and no clue to where he is. His only saving grace was some dead soldiers close to where he arrived at. While he recognizes the American Flag emblem, the soldiers uniforms do not look familiar at all. Dean is able to acquire several weapons and clothes of this era for his own protection.

After a few minuets Dean can see the glow of a city or town off in the distance. Seems like the only safe bet right now given how cold it is.


After about three hours of walking Dean comes across the ruins of a city. As he nears he hears something breaking through the brush next to him. As he turns there is a large 7 foot tall bipedal blue crocodile looking just as shocked as Dean is. The croc puts his hands up slowly showing them to be empty in a neutral gesture of non-violence.

What are you doing?

[Dean Corso]

Perception: 1d100: [64] = 64 / 20%
JiC d20 | d100: 1d20: [11] = 11 | 1d100: [48] = 48

Certainly better then Balkan's pistol. Dean thinks picking up the NEMA Pistol and energy pistol. The US flag at least was familiar. Perhaps an elite or black ops military unit? Had he any real military experience he could be sure. He did know one thing and it was a certainty. He needed to move incase someone else used the same gate he did. Someone with more power than him and real magic.

He had read enough to know about the mythical and magic people believed. Dean also had seen the ninth gate work and that was enough for him to believe magic was real. The real question was how real and what parts of myth were real. A better time and place to find that. The Vatican and Washington were good starts if they were still standing.

"What the hell happened here?" Dean says spotting the damage in the towns as he passed them. I wonder if that gate had anything to do with this mess? his mind processed just how much harm could come from 9 pages. before moving. All was going well and he followed the lights. That was until he found a crocodile. No reason to be hostile, but I should be ready in case this was some sort of demon other creature of myth.And just what are you

Lore: Demons & Monsters - 1d100: [54] = 54 / 50%
Lore: Mythology - 1d100: [2] = 2 / 70%
Lore: Faeries & Creatures of Magic- 1d100: [62] = 62 /55%

"I mean no harm. Do you understand what I am saying?" he spoke loud enough to be heard, but not louder than needed. He said that in each of the languages he knew (except Demon if he could remember any of it) until he finds one the creature understands and can speak. Keeping both hands visible Corso continued and did his best to look neutral as well.

Combat: (If needed but he does not initiate it yet. purely defensive)

Initiative: 1d20: [5] = 5
1. Dodge 1d20+2: [16]+2 = 18
2. Dodge 1d20+2: [12]+2 = 14
3. Dodge 1d20+2: [14]+2 = 16
4. Dodge 1d20+2: [11]+2 = 13

[Sum of All Fears]

Day: ???
Time: Night
Temp: 22F

Dean can see the intelligence behind the eyes of the crock as it thinks through your words.

The crock nods at Dean, "I do. Yoursss, isss ah...difficult tongue for usss. You...Ssssuvivior Like usss?" The crock lowers his hands as the conversation continues. Dean doesn't see any weapons on him. In fact Dean was so startled he failed to initially notice the Crock is dressed simpley with a light tunic and pants. Much too light for the current conditions, yet the cold does not seem to be bothering the crock even as it eats at you through your clothes. "Wezzz have...camp in sity...Like to join?"

The crock's English is really bad, but you can at least talk to him...her?...you cant tell...the voice sounds masculine.

[Dean Corso]

Perception: 1d100: [86] = 86 / 20%
JiC d20 | d100: 1d20: [15] = 15 | 1d100: [78] = 78


"I am a survivor that came through a gate and ended up here. I could use a rest before continuing. How many of you are there? Did you live her before or did arrive here Like I did?" he asks as he follows. Perhaps we can help each other but I have to be sure. Crocs are cold blooded.

If wanted me dead or for food he would have killed me already. here is hoping he does not feed on souls or something else. perhaps he say what he or she is in the reply. As the walk he checked gear and kept as quiet as he could. Even if not actively trying to hide it was often wise to not draw attention to one self.

A blue croc? what creature fits that description? my visit to hell and that adventure with Balkan opened my eyes to a world with things that are, were impossible. Glad I sat through that mythology and ancient creatures class. It was that or a history class of animated film cinema.

Skill: Lore: Demons & Monsters - 1d100: [42] = 42 / 50%
Lore: Mythology - 1d100: [88] = 88 / 70%
Lore: Faeries & Creatures of Magic- 1d100: [7] = 7 /55%

Dean considers the possibilities. If he arrived via gate others could have too. Much as Corso believed he was special, the book dealer knew better. After the meeting in hell he certainly no longer took anything for granted.

[Sum of All Fears]

Day: ???
Time: Night
Temp: 22F

Dean is sure he's never come across this creature before. He follows the crock to the remains of the city he was heading for. As they get closer Dean can see street signs under the ice and snow Pontiac. Dean sees mostly two to three story buildings that have collapsed or are in serious disrepair. The Crock leads you through a small check point manned by another crock. They hiss somethin to each other as you pass. "He wondering where you from." The crock takes you to what looks to be an old cafe near the town center. It looks to still have heat and a working door. Please sit. We no guests...Umm...we no...get...guests...often..." The crock nods having corrected his speech. "True name difficult for you to say. Call me Frank. What you called?"

Dean takes in the town as he moves through it. If he remembers correctly he should be somewhere in Illinois. He's never been here before but he remembers seeing Pontiac on the way to Chicago. It's seen better days. He wonders what happened to bring everything into this state.

[Dean Corso]

Perception: 1d100: [3] = 3 / 20%
JiC d20 | d100: 1d20: [17] = 17 | 1d100: [73] = 73

"I am called Dean, its good to meet you. I came from a portal over in that direction and saw the lights here." he points to where his portal was.I better be careful, they may not like outsiders or those from other worlds. That castle is not where it should be. perhaps burned down or destroyed. not sure , he thinks.

"What happened to this place, Frank? was it an attack?" he asks pointing to the town and around them. looking for any details of interest. debris, bodies, bones that sort thing. even battle damage or burn marks. He takes seat leaning with his forearms on his knees.

Anthropology - 1d100: [18] = 18 /70% ,Lore: Magic - 1d100: [18] = 18 /55% +5%

"I wonder if this has to do with magic or that ninth gate?" he thinks to himself. Now he was curious about them. they seemed friendly, then again so did several people he met. perhaps a visit to the library or a local emergency station might help. Fire, hospital or police station is needed. first he should ask his host about what happened first. They do look like they have been here for awhile.

[Sum of All Fears]

Day: ???
Time: Night
Temp: 22F

Dean's perception of the city is that there was some kind of war that happened. While there is some evidence of weapons fire, much more damage looks to have been done with explosives or other types of energy. While you know a little about magic, it's difficult for you to place anything specific that would help you here. Dean does not a odd lack of any type of remains. No skeletons or dead bodies. Given the nature of the destruction of the area he expects to have seen at least some kind of dead people.

Frank looks at him, his features twisting in sorrow, "Was like when we came. We come through the Rifts. Not intentional. Whole world taken. Scattered. New world. We try live, best. Many monsters, demons lurk. Use caution. You...fragile."

Frank stands, "You may stay here. No food though. Sorry." Frank looks very apologetic at the mention of the lack of food available. Frank does show Dean to a small room with a bed for him to sleep in. It's still below freezing and there is no heat so the night passes uncomfortably.

The morning greets Dean with a crispness he is unaccustomed to.

[Dean Corso]

Perception: 1d100: [2] = 2 / 20%
JiC d20 | d100: 1d20: [6] = 6 | 1d100: [47] = 47

Research and search checks:
Computer Operation - 1d100: [65] = 65 / 86% To use computers if any still work.
History - 1d100: [74] = 74 / 1d100: [61] = 61 93/73% to understand the city and it history
Language, Native English 1d100: [50] = 50 95% to read papers and reports
Lore: Demons & Monsters 1d100: [84] = 84 50% to guess by descriptions in photos or reports what they are talking about
Lore: Mythology 1d100: [1] = 1 70% to guess by descriptions in photos or reports what they are talking about
Lore: Magic 1d100: [86] = 86 55% to guess by descriptions in photos or reports what they are talking about
Lore: Faeries & Creatures of Magic 1d100: [16] = 16 55% to guess by descriptions in photos or reports what they are talking about

"You may stay here. No food though. Sorry."

"Thank you for the help. I will find food later." Dean says and looks out the window.

I should get a look around and find the local police, fire department and Hospital. If anything video games tell me anything its to find medicine and items to help protect me in those places. Military bases are usually where the zombies and robot are. Wonder if it is worth the risk? he thinks.

"I need to go for walk. Do you know what kind of things are in the area?" Dean says gauging the response of Frank as he checked his equipment before leaving. A look for a city map and places with needed equipment and information was his goal. Fire departments, police stations and wilderness survival stores were great for maps and other survival items. They also might give him a clue as to what happened to the people. Once he was ready and gear looked good he took a walk.

So much for a humble book dealer. Dean, this is not your wheel house. Time to adapt. If you can survive hell, you can survive this, The lack of bones suggested cannibalism, necromancy and possession of bodies. With out definitive clues it was impossible to tell. If Frank and his allies arrived after the events they would be unable to help. In the event they were a cause it would also be good to know. Deans instinct so far did not register a threat. The ammunition on those dead solders had silver. So werewolves, vampires demons and Devils maybe a thing here.

[Sum of All Fears]

Day: ???
Time: Morning
Temp: 22F

Dean finds street signs to be few and far between. Looks like a natural disaster rolled through. Though he is able to located a fire station and a police station relatively easily. As he moves through and begins picking through debits several things become very clear. First is the level of technology remaining. There are no pieces of paper as what Dean is used to, they seem to have been replaced with holographic data plates. Also the other thing that catches his eye, the year 2098. Documents dictating emergency procedures and evacuation orders for a group called NEMA all have the 2098 time stamp. Most are from the November/December time frame.

Dean can pick out pictures of what looks like some kind of mythical beast...wait that's a fucking dragon! Dean stops as he read the reports detailing how creatures of unknown origins kept pouring out of rifts or portals near "Blue Zones". Dean remembers coming through something similar when he got here. Seems most reports are of the blue zones causing illnesses, people having reactions, new flora and fauna appearing. Wild animals, beasts, demons, all types of mythical creatures. Volcanoes erupting, Yellow stone exploded, Atlantis returned. Its a lot to take in.

However it would explain the lack of bodies, this area while it looks like a natural disaster rolled through, it's not very damaged. Most buildings are relatively intact and the lack of attack signs mean the people likely evacuated. Dean finally comes across the evacuation location on a map...Chicago...and it looks like the town of Pontiac has also been circled. (Lan Nav check please)

Dean is also able to locate a small stash of MREs that are sill good in the back of the police station. Unfortunately weapons are non-existent. You did read several reports indicating some weapons didn't work against some opponents, but did against others. You'll have to do some more digging to extrapolate sdc vs mdc.

You have some answers and a few more questions. What next?

[Dean Corso]

Perception: 1d100: [14] = 14 / 20%
JiC d20 | d100: 1d20: [17] = 17 | 1d100: [62] = 62

Astronomy & Navigation 1d100: [64] = 64 / 40% (Route to Chicago)
Astronomy & Navigation 1d100: [62] = 62 / 40% (Route to Pontiac)

"Time to get out before that possible dragon shows up. Still that evacuation means they went somewhere. Chicago? Well, could be worse places?" He says looking at the report. putting the data plates and MRE's in a bag to Getting out here would need an means of travel at least a direction. Dean looks for a vehicle of some type. There is a lot here. some things super natural, better keep silver rounds in the NEMA pistol. I can use Non-silver in Balkan's pistol. Looking around Pontiac seems important.

Atlantis? Dean made a mental to see that place. But first he needed to get a route to Chicago and Pontiac planned out. With some frustration he was finding his natural navigation skills lacking. Perhaps it was time to locate a Map or guide book with the route and hope the roads he needed were still intact. Picking the data packs up he starts to gas station, a book store or convenience store if any of the three were around.

[Sum of All Fears]

Day: ???
Time: Morning
Temp: 22F

Dean is able to locate a map in the police station, however it has seen better days. His only saving grace is that he knows he's in the town of Pontiac and he's able to roughly guess that he's somewhere around 100ish miles from Chicago. The map in the police station has missing sections and Dean is not sure any of the vehicles he saw in town are usable.

Dean walks out and tries to get his bearings. As he does he sees activity among the blue crocks. They are grabbing weapons and moving to the west side of the town. They don't seem to be paying attention to you at this time. However it seems like something is going down.

[Dean Corso]

Perception: 1d100: [37] = 37 / 20%
JiC d20 | d100: 1d20: [8] = 8 | 1d100: [29] = 29

Better to be with a bunch of targets in case things go to he...er down hill. Alone I might be overwhelmed if they are pulling out weapons. he thinks following the group and stowing the items he found in the police station as they heads west. Curious where they got weapons and what they were getting them out he speaks up once with the group.

"What's happening? What is attacking?" he asks as does a weapons check on all three of his pistols and re-holsters in sequence, If they had these weapons and did not attack me I am curious about them and just how they plan on surviving. and how many other peoples from strange places are out there. the book dealer thinks as readies for a potential fight.