conversations: human
conversations:  Mount Ryan has never been a particularly populated locale. Named after the second-generation Irish immigrant who led the first party over it in the 1800's, few travelers since have passed that way. The mountain was not on any of the more convenient routes westward into Oregon territory, nor into California, Nevada, or Utah. The timber barons and mining surveyors never thought its mineral or floral wealth worth plundering - its sides, perhaps, were too precipitous, and roads to difficult to carve compared to richer, more easily garnered treasures elsewhere. Highways were never built over Ryan - again, its angle was too sharp, its bare gray head too high above its neighbors to make conquering it worth the effort.
  
  in the 40's and 50's a few developers tried to sell summer homes there, but it never took off. More popular spots like Aspen offered better amenities, and Ryan's densely forested lower slopes always seemed inimical to the efforts of homebuilders. No one ever stayed there for long, and soon most of the cheaply-built rental homes were vacant, their windows staring like empty eyes and shadows moving softly within, visited only by small, furtive things and by the nesting birds.
  
  The thickly forested road you approach the rental cabin on is only barely wide enough to accomodate your vehicles. The trees cluster thickly at either side, thrusting roots up through the hardpack to jolt and jostle your cars as you attempt to navigate the winding mountain tracks - barely more than fire roads, really. Nonetheless, the occasional views you get through the trees are spectacular - Sheer drops that show the vast green carpet of forest below, rolling out to the plains in the smokey blue distance.
  
  The cabin you arrive at is a solidly-built construction of timber, or at least something that looks very much like it. In front of it is parked a battered red jeep, and behind it you can spot the sort of large trash-bin more commonly seen at construction sites. A short, powerfully built woman of middle years waits for you with a wide, white-toothed grin on her face - her blonde hair is pulled back in a sensible ponytail tucked under a ballcap. She smiles and waves, approaching you as you exit your cars.
  
  "Hey there. I'm Terry. I just wanted to meet you folks, drop off the keys here and answer any questions you might have. Everything's cleaned out an in order, and the binder with all the contact info is on the counter. If there's anything you need, feel free to call - but it can take a couple of hours for anyone to get here from town, so for a lot of things, you're on your own."
  
  As she speaks, she hands you an envelope with four sets of keys in it.
  
  "Oh, and just to let you know, there's quite a bit of wildlife around - especially bears, so make sure you keep the lid down when you put trash in the bin, otherwise they get all into it, hell to clean up. Was there anything you folks wanted to ask before I take off?"
conversations: WhiteKnight777:
conversations: human
conversations:  Daniel raises his hand,  "Actually there is one thing. I seem to have forgotten to bring any type of jars or containers with me. Are there any old canning jars or something in the cabin that I would be allowed to use?" 
conversations: Elistan:
conversations: human
conversations:  Tristan looks around and smiles. " Looks good to me. So, what do you guys want to do today? Once we've carried our packs and stuff inside, I think I'll go for a walk, I feel a little disoriented after the long drive. "
  
  Tristan waits patiently until the woman answers Daniel's question, then speaks: " Do you know any good hiking trails around here? Are there any maps of this area in the cabin? "
  
   
   Spoiler 
  
  What time is it? What time of the year is it? What's the weather like?
   
conversations: Kensen:
conversations: human
conversations:  Edwin looks around, and says " Yeah, everything looks good to me. I'd be up for hiking afterwards too. "
  
  He thinks a little and as Tristan asks his question he says " Yeah, a map would be great "
conversations: Gaijin Guy Jim:
conversations: human
conversations:  Terry nods amiably, answering your questions "Yep, there are a number of maps in the chest in the living room, and there should be some jars in the kitchen. There's all sorts of stuff in the kitchen, feel free to help yourself to it - just don't take it with ya when ya leave." She adds with a little laugh.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  Eh, it's early afternoon, say 12:30 or 1:00. It's late summer/early fall, similar to what it is now in the northern hemisphere - and as far as year, it's probably the early 90's - '92 or '93, say.
   
conversations: WhiteKnight777:
conversations: human
conversations:  " Alright, thanks! " Tristan says with a smile. " So, let's go check the cabin out. Oh, is the old guy ok? " referring to the fourth person who's been quiet so far.
  
  Tristan takes one of the keys and walks up to the door, opens it and has a look inside the cabin.
conversations: Kensen:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  Em... I wasn't really sure how to respond... wasn't it supposed to be John's cabin?
   
  
  The old guy is quite unconscious in the back of the car, empty beer cans strewing the floor about him. His only luggage is a couple of spare t-shirts, his wallet, a big case chock full of beer and whiskey, as well as his shotgun plus a box of shells.
conversations: Gorgondantess:
conversations: human
conversations:  "Thank you, ma'am."  Daniel says politely, following Tristan into the cabin.
conversations: Elistan:
conversations: human
conversations:  Spoiler 
  So.....?
  
  Raise dead check on game:
   (1d20-20)[ -8 ] 
   
conversations: Elistan: